Builds A girl named Paul

[CruiserTrash]

Jim @CruiserTrash you’re an Ohio boy yeah?

Sad but true

 

[RevISK]

Was over on @diesellibrarian ’s thread talking about spark plugs and I figured I should take a look at mine in Paul here, especially after this last trip.

Ashy deposits across the board which makes sense as I did a few bottles of fuel injector cleaner throughout the trip.

Curiously the #6 plug was just finger tight. Replaced the plugs with the Denso U groove ones gapped to a wee over .31 and the truck is running much smoother.

Also put a new OME steering stabilizer on as the old cheap one was squeaking and just felt sloppy. Feels better. Adding things to my list to check off for SAS…

 

[OlYellr]

Love adding to a list so I can check them off…. I guess it is less of a to-do list and more to-done.

 

[RevISK]

Love adding to a list so I can check them off…. I guess it is less of a to-do list and more to-done.

A fine balance of replacement and addition.

 

[RevISK]

Well, managed to check one thing of the list that was actually on there. Was so very much not looking forward to doing this as I know all too well how it goes.

Thermostat replacement! Yay…

Broke the 2 captured bolts, of course, got one out with the weld a nut on trick. Other one just wouldn’t. 5 nuts worth of snapping off lil bits of bolt until it was just about flush. Tried an easy out but that failed too. Drilled and tapped it one size smaller.

Naturally thought I had everything ordered but forgot the t stat to block gasket. Made some out a fel-pro sheet that’s for coolant. Supposedly.

I knew this truck needed a new t stat as is took forever for the heater to heat in the winter and the temp never got over the first tic mark on the gauge.

Top gasket was shredded and looked too big besides.

Waiting for the coolant safe RTV to set up before flushing with distilled and filling with red.

Fingers crossed, no whammies.

 

[CruiserTrash]

Well, managed to check one thing of the list that was actually on there. Was so very much not looking forward to doing this as I know all too well how it goes.

Thermostat replacement! Yay…

Broke the 2 captured bolts, of course, got one out with the weld a nut on trick. Other one just wouldn’t. 5 nuts worth of snapping off lil bits of bolt until it was just about flush. Tried an easy out but that failed too. Drilled and tapped it one size smaller.

Naturally thought I had everything ordered but forgot the t stat to block gasket. Made some out a fel-pro sheet that’s for coolant. Supposedly.

I knew this truck needed a new t stat as is took forever for the heater to heat in the winter and the temp never got over the first tic mark on the gauge.

Top gasket was shredded and looked too big besides.

Waiting for the coolant safe RTV to set up before flushing with distilled and filling with red.

Fingers crossed, no whammies.

View attachment 3938413

View attachment 3938414

I have never - not once - had an EZ out work. Not in my whole life. Anyway, glad ya got this sorted.

 

[RevISK]

I have never - not once - had an EZ out work. Not in my whole life. Anyway, glad ya got this sorted.

They have surprised enough times that I'll keep giving them a shot. Often, just the reverse drilling backs out the offender. In this case, the bolt was one with the housing forever more.

 

[toy_tek]

Why going w red? I know Jim switched as well. I ran red for about 7 years and went back to green last summer. I made a few other changes at the same time (fan clutch adjustment, H55 install), so, difficult to pinpoint which of those made what % of my overall lowered coolant temps.

 

[RevISK]

Why going w red? I know Jim switched as well. I ran red for about 7 years and went back to green summer. I made a few other changes at the same time (fan clutch adjustment, H55 install), so, difficult to pinpoint which of those made what % of my overall lowered coolant temps.

I have the OE brass radiator and I’ve read it likes the red better. Also, all of my vehicles are Toyota so I would like to minimize variance in as many things as possible. Everything else takes red.

 

[RevISK]

For posterity sake:

 

[87freerunner]

Well, managed to check one thing of the list that was actually on there. Was so very much not looking forward to doing this as I know all too well how it goes.

Thermostat replacement! Yay…

Broke the 2 captured bolts, of course, got one out with the weld a nut on trick. Other one just wouldn’t. 5 nuts worth of snapping off lil bits of bolt until it was just about flush. Tried an easy out but that failed too. Drilled and tapped it one size smaller.

Naturally thought I had everything ordered but forgot the t stat to block gasket. Made some out a fel-pro sheet that’s for coolant. Supposedly.

I knew this truck needed a new t stat as is took forever for the heater to heat in the winter and the temp never got over the first tic mark on the gauge.

Top gasket was shredded and looked too big besides.

Waiting for the coolant safe RTV to set up before flushing with distilled and filling with red.

Fingers crossed, no whammies.

View attachment 3938413

View attachment 3938414

I just ordered all new bolts to tackle this, might hit it with penetrating oil for a few days before trying to remove the bolts. Seems like this happens to everyone doing this project.

 

[RevISK]

I just ordered all new bolts to tackle this, might hit it with penetrating oil for a few days before trying to remove the bolts. Seems like this happens to everyone doing this project.

You could spend a year soaking it with magic juice, if it’s going to break, it will. The captured ones next to the block are the worst. Broke at least one bolt on each of the three I’ve done.

Cruiser Yard in Leander has all the t-stat and the gaskets, you’ll want anti seize for the bolts and you may just want to snag a top and bottom repro housing from Rust Farmers to save yourself the headache when you snap a bolt. Not sure what you have access to up there in Maine, but my advice to to buy everything like it’s all going to go to sh!t.

Also, both the radiator drain and block drain on my truck were in really “developmentally challenged” spots. Took a long time to drain the block. Since we have basically the same truck, you have that to look forward to as well…

Also also, if/when you snap a bolt, taking the housing off the block is the way to move forward. Do yourself a favor and pull the PS belt off the pulley.

 

[87freerunner]

You could spend a year soaking it with magic juice, if it’s going to break, it will. The captured ones next to the block are the worst. Broke at least one bolt on each of the three I’ve done.

Cruiser Yard in Leander has all the t-stat and the gaskets, you’ll want anti seize for the bolts and you may just want to snag a top and bottom repro housing from Rust Farmers to save yourself the headache when you snap a bolt. Not sure what you have access to up there in Maine, but my advice to to buy everything like it’s all going to go to sh!t.

Also, both the radiator drain and block drain on my truck were in really “developmentally challenged” spots. Took a long time to drain the block. Since we have basically the same truck, you have that to look forward to as well…

Also also, if/when you snap a bolt, taking the housing off the block is the way to move forward. Do yourself a favor and pull the PS belt off the pulley.

View attachment 3939174View attachment 3939173

Maybe I’ll wait till I get home and have all my tools! Haha… also my transmission started whining quite a bit in the last couple days. No change in shifting, just noise for the moment. Waiting for it to take a s*** though… might be H55 swapping here in Maine with no access to a lift or tools! Hahaha ****!