100-series revival, correction, and build.

[divemedic]

That’s a really nice upgrade. If you can only, pls share here your 40 gallon tank replacement step by step how to and tools and equipments from removal of old to migrating the existing fuel pump, floater, etc to the new one. Thanks HNY!

I will be doing an install thread to supplement the provided instructions.

Ward’s team provides detailed supplemental instructions for the LRA instructions already.

Any additional information in my thread will be cross checked prior to posting. I’m not breaking ground as I did with my Kaymar install so really not much to be learned.

That said, initial impressions are very good. This is my second major Aussie-made part. It doesn’t disappoint. Craftsmanship is amazing, and I’m very excited to get mounted up!

 

[divemedic]

Long story short, I’m time poor. Just moved from Ohio to California. I reached out to @Eric Sarjeant after recommendation from a mutual friend @jmlockwood. The truck underwent extensive work with the Ed Martin Toyota team. Original plan was to fly out and drive it to California. COVID-19 had other plans. We were able to flex and deliver the truck to my in-laws. I cannot speak highly enough of Eric and the Ed Martin team. Regardless of what state you’re in, reach out.

list of stuff:
- 100% new PS system
- tank install
- some bushings and clock-spring
- Slee remote res shocks
- complete fluid service

I’ll post details once I get the truck probably in a few months.

 

[divemedic]

The past few months has been dynamic for everything with COVID. The original plan was to leave the truck in with my in-laws in Chicago during our move to California; then drive it out and explore the mountain states on the way out. That was scraped. Now I’m playing the cards I’ve got. My wife will take delivery of the truck in San Antonio to have during a three-month visit. I will fly out with the kids to drive back to California. Hopefully, we can explore a bit of Arizona but that rides on travel restrictions.

This morning she was loaded up in Chicago for the transport to SA.

 

[suprarx7nut]

Neat journey so far. I like the picture heavy format. Your windshield experience sounds unfortunately like what I might be facing.

 

[divemedic]

Neat journey so far. I like the picture heavy format. Your windshield experience sounds unfortunately like what I might be facing.

Yeah that windshield was frustrating. I still don’t know what will end up with that if it ever rears it’s ugly head. The body shop couldn’t promise it to be 100% fixed with the budget I had at the time. I think on it sometimes; mostly drool over ute conversions. Something like this without a canopy;

At this point the truck is 80% new mechanically. I’ve got plans for a trans/t-case rebuild at Valley Hybrids with Wholesale Auto goodies. I’ve got a slush fund for when the ABS systems craps out too. Regardless, the truck is set to be my kids’ first car so only time will tell how this ends up.

 

[divemedic]

So, COVID being what it is things with this truck have not been going as planned. I shipped the truck to San Antonio Texas for my wife to use through August. Currently the plan is to Fly out with our kids and drive back hitting a few trails. Time will tell… In any case, the wife called me up last week because the truck was hard to start and was idling rough. I asked her to go to autozone to get codes.

The first one she went to refused to pull codes due to COVID; but would allow her to pull it herself. [She is a nurse by trade and has little patience for my 20+ year-old truck hobby] The second shop offered to pull the codes, but:
W- The dude can’t find the plug.
M- Its right above the gas pedal.
W- I told him that already.
M- I just sent a picture.
W- He still can’t find it. What do I do?
M- Ask him why he works at an autoparts store.
W- Well he pulled the battery wires off. He said it will reset the truck; is that okay?
M- Yeah it’s fine... Just leave that place now please.

Thank you to the MUD community for putting me in touch with Your Mechanic. After speaking Mike I got the feel-goods about the shop and sent my wife that way with the truck.

My original suspicion was confirmed on day 1, up-stream O2 sensor. After replacing the O2 sensor all codes cleared but one; left bank lean. After talking with Mike, I gave him full discretion to diagnosis and repair as required. I did not want my wife to be stranded.

The fuel pump was bad; not a very common thing on these trucks, but I’m guessing as they age we may start to see it more. It was running at 50% efficiency, roughly 25 with Throttle. Should be 38-40. Mike corrected a few other things noted during the inspection like a worn idler pulley and whatnot. All OEM parts were used throughout.

Huge THANK YOU for Mike and his team. Glen was the lead tech, Monica handled front office requirements, and Isaac who helped my wife during drop off. You guys are great!

For anyone in the SA area, these guys know cruisers 10/10 would recommend.

Your Mechanic
951 E. Bitters Rd #800, San Antonio TX 7821
210-494-2502

Also, I received some goodie from Escape Gear; Tire cover with pouch and a storage dashpad. I’ll report back on fitment once I get my truck back, for now impressed with initial impressions.

 

[wardharris]

Nic -
I am so happy you/Nicole got this sorted. Thanks for the awesome review of the shop.

Well done!

 

[divemedic]

Wrapping up the trip from San Antonio back home to the Bay Area. Started out great and ended great.

1-stop flight from SAC with the kiddos to meet up in SA with Mom was a breeze.

With the family reunited after nearly 10 months we loaded up Fat Amy, setup the new YotaMD key @suprarx7nut and headed west.

We stopped a really good Mexican joint before hitting some west-Texas numbered county roads. The carne asada plate was phenomenal.

 

[divemedic]

I was really excited to test out the new suspension set up. We drove about 100 miles of gravel county roads. The Slee res shocks are incredible! The truck just are up the corrugations with full weight cruising at around 45-ish mph. For sure a neat boondoggle.

Side note, I now get 460 miles until the gas light comes on. Mind you this is full weight, cruising at 85mph on the highway.

 

[divemedic]

After 18 hours we made it to Vegas to visit with family for a few days. The cousins were able to visit each other for the first time. It was an awesome time!

We had originally planned a boondoggle in Mohave but traffic was miserable and my son has school Monday. Soon enough I15 S was at a crawl due to a major accident.

My wife did some quick planning and we decided to jump a 2-Lane on an side road for 20 some odd miles. As we hit the intersection we noticed a lot of traffic going to and from the entrance. Soon found out why, the road was permanently closed.

I looked at my wife and said “sit in traffic or check it out?” We pressed around the giant barriers. The road was super rough, worse then graded gravel. We soon approached a closed bridge over a wash; and followed a beat in trail down into the wash to bypass the bridge. A BMW driver had tried the exact same thing 30 minutes earlier.

While I was hooking up to the car, my wife started talking with the driver; she claimed to be following her gps

Truck made quick work of the recovery; after getting her out I instructed her to follow me back up to the road. As soon as I knew she wouldn’t be stranded we smashed the gas. 20-ish miles paralleling I15.

Finally rolled into the driveway At home around 10:00 and exhausted. I need to get some scheel-mann seats!

 

[divemedic]

So quick thoughts on the updates to the truck. This trip provided a good opportunity to assess the upgrades I made a long time ago.

Starting with the LRA 40g tank. With the exception of maintenance items, it’s the best money I’ve spent on this truck. Going from 250-300 miles per tank to 500-600 miles per tank is a game changer especially in the mountain states where gas stations can be spaced out considerably. The tank is like finding your soulmate; you may have lived fine before meeting them but once together you wonder how the hell you survived before. give @wardharris a call to fix the 100 abysmal range.

There are a lot good suspension options available now for the 100. Before committing big money on shocks I did tons of reading here. In the end I decided on the Slee remotes. My rational was based on the fact that Slee/ADS designed and tuned the shocks specifically for the 100’s front suspension. The other comparables are off-the-shelf options designed to suit a wide range of trucks. I am blown away at how much smoother the truck is. After logging about a hundred miles on gravel/washboards with the truck at full weight I can confidently say these are the second most noticeable improvement to the truck. I do need to fiddle with the settings more as I have noticeable top out but that should be an easy fix. Otherwise butter smooth with no noticeable fade. Very impressed.

I ordered a dash pad and tire cover from Escape Gear out of S. Africa. I’m really happy I did. The 100 (and my 70) both lack in accessible storage. To make it worse, my wife likes have stuff everywhere. I love her, but it kills me on long trips when the truck looks like It vomited clutter. The dash pad fitment isn’t as perfect as I’d like but the added storage is almost perfect. I’m going to add some 550 zipper pulls to make it 9/10 on satisfaction. Added bonus, glare and heat production off the dashboard is noticeably reduced.

The tire cover is just that. I opted for the pocket which fits all my shackles and straps easily. I did notice on a friends truck his cover seemed a bit loose. I ordered a cover for a 255/85r16 to go over my 295/75r16. The mindset being diameter would be perfect but under sizing the width would snug up the fitment. It did perfectly. Worth noting, the logo is optional, I think it looks cool and my kids dig it. I honestly choose this cover because the porcupine is cool looking to me.

 

[97 AZ LC]

That is some of the best baling wire work I've ever seen.

 

[divemedic]

That is some of the best baling wire work I've ever seen.

The key broke apart when we were leaving one of my son’s races. The cost for a new key was ridiculous. I had originally only planned to have it safety wired until I bought a replacement key. That wire job held up for more then a year!

 

[aging fleet]

Wasn't even aware you left Ohio, great update and glad you finally got the truck and family back home.

 

[divemedic]

Wasn't even aware you left Ohio, great update and glad you finally got the truck and family back home.

we were ready for a change but we miss Ohio, especially the community aspect.

 

[divemedic]

Got around to installing some items I picked up while my wife was in SA. Nothing big, maxtraxx mounts and the Landshark grill.

I’m going to be building up a roof rack using the factory rails and a few 3x1 extruded aluminum cross bars. When that happensThis setup will be adjusted. Do for now drilling the load bars does fine. In fact I bet this is an ideal set up for a lot of people.

The Land Shark Outfitters grill is a straight-forward for install.

No going back now

Initially I was disappointed in the quality of the steel mesh. It didn’t seem like fitment would be good. some of the lines where not matching up on the bench. I was wrong wrong wrong. Once fitted up it lined up perfectly. Easy to see the time in development. My only complaint is the badge. Honestly it’s finish is substandard I will be getting an OEM Toyota badge.

 

[divemedic]

Final product; as mentioned, everything tied together nicely once put onto the truck. The lines came together well. Very very happy with the grill, just need to order the oem emblem to really make it complete.

 

[divemedic]

Spent the past few days exploring the areas around Nevada City and Placerville. Real talk, being able to drive out to the Tahoe area twice on one tank is f***’n awesome. Especially when cost of fuel has a significant difference.

 

[divemedic]

Took a long weekend to escape north. We did go slightly under-prepared. For some reason it didn’t click that 5 hours north on the 101 would have 50* overnights. But, we made do with what we had. First time actually camping out of the 100.

I want drawers; my wife wants an RTT (which I do not want at all). Maybe we can compromise and I’ll build a camp trailer... we shall see.

took a by-pass of the 101due to fire closure. Totally worth it. Caa a n only imagine the views without smoke

Stopped in Eureka for dinner. Phenomenal Caribbean spot near the warfs.

Made it to camp in the dark

 

[divemedic]

The morning reveled how amazing the Redwoods can be.

Tried to drive through a tree... didn’t work.

Local intel on an open beach was totally worth it! Spent the late morning/early afternoon goofing off in the sand. Amazing bird life, seals, and not a soul.