Builds Penelope Cruiser (3 Viewers)

[The Phoenician]

I finally had time to take care of another thing off the to-do list. AJ, a buddy, opened a shop near where I live so I paid him a visit. We knocked out changing out all the bushings on Penelope. It took longer than I expected because I got the wrong-sized bushings, however, AJ had a bunch of 60series bushings that fit perfectly. Anyway he knocked it out in no time, and he did it in 3 digit heat.

Check out the 3-foot drop on the rear of this thing. I'll be adding heftier and shorter limit straps. We mocked up a truss for the rear axle and it should fit perfectly once we notch and cut a few things. We decided to wait for another day to weld it up when it's not so freaking hot.

It's finally sitting straight and rides much smoother. Well as smooth as it could be for an upside-down leaf pack

 

[The Phoenician]

The ruffstuffspecialties truss for a mini truck fits on the rear 60 series axle perfectly. I just need to cut a tab and notch it correctly. This will have to wait until the heat goes away some months down the line.

 

[The Phoenician]

I've been driving around with one on my portable speakers. It does well when parked but then gets drowned out by the wind when driving at highway speeds. So I've been researching soundbars for a while and decided on the ecoxgear 26. It's water and mud-proof plus it comes with LED lights.

So I saw one as I was checking out of Academy and decided now is as good a time as ever to install it. I was not disappointed. I've yet to blast out all the way, as I'll likely blow out what's left of my hearing. The sound is crisp even at highway speeds. In fact, it cured that noise I typically hear when driving over 60mph

Anyway, we're about to find out how water proof it is as it just started raining.

 

[The Phoenician]

Someone asked to see how far the rear can drop. Figured it might be worth sharing with everyone.

 

[The Phoenician]

I ordered this hitch tire carrier from Offroad Automotive Parts and Design - https://dirtcomusa.com/ while I was still overseas. It took a minute but it finally arrived. I got the heavy-duty one with a gas can carrier and fold-down table. The missus will need a step stool to comfortably use the table. I originally ordered the one that would open on the right side, but that was going to take longer to arrive. I figured on the trail it doesn't matter if it opens "street side".

I started assembling it at night but had to stop when it got too dark and it was dinner time.

It's a bit heavy for one man, recommend two people lift it, as it will also make it easier to get it in the hitch.

As you can see here, the can carrier needed to be cut to get the hitch all the way in.

I had to mess around with the height of the tire carrier in order to make everything ( gas can accessory bracket and fold-down table) to fit. In the end it was just easier to use the top most bolt holes and work my way down from there.

Now all that's left to do before mounting a full-size tire is to reinforce the tow hitch welds to the frame. So bouncing it on the trail won't break anything. It's a work in progress, but we're getting there.

 

[The Phoenician]

Took Penelope to her first land cruiser meet up at AJs Yotas this Sunday. There was a huge turnout. I haven't been to a meet in years, so it was good to see some old friends and meet some new ones.

I managed to blow a rear shock on my way there. That just means i need to do the coil over conversion faster than planned.

But I found these in my shed from a few years ago. I'll swap out the rear shocks and make it work for now.

 

[The Phoenician]

Decided to go ahead and replace the rear shocks. On my way from San Antonio, Ron Burgundy, our tacoma, hit a milestone. It turned 66666 miles in the city it was built in.

I made it home with a few hours of daylight left, so I decided to start on the shocks. It was very straightforward, but had to use the lift jack to tilt the truck enough to line up the bolts.

In the process I managed to break a small weld that held the bolt still. Not a big deal, but I took it to AJ's Yotas to fix the weld because I still haven't bought a welder.

It rides much smoother but won't flex as much. So I'll be adding shorter limiting straps.

And yes that's sushi roll in the background.

 

[The Phoenician]

Kind of a milestone day today. I started teaching my 15 year old how to drive a stick. He did well learning how to accelerate from a dead stop and go in reverse. Penelope had been sitting in place for weeks so I decided to take her for a spin.

We drove around for roughly 40 miles with no issues. Even raced a wrangler and beat him. However, 2 miles away from my house and while at a dead stop, my rear calipers locked up. I had nowhere to pull over, so by the time I was able to stop, it was smoking so heavily that I thought it was going to catch on fire. Luckily, I had a fire extinguisher handy.

And yes, I took the pictures after the first initial spray.

So it looks like I'll be contacting jtoutfitters for new rotors and swapping out all the calipers for new ones. I'll also be upgrading the hoses to steel braided ones. I'll most likely replace the rear axle seal and bearings.

I've had a caliper lock up on my air-cooled once, but that happened the first time I hit the brakes after it had been sitting for a long time. Penelope drove for at least 45 minutes and roughly 40 miles before this happened, which is weird.

 

[The Phoenician]

Getting it ready for round up at AJ's Yotas

 

[The Phoenician]

She's got an entirely new brake system from the brake booster to the calipers. Runs great and is back with her cousins.

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I'm going to be rerouting that brake line.

I just dropped off at Krawltex for some welding work on the tow hitch and some gussets. She should be ready before round up.

 

[The Phoenician]

Picked it up today. The rear tow hitch is reinforced and stout af. The brake line was rerouted and a trailer lights wiring installed.

And the LED lights I ordered have arrived.

Tomorrow is more prep work for round up. I'm going to see if I can get the clutch master and slave cylinders ordered and changed out in time before Wednesday.

 

[The Phoenician]

Spare is on. The basket is on. The tow hitch is on. Waiting on the clutch master cylinder and she should be ready.

 

[The Phoenician]

Penelope is a ready as she can be for round up. I got the master and slave cylinder replaced last night. Added the LED lights but it's been plagued with electrical gremlins.

The LED on the drive side seems dim and turns off when in high beam. Additionally the brake lights aren't coming on and the windshield wipers stopped working. It's expected to rain for the entire time we're at round up. So now I'm seriously debating if I want to take it and if I should take big red instead.

 

[The Phoenician]

Made it to round up with a fully loaded trailer. Managed about 11mpg with an average speed of 65. Hit the mid 70s a few times. Not too impressed but better than what I was expecting. We'll see how the Sniper efi improves it if at all.

 

[The Phoenician]

I have to figure out how to post up some videos. Lots of deep water and mud bogs from all the rain and hail.
Here are a few random pics.

 

[The Phoenician]

I didn't have any real issues other than I had to tighten the belt for the steering pump. Most folks couldn't believe I drove my 40 there while towing a loaded trailer as many had their rigs on a trailer.

I will be getting her ready for solid axle summit this August, the dream is to drive her there wheel her, and drive her back. We'll see if she's ready by then, as I have two other projects going. The Sniper goes in soon and I'll be looking at replacing the leaf springs with coilovers.

Here are more random pics.

Didn't go as fast this time as it was cold and raining part of the way back and the windshield wipers don't work.

Looking to do the rear similar to this setup, but I likely won't go with Kings. Eventually, I'll go with a 3 link front and coilovers.

Probably the best part of the weekend, just sitting by the fire and sharing stories and drinks with friends.

These portal axles are from 74Weld.

74Weld on the front of a second gen Tacoma

 

[The Phoenician]

These pics are courtesy of my buddy Wes. He's a great Toyota mechanic as well as an avid photographer.

And yes there was hail and thunderstorms.

 

[The Phoenician]

Just bought these for a song. Will be upgrading the rear and eventually 3 linking the front.

 

[The Phoenician]

She's getting a little work done at AJ'S YOTAS while I'm traveling.

The pick up is also getting work done at Land Cruiser Specialist. I can't wait to come home.

 

[The Phoenician]

She sounds really mean. She'll need a pusher fan added and a little bit more tweaking, but she's already running and sounding great.

this is all the extra TBI crap that got deleted. The throttle body and computer are in there too.