Pretty quiet in here... what are you working on? (8 Viewers)

[CrabCake]

Got several items buttoned up on the platform install, fridge tied down, fixed a few rattles, tool kit sorted & packed, and installed my modified blue hub fan clutch from @landtank ... the 80 sounds like a WWI bomber getting ready to take off now when it's hot! Still have a few things to do this weekend before heading to GSMTR on Wednesday morning next week.

@An3 got his sliders welded on to the Exploder too...ready for some rocky action!

Oh yeah, got the MOJAB hydraulic jack…seems a lt safer than the old farm jack, a lot lighter, and smaller too! I’ll bring the 80 to tomorrow’s meeting if anyone is interested to see the jack.

 

[mgrs]

A/C Compressor failure in a 2009 corolla. Bought the parts when it blew late last fall and procrastinated until now. Classic.

Upon inspecting the dessicant element and filter in the condenser, found a fair amount of glitter in filter and dessicant. Who knows what's hanging out in the condenser rows, so decided to replace the condenser as well.

Frustratingly, the UAC condenser studs are slightly differently spaced from factory, so I had to cut the rubber mounts some to fit. The A/C condenser in the 1.8l corolla is almost the exact same size as the coolant radiator. Evidently the 1.8l doesn't take much...

I'll pull and flush the lines tomorrow, replace all o-rings where opened, and pull a vacuum on the system for a couple hours. I really don't want to replace the expansion valve and figure I might chance it as everything was running fine until the compressor gave out very suddenly. I can see the expansion valve on the firewall from the engine side but figure I'd have to tear the dash apart to do it.

Also found some crust from weep at the bottom water pump bolt while in there. Cool. Thinking this may just be a poor seal/gasket job and will let it go for now

 

[Diff Kraken]

Picked up a 2013 GX460 for a song last weekend. 174k miles, 1 owner, serviced at the dealer, traded in for a new Lexus... couldn't pass it up. Everything on the car works, checked out well for a PPI at the Lexus dealer (there's a story there we will get to in a later post)... it's in overall great shape but it is used and a Virginia Beach truck so a couple things to button up...

Today just swapped in new OEM 4Runner skid plates I had lying around to replace the original skids which were the rustiest part of the car. The front skids and the rear aftermarket tow bar are the only areas with actual rust. The frame and other components underneath have minor surface rust and will be good to go with an application of fluid film.

It was nice having a new rig for a year with the 2024 4Runner (Easter Bunny II). I loved the truck and will miss her, but also kind of fun to have a rig to work on again and I have a weird thing with switching trucks every year or two... fun to try them all - and as long as Carmax keeps paying me above what I paid new for a year old truck, it's hard not to take them up on the opportunity.

This will stay as a wife and kid grocery hauler on preschool duty, but I'll be doing a couple projects to get it to close to perfect OEM Tahara fresh spec. For off road use, I'll be looking for a different truck.

We are also currently planning a move back to Tokyo/Yokohama for Summer of 2026 so the kids can spend more time with my wife's family and learn the language for a few years, so this GX will be for sale in a year if anyone is interested. The move is the reason I made the switch from the 4Runner. Saves me $500/month in car payment and I don't really need a brand new truck because if we're moving international in a year we don't need a car that will last 30 years.

Anyway - here we have it... behold the 2013 GX460 OG face... lookin all like a Land Cruiser Prado. Woot woot. Why not.

 

[CrabCake]

Getting ready to head to GSMTR this week...leaving on Wednesday morning for 560 mlle ride down, should be back on Sunday evening after 3 full days of wheeling. Looking forward to some great trails!

Project wise, I picked up a hood strut from @iptman and got the other side to complete the set...put those in as well as fresh ones for the rear hatch too. It's nice to have the hood or hatch rise as it should, rather than being worried about getting slammed on the head if the wind blows.

Changed the oil...all good there, but she'll be ready for another one when I get back! General checkover on nuts/bolts, fluids, etc., all checked out. I also pulled the front ABS harness out off of the axle...my ABS is disabled due to the open front axle conversion. I would rub on the harness, the part encased in metal that runs down the radius arm. I knew what it was when it rubbed, but always makes you concerned when you hear it.

Got my @GGM front diff skid installed...I'm very happy with the fit and finish. Sits tight, so it is a minimal loss on clearance, but definitely will offer some solid protection without having to do any welding. I'll pull off after the trip as I have a few parts to send to the powdercoater soon. Most likely, I'll order the rear to match the diff protection.

Update...just looked closer at the GGM site and I need to put the second spacer on the top to double up! I looked on my phone, but missed that detail in the pics phone size.

 

[captainva]

Do you have factory lockers? Says it doesnt work with those on the site

 

[CrabCake]

N

Do you have factory lockers? Says it doesnt work with those on the site

No, I have ARB air in the rear and open front, so no issues for me.

 

[MilkEel]

What is ggm website....I need this skid plate.
I searched but nothing

 

[TRDdrew]

What is ggm website....I need this skid plate.
I searched but nothing

General Green Manufacturing LLC

General Green Manufacturing offering precision made off-road performance parts. Right in the USA.

www.generalgreenmanufacturing.com

 

[CrabCake]

General Green Manufacturing LLC

General Green Manufacturing offering precision made off-road performance parts. Right in the USA.

www.generalgreenmanufacturing.com

Thanks Drew for the quick draw...I have his mount plate for my winch too so I didn't need to buy a "winch ready" bumper...nice quality stuff at a reasonable price in my opinion.

I decided to get the rear too...my bolts and diff casing are pretty banged up.

Oh yeah, sale on his site too....20% off right now!

 

[MilkEel]

General Green Manufacturing LLC

General Green Manufacturing offering precision made off-road performance parts. Right in the USA.

www.generalgreenmanufacturing.com

Thanks!

 

[MilkEel]

Thanks!

I definitely need this for the front....already have a nice ding!

 

[kevin in okinawa]

I needed to do some adjustments to the emergency brake on the hj61 last weekend. I quickly remembered why I haven't done this before and ended up having to make my own SST to accomplish the mission. The fine engineers that designed the rear drums did a great job with the placement of the access port for the star wheel that adjusts the brake shoes, they really did. But when the springs are moved to above the axle in a SOA lift, that sweet access space is negated when the spring pack is now all up in the way of any screwdriver of a sensible length. I was struggling mightily with my stubby screwdriver when I finally gave up and started searching around the garage for a suitable alternative.
I didn't find anything that worked much better. I did come across a couple of random metal brackets that I had thrown into my "this may be useful someday" parts bin, and after a few minutes of work with my angle grinder and cutoff wheel, I was able to fashion a tool just long enough to fit into the compressed space and get the star wheel turning! Good job, Kevin....is what I told myself.
This new SST is now in the screwdriver section of the toolbox...he earned it.

 

[Jakes40]

I needed to do some adjustments to the emergency brake on the hj61 last weekend. I quickly remembered why I haven't done this before and ended up having to make my own SST to accomplish the mission. The fine engineers that designed the rear drums did a great job with the placement of the access port for the star wheel that adjusts the brake shoes, they really did. But when the springs are moved to above the axle in a SOA lift, that sweet access space is negated when the spring pack is now all up in the way of any screwdriver of a sensible length. I was struggling mightily with my stubby screwdriver when I finally gave up and started searching around the garage for a suitable alternative.
I didn't find anything that worked much better. I did come across a couple of random metal brackets that I had thrown into my "this may be useful someday" parts bin, and after a few minutes of work with my angle grinder and cutoff wheel, I was able to fashion a tool just long enough to fit into the compressed space and get the star wheel turning! Good job, Kevin....is what I told myself.
This new SST is now in the screwdriver section of the toolbox...he earned it.

View attachment 3926701

Is that your old shank from the Okanowa prison?

 

[imperium]

Crossed a few items off the list this week. First was power tilt motor for the steering wheel.
Got a deal on OEM motor replacement from ebay and had it swapped in about an hour. Had also gotten a telescoping motor, but for some reason the original one started working all of a sudden. Overall a pretty easy job.

Next was a gauge cluster swap. Buying this one hurt a bit not going to lie. But I had gauges failing like dominoes and wanted a permanent fix. Ordered the last cluster from Tanin Electronics in Wisconsin and they had it to me fast and even coded the cluster to my mileage. About a 10 minute swap.
It's still not clear to me why my oil pressure and fuel gauge were failing, but I read a few posts on 100 series forum that multiple gauges can fail at once. Very annoying.