Brett's average build thread

Hey Brett, how can you distinguish between the old/new style of guide on a steering rack?

I have in inverted nut design if that helps. The rack is also marked with "TOYODA" on the drivers side - afermarket?

 

TOYODA is factory. That's what you want to see on the new one too.

 

Once again, you and I are in the same place. Once you get the truck to work the way you want, it's time to call it a day and use it. (... and buy an old full size jeep... and buy a diesel Land Cruiser...)

 

Mountaineers Club did the quarterly highway cleanup today. We maintain 2 miles at the base of the Poudre Canyon.
I didn't think to get a pic of everybody in the parking lot. About 15 people showed up.


Somebody tossed an entire bag of trash.
Turns out it was full of "weeds" from somebody's "garden" that had been "pruned back a bit" I just dumped out the "weeds" and tossed the black bag in my bag.

Two of us filled a bag each. Lots of those mini shot bottles and cheap beer cans, hub caps, etc...

 

Yay for the start of Summer.
Stuff's been closed for spring runoff, wheeling withdrawals are starting to surface.
I noticed that Pennock Pass opened on Thursday, so I said screw work, packed the dog and off we went to check out the little unknown trail at the top of the pass. The pics for this trip are not my best work. I really need a real camera.

Pennock Pass is CR 44H off Pingree Park road.


Mooses.





Road 352 at the top of the pass. I suppose the pics would be better if I actually got out of the truck. But I didn't.

Still had a little bit of snow in patches.

Tick season is starting, protect your furry friends while out in the trees.

I expected a few trees down, wasn't disappointed.



I removed 18 trees from the trail. After the first 7-8 I got tired of opening the carrier to get the saw, so I improvised.

Couple hours later, i made it to a popular camp site, and the spot where the road forks.

The fork to the right is narrow af. It will remove much paint. I was down it last year and never found the end of the road. It just goes for miles.

Left fork is a bit wider and has some actual obstacles.
Unfortunately, this was as far as I could make it.

So I locked in the hubs and gave it hell. Prolly my last snow run for the season.


about 3 miles up, I decided I had enough, and turned around.
Surprisingly, there were no trees down on this stretch of road, it's close to 10,000 feet, trees must be a little more robust. The trees are all kind of short too, so that may be why.


Heading back down

 

Awesome. I gotta get up that way soon.

 

This happened today.

 

Claybar, rubbing compound and wax.
Meguiars Ultimate.

Tacoma got some much needed love.
Clay bar on the right, spray wash only on the left.
Keep an eye on that scratch...

Clay bar both sides.

Rubbing compound on the right, not yet on the left.

Rubbing compound both sides.

Rubbing compound on the right, clay bar only on the left, same long ass scratch. Happened two years ago on Green Ridge, I remember the exact branch too.


Compound on the whole side.

The hood and the top of the cab are absolutely trashed. They might get bed lined before too long. Parking under a cottonwood for the last 18 years has not been kind to it.


this pic really shows the shit.

Claybar only.

I tried, it won't go away.

Wax-off. Scratch be gone.



After wax.


for 21 years old and pinstriped all to hell, it still looks pretty damn good with a little elbow grease.

 

Took the Tundra for a drive today, did some mild wheeling.

A little muddy, After a fresh wax job, this is a big deal.

And a little creek crossing.

The Taco does a much better job off road. The Tundra did fine, but the Taco is better.

 

Chambers Lake.




Toughest part of the trail

 

Not sure if this will post, but this could be me. Just happens to look like my new ride too. The batwing is cool, but the camper is the reason for the video.
Side note, the 2nd gen taco on the left has a bitchin rear bumper setup.


<iframe src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/161834375" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

Hey Brett, I'm doing some homework right now. I have a few questions on your tundra. Is the front frame width the same as 1gen taco. Does the radiator sit below the frame or above. Thanks bud.

 

I'll get that info here in just a bit.

 

Taco frame out to out is 31 1/2"
Tundra frame out to out is 38 1/2"

The radiator sits below the bottom of the frame.

 

Thank you! Well shit there goes that idea. I found a tundra 00-06 all aluminum radiator. Was considering it because it works with the 3.4 tundra.

 

Brett what brand fluid are you running in your new OEM rack? Toyota brand ps fluid?

Also was it centered when you got it or did you center it to be sure?

 

I used Valvoline Max Life ATF, not sure it really matters.
And yes, I centered it before installing it. I used a set of vise grips, lightly clamped to the splines, don't mess them up. I made a Sharpie mark in a straight line on the splined shaft for a visual, then I counted full rotations one way then the other, split the difference and went for it. Make sure you secure your steering wheel in the centered position before removing the old rack.

 

Shit yeah I meant ATF. So you use the Dex/Merc stuff that's rated for like 3 and above? I use a similar dex/merc one that isn't specifically stated as Dexron iii only, and I wasn't sure if that was a concern. And yeah I learned the hard way about not centering a rack last time, wanted to be sure it would be the same situation. Thanks Brett! Now I gotta find motivation to get the damn thing in.

 

Yep, it's a Dex/Merc 3/LV.

 

Dam I didn't think to center the steering rack when I put the truck back together. When I replace it I'll make sure I do.