Mister Blue the sunburned 2004 diesel 105

[John Young]

It is already looking a thousand times better! Great work John!

Is this expected to come to Canada as well?

Thank you, I think so too!

Maybe, maybe not, re Canada. This truck can come to the US in September of 2028. I may just keep it here for the next five years and then send it. It will depend on whether I keep spending time in the UAE while in retirement. Quite undecided about this at present.

 

[cruisermatt]

Already looking a ton better.

 

[John Young]

Yesterday I drove the truck a little, without AC, and then went by the garage to see if perhaps it was just a simple fill up. It wasn't.

After a few false starts I spotted a jet of gas escaping from an o-ring joint. They pulled it:

This thing had lost all flexibility. And it broke into more pieces when flexed. I continue to think that this truck sat in the sun unattended for several years. Anyways, even with the o-ring replaced the compressor clutch would not engage. Electrical issue; perhaps a new one. Anyways, all part of the journey.

 

[jake9]

Sounds like it was an agricultural vehicle? Nice job resurrecting it, and bringing into compliance. Hope you can get the A/C working.

 

[John Young]

Sounds like it was an agricultural vehicle? Nice job resurrecting it, and bringing into compliance. Hope you can get the A/C working.

Working AC is kind of a requirement here. It looks like it may take some doing. The guys had it for a day and earlier I got a photo:

They are trying to figure out what the electrical issue might be. I am thinking that the entire AC system needs to come out as part of the overall refurbishment of the truck.

My biggest worry right now is the timing belt letting go. That 5-7 year heat soak cannot have been good for it, but I want to change the water pump, the oil pump, etc all at the same time, and it will take a bit for it to come from Australia. I thought I would try Terrain Tamer this time. Here is my list so far:

 

[Greek Cruiserhead]

Today was a red letter day. The 105 went to the testing station for registration.

View attachment 3354470
Lo and behold, it passed!
View attachment 3354475
and in due course plates!
View attachment 3354476
The next step was to get the newly refurbished rims with new rubber on the truck. I flatbedded the truck to the tire place.

What a awesome Cruiser story!
...and well documented too!
Thank you John for sharing with us!

PS. These Swallow tyres (Road Track Major copies, Indonesian made) you used are just great: at the 40-Series community we can only dream of...

 

[John Young]

What a awesome Cruiser story!
...and well documented too!
Thank you John for sharing with us!

PS. These Swallow tyres (Road Track Major copies, Indonesian made) you used are just great: at the 40-Series community we can only dream of...

Thanks GC!

The Swallow tires were actually just loaners from SebSports. Seb kindly let me borrow them so that we could get the original rims cleaned, sand blasted and powdercoated. We then shod them with Kumho 285/75/R16 tires, which I think are the perfect size for general use on our 80's and 100's. I think the Swallow tires are destined for a 40 or a 70. I made sure to flatbed it everywhere so as to use the tires as little as possible.

Missus White has identical tires and rims.

It is quite fortunate that we just finished Missus White when Mister Blue came along. We know just what to do now, and there are a few areas where we can do things better. I still am having an internal debate about putting in a very conservative, low-pressure turbocharger. These trucks are not fast and at times it is annoying that a Yaris can leave them in the dust at the stoplight. But as others have pointed out, these trucks can do things that a Yaris cannot.

I am going to continue to keep my eye out for an even older 105, one that I can bring back to the US sooner. Mister Blue can go in September of 2028, which seems far away. I'm in my 60's now so time is quite relevant. Mister Blue is kind of a low-spec truck. It does not have the fridge between the seats and it just has the two position transfer case: 4L and 2H. I am contemplating putting a H152F gearbox and a better transfer case in it. I might even spring for a new transfer case which I understand are readily available. I probably would go for a used H152F, and have it rebuilt with a thorough inspection and new seals and bearings.

Right now it is the Eid holidays in the Middle East so nobody is doing anything. We all are just taking a break. I'm using the time to try to finalize my Terrain Tamer order.

 

[D21FJ60]

John, you are living the dream.
This iteration and color of cruiser is IMO the perfect one.
Glad to see things going well

 

[John Young]

John, you are living the dream.
This iteration and color of cruiser is IMO the perfect one.
Glad to see things going well

Thank you WIlliam. I am consciously trying NOT to acquire another one until I have things more squared away. I'm looking forward to driving Mr. Blue again. Parts are on their way from Australia to make all better.

 

[John Young]

I am back in the country after spending some quality time with Missus White in Canada. We've been waiting for a bunch of parts from Terrain Tamer which are arriving in the port at the end of this week. I started Mr. Blue and he sounds good. Rough inside, but he sounds good.

 

[JDM Journeys]

I don't usually venture over to this sub (our 100 series likes to fly under the radar mostly) but had to stop in and comment. Mr. Blue looks really good so far John. Love that color, and the 1HZ starting after so long is epic, albeit unsurprising.

Great find! I can feel the heat through the pics though - if that doesn't make someone "determined" to get through the line up, I don't know what would!

 

[John Young]

I don't usually venture over to this sub (our 100 series likes to fly under the radar mostly) but had to stop in and comment. Mr. Blue looks really good so far John. Love that color, and the 1HZ starting after so long is epic, albeit unsurprising.

Great find! I can feel the heat through the pics though - if that doesn't make someone "determined" to get through the line up, I don't know what would!

Yes, the word that comes to mind to describe the current weather in Dubai, especially after a couple of weeks in British Columbia is:

And the guys at PowerTec are getting busy on Mr. Blue. The plan is to do the timing belt and waterpump, steam clean everything and then let me drive it as a daily for a couple of weeks while they do some work on my two 80 series currently in progress, an Omani diesel with a transplanted 1HD-FT, and the Holy Truck, a saved-from-the knacker's yard, petrol truck, both with manual trannys.
Here are a couple of photos of Mister Blue from today:

Does not look too bad down there. But as always I ask the guys to clean as much as possible before putting it back together. And here is the old vs the new Terrain Tamer with the metal impeller water pump.

There was nothing wrong with the old water pump as far as I knew but this is a 450k km engine and I am replacing everything that might be close to the end of its life that could leave me stranded in the heat. I was jazzed to get the metal impeller TT water pump. Dam thing looks extremely solid!

 

[John Young]

PowerTec is completing an initial inspection, finding lots and lots of nasty.

I knew about the AC condenser:

But it is plain that heat has taken its toll everywhere.

Here is Powertec's preliminary list of what needs doing:

• Drive Belt - all 3
• AC Pulley
• Accelerator Cable
• Power Steering Pump Hose
• Air Filter
• Fuel Filter
• Oil Filter
• AC Condensor
• Thermostat
• Valve Cover Gaskeet
• Panrod Bushs
• Engine Mounts
• Gearbox Mount
• AC Dryer
• Expansion Valve
• AC Compressor
• AC Filter
• Radiator Reservoir Tank
• Body Mounts
• Inner Wheel Arch cover
• Brake Pads all round
• Rear Lower Arm Bushs
• Rear Upper Arm Bushs
• Anti Roll bar rod Bush
• Anti Roll Bar Links
• Exhaust Mounts
• Front Lower Arm Bushes
• Transfer case Oil Seals front and back
• Front Anti Roll bar Bush
• Front Anti Roll Bar Link
• Front Shock Bushs
• Rear Shock Bushs
• Front Knuckle Kit
• Front Steering Damper
• Clutch Kit
• Wheel Stud - 2
• Gearbox Oil
• 4x4 Shifter Knob
• Wiper Blades

No surprises here!

 

[NE Snowman]

I can only imagine what your finding from that heat. The CA Cruiser I snagged had some crusty rubber everywhere!

 

[John Young]

Hey Snowman, it can get pretty hot in SoCal too....

Just dropped off the Omani diesel 80 at the shop and picked up Mr. Blue to drive for a week or so because the Omani developed a horrible 'death wobble'. Mr. Blue drives very nicely and the AC is just fine despite a slow leak. (I ordered a 1kg can of R134A and a filler hose on Amazon.ae for about 35 USD and will just fill 'er up as needed). Mr. Blue has enough get up and go to be ok in traffic. The comparison between the Omani truck and Mr. Blue is very stark in this regard. And the tranny on the Omani is loose and feels like it is on its last legs. Both chassis have about 450k km on the clock. Those must have been very hard Omani miles!

I'm still trying to decide whether to install the conservative turbo kit on Mr. Blue. Apparently things have tightened up, inspection approval-wise over the last couple of years and I need to understand that process better.

I've also decided to upgrade the springs all the way around with new Terrain Tamer taking into account the extra weight for the OEM winch I will add and a inch or two of lift. Mister Blue, just like his owner, is sagging just a bit.

Meanwhile it is very nice to be driving Mister Blue. I was already missing Missus White.

 

[John Young]

I am daily driving Mister Blue now. Really very pleasant but it does need attention in lots of areas. To make it more pleasant I worked on the installation of a head unit yesterday. The plastic trim in the center was in very, very bad shape.

I'm going to drive up to Sharjah this morning for the first time in a long time. Everything just falls apart of the slightest touch. I'm pretty sure it's the heat together with some ruff handling at some point in the past when they were doing aircon work. I am going to replace with new wherever I can get it but where I can't get it I'm going to go try to find some better used pieces.

Here's the wiring harness for the head unit.

Thanks again to @cruisermatt for introducing me to Tessa tape.

 

[John Young]

Not a lot of selection in Sharjah. I think the old LC parts market is drying up. It was hot and I just did not have great luck, but eventually I founds some acceptable pieces at a 100 series-focused place. Not thrilled with the prices either.

The side pieces are not OEM but are of ok quality. They came with the vents but I like the OEM toyota louvers much better. They are a lot more solid. The top and bottom pieces were rough. And the knobs are on the wrong side on the bottom piece. , but there are not too many wires so I will just swap them over I think, and not worry about the labels. Hopefully I can find another one of these later on that will be a better match.

Just a light primer coat:

I would reuse and repair the old bottom piece if the plastic were not so brittle. Really it just falls apart on the bezel that came with the car. But maybe I will have another look at that.

 

[Andrew S]

John, you may be able to peel the climate control sticker off each bezel and re-glue the correct one to your new trim?

 

[John Young]

John, you may be able to peel the climate control sticker off each bezel and re-glue the correct one to your new trim?

I looked at doing that but there are translucent sections of the plastic to let in the light. I might just do as you suggest and forget about the backlighting. I had a choice of spending 300 USD for a complete/proper setup or 175 for this. Not sure I made the right decision.

The other thing I am pondering is whether I can cut the bits I want off of this bezel and with epoxy etc. put them on the old bezel. My gut is telling me that would not end well. I don't mind the controls being reversed. I also might just see if the controller that came with this bezel will work with my car. I think it might just, in which case things are a lot simpler.

 

[John Young]

John, you may be able to peel the climate control sticker off each bezel and re-glue the correct one to your new trim?

@Andrew S, you were completely right, and I will get to that in a moment.

Getting the finish right is a bit difficult.

The first time I painted the pieces they came out much too shiney.

So I scuffed it up and tried Rustoleum Satin Black instead. Much better:

But even after sanding a bit, I had a real orange peel problem with the lower section; maybe because of the complex shapes I had much too thick paint, and the satin could not cure properly.

So I decided to strip it again and try again

Still working on it.