J A N U A RY • F E B R U A RY 2 0 1 5 rough measurements for you in case you still need them. 1. 1HD-FT fan to bell housing, 36.5" 2. H151/hf2a bell housing to output flange (100 series style with no viscous coupler), 40" I hope that helps. Keep up the good work as Tech Editor. Tor Slinning nine years old? How many miles has this suspension served you? If it is more than 60-80,000 miles, then it may also be time for a new suspension. This stuff does not last forever. One thing I would suggest for returning the rear to original height with the extra load may be a set of air bags in the rear. While I have not seen a specific set of air bags for a 40, I would think you could find an air bag setup that would help with all that you are adding in weight to your FJ40. Previously, some people used shocks that you could pump up with more air pressure to take on the load and put the rear at a proper height. I think there may be some solutions to what you want and just putting on new shocks will help some but will not cure your problem. I believe you need to rework your suspension to handle the modifications you have performed. Robbie and such, which is not that big of a deal (that is, if you have the skills or do not mind paying for a guy to rewire the system). For this custom work, check with local guys in your club and see who they recommend to do the work for you. If not, Toyota Trails has a vendor list that may have someone near you that can help. I heard that you have not had the need that often for a heater but I can think of many dangerous situations where not having a way to blow air across the windshield may create an accident: fog, a cool damp morning and snow in the mountains above the coast. Rainy days create problems as well. Rain happens almost everywhere. I do not know of any laws that would prevent you from disabling the blower motor or heater (you may want to check with local laws). I hope this is helpful for you. Robbie Worn Out Suspension Hey Robbie, I hope all is well. I have a 1977 FJ40 with a 2.5-inch BDS suspension. The 40 had a very nice ride both on and off road. I added an auxiliary fuel tank in the rear and a bumper tire carrier. I noticed a sag in the suspension and even worse when I would add my trailer. I added an add-a-leaf and regained some height but certainly stiffened the rear suspension. Now I am noticing a very choppy ride in the front. Every bump is felt and the front end feels like it is getting some air when going over bumps. I bought the truck in 2005 and the shocks are nine years old with maybe 20,000 miles on the suspension. Would I be wasting my money by just changing the shocks and seeing if new shocks control the ride better? Thanks. Mike Smith, El Paso, Texas Relocating the Battery Hi Robbie, I would like to relocate my battery from the fender to the former location for the heater in my 1974/1978 FJ40 Land Cruiser. I’m in So Cal so I don’t use the heater much. Can you recommend a supplier that has a battery tray that will bolt to the existing heater holes and is there anything else I should be aware of for doing this? Thanks. Andy Melzer Power Hungry Hello Robbie, I am in the process of restoring my 1978 FJ40. The mechanic has sent me out for a new alternator. Toyota has no new alternator. Refurbished alternators are only 45-amp. I was looking for 100 amps. FJ40 people say you don't need 100 amps. The 100-amp alternator I got did not fit due to the ears or legs or tabs that bolt the alternator on to the vehicle engine. I need the original size and ears or tabs to be compatible to bolt it back in place. I hear the Mean Green alternator is a great product at $300-$400. So the question is, how many amps for my FJ40 with stereo, new AC, iPod and extra running lights? Yes, I’m a girl so I may still need amps for my curling iron…. The question is the brand, size, serial number or something that will fit in the bolt on position and the amps that will not burn out in a few years. I also hear you can get GM alternators all day long. So which one? I hear the original 45 amps burn out quite quickly. I also heard that the refurbished alternators that have added more amps don’t last long either. 11 Hello Mike: The first thing that stands out to me is that the suspension is now not really set up for the extra weight of the fuel tank and tire carrier. Did you contact BDS to see what it may cost for a suspension set up for the extra weight? Or did you just find some add-a-leafs and throw them in? Are these add-a-leafs designed for the extra weight of the goodies you added? If the rear did not come up to the original height, then I can see where the front is not happy because you have put a bunch of weight on the rear of this short wheel based Cruiser. Yes, nine-year old shocks may not be working great at this time. Is the suspension also Hello Andy: So this location is inside where the heater core is or where the blower motor is on the firewall? I would not think having a lead acid battery inside where the heater core is located would be a good idea. Many things could happen in an accident with the battery inside. But if you were meaning where the blower motor is on the firewall, that could provide a nice location if you remove the blower motor. No, I have not seen any battery trays that would bolt into either of these locations. I would think a good fabricator could make something fairly quickly. It would be a custom piece. You would need to re-run wires