Hi folks,
It's been a while and I had hoped to be able to give more of an update, but the answer to 'what have you done to your 100 series this week?' is
buy even more parts.
Some of you may recall the obscene amount of stuff I bought from Japan for my 100 series that arrived in preparation for it's overhaul, and well it's not been 100% smooth sailing sadly! The truck has been away for about 1.5 months so far due various additional complications but we're getting closer to being able to pick it up.
Despite using my VIN for parts verification on Partsouq before ordering from Japan via Japan4x4, I somehow managed to order the wrong radiator, so after the cost and shipping, import duty etc, it was wrong, so my LC guy had to go out and buy the right OEM one (-£650!), plus I ordered the wrong Aux belt and pulley (these 3 things I didn't check the numbers on myself/visual check before ordering to compare, so it's my own fault for trusting a 3rd party website). The radiator and all coolant hoses, T pieces, and radiator fixings have been replaced so that's good for another 20 years now.
There have been quite a few little bits along the way which I've needed to source, including some bigger bits too. I knew the outer housing/cover on the rear shocks was a bit crusty, but not quite this bad. As such I'm pulling the trigger and getting some new OEM rear shocks (and the stack of bushes/washers/mounts etc) ordered in the next day or two, and they'll be being replaced in the next week or so, but are likely to be coming from Japan or UAE again.
I didn't have budget for new/refurbished injectors currently, even though I know after 238K it will most likely need them, so whilst I got the inlet removed and cleaned out, I got the valve clearances adjusted and injector seals replaced, apparently the seals were very very bad - bad enough to be causing some blowby on the engine but that thankfully is now resolved! Injectors can be sorted down the line once I get some miles under it's belt otherwise my Chief Financial Officer (my beloved), will start being less reasonable with my regular parts purchasing!
After all this work, the rear will have been completely renewed suspension, and bushing wise, just the discs/pads and some bearings to replace at the same time later this year (none of it is needed really at this stage).
The front is getting the full works minus the shock absorbers as they are okay for now. Upper & lower control arms, discs, pads, bearings, spindle bearing, CV axles, steering rack are all in progress, and it'll be taken in for a full alignment to get it running lovely. I noticed a wobble/vibration at circa 60MPH upwards which I never knew if it was any of the various components that were gone, an imbalanced wheel or something else, this will hopefully resolve it
All of the fluids (engine oil, coolant, brake fluid, diff & transfer box fluid, steering fluid) are being replaced as part of this, so that will also help the cause.
Despite quite a few setbacks and delays, I'm really excited to drive it again very soon. It's going to feel like a million bucks after all this, especially as it was very very tired after a long life with seemingly little maintenance. Hopefully the Toyota gods look favourably upon me and this truck from now on as every single component being fitted is OEM, which is why if you see me walking down the street I'll be wearing a potato sack and eating out of bins for the foreseeable
Hopefully I'll have more juicy pics soon
Didn't anticipate this to be a BIG job, but it doesn't appear simple.
