Well, it wasn't anything like that... Maybe as I make a name for myself that will come. It was worth my time, though. Particularly since it was all stuff I pulled out of the scrap bin plus a few bucks for the switch, wiring, lamp base, and bulb.
What are you working on?
- Thread starter crawlin40
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So I had a few downed limbs this past winter that I knew I wanted to do something with. I picked up a mill for my chainsaw recently and assembled it today. This afternoon was a trial run. Obviously, I'm not going to be milling vast amounts of lumber, but I was pleased with how it worked out.
Rewiring is done and tested, all good save one headlight. Need to check the bulb and ground. Other than that it runs and drives again. Next was rear springs, they were really sagged out and pretty wasted. I got new Dobinson’s leafs, pulled the overload and lowest two leafs to soften and lower them down. They still sit way taller, hopefully they settle as I needed to dump a bunch of air to get in and out of the garage.
Phew, my last post was the end of September, boy have I done things since then, just can't remember what 
I figured I would post an update on the '05 Rav4 that i got back on the road from my last post, almost immediately after getting back on the road I parked it
I drove it for a few day and then I noticed it would start pushing coolant into the overflow reservoir. No overheating, no milkshake, no hydrocarbon positive test. Initial thought was maybe a bad thermostat, changed it, still pushed coolant. Then thought it was maybe a clogged radiator thinking sediment got pushed around after the accident, still pushed coolant after replacing. I left it parked and just kept driving my tundra, weather and other life events got in the way.
Finally at the end of April I pull it back in, prepared to pull the head and check the head gasket, pulled it back into the shop, went to drain the oil and finally got milkshake... Pulled the head and found I have the 2AZ block with the damaged threads for the head bolts in the block. I had a sneaking suspicion this might be the case but I was really chancing it wasn't, but as I removed the bolts, bolt 7 and 9 on the intake side (back side) of the engine came out by hand...
So I decided I'm already in to deep, why not put an engine in it, sourced a JDM engine with 62k on it, thing looks almost brand new, love the Japanese.
After getting the engine back in as I was putting the wheels back on to go take it for a test drive, this dirty pain in my butt throws another curve ball at me:
So, now it not only has new quick struts in the front, but it has new springs and shocks, and sway bar links (because one broke while replacing the springs) installed.
Finally took it for a test drive and everything seemed alright, left it in my bay overnight so I could bring the Tundra with the trailer so I could get them both home. Well when I came in the next morning, I noticed a little oil puddle on the ground, My guess is in transport the vvti solenoid got damaged because it's not supposed to be in two pieces:
Thankfully, I had the solenoid from the original engine, installed it, no more leak.
This is day 2 of driving it to work and back, fingers crossed all is well and I can just continue to drive it.
Now, onto the 4Runner, the day I went to bring the Rav4 home I had to unload the 4Runner from the trailer. After I parked it, it would not let me have my key back without disconnecting the battery, thankfully I know this symptom all to well, the shifter was a little sloppy and not triggering the neutral safety switch to tell the ignition 'Hey, I'm in park'. so i ordered new bushing and finally got them in last night, the 4Runner will now give me my keys back.
What the bushings are now:
What they are supposed to look like:
I figured I would post an update on the '05 Rav4 that i got back on the road from my last post, almost immediately after getting back on the road I parked it
I drove it for a few day and then I noticed it would start pushing coolant into the overflow reservoir. No overheating, no milkshake, no hydrocarbon positive test. Initial thought was maybe a bad thermostat, changed it, still pushed coolant. Then thought it was maybe a clogged radiator thinking sediment got pushed around after the accident, still pushed coolant after replacing. I left it parked and just kept driving my tundra, weather and other life events got in the way.
Finally at the end of April I pull it back in, prepared to pull the head and check the head gasket, pulled it back into the shop, went to drain the oil and finally got milkshake... Pulled the head and found I have the 2AZ block with the damaged threads for the head bolts in the block. I had a sneaking suspicion this might be the case but I was really chancing it wasn't, but as I removed the bolts, bolt 7 and 9 on the intake side (back side) of the engine came out by hand...
So I decided I'm already in to deep, why not put an engine in it, sourced a JDM engine with 62k on it, thing looks almost brand new, love the Japanese.
After getting the engine back in as I was putting the wheels back on to go take it for a test drive, this dirty pain in my butt throws another curve ball at me:
Finally took it for a test drive and everything seemed alright, left it in my bay overnight so I could bring the Tundra with the trailer so I could get them both home. Well when I came in the next morning, I noticed a little oil puddle on the ground, My guess is in transport the vvti solenoid got damaged because it's not supposed to be in two pieces:
This is day 2 of driving it to work and back, fingers crossed all is well and I can just continue to drive it.
Now, onto the 4Runner, the day I went to bring the Rav4 home I had to unload the 4Runner from the trailer. After I parked it, it would not let me have my key back without disconnecting the battery, thankfully I know this symptom all to well, the shifter was a little sloppy and not triggering the neutral safety switch to tell the ignition 'Hey, I'm in park'. so i ordered new bushing and finally got them in last night, the 4Runner will now give me my keys back.
What the bushings are now:
Phew, my last post was the end of September, boy have I done things since then, just can't remember what
Man! If it ain't one thing it's another! I'm going through that with my 1988 John Deere Lawn Tractor. It's finally running half decent and now the deck is having issues...
You just jogged my memory, before the cooling issue, I had a terrible noise in the front end, thought it was the transfer case, replaced it, noise was still there, the used right front steering knuckle I got had a bad wheel bearing in it. The noise was being transferred down the CV axle to the diff making it sound like it was the diff. So, it also has a new used transfer case and new right front wheel bearing. but yes it just never ever ends!
soon time for that trip around the 'hood.
and the '61 is mobile.
Time to go wheeling!!
Time to go wheeling!!
Not to many pictures but bunch of updates.
Got the old 100 amp electrical service at the house upgraded to a new 200 amp main and panel. Have wanted to do that for years, now have 220 in the garage for welding. Need to rewire some garage outlets yet but happy that’s all done.
Bought Dad some gauges for his 2000 7.3 PSD for Xmas, finally put them in. Took the TR4a and the Bonneville to a British car show with him, towed them out and by the time we get back he released me to get the TS 6 position chip and power it up a bit. Did that last weekend for Father’s Day, OMG it drives like a completely different truck now. Sooo much better. Haven’t gone past the 75 hp setting but it feels like a rocket compared to what it was.
Been driving the -40 more now that weathers behaving. Rear springs still aren’t settled, then need a good hard wheeling trip to work them out properly. Rewiring seems good. Have hood louvers to try and make intake air temps better, need to install this weekend or next. Got some HF synthetic rope for the winch, need to install that. Also broke down and ordered a proper rear shaft from tom woods. It’s made and shipped, hope to have it next week. Double cardan to handle the different opinion and t case output angles. Maybe she’ll do more than 55 and make the rear output actually survive. Have to see how much play is in it when I swap shafts, it’s leaking a touch and I may have killed the seal with the homemade driveshaft & too many vibes. Pics this weekend as stuff gets done.
Got the old 100 amp electrical service at the house upgraded to a new 200 amp main and panel. Have wanted to do that for years, now have 220 in the garage for welding. Need to rewire some garage outlets yet but happy that’s all done.
Bought Dad some gauges for his 2000 7.3 PSD for Xmas, finally put them in. Took the TR4a and the Bonneville to a British car show with him, towed them out and by the time we get back he released me to get the TS 6 position chip and power it up a bit. Did that last weekend for Father’s Day, OMG it drives like a completely different truck now. Sooo much better. Haven’t gone past the 75 hp setting but it feels like a rocket compared to what it was.
Been driving the -40 more now that weathers behaving. Rear springs still aren’t settled, then need a good hard wheeling trip to work them out properly. Rewiring seems good. Have hood louvers to try and make intake air temps better, need to install this weekend or next. Got some HF synthetic rope for the winch, need to install that. Also broke down and ordered a proper rear shaft from tom woods. It’s made and shipped, hope to have it next week. Double cardan to handle the different opinion and t case output angles. Maybe she’ll do more than 55 and make the rear output actually survive. Have to see how much play is in it when I swap shafts, it’s leaking a touch and I may have killed the seal with the homemade driveshaft & too many vibes. Pics this weekend as stuff gets done.
Nice neat wiring in the box!!!!!
Smaller upgrades on Diesels really wake them up, the 5/6 position tuners are really nice in the newer trucks too. I put 50hp injectors and an upgraded intake system in my 91 12 valve and it pulls harder with a load than it did without one before the upgrades.
Thanks, my electrician is a great guy, co-workers father who still keeps his license but is selective who he works for. I helped him with some of it when I could. He’s not the fastest gun in the west anymore but his workmanship and quality is fantastic.