New to me and needs some love

Hey guys, just picked up this 05 v8 sport a couple weeks ago. got it for $5k with 217k miles with a recent timing belt replacement. It had a roof rack with lights, upper hood lights (not sure what ya'll call those haha) and a high lift jack mounted on the bumper which I removed until she's ready to go camping. It has FJ take offs up front(not sure about the rear yet) which give it a rake due to the weight, but I'm working on it. I'm expecting my first child in about a month (holy shit) so I'm trying not to blow a bunch of money at the moment on suspension.

so far I've done:
Headlight restore
LED bulbs throughout
cleaned up the center console and painted it (it was severely scratched)
installed a 10" subwoofer/amp
cleaned up all of the auxiliary light wiring in the engine bay
installed a dedicated USB to the head unit for android auto
Replaced the hood struts with ones from amazon
this weekend: bank 1 sensor 2 (Throwing a code)
front calipers/rotors/pads (driver's side is seized of course).
Hopefully fixing the gap between the fender/ARB bumper.
Maybe tackling the seized 4lo/CDL actuator, yikes.

Anyways here's some pics. Other than the rake I think it doesn't look half bad, she definitely wasn't loved in the past and but I look forward to turning her into something nice!

Frist day I got it:
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/59821534@N08/49322010327/in/dateposted-public/" title="firstday"><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49322010327_9d362371ac_c.jpg" width="389" height="800" alt="firstday"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/59821534@N08/49321795801/in/dateposted-public/" title="firstday1"><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49321795801_6246e6ec2f_c.jpg" width="800" height="389" alt="firstday1"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

First wash, accessories removed:
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/59821534@N08/49321802486/in/dateposted-public/" title="20191224_160224"><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49321802486_c700249600_c.jpg" width="800" height="389" alt="20191224_160224"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/59821534@N08/49322010302/in/dateposted-public/" title="firstwash2"><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49322010302_bb086f638d_c.jpg" width="800" height="389" alt="firstwash2"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Hopefully how it'll look soon, lol

<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/59821534@N08/49322010242/in/dateposted-public/" title="leveled lol"><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49322010242_071d53ed5b_c.jpg" width="800" height="389" alt="leveled lol"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Thanks for looking, cheers.

awesome rig!!!

Mad jelly that you found one that came with all accessories from day one.

The one I just bought seems to be in a little better shape, but I also paid more and it doesn't have any off-road gear on it.

For the jammed 4Lo/CDL, do it once and do it write. There is a write up on the forum about redoing the seals by disassembling everything. That's pretty much the only way to maybe fix it...

gimlithepirate said:

Mad jelly that you found one that came with all accessories from day one.

The one I just bought seems to be in a little better shape, but I also paid more and it doesn't have any off-road gear on it.

For the jammed 4Lo/CDL, do it once and do it write. There is a write up on the forum about redoing the seals by disassembling everything. That's pretty much the only way to maybe fix it...

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Thanks man, for $5k the bumper/winch alone cost almost half that lol. I am considering splitting the t case, but i've neverdone a t case before and I also don't want to spend the money on a new actuator, so I'm hoping I can fix what I have.

Zed33 said:

Thanks man, for $5k the bumper/winch alone cost almost half that lol. I am considering splitting the t case, but i've neverdone a t case before and I also don't want to spend the money on a new actuator, so I'm hoping I can fix what I have.

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Even in less-than-perfect condition, that's an amazing snag for the money considering the gear already on it.

And there are plenty of examples of people reviving 4LO on the forum through repeated attempts to cycle if it's simply not engaging, mine included. Give that a shot in various conditions (mid-summer, post warm-up, on sand/snow, etc.). Also would recommend changing the fluid on the transfer case and diffs unless you have documentation it's been done recently.

eleven14 said:

Even in less-than-perfect condition, that's an amazing snag for the money considering the gear already on it.

And there are plenty of examples of people reviving 4LO on the forum through repeated attempts to cycle if it's simply not engaging, mine included. Give that a shot in various conditions (mid-summer, post warm-up, on sand/snow, etc.). Also would recommend changing the fluid on the transfer case and diffs unless you have documentation it's been done recently.

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Thanks for the pointers! According to the PO they tried hitting it with a mallet to no avail. I can hear the CDL motor but can not hear the 4Lo motor. I am going to take the cover off this weekend, I'm honestly anticipating some corrosion or something inside.

I'd be willing to bet the forward rake has a lot to do with the weight of that bumper. You could get some spacers, or springs if it's not xreas to straighten that out for not a lot of coin. Plenty of write-ups here on how to do it. Nice score, either way. Congrats! And congrats on the expected new family member!

Zed33 said:

Thanks man, for $5k the bumper/winch alone cost almost half that lol. I am considering splitting the t case, but i've neverdone a t case before and I also don't want to spend the money on a new actuator, so I'm hoping I can fix what I have.

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my 4low had obviously not been used when i got my truck, for a while at least, as it wouldnt engage.

what finally got it and its been great ever since, is i parked the truck in sand at the beach parking lot. thats where it engaged. didnt work on my front lawn but sunk a few inches with all 4 on sand and it grabbed. maybe put fresh TC fluid in as well. some people tap the actuator with a rubber mallet as well. i must have treid about 100 clicks to 4l before it went, and it goes in and is used often now, per se.

Nice find! Even with the issues, I think you got a good deal.

From the far off pictures it looks like it might have a spacer lift up front, post a closer photo of the wheel well. As far as not dumping big money on suspension, keep an eye on the classifieds. People constantly post good deals on there for lightly used parts.

Good luck on the transfer case/actuator. If I go a few months without slapping it in 4x then it takes forever to engage. Another thing that *may* help is try engaging it while it’s rolling.

Stop on a level road and get going at around 5mph. While it’s rolling, put it in neutral and then switch to 4hi. If I haven’t done it in a few months and it doesn’t go at a stand still, this always works. I understand yours may have a serious issue but it’s worth a shot!


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That is a very good price!! Mad jelly haha

I loosened the actuator bolts a quarter turn, tapped with dead blow, and continued loosening carefully until it unfroze.

81runner said:

I'd be willing to bet the forward rake has a lot to do with the weight of that bumper. You could get some spacers, or springs if it's not xreas to straighten that out for not a lot of coin. Plenty of write-ups here on how to do it. Nice score, either way. Congrats! And congrats on the expected new family member!

Click to expand...

The rake is for sure because of the massive amount of weight up front. It does have a spacer as well, the fj springs just can't handle the weight. I'm thinking a set of 5100s and some heavy duty springs and I'll be good!

keada714 said:

That is a very good price!! Mad jelly haha

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Thanks man! I think I got lucky.

montijo505 said:

Nice find! Even with the issues, I think you got a good deal.

From the far off pictures it looks like it might have a spacer lift up front, post a closer photo of the wheel well. As far as not dumping big money on suspension, keep an eye on the classifieds. People constantly post good deals on there for lightly used parts.

Good luck on the transfer case/actuator. If I go a few months without slapping it in 4x then it takes forever to engage. Another thing that *may* help is try engaging it while it’s rolling.

Stop on a level road and get going at around 5mph. While it’s rolling, put it in neutral and then switch to 4hi. If I haven’t done it in a few months and it doesn’t go at a stand still, this always works. I understand yours may have a serious issue but it’s worth a shot!


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Thanks man, yes it does have a spacer. Without the spacer I'd hate to see how much lower it would be, it would be awful.

Thanks for the pointer on the actuator as well!

Nice looking rig!

I just got an 07 that was owned by a school teacher, She drove it to school and back home for most of it's life so never used 4Lo. It wouldn't go into 4lo but after reading some of the posts on here I got it to start locking in by switching to 4lo, waiting 15 seconds, switching back to 4Hi, waiting 15 seconds, then repeating. After doing this about a dozen times it starting working! Now I just need to keep using it so it doesn't seize up again.

sloscheider said:

Nice looking rig!

I just got an 07 that was owned by a school teacher, She drove it to school and back home for most of it's life so never used 4Lo. It wouldn't go into 4lo but after reading some of the posts on here I got it to start locking in by switching to 4lo, waiting 15 seconds, switching back to 4Hi, waiting 15 seconds, then repeating. After doing this about a dozen times it starting working! Now I just need to keep using it so it doesn't seize up again.

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Judging by what ive read in here you got lucky! Could you hear the 4lo motor when it wasn't engaging? I can hear the cdl try to engage (that doesn't work either) but I hear nothing in regards to 4lo.

Zed33 said:

Judging by what ive read in here you got lucky! Could you hear the 4lo motor when it wasn't engaging? I can hear the cdl try to engage (that doesn't work either) but I hear nothing in regards to 4lo.

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I could hear a relay click that coincided with the indicator lights on the dash changing but other than that I don't hear anything when I turn from 2Hi to 4Hi to 4Lo - just a very quiet click from a relay that is over towards the passenger side in the dash.