1999 Tacoma SR5 TRD Imperial Jade Build, Sweat and Tears

Got a package in today.



Gates AC pulley



Changed the pulley




I figured I do the seal between the transfer case and transmission since I have the right oil now.

The entire cavity between the trans and t case was full of oil. About 4 quarts worth.

As soon as I drop the transfer case this plug feel out.



Since the plug wasn't even in I figured its probably where the leak was coming from. I checked the seal and the seal looked good. So I gambled and decided not to change the seal.
Ill hang on to the one I have and if it still leaks I guess Ill pull the case again. While I was in there I checked the breather and the breather tube that goes between them.

You can see by the dark marks its was leaking from the plug hole. I wonder how this plug would of come out? I put some lock tite stuff on there and pounded it back in.


Back together. I opted not to put any RTV to seal the cases. I wanna know if it leaks.


While I was putting the drive shaft back, I put a couple washers to see if it would help with the vibes (and it did).

 

While I was putting the drive shaft back, I put a couple washers to see if it would help with the vibes (and it did).
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Did your vibration feel like slight bouncing up and down? I'm chasing the same thing and thought it might be my LCA bushings.

 

@PELICANTACO

Hmm, IDK. My vibes are pretty bad, kind of like a shaking feeling. I can feel the off balance of whatever it is. The washers did take a nice bit of the vibes out.
I may even put another one just to see what happens. You have nothing to lose trying. Its super easy to add washers/shims, you only have to remove the 2 bolts and stick them in there.
You can loosen one bolt then remove one then add it back then remove the other so don't have to hold the weight.

 

I'll likely try that and inspect all the driveline u joints as well.

 

I also checked the oil level in the front diff and nothing has leaked out over the last 900 miles.
It seems all the leaking has stopped, probably thanks the BlueDevil Stop Leak stuff and maybe putting a breather on that wasn't clogged.

I think I may hold off on putting those CV seals in and hold off on putting the CV shafts in for now.

Im hoping all the leaking has stopped. I want to put on skids back on and go somewhere.

Still looking for a camper shell/cap/topper

 

Package came in today for the CV seals. Im still gonna hold off for now though since there is no leaking.



Worked on some heat wraping today. Since I've added the heat shield over the passenger side exhaust manifold its funneling heat onto the power steering reservoir and making the
steering hard when everything heat ups. Ill eventually add a cap to the end of the heat shield but for now Im going to heat wrap.


Also did part of the air box and MAF. I didn't have enough to cover the whole thing. So for now it'll have to do.




I used the last little piece to cover the bottom of the hemorrhoid on the intake since it sits right above the exhaust.


Its crazy but I went on a long test drive and Im pretty sure even the amount I used still made a big difference. It usually runs 10 degrees hotter than ambient and the IAT
was reading 83 degrees (f) and theres no way it was 73 degrees out. If I had to guess Id say it was about 80. Ill have to check against a measurement. Also the wrap on the
power steering reservoir did help. The steering never got hard. This tape is from DEI and they claim 80% heat reduction.


Even though I changed the AC pulley, I was still getting a squealing sound. I guess the old AC pulley was fine.
I took off the cover to check the timing belt because I think its coming from the tensioner there.


Threw another washer in driveline support and it helped even more with my vibes ( @PELICANTACO )

 

Since my air bag light has been going on and off like a strip club neon sign I decided to pull the dash again and make it the last time.

The problem is this yellow connector (looks white in the photo). Its a bad design. There is way to much leverage on it. When you go to put the piece back in
the dash the cord pushes up on the connector and makes a bad connection. I folded some masking tape and put it in there. Now there is no play and it fixed it.


OFF! Also it looks like I need to polish the scratches out of the cluster.

 

Wired in the dash cam.




Started on the wiring for the back up lights and bed light.

 

mine is scratched to shit as well... it looks like the original donkey, I mean owner, used a brillo on it.

What’re you planning to use on yours?

 

@PinktacoDM84 On watch crystals I've always used brasso (brass polish) and thats always done a good job at removing fine scratches.

Ill post up when I do it.

 

Much appreciated

 

great thread!

 

FFS! What did I do to deserve this?

God damn airbag light is back on.

 

@PinktacoDM84

Went to clean the cluster really quick. The stuff I used smelled just like brasso. It does work, you just need to take time with it. Its micro polishing it. I only spent a couple min on mine.




You can see the streak through the middle is gone. Im sure if I spent 15-20 min I could get a lot more out, but Im too tired right now to care.


Here was a before

 

Well I went ahead and blew $77 on 3 quarts of Motorcraft trans fluid (XT-M5-QS). There is a slight amount of hang up going through the gears with the Redline MT90.
There are a lot of people that have Mazda's that go from Redline to Motorcraft and say the syncoros work better. Someone said in a review on Amazon " Hole E Sheeeit... It’s made with unicorn tears. I know everyone raves about MT90 but Im going to see if this is any better.

Also got a DEI heat shield sheath of the power steering line near the exhaust manifold.

 

Big difference in the picture, so I’m sure it’s even more noticeable in person.
Thanks!

 

If anyone has gone through all the pages here you might remember my lighting controls being insanely too bright.

I fixed that today. I hacked in a dimmer on the led circuit in the harness in the cab. Now I have full control to keep it from distracting me.

 

Hey Taco....what brand/model dash cam did you install?

 

God damn dude you are savvy with this shit

 

Apeman mini dash cam.

Got it sometime in 2019 (so there might be a better model now) after getting fucked over in another accident that I wasn't even close to at fault but it was still decided 50/50. I got fed up with the bullshit lying assholes. People at the scene are like, "omg, Im so sorry, are you okay?" Then they tell their insurance company, you were smoking crack while getting a blow job from a prostitute while texting and their injuries are so bad they will never walk again, even though the accident was at 5mph. So everything I own has a dash cam. Now people can cry whatever they want and I have hard evidence. They are only like $30. Worth every penny x1000.