Oldie2007 - The Little Big Red Readers Digest Renovation, Revival, and Restoration Thread.

"Rolled up magazine" .... Ya' big lug you! Troubleshooting at it's best.

 

Wasn’t about to stick a digit in there.

 

Guess that explains why the pages were stuck together then.

 

New LBR Project is home!

 

Why, I Oughta' Deck You & Lock You Up!; Phase Thirty Four - Or, How's Your Ass Been?

Well, I've already spilled the beans, but you know it's coming! It all started happily on Fathers' Day, when I got a swell Pop&Lock from my son for the tail gate. Everyone is always worried about my stuff getting swiped, so it was cool. But, you know, I can't do ONE thing- looking at the lock, it had a knock out for an OEM reverse cam. I thought it would be swell if I could use that, and replace my license plate cam, which would ALSO then allow me to use the only hitch mount available for that bumper. The hitch, will be another story. So, I decided against $130 for an OEM version cam, and a harness that would not match my aftermarket, and got a stand alone from the folks that make the plate frame cam.




SO, I've ordered the camera, and sometime during the week, I'll take the tailgate apart and do some surgery. Simple enough.... I decided I should BUMP my old E-Fan (BUY IT!) in the classifieds, and WHAT do I see, at a price that fits about what I was looking for? I've been stalking a used Decked half-assedly for about a year. Almost half price?




I message they guy, but he's past Houston, and I'm thinking that's too far, and will my old OEM shocks and springs take it? I look up the specs, and discover that this particular Decked is only 99 lbs! And he messages me back, and says he can meet me in Luling on his way to Fredericksburg. Well, I twisted my arm and said DO IT! So, this is a great Father's Day, right? Right!
So, next Friday afternoon, I go pick it up, and Saturday, commence to clean it up, and organize all the parts.



It was admittedly only missing one nut, and I happened to have exactly one of said nylock nuts! This looks like a slow DIY for me, except for two spots where I do need a second hand. So, I will get it started, then work on the Pop&Lock, and Mikkel can help me Tuesday. Remember hot, sunny weather? I used the MASH 1011 for some shade.





First thing to take care of; I know that my little auxiliary power panel in the door cubby is going to be useless. So, let's figure something out. The actual mounting panel will fit on the back of the side ammo box of the decked, so let's figure out how to get it there. Bunch of wires in there....




But - HA! - only 3 actually need to come out. So, cover those holes up with... ...some garden edging I happen to have, of course!




Now, to drill some holes in that perfectly good Decked box! I don't feel bad, there was a hack job on the other side where a covered plug was! And I invisibly straightened out the voltmeter later.





Little quick-connect bullets so I can disconnect, and continue working. First, better make sure it works!



Now, on to the ACTUAL Father's Day present! Take the tail gate cover off, and get busy.







Got to reverse one of the latching rods inside the gate, but other that, no big deal. Looks nice, works great! Ideally, after we get back to finishing the Decked, I will get the camera in that opening at the bottom.

So, it's Tuesday, I get my help. Just a couple things turned into helping me finish, as Mikkel had a lot easier time moving around inside the bed in between the Decked frame than I did. So, wonderful. Give me more time for the camera! First, you have to drill and fasten one bolt through each cubby, which fastens in front of the tail lights - Mikkel got in there, I did the outside. For the front of the bed, it's three bolts over the tire - I managed to get in there. Then, I let Mikkel finish out the bed.









And it all still works! Now, before I started whacking stuff on the handle, I pulled the plugs and wired in the new camera. Naturally, the China idea of the video extension cord features MF power, and MM vid! Lost a day to waiting for an adapter, and tested with alligator clips. There was just no way that camera would fit in the bottom knock out, so, I needed a hole, and a bracket.







I tied up all that excess extension cable (shortest I could find!) with some foam insulation, put things back together, and now I have a high up back up cam. Couple test drives before I loaded it up, and I was very surprised. The rear was much more settled, more composed over the bumps than I thought it would be with the old shocks. I mean, they are replacement, but just OEM level. So good!

Great, I should be all done, right? Not so fast. Have to make sure I can load it up as planned, and also make sure I can do "normal" things. I had ordered a big and small DBox, and some dividers. Turned out not to need or able to use the dividers at all, and returned them. Started with the narrow drawer first - that IS intended for the Ez-Up. Oh shit. What measurements I was able to make did NOT accomodate the fact that the drawer handle is inset at the end, costing some space. Should still fit, legs sort of flop around. I cut the feet, and still could not get enough flex in the legs to fit down in the gaps....DAMN.






OK, it fit in with the legs FORWARD! But no sand bags, and nothing else. On to the big drawer, and we'll just have to see how things go. Some small items went into the ammo cans - no pix. From the trouble bag, some tools in the small box at the front, tow strap, jump starter, winch guard and poncho in the middle, big DBox (empty) at the back. Since I bought the big box to really be a cooler, it will come out to the garage, and the sand bags take its place.




So, can I do stuff I normally do with this thing? I didn't need bags of Lowe's stuff, this week, but I knew I should get a net to cover "odd items" or bags if piled over the edge. So, I did. And moved my extra anchor points around to fit it. And it can stow right up front.




Recycle tubs? Check.



How about recycle cardboard boxes? Heck, this load fit under the cover.




Can I fly my Toyota flag? Got some details to finish, but YES!



And there we have it. Making the most work possible out of a Pop&Lock Father's Day present as I possible could! Is there more to come. Yes, I just don't know when. But I DO know; but WAIT! There's more!


And just because I put this pics in this folder, along the way I lost a roof molding. Did you know that there are only three pieces of 3M molding tape, and two snap points on that whole strip? I do now. Won't have to treat this one with Black Restorer for a while, at least.






That's all folks!

 

Another Reason to Step Up!; Phase Thirty Five - Or, I Better Do This Before I Forget!

OK, we're getting older I guess. Carol said she didn't want to take the truck to the beach because it's high to get in and out of. After I ordered, she denies this! But I was having a harder and harder time getting my legs to cooperate on the little Predator step. I'd seen these on my old guy thread, and knew what I wanted to look for. Time to install another set of NOT sliders - sorry, not sorry! Go Rhino Dominators (D2).

I know it's not hard to install... but it's not easy for me to get up and down off the creeper a zillion times either. So, despite all my planning, I still had to do a zillion up and downs. On with the show.

A surprisingly quick Prime not next day delivery from Amazon.


Always check for everything before....


Well packed, and ready to install



Install says loosely install brackets, then steps. OK. That was a pain because these weigh a LOT more than the Predators!






So, on the other side, I preassembled. Easier to align? Yes. Heavier to try to move around? Yes. Anyway, old man only had it try to fall on his head once, so I am a winner.




So, all good, and much easier. Did I clean up the Predators and find them a home? Sure did, on a nice 2021 with paper plates from Austin!




So, I've been using them about a month, and I am quite happy. I can get in the old way (leg in, step up and shove my ass in), or the new way (step up, grab bar, both feet on step, and slide in). Yay me.



Of course.....but, WAIT! There's more. And it's coming up soon. At least the work is - tomorrow.

 

Take A Load Off Fanny!; Phase Thirty Six - Or, The Wait!

See what I did there? Oh, you might not know that song - it's old.. So, I might see shocks November or December, so it's time to order the rest of the parts so I'm not waiting 8 months for them too. Rear getting AAL, 2.5* shim, and U-Bolt Flip. Front only missing the UCA. All were delivered in 3 days of ordering! Go figure.... Along the way to doing this, I used to bug @MattCowsmasher a lot, then I gave him a break! Last Christmas, I knew I was going to do this as soon as my Social Security $$ kicked in, so I bugged @hoverlover - a lot. They both been through all these choices, and Alex really understood the ride I wanted. It might be a little overkill, or it may just resurrect the ride I had long ago.

So, even though I don't have the shocks yet, I have added to those poor OEM equal Monroe and "recall replaced" rear springs; DV8 rear bumper, the Decked, and everything stashed in it. Already had a lean with the spacer lift, now it's a groan. So, off we go.

Deaver 2.5" Lift Progressive AAL, Timbren U-Bolt flip (one way to get the long U-Bolt!), and a 2.5* shim, all via Toytec.



So, we get a starting measurement, right where it was when it left @LostHusker estates (Thanks, Mark!) with the 1" spacer back there. So, all that stuff hasn't made it sag much, but when I load it up....


Found a place to go, and someone to help me, so get the payment in order and load it up.


And here we are, the Garage @SCOTT'S TACO LOCO ! And up we go!



So, here we go with what we got. I did some prelim "spray cleaning" when I cleaned it off last week.




Hmmmm... maybe the clamps? This 3 leaf AAL was different than just sliding one leaf in, so it took a little figuring. And a lot of up and down with the lift. Scott mans the lift!





Now, we're getting it. Well, Scott's getting it - I'm getting tools and sockets. And going up and down until it's juuuuuuust right! I am becoming VERY, VERY glad I didn't do this in my driveway.





And success! Centering pin on the leafs is in place, and on goes the flip kit. We ended up double nutting the pin, and cutting off the excess.




And on to the other side, which went much quicker with our new found knowledge! And clamps!





Down it comes, and how does it compare?



And off we went for a little shake down cruise, then back on the lift. First, Scott left his mark!



Then the old man was useful, and spray cleaned a bunch more under there from back to front.




So, we made a dent in some beers and all was good and complete! Off to home I head. How's it compare?




So, it rides pretty well, waiting on the shocks. Rake is back to very close to level, and I'll try to keep it that way when the front gets done. Many, many thanks to @hoverlover and @SCOTT'S TACO LOCO , without whom I simply could NOT have done this.

And soon, But wait, there's more.

 

congrats Kurt, truck looks good.

 

Heck ya Kurt

 

Always happy to help and can't wait to see it again in person!

 

Last Of The Webs!; Phase Thirty Seven - Or, My Spider Sense is Tingling!

Finally happened. The last panel with failed clearcoat webs finally got bad enough that I had to fix it. Back to my tint/stereo/paint guy - who has given up tint, because the other stuff makes the shop too dusty. The last of the Mohicans was the front passenger fender. I removed the ditch light, and antenna mast for him, but the base was another story....




There WAS a time when everything except the hood and rear fenders looked like this!




Dropped it off Monday morning. Stopped by today (Wednesday) morning, see if I could catch a picture in the shop. Nope. She's done at the spa!




Well, Huzzah! Took it to the cheap wash to dust if off, and wasted my money, so had to run through the good one anyway. Botox in the butt last week, face lift this week!




All one "Sunburst Impulse Red Pearl" again! No age wrinkles anymore!




We're both real happy! I will leave the antenna mount (I ordered parts anyway) and the ditch light off until he blocks it in a couple weeks.

(Reserved for that pic!)

On the way home, she did a number trick!



Time will tell what's next, but wait, there's more!

 

Last Of The Webs!; Phase Thirty Seven - Or, PART THE SECOND! Far more than I anticipated!
And I'm behind, with more coming, so I better get busy!

Boy Howdy! You don't know what you don't know, you know? And if you mess with the antenna, you need to know this:
How-To: Replace OEM Antenna (in-fender) | Tacoma World

Without that thread, I would not have figured out you have to peel back the fender liner,



And then find and undo this bolt here,



And then, this crap will come out. The bezel nut actually has NOTHING to do with removing the antenna. Well, it comes out if you cut the wire.




Then, you got to get the remainder of that wire out - held in place by the white clips you see. Off comes the A pillar trim, and the glove box insert for access to the firewall.






THIS is the subassembly. The bolt in the bottom actually holds it up. The bezel, trim, and nut are just to hold the top stuff on! (I have all the other part bags for numbers - I thought I had a pic.) Once you bolt up the new piece, the wire fishes back inside the hole in the firewall, and is actually very easy to seal in place, and fish up. Some dielectric grease between all the different metals to keep them from welding them together again, and a little better conductivity.






And there we have it. The replaceable parts installed. I screwed in the antenna, and that is that. This all took place over about a month and a half, near as I can tell, as the whole process was fits and starts!

BUT WAIT, there's more! I know there is because it already got started, finished, and more still is afoot!

 

Installing the Mighty Flux Capacitor!; Phase Thirty Eight - Or, I really didn't know it would make that kind of difference!



Alright, I admit I didn't know time travel was within my means. But it was. I'd put this off for over a year, because, cheap as they are, I really didn't think time travel was for me. Turns out it was! So, back in October, I got one. See, time traveling already!

Only ONE place this can go, and it was such a tight fit, it took three tries of mounting, and replacing the seat.





^^The whole issue right there. And a little more scooch, and got it! Let's check the time!




OK, still in the 60's. Make another adjustment and,




Well, I'll keep adjusting it. I have a max Watts of 1800 with the two amps, so it's a 2 Farad time travel device. And I CANNOT believe the difference in the sound. Even a hearing impaired old person call hear it all throughout the range, and especially on the bottom!

BUT WAIT, there's STILL MORE!

 

I Got Those Semi Truck Chunk Flinging, Back in The Big City Blues Again, Mama!! Phase 39 - or Dammit!

Before Thanksgiving, was on my way to Georgetown on 130, when I got a chunk of semi debris tossed at me by another semi that was passing. Chunked it under the rear, and the damage was done. Could have been a lot worse - hitting something else.



Took a couple more pics Friday, 12/3, before I took it to my body shop buddy.




So, it's Monday 12/6, and she's back!



The whole panel got painted, and a few "10' truck" dents got fixed as well. Only $650, because materials went up.




I'll try not to do that again! But WAIT, there's MORE! And I'm in the middle of it now.

 

Sir, good write ups! Barely saw this thread and I was hooked! I’m suppose to be asleep, but I got Intrigued with your thread! Love it! And keep up the good work! Now I gotta try to get some shut eye!

 

Thanks, man!

 

Much better! That was a big chunk of something man. Glad you got it back in ship shape quick

 

Thanks! Oh, I should have put that in there. According to the rearview (after the WTF wassat?), it was a ~5' long section of semi-truck tread.

 

Hmmm...?