Builds Big Red Toy (1 Viewer)

[The Phoenician]

Been a few weeks since I last posted. Had some family medical stuff come up over the holidays. Things are finally settled now.

Got to pick up Sushi Roll. Finally drove it about 25 miles with 0 issues. It was fun and I grinned the entire way.

Managed to do it with this light hanging from it the entire time.

Next steps are gonna be the hysteer and power steering install. But for now, here are some pics before the freeze hits.

 

[The Phoenician]

It's finally warm enough to be outside and mess with the trucks and play with the dogs. I took care of some electrical gremlins on Big Red and I installed new eyes and wiring harness on Sushi Roll.

It's the same kind as the ones I have on Big Red, so I'm expecting them to be bright.

 

[The Phoenician]

Forgot this one

 

[The Phoenician]

I need to adjust the aim, but 1000% improvement.

 

[The Phoenician]

I give anyone permission to kick my ass if I cut up this truck for bigger wheels. Been fighting the urge.

 

[The Phoenician]

This ****ing poser...

He's smedium red at best..

 

[The Phoenician]

Big Red's old parts are finding their way into Sushi Roll.

And more parts keep showing up.

 

[The Phoenician]

@cruiserpilot thanks for sending this from almost a decade ago.

 

[The Phoenician]

Small update on Sushi Roll before I refocus on taking big red out for trips.

Sushi Roll was getting a hi-steer conversion and power steering installed. It also had a small oil leak from the timing chain cover, so decided to get that addressed.

When we got in there, Hunter noticed that the engine had previously been refreshed as the timing chain and cam gear were still good and after-market. He also noticed this particular engine may have come out of a Celica as the oil pan drops in the front and not the rear, making it close to the linkage arms. So we sourced an oil pick-up tube from one of the 22r engines he has lying around.

So in the end, the truck gets power steering, new oil, and water pumps. A new timing chain, steel chain guides, and a new chain cover. The cam looks good, no play in bearings and the cylinder walls look good from what we could see from the bottom.

I think I'm going to not give this truck to my son right away and make it our hunting rig. I'll buy him a VW TDI 6-speed and eventually hope to use that engine for a swap in this pickup.

 

[The Phoenician]

Looks like Big Red is getting some height competition. Added 37s on Sushi Roll and to my surprise, There are no rubbing issues and no spacers needed. I will have to regear it if I'm sticking to that size.

 

[The Phoenician]

I haven't calculated the MPGs in a while so I decided it was time do so on my next long trip.

Drove Big Red down to San Antonio and back. On the way down with some slowdowns towards the end and mostly doing highway speeds, I managed 18.8 mpg.

The way up was mostly highway speeds between 70mph and 80mph. I managed 17.67 mpg.

It's running like normal, no overheating or turbo leaks.

 

[The Phoenician]

Got another house project done. Will be adding a 4 post lift down the line. Just ordered the "Toyota parking only" sign.

 

[The Phoenician]

I've been distracted with so many projects that I've been neglecting Big Red for a while. I intend to come back to it in full force after I'm done traveling for work. But in the meanwhile, Sushi Roll and Penelope Cruiser are getting upgrades left and right.

Penelope got some welding done on her rear frame to reinforce the tow hitch. It towed the trailer to Round Up and back in the rain without issue. It managed 74MPH at some points. Here are a few pics from round up.

I got all 4 of these for peanuts. Penelope will be getting coilovers in the rear and front as well as 3 links suspension in the front.

On the Sushi Roll end, I ordered diffs with 4.88 and spartan lockers. Got the IFS hubs in and the RCV axles. It also got a new head gasket and timing chain and water pump. Hunting for 86-89 rear axles so it can gain those 3 inches, then I'll be getting 35inch mud tires for it.

 

[The Phoenician]

Dropped off some parts for sushi roll. She's getting the Big Red treatment. Wider axle housing, 4.88 lockers with lunch box lockers, IFS hubs, chromoly axles, upgraded brakes front and back, traction bar.... On the interior end, I'll be replacing the heater core and HVAC system.

More to come on this build. Penelope Cruiser is finally getting the Sniper installed and will be going coilovers.

 

[The Phoenician]

Anyone know where to get a driver side window motor? Can't seem to find one anywhere.

 

[The Phoenician]

Picked up this baby. Meet Snowball a turbo diesel 6 speed VW.

The plan was to teach my son how to drive in it and then eventually swap that engine into Sushi Roll. But I'm enjoying how it drives for now so I might leave it the way it is for the foreseeable future.

 

[The Phoenician]

It's probably going to need a new clutch after today.

 

[The Phoenician]

Sitting here waiting on the eclipse. Started talking to my wife and somehow we got on the subject of truck nuts. Said, she " absolutely forbids Big Red to have those stupid things on it".
Since I'm a man and no one tells me what to do with my truck, I decided to show her who's boss. Now I'm hoping she never notices.

 

[The Phoenician]

Best I could do on a cellphone

Now I gotta fly back out to Colorado for work in a few hours.

My buddy sent me this, as seen from his rooftop.

 

[The Phoenician]

She's getting upgrades