Builds Meet Phoenix aka Zombie

[Nostradamus]

1. 
   
   That's a clean 60. Very nice. I put the H55 in mine back in March or so. Still have mixed feelings about the in town 1st and 2nd ratios. I'm running 32s. Did you keep the stock gearing with the 33s? Curious what gear you normally start out in daily driving and your thoughts.
   80% of my education has been mechanical and electromechanical engineering. Most of my professional life has been electronics tech and electrical work. I think all of us addicts have that 'gotta figure out how it works' bug...that's why these machines are so appealing to work on.

I usually start out in second gear to be honest. First gear on the H55 is an odd duck in traffic on the road - if I use it, I'm only in first gear for a few seconds. I have a 1HZ diesel on a pallet in my garage for a swap, so I'm pretty sure it will almost always be 2nd gear during daily driving once that's in.

One thing I will say for first gear on the H55/2F combo is that it is really forgiving. I taught both of my teenagers to drive a stick shift this summer on it. My daughter is 14 y/o and all of 5' tall. My son is 16 and 6' tall. That long 6 cyl 2F has a lot of torque and with the first gear in the H55 it's almost impossible to stall. Kids can drive like champs now with it.

My first job out of school was working on the Space Shuttle at the Kennedy Space Center. I ended up marrying one of the technicians there. She was an F16 avionics tech in the Air Force for 6 years before coming to NASA. She went back to school and now she's an occupational therapist, but we each still have separate tool boxes in the garage. She gets pissed if I mess with her tools. Her daily driver is an JF Cruiser. Her tool box is high and tight - military style. I'd describe mine as "organized" but not to the same degree. Also taught both of our kids how to weld. Can't have them turn out to be not self-sufficient, now can we. They can both shoot as well.

I have the "i gotta know how it works" bug for sure - it's something that doesn't have an off switch for me. I can't stop thinking about how stuff works and how to make it better. As a kid, I drug home busted lawn mowers, go karts and appliances and fixed them up in our carport. This was back in the mid-70's before such things as the internet and youtube. My mom hated summer break, because I took apart her washer and dryer to figure out how they worked. Then I went to college and learned the math/science/calculus/physics behind all of it. Fascinating. Made much more sense intellectually at that point, and jived with my hands-on, intuitive life experiences playing with engines and gizmos of various kinds.

I should add that my DD's are a 1987 BMW cabrio and an 85 FJ60. I really dig the old school rigs, thank you very much. In fact, my first car was a 1973 Datsun 240Z. Now that car was the bomb and started my love affair w the straight 6 engine.

 

[mwebfj60]

I usually start out in second gear to be honest. First gear on the H55 is an odd duck in traffic on the road - if I use it, I'm only in first gear for a few seconds. I have a 1HZ diesel on a pallet in my garage for a swap, so I'm pretty sure it will almost always be 2nd gear during daily driving once that's in.

One thing I will say for first gear on the H55/2F combo is that it is really forgiving. I taught both of my teenagers to drive a stick shift this summer on it. My daughter is 14 y/o and all of 5' tall. My son is 16 and 6' tall. That long 6 cyl 2F has a lot of torque and with the first gear in the H55 it's almost impossible to stall. Kids can drive like champs now with it.

My first job out of school was working on the Space Shuttle at the Kennedy Space Center. I ended up marrying one of the technicians there. She was an F16 avionics tech in the Air Force for 6 years before coming to NASA. She went back to school and now she's an occupational therapist, but we each still have separate tool boxes in the garage. She gets pissed if I mess with her tools. Her daily driver is an JF Cruiser. Her tool box is high and tight - military style. I'd describe mine as "organized" but not to the same degree. Also taught both of our kids how to weld. Can't have them turn out to be not self-sufficient, now can we. They can both shoot as well.

I have the "i gotta know how it works" bug for sure - it's something that doesn't have an off switch for me. I can't stop thinking about how stuff works and how to make it better. As a kid, I drug home busted lawn mowers, go karts and appliances and fixed them up in our carport. This was back in the mid-70's before such things as the internet and youtube. My mom hated summer break, because I took apart her washer and dryer to figure out how they worked. Then I went to college and learned the math/science/calculus/physics behind all of it. Fascinating. Made much more sense intellectually at that point, and jived with my hands-on, intuitive life experiences playing with engines and gizmos of various kinds.

I should add that my DD's are a 1987 BMW cabrio and an 85 FJ60. I really dig the old school rigs, thank you very much. In fact, my first car was a 1973 Datsun 240Z. Now that car was the bomb and started my love affair w the straight 6 engine.

I never worked on a 240Z but we had a 280Z when I was a kid, the first import I ever wrenched on. I grew up working on Fords and farm equipment.
I understand the wife's tool policy, I was an Avionics Tech in the Navy for 8 years. Checking out another department's tool was like putting your life on the line.
Like you, I have taken everything I've ever owned apart. I got hooked with Stompers. Remember those 4X4 motorized toys?

 

[mwebfj60]

Startup attempt

 

[89BIGBLUE]

VICTORY LAP!

 

[bigfj62]

It's been pretty cool here lately. 46 tonight. This is the only reason I can work at night.

View attachment 1588401

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You guys and your rust free trucks and 46 degree night time temps.......that is 12pm not am and its a heat wave today. All jokes aside Great job. My first Cruiser in High School was a 62. Keep up the great work and congrats on the successful startup!!!!!

 

[srogers]

Congrats!

 

[mwebfj60]

View attachment 1588652You guys and your rust free trucks and 46 degree night time temps.......that is 12pm not am and its a heat wave today. All jokes aside Great job. My first Cruiser in High School was a 62. Keep up the great work and congrats on the successful startup!!!!!

Thanks! Growing up in Colorado makes me really appreciate the Winter here...but when it gets down in the 40s it's cold.

 

[mwebfj60]

Congrats!

Thanks!

 

[mwebfj60]

VICTORY LAP!

No doubt, that was a great feeling.

 

[mwebfj60]

Sounds pretty healthy, timing and idle settings need to be tweaked. The driver's front brake line should be here soon so the brakes can be gone through and we'll see if the transmission checks out.

 

[74fj40]

Very cool! I’m just the injectors will clean out after awhile. What other parts do you need to put it back together?

 

[mwebfj60]

Very cool! I’m just the injectors will clean out after awhile. What other parts do you need to put it back together?

I think the only pieces I'm missing are some air ducting and vents, exhaust, brake line, front bumper, valence, front turn signals, and misc clips and such. If the transmission and transfer case check good, I'll move to replacing steering components and knuckle rebuilds.

 

[NeverGiveUpYota]

Best mud video I’ve seen yet. The narrating through made me smile bigger and bigger. Congrats! Also great listening and following skills from the person turning the key.

 

[2mountainfish]

It's ALIVE !!!!!!! Good job

 

[gregnash]

Nice!!!! See my garage is somewhat insulated but heated definitely not... Funny thing is that we were walking through Costco today doing some grocery shopping and I told my wife that I wanted one of those heat saucer contraptions for Christmas so I can heat up the garage when I want to work during the winter. She laughed and I told her I was serious!

Meanwhile, tonight I added TWO of the Costco LED 4' ballasts, they are on sale for $19.99 right now, and HOLY LIGHT BATMAN!

 

[mwebfj60]

Best mud video I’ve seen yet. The narrating through made me smile bigger and bigger. Congrats! Also great listening and following skills from the person turning the key.

Thanks Felicity, it was a great day. My key turner got it done right.

 

[mwebfj60]

It's ALIVE !!!!!!! Good job

ALIVE!! Gotta respect a Toyota's will to survive. Pretty durable machines. Thanks.

 

[Comet]

Very rewarding. Congratulations. Now to sort out all the little details. Had to bring you down from this awesome high!!!! Ha Ha!

 

[mwebfj60]

Nice!!!! See my garage is somewhat insulated but heated definitely not... Funny thing is that we were walking through Costco today doing some grocery shopping and I told my wife that I wanted one of those heat saucer contraptions for Christmas so I can heat up the garage when I want to work during the winter. She laughed and I told her I was serious!

Meanwhile, tonight I added TWO of the Costco LED 4' ballasts, they are on sale for $19.99 right now, and HOLY LIGHT BATMAN!

Maybe you'll get some insulated coveralls for Christmas...
Good price on the LED...everything in this house is LED including the landscape lighting (one of the very few perks of living in CA, ultra efficient new homes). Right at about 200 watts and I have my whole lot illuminated. To think when we were growing up, that was 2 incandescent bulbs, crazy. I put 4 LED cans and two LED panels in the garage, about 80 watts and it's bright everywhere.
..I would write a letter to Santa about that heater

 

[mwebfj60]

Very rewarding. Congratulations. Now to sort out all the little details. Had to bring you down from this awesome high!!!! Ha Ha!

Hey man, tonight's a sit back and celebrate night...Thanks!