What did you do with your truck this week?

[Teddy]

Radiator developed a crack between the plastic and metal tank over the weekend. Have a new OEM radiator, all hoses, clamps, thermostat, and gasket inbound today. Plan to replace my PHH hose with my new Samco silicone hose at the same time. I'm hoping to get all this done on Saturday.

I recently installed a new OEM starter, and tons of other PM items. Should be good to go for GSMTR after this weekend, pending any other unforeseen items.

 

[NCFJ]

Teddy, you will drive with a big smile on your face. Knowing all that stuff is base lined somehow just makes ya feel good. I am waiting for a lift kit a trans and a Griffin radiator. Starting to pull apart all the wiring etc on the motor. The plan is to have everything I need to do the swap on the shelf before I start to take the truck apart. So I am trying to get all the big stuff first.

When my radiator is done Griffin will have a part number for a direct fit OEM 80 series radiator and the same in an early Vortec series. Already available for the 60 series.

 

[Teddy]

Yeah, a guy at work is big in to hot rods and recommended I go with a Griffin, but I'm just sticking with OEM. No plans to ever try to piece together a SC or do an engine swap. So far (as far as drivetrain in concerned) my 80 is all OEM Toyota and I want to keep it that way for as long as possible...I know...fanboy.

 

[NCFJ]

No worries here, to each their own. I am a fan boy too, just another direction. I am a happy camper, my roots go back to my first car being a 1957 Chevy Belair, got it when I was 15, in 1975. The parking lot of my high school was full of muscle cars. Kent Amons had a pristine 1964 GTO with 389. I've not started to play around with these motors yet. Building for reliability and long term use is the game plan for now. A 5.3L in stock trim and flashed to the vehicle is plenty of power for a 60 or 80 series. There is a hot rod pickup in my future somewhere. My wife wants a late 80s Jag with an LS drive train and new suspension. I want to hit the lotto

 

[jynx]

@NCFJ I am guessing that Griffin Unit will be all aluminum? If so I will keep that in mind. I got an all aluminum one from Ebay for mine a year or so ago and so far so good, but good to know there are other options out there. I am not a fan of the plastic tank/aluminum core units that seem to be the way of the future. I tried to no avail to get an all aluminum one for my 3rd gen when i replaced it last year. I can't believe that no one has made an all aluminum radiator for the 3.4 series Tacomas and 4runners yet. I happen to know that a Tacoma Rad will fit in a 4runner and I am sure the opposite is true as well.

 

[Trollhole]

Teddy, you will drive with a big smile on your face. Knowing all that stuff is base lined somehow just makes ya feel good. I am waiting for a lift kit a trans and a Griffin radiator. Starting to pull apart all the wiring etc on the motor. The plan is to have everything I need to do the swap on the shelf before I start to take the truck apart. So I am trying to get all the big stuff first.

When my radiator is done Griffin will have a part number for a direct fit OEM 80 series radiator and the same in an early Vortec series. Already available for the 60 series.

Your lift kit came in.

 

[Trollhole]

As far as 80 radiators. As long as you aren't doing anything crazy to the motor stock will work. I've had a new stock one fail after a few months but all the others were fine. Ironically it was my own 80. I think the best cooling system mod for the 80 for the money is the blue fan clutch mod.

 

[NCFJ]

Morning Marshal, Thanks!! I was hoping to get it and the radiator in one trip, but they wont be done this week. I might just drive down today.

 

[NCFJ]

The Griffin radiator is over kill for the OEM motor, hell it is overkill for the Vortec. The radiator will handle up to 750 HP. More HP means more heat and when it comes to cooling over kill works for me. One less item to worry about. It is an all aluminum radiator. To me Griffin is to radiator what Atlas is to transfer case.

 

[the gimpey one]

Put some miles on the cruiser today. Drove up to stumphouse tunnel. Then headed north to highlands NC only to realize there was no where we could eat as family financially. So we headed to Cashiers then back down 64. Stopped at Gorges State Park then headed home. I got to get that exhaust leak fixed!

 

[Teddy]

Put my radiator, hoses and thermostat in yesterday. Changed the oil today.

 

[the gimpey one]

Led swap behind cluster and heater controls. However now my high beam and battery light aren't working.

 

[pondjumpr]

I am getting the 40 ready to go "topless." I fabricated some brackets to relocate my seatbet tensioner to the lower portion of my rollbar. On my 78, the tensioner is mounted to the top and the pivot point, for the 3 point (top) is also on the removable top. (This was a really dumb idea both for structural integrity and convenience for a removable top) I relocated the top part to the top of the roll bar. The seatbelt tensioner is still in the same upright position so it is functioning great.

So... After pulling the numerous bolts from the top and a few screws, removing the ambulance doors... I plan on getting a helping hand and removing the top tonight. Fingers crossed that it comes off fairly smoothly. I will update you guys later tonight or tomorrow with how it goes for the first time.

 

[the gimpey one]

Sweet

 

[pondjumpr]

It's off.

 

[pondjumpr]

The toughest part, other than manhandling the top and realizing it will not fit in the back of my truck . Was removing the front door hinge pins. They were a bear.

The kids loved it. Great night to be topless.

 

[Teddy]

I like it! The wife will be stealing it for grocery runs now!

 

[BMThiker]

Katemcy Rocks with the LSLC guys.

 

[Teddy]

How'd the new shocks do?

 

[Teddy]

Drove up to a cabin in Hot Springs, NC with the hot springs piped in.

Then found the Blue Whale's little brother in Asheville on the way home (I don't lean that much, it's the angle of the pic).