Build Lou60 - an East TX Gem

[RevISK]

Hey Chris,

Briefly touched on your 4sp being for sale.
My A440f just crapped the bed.
I’m in dallas.
A mutual friend gave me your number.

Ian

 

[ToyotaTechnical]

Lou's refresh is complete. Very pleased with the outcome. Here she is next to Tommy (FJ62):

 

[ToyotaTechnical]

Re-curved distributor arrived from JIIMC. Nice improvement in pep. Timing was originally at 7 degrees, and truck really struggled. Dialed it up to 10 degrees, and shes very happy.

Very strange wear marks on this distributor shaft. I cannot come up with a theory of what would have caused it? (distributor core from a part out with no prior history known).

 

[ToyotaTechnical]

Some photos of the H55 Swap and clutch related items:

Old v New pilot bearing. The old bearing was near failure. Very grabby. Went with Nachi 6202-2RS2. Next time I will go with a Nachi 5202Z.

Pilot bearing installed with view of new rear main seal:

New Hardware for everything. torqued to spec. Locktited and witness marked:

 

[ToyotaTechnical]

Here is a shot of the T case before it went in. Very pleased with the outcome. Slowly becoming more proficient with split case design.

 

[ToyotaTechnical]

Lou has been cruising around town and doing great. Slowly getting her more dialed in.

Did some interior work per the wife's request... Cup holders are needed.

Pulled the center console and cleaned it up. SEM adhesive primer, SEM Grey, and then SEM clear. Then added 3D printed cup holders. Looking fantastic.

SEM Paint demo:

Cup holders:

Cup holders mounted:

 

[BurntToast]

Lou has been cruising around town and doing great. Slowly getting her more dialed in.

Did some interior work per the wife's request... Cup holders are needed.

Pulled the center console and cleaned it up. SEM adhesive primer, SEM Grey, and then SEM clear. Then added 3D printed cup holders. Looking fantastic.

SEM Paint demo:
View attachment 3855420

Cup holders:
View attachment 3855421

Cup holders mounted:
View attachment 3855422

The SEM stuff is so good

 

[ToyotaTechnical]

Next up is rear leaf springs. I want to keep this vehicle as original as possible and Cush riding. Original pack was sagging a bit, and vehicle was slightly nose up when unloaded.

Solution was OME add a leaf OME D2XL.

New OEM bushings and hardware. When leaf pack was torn down- leafs were wire wheeled, rust converted, and then treated with lanolin.

Old leafs:

Leaf pack before instal:

New Ride height:

 

[ToyotaTechnical]

Then onto electrical clean up.

Random list of stuff done:

• Fusible link upgraded to Jim's @CruiserTrash unit
• Cables upgraded to heavy duty stuff
• Redundancy grounds added
• Alternator wiring upgrade.
• Koito H4 relays relocated and secured using M6 nut-serts.
• All wires wrapped and protected where needed. T6 wrap with Tessa tape.
• Chaffe points mitigated with fasteners and brackets.
• mil-spec negative battery terminal installed
• JIS SEM hardware used

 

[ToyotaTechnical]

Lou has been living the garage queen status as I dial in the Turbo 80.

Between fuel and battery management, she is happy as can be when I drive her on the weekends. I have been putting a tank of gas through her every 1.5 months or so.

For battery maintenance- I have been very impressed with the NOCO Genius 1. Great smart charger that keeps the AGM battery happy.

For fuel- I was looking at independent testing, and Biobor EB was a stand out.

 

[ToyotaTechnical]

Lou is doing great. Just got done road tripping her to Austin for Christmas. The amount of attention she brings is humbling. Thumbs up and small talk at every stop.

Interior trinkets are getting refreshed. Most recent discovery was interior mirrors (87810-90A03) are available new from toyota. Super cool

Old V new:

Interior rear view mirror: 87810-90A03

 

[CruiserTrash]

Lou is doing great. Just got done road tripping her to Austin for Christmas. The amount of attention she brings is humbling. Thumbs up and small talk at every stop.

Interior trinkets are getting refreshed. Most recent discovery was interior mirrors (87810-90A03) are available new from toyota. Super cool

Old V new:

View attachment 4057204

Interior rear view mirror: 87810-90A03
View attachment 4057205

I’m glad parts like this are still made, but it seems like anything plastic is now available only in gray. I wish they would do runs in ivory for those of us with brown interiors. Beggars can’t be choosers though,

 

[ToyotaTechnical]

A slight coolant drip showed up- from the lower BVSV located in the lower thermostat housing. I was able to remove and replace with a proper plug 90344-53011 ( 3/8-19 British standard pipe thread).

I will replace the original BVSV that is still in use for my de-smog application. Purple BVSV: 90925-05035

View of the BVSV leak:

 

[ToyotaTechnical]

I’m glad parts like this are still made, but it seems like anything plastic is now available only in gray. I wish they would do runs in ivory for those of us with brown interiors. Beggars can’t be choosers though,

Agree! Thankfully grey is easy to paint though. I have been buying whatever new OEM parts and using SEM to color convert when needed. Turns out great.

 

[CruiserTrash]

Agree! Thankfully grey is easy to paint though. I have been buying whatever new OEM parts and using SEM to color convert when needed. Turns out great.

Plastic adhesion is always a little iffy, but the mirror seems like a fine place for it - out of the way and not liable to get scraped.

 

[ToyotaTechnical]

Give the following combo a try.

I have never had an adhesion issue - and this is on floor jam plastics, cup holders, dashes, grab handles, etc

Clean with soap and water
Clean with alcohol
Bull Dog Adhesion Promoter
SEM Paint
SEM Semi Gloss Clear

Follow the directions on the cans for application. Tough as nails. Wont flake. Will scratch like any other Factory plastic.

 

[ToyotaTechnical]

Lou must have heard me singing her praises and gave me a reality check - big ol' tire bulge.

Cooper Cobras G/T from 2013 and probably 5K miles. Will stay with the same 255s tire size. I am a big fan of little tires on concrete princesses.

 

[onemanarmy]

That blue just pops!

what tires you going with?

 

[Lucky1386]

Lou must have heard me singing her praises and gave me a reality check - big ol' tire bulge.

Cooper Cobras G/T from 2013 and probably 5K miles. Will stay with the same 255s tire size. I am a big fan of little tires on concrete princesses.

View attachment 4058100

View attachment 4058101

You now have a 32" maybe 33".... For free to boot!

 

[HemiAlex]

Bubble tires are in.