I wouldnt be able to sleep tonight knowing i was that close to starting it up. lol.
Builds The Truck of Theseus
- Thread starter littlevulture
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littlevulture
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- #122
I’m itching to start it but I want to double check everything one more time with fresh eyes. I’d have more than one sleepless night if I overlooked something simple and fry the ECM or something…
littlevulture
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- #123
Quick and dirty EGR block off plate. Made a couple small changes to the setup this morning, hopefully should be attempting a start within the hour.
littlevulture
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- #124
Got it running! Went through 3 batteries before I realized I had a bad ground on the block so the starter wasn’t getting enough amperage to turn over…oh well, the 4Runner needed a new battery anyhow. One that ground was sorted it started almost immediately.
I’ll try to get a video up in a bit. Super excited, now I can move forward with pulling the 5VZ out and working on the truck side of things.
I’ll try to get a video up in a bit. Super excited, now I can move forward with pulling the 5VZ out and working on the truck side of things.
I just passed through Kansas with a moving van. I could have taken that 3.4 to the junk yard for you.
littlevulture
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- #126
I’ll keep that engine in my junkyard (backyard) for now, not actually sure what to do with it yet. I’d part with this postcard though so you can remember the drive.
littlevulture
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- #127
Congrats 
It's been a long time so maybe my memory is off. Kinda sounds like the Perkins in Cat backhoes way back.
It's been a long time so maybe my memory is off. Kinda sounds like the Perkins in Cat backhoes way back.
littlevulture
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- #129
I’m not familiar with those but I love how it sounds right now. Imma big fan of diesel noises.
I had a conversation with a tuner today and I think we have a rough plan, I’ve still gotta make a couple decisions then give him some specific details about my intentions but it’s headed in the right direction.
Also started taking apart the 5VZ last night, I knew I didn’t do the greatest job when I put it in but it’s really rough in the engine bay now, kinda surprised it still ran. All the radiator fins have also corroded away to basically nothing. I’ll have to get a video, you can basically touch them with a piece of paper and they crumble away to nothing.
I had a conversation with a tuner today and I think we have a rough plan, I’ve still gotta make a couple decisions then give him some specific details about my intentions but it’s headed in the right direction.
Also started taking apart the 5VZ last night, I knew I didn’t do the greatest job when I put it in but it’s really rough in the engine bay now, kinda surprised it still ran. All the radiator fins have also corroded away to basically nothing. I’ll have to get a video, you can basically touch them with a piece of paper and they crumble away to nothing.
littlevulture
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- #130
5VZ is out
littlevulture
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- #131
Anyone have thoughts on cutting the top of the core support out and making it bolt in? I saw someone do it once although I can’t remember where. Seems like a no-brainer to me to make getting engines in and out easier but not sure I’m missing some obvious downside.
Probably cut somewhere around the green lines.
Probably cut somewhere around the green lines.
I almost did it and regret that I didn't. I was going to just extend the opening up. The next time my engine comes out, I will be cutting it.
littlevulture
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- #133
Well that was pretty straightforward, I buggered up the tacks on the driver side before I realized my gas bottle wasn’t open. I cut the top of the core support first, then tacked mounts in, drilled the holes, then cut the rest.
littlevulture
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- #134
First test fit looks pretty promising if you ignore the steering (which is all getting changed). It looks like I can probably reuse the frame side motor mounts and 5VZ rubber pucks which is great. The axle is drooped some right now so that’s more clearance than I’m actually planning on having. It also looks like I’ll be able to stuff a 5VZ AC compressor on the passenger side below the turbo and a power steering pump on the driver side above the alternator.
littlevulture
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- #135
Spent most of the day playing with motor mounts. Got these universal engine side plates from Doomsday Diesel. There’s a massive cast aluminum accessory bracket on the driver side of the block that needed a little trimming to fit the plate, I’ll probably chop the whole bottom half off eventually but it looks super involved to remove it so for now it stays.
Driver side
Passenger side
Then I made some plates to mount on the factory 3VZ style mounts, also picked up a new pair from the parts store. Mine look OEM and they’re very old and deformed.
Driver side
Passenger side
Then I made some plates to mount on the factory 3VZ style mounts, also picked up a new pair from the parts store. Mine look OEM and they’re very old and deformed.
littlevulture
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- #136
Now I’ve got the engine back in the bay with complete motor mounts and I’ve decided they aren’t gonna work with the factory frame locations. Looks like cutting the OEM frame mounts off and relocating them is the best way forward right now…not looking forward to cleaning up the frame, I really made a mess of it when I did the SAS back in college.
The driver side wants to coexist with the oil cooler, I could relocate this but it’s a nice all-in-one design with the oil filter integrated into a water to oil cooler.
The passenger side clears everything (the starter has about 1/8”) but the frame side of the mount is pretty high compared to the engine side.
The driver side wants to coexist with the oil cooler, I could relocate this but it’s a nice all-in-one design with the oil filter integrated into a water to oil cooler.
The passenger side clears everything (the starter has about 1/8”) but the frame side of the mount is pretty high compared to the engine side.
littlevulture
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- #137
Got most of the driver side brackets cut off and the passenger motor mount, ran outta sawsall blades and I can’t fit the grinder in there to cut off the shock hoop so I’m calling it for tonight.
littlevulture
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- #138
Frames cleaned up enough for now and the frame side mounts are both liberated.
Despite my best efforts I gouged the frame in a couple places cutting the welds for all the brackets. None of them are more than 1/16” deep, do I need to do something to fix this? I figure I can weld them up and grind it flush, plate the frame, or both. I wasn’t planning on plating but now that everything is apart it seems stupid not to. Intuition says if I plate the frame leaving the gouges won’t cause any problems.
This is the worst one, the grinder slipped off the weld and I didn’t notice till after I did a whole pass on the “weld”.
Despite my best efforts I gouged the frame in a couple places cutting the welds for all the brackets. None of them are more than 1/16” deep, do I need to do something to fix this? I figure I can weld them up and grind it flush, plate the frame, or both. I wasn’t planning on plating but now that everything is apart it seems stupid not to. Intuition says if I plate the frame leaving the gouges won’t cause any problems.
This is the worst one, the grinder slipped off the weld and I didn’t notice till after I did a whole pass on the “weld”.
IDK what's best. I chose to weld any gouges and ground them flush. I also plated so it probably wasn't necessary but I felt better about it. I do remember bend tests in my welding program where those gouges would be the stress riser where it failed but that was when it was actually in the bend. Go with your gut.
Id plate the frame where the engine mounts are going to end up. Its simple and easy to do especially with the engine out (or coming back out).
