TheLCProject
SILVER Star
And a sunny day to boot! Looks good in that garage.
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Fj80oregon
GOLD Star
Tight fit
Tight fit.
I’ll ask again for probably the fourth time due to my forgetfulness; your 80 runs the 3.5” VT springs only? No spacer on top?
Those Trep’s are sweet. Are they as noisy on pavement as they look like they would be?
Those Trep’s are sweet. Are they as noisy on pavement as they look like they would be?
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- #44
The unicorn runs 3.5 vvts with no spacer.
Sweet Brown is spooled - i haven't run her down the highway.
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- #45
OMG stuff to install
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- #46
Compressor mount worked out ... and the hood even closes!
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- #47
Old core support out. Definitely some ****ed body mounts.
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- #48
Replacement core support cut, painted and installed with a bunch of shiny new fasteners
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- #49
Glad I PM'd the cooling system. Found this gem under the heater control
Unfortunately the core nipples were in rough shape. We'll see if they hold a seal with the new lines. I'll carry plugs for the race in case it blows out and plan to fix it when I'm back.
Old throttle cable still felt remarkably smooth for being 25 years old.
Half of the heat shield bolts had vibrated through the heat shields. Was dreading getting the bolts out of the manifold - Actually went really smoothly.
Unfortunately the core nipples were in rough shape. We'll see if they hold a seal with the new lines. I'll carry plugs for the race in case it blows out and plan to fix it when I'm back.
Old throttle cable still felt remarkably smooth for being 25 years old.
Half of the heat shield bolts had vibrated through the heat shields. Was dreading getting the bolts out of the manifold - Actually went really smoothly.
FMC80
SILVER Star
Gave up on removing the stickers, eh? Surprised the OCD didn’t overwhelm your instinct before posting the picture.
What is that inside of the air hose? Is that what the 95-97 MAFs look like?
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- #51
Yeah, that's the MAF.
And yup - gave up on the stickers. There's so many new parts I'd have spent a day removing them all.
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- #52
She's as ready as she's getting to go to the race tomorrow. Been an interesting ride.
Found this gem on Tuesday
All of the ring bolts were loose and flopping around. Washers had largely disintegrated and the oil liked like unicorn snot it was so sparkly. Sourced some fresh bolts and tossed it back together. I imagine the bearings are toast, but this should last for a 2 day slow speed race.
Found this gem on Tuesday
All of the ring bolts were loose and flopping around. Washers had largely disintegrated and the oil liked like unicorn snot it was so sparkly. Sourced some fresh bolts and tossed it back together. I imagine the bearings are toast, but this should last for a 2 day slow speed race.
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- #53
Light bar installed with a bunch of other fresh new wiring and a switch pro
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- #54
I really, really hate mud
We finished the Oregon trophy challenge in 10th place, which I'm not unhappy with given we messed up both days with instructions and second guessing ourselves costing a lot of time.
Truck performed flawlessly - no mechanicals and it managed to do some obstacles i was convinced would stop me before i tried them. Looking forward to going back next year and kicking ass.
For the record, the winners were a pair of Toyotas - 3rd gen 4runner and (i think) 2nd gen Tacoma. Both on 42s and probably some of the most capable, well driven trail rigs I've ever seen.
We finished the Oregon trophy challenge in 10th place, which I'm not unhappy with given we messed up both days with instructions and second guessing ourselves costing a lot of time.
Truck performed flawlessly - no mechanicals and it managed to do some obstacles i was convinced would stop me before i tried them. Looking forward to going back next year and kicking ass.
For the record, the winners were a pair of Toyotas - 3rd gen 4runner and (i think) 2nd gen Tacoma. Both on 42s and probably some of the most capable, well driven trail rigs I've ever seen.
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- #55
Decided to open up the front end. There was a small gear oil leak from the 3rd member and I needed to swap out the long shaft for a Branik that came with the truck (OG Bobby long with a lot of seasons on it on that side). Unfortunately I wasn't as prepared as I should have been.
To kick everything off I ordered a knuckle rebuild kit from @cruiseroutfit , ordered a bunch of grease and fluids and checked that I had a gasket for the 3rd member. All good.
At least there was no birf soup.
Then the frustration started.
Now the frustration of chasing down custom parts -
Glad I went through everything!
Drive pin oopsie
Less fasteners = weight savings
Shop-made birf soup
To kick everything off I ordered a knuckle rebuild kit from @cruiseroutfit , ordered a bunch of grease and fluids and checked that I had a gasket for the 3rd member. All good.
At least there was no birf soup.
Then the frustration started.
- Hoped to re-use the wheel bearings. Nope.
- Hoped to re-use the trunnion bearings. Nope.
- Hoped the inner axle seals were in good shape. Nope.
- Hoped the birf axle clip off the Bobbly Long shaft would fit the new RCV. Nope.
Now the frustration of chasing down custom parts -
- Wheel bearings - no problem. Yay.
- Trunnion bearings - Uhh - ******* it what do you mean Hellfire knuckles use an obscure trailer bearing? Had to order online.
- Cap screws for the steering arms and trunnion caps had boogered sockets. 30 min drive to get more.
- Inner axle seals were in backwards, making them difficult to get out. Shredded the first one, managed to save the second so I could read the numbers. Apparently they're even more oddball than the trunnion bearings and are officially a cam seal off a 60-something Vega. Ordered (with extras for next time) online. Betting that'll be a week.
- Drain plug on the diff was beat to s*** (not a shock). Ordered a sexy Meritor replacement with a huge magnet. Thank you Amazon.
- Decided I liked the trail gear knuckle wiper set up that came off better than the stock style felt set in my rebuild kit. Quick Trail Gear order
- Noticed there were ARP studs in one of the hubs. Decided I really liked those. Ordered new ones for both sides from Trail Gear $$$$. Didn't tell my wife how much I just spent on silly bolts.
- When pulling the old studs out the threads felt stretched. Tapped them, but felt better about my pricey new ARP studs in the mail and kept the information for later for when my wife ultimately learns I spend hundreds of dollars on 12 bolts.
- One drive pin was missing from one of the hubs. Had new spares in stock because apparently I think ahead once in a while.
- One drive pin in the other hub was snapped. Tried to drill out. Failed horribly. Drill bit wandered even in the press and vice. Drilled out with a smaller bit to run a tap. Snapped the tap in the hole. Swore a lot. Ordered 2x new hubs which ironically come with new drive pins.
- Ordered new spline lug nuts because the black paint was flaking off and at this point, why not?
- Found that the grease zerks on the RCVs are too long and contact the drive flange covers. Ordered flush ones.
- All 8 driveshaft bolts were finger tight. Impressive nothing failed after racing like that for 200 miles.
- Carrier bearing attached to the front of the tcase was missing one of the 4 nuts
- 2 third member mounting nuts missing
- Tore the air line out of the arb when I pulled the 3rd. Thankfully fixable - not the soldered end that pulled out. Rerouted the line for better fitment next time and tested for function. Still works. Yay!
- Randomly noticed all 4 of the nuts on my downpipes have backed most of the way out.
- Steering preload was <5lb
- Zero wheel bearing preload on the passenger side.
Glad I went through everything!
Drive pin oopsie
Less fasteners = weight savings
Shop-made birf soup
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- #57
Sure - M8 x 1mm Flush Metric Straight Grease Zerk Fitting 2 Pcs - https://zerksplus.com/m8-x-1mm-flush-metric-straight-grease-zerk-nipple-fitting-2-pcs/
There's a M8x 1.25 thread as well. I actually ordered both just in case since they're so cheap.
Right on, thank you!!!
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- #59
New wheel hubs (aftermarket) arrived from Front Range. Wasn't happy with the quality of the machining on the castings and they didn't come with drive pins or studs ... Ordered OEM. 
46 weeks remaining to OTC2024. At this rate you might be ready...
