Landcruiser Heaven, 5 days in the Bolivian deserts...

[cruiser_guy]

and as for the air filter well I actually found it really convenient because unlike the landcruiser ones that need high pressure air to clean them, it was squishy so I was able to just take it out and bang it against the bumper to get the dust out after a particularly dusty day. Too bad it couldn't take the heat... from now on I'm carrying more spares...

Actually you can take the OEM LandCruiser filter and knock it out on the bumper to get dirt out, I do it all the time when I have the paper element. You hold the round element so that the top and bottom of the element both contact the bumper at the same time and then tap it on the bumper while turning it around. I've gotten a surprising amount of dirt out that way.

You're failed elbow on the turbo may be due simply to the weight of the turbo on the pipe. A proper manifold is far superior to a light gage pipe to support the weight of the turbo. There is a surprising amount of expansion that takes place in the exhaust. I used to break off the last pipe mounting every few weeks till I redesigned to to allow for the thermal expansion (about an inch over the entire system!).

 

[joshoisasleep]

You're failed elbow on the turbo may be due simply to the weight of the turbo on the pipe. A proper manifold is far superior to a light gage pipe to support the weight of the turbo. There is a surprising amount of expansion that takes place in the exhaust. I used to break off the last pipe mounting every few weeks till I redesigned to to allow for the thermal expansion (about an inch over the entire system!).

It's actually a pretty thick pipe. It failed on one of the two welds that held it together... the other one is fine. I still think the only reason it developed a problem is because after drilling and welding on the bung for the pyro, the monkey who did it thought he'd "touch up" one of the very high quality, high temperature welds done by the shop who installed the turbo... that's the only one that's failed, and it's now failed REALLY bad.

I was always afraid to do that with my landcruiser filters for fear of destroying the metal frame or something?? oh well

 

[1tontoy]

Thermal expansion prolly caused the cracks, not the monkey. monkey saw cracks and tried to repair (perhaps). If you didn't want monkey to weld the pipe where he did, you should have stopped him. What cruiser_guy says about the manifold being stronger than pipe is true...

 

[landcruisers4ever]

great thread, one of my favorites

 

[joshoisasleep]

Thermal expansion prolly caused the cracks, not the monkey. monkey saw cracks and tried to repair (perhaps). If you didn't want monkey to weld the pipe where he did, you should have stopped him. What cruiser_guy says about the manifold being stronger than pipe is true...

I stand corrected! Cheers.

Sometimes between the language barrier and cultural gap, getting your welder monkey to actually do exactly what you want is a tricky thing. Remember these are just literally guys in a shack with tools... some of them have a lifetime of experience leading to an uncanny level of skill especially given their conditions, and will happily spend all day and jump through hoops to get your weirdest projects just right for you... while the odd one really doesn't know $%&#, isn't interested in pleasing this totally random gringo, and should probably stick to fixing mufflers. That particular monkey's boss was one of the former, and I discovered too late that I (still) think he was one of the latter

great thread, one of my favorites

Thanks!

 

[1tontoy]

Amen brother! Just get her fixed and get back on the road so we can follow you vicariously!

 

[cruiser_guy]

I was always afraid to do that with my landcruiser filters for fear of destroying the metal frame or something?? oh well

I wouldn't suggest wailing on it, just tapping it on the bumper as you turn it around and around so that the dirt can drop back out again.

 

[Gallo Pinto]

The great pictures, the words, it will all be a source of inspiration for when tomorrow, in the early AM, I'll hit the 5 south on my way.....to work.

 

[1tontoy]

I hear ya brother....i'm right off the 5 too. Gallo pinto....my favorite meal....

The great pictures, the words, it will all be a source of inspiration for when tomorrow, in the early AM, I'll hit the 5 south on my way.....to work.

 

[joshoisasleep]

She's alive! Putting all the crap on the engine that I randomly removed back on today... should be terrorizing taxi drivers and setting off car alarms with her mighty short-pipe roar once again later today!

I hear ya brother....i'm right off the 5 too. Gallo pinto....my favorite meal....

Mmmm too bad costa rica is relatively expensive... the food is so good there!

 

[1tontoy]

Yea, does kinda suck how relatively expensive Costa Rica has become....

Can still get a Gallo Pinto for about $3, but housing aint (as) cheap there...

but, I guess try to buy a house on or near the ocean in USA and Costa is still a bargain. Good roads, good/improving infrastructure, great people.

Prices are coming down in Costa as they have in US...

She's alive! Putting all the crap on the engine that I randomly removed back on today... should be terrorizing taxi drivers and setting off car alarms with her mighty short-pipe roar once again later today!


Mmmm too bad costa rica is relatively expensive... the food is so good there!

 

[lostworldexpedition]

I am glad you got the Cruiser back on the road. After reading the Wandering Lost blog, this thread and the repair thread I must say it has been extremely "edge of your seat entertainment." Reading it was like watching reality TV, but better. My girlfriend was already reffering to the last wanderinglost.com post as the Prison episode.

I wonder what Geoff is up to?

Thanks for sharing and enjoy Chile!

 

[latinoguy]

Great Adventure. A true overlander....nice story

 

[joshoisasleep]

After reading the Wandering Lost blog, this thread and the repair thread I must say it has been extremely "edge of your seat entertainment." Reading it was like watching reality TV, but better. My girlfriend was already reffering to the last wanderinglost.com post as the Prison episode.

Great Adventure. A true overlander....nice story

Wow high praise thanks guys! I never thought anyone would read my blog (except maybe my dad to make sure I'm still alive). I'm really stoked that other people are reading and enjoying it... I hope the slightly evil load on the site isn't too off-putting (it's the little red line on the map that causes that).

 

[Gallo Pinto]

I hear ya brother....i'm right off the 5 too. Gallo pinto....my favorite meal....

Galllopinto, a steak, fried ripe plantains, and a Guanacastecan tortilla. Hmmm-hmmm....!Hey Josho, is the price of petrol messing up your traveling plans?Great post by the way.

 

[cruiserloco]

You' re doing an adventure of a life time, I'm jealous.

Are you going south to the Patagonia? I hear this is one of the must beautiful places in the world.

Good luck and keep us update.

 

[joshoisasleep]

Galllopinto, a steak, fried ripe plantains, and a Guanacastecan tortilla. Hmmm-hmmm....!Hey Josho, is the price of petrol messing up your traveling plans?Great post by the way.

No, but the price of diesel is . Hehe it varies country by country and hopefully we've budgeted enough to make it home... at least assuming I don't run out of fuel and take the truck apart in a hotel parking lot in any more super expensive Chilean tourist towns! Eating out here is comparable to anywhere in the US! (except big delicious steaks don't cost more than any other meal )

Are you going south to the Patagonia? I hear this is one of the must beautiful places in the world.

Yep! My girlfriend won't let me stop driving until we've got to the bottom and back, or either the truck or I die (we're conspiring to overthrow her)

 

[cruiser_guy]

... at least assuming I don't run out of fuel and take the truck apart in a hotel parking lot in any more super expensive Chilean tourist towns!

You need to start with the cheapest solution to problems and work up to the more expensive. Just think a few dollars of diesel and you'd have been on your way last week already instead of taking all sorts of things apart.

 

[joshoisasleep]

Yeah but I wanted to remove the turbo anyway to blast it with air. Also, this way I learned WAY more and got to take stuff apart!

Also don't forget that simplicity is relative (when you don't know what you're doing)... I like taking s*** apart but really had never bled my fuel system before... it was a lot easier than it sounds (thanks to you guys)

 

[cruiser_guy]

Also, this way I learned WAY more and got to take stuff apart!

I'm sure your girlfriend appreciates the fact that you took apart the A/C system too.
























I just had to put that in.