PennSilverTaco's "Perfect 5-Lug Regular Cab" Build, Aspergers, and General BS MegaThread!

Looking down what was once Orange Avenue; Braden's house would have been on the right, at the very end, just before the utility pole...

 

No more trips to California this year that I'm aware of, and now that COVID is finally winding down we will probably have another family reunion next summer, but it'll probably be on the East Coast. We were supposed to have the family reunion in Ireland in August 2020 after a 1-year hiatus, but that didn't happen for obvious reasons. If I hit the lottery or get substantial boost in my salary, I would love to drive my Tacoma across the country and spend a week or two in California, but I don't think either of those two things will be happening next year. I would save a lot of money on hotels since my aunt and uncle live in Monterey, and my cousin and her family live about an hour and a half away in Lafayette. However, I would probably have to remove a certain sticker from my truck before either of them allowed me to park in their driveways...

I would also likely have to get an oil change either upon arrival in California, or at some point on the drive home, because it's about 2,500 miles there one way and I could easily put 500 miles just driving around there during my visit; I would then end up putting another 2,500 miles on the truck driving it home, so that's at least 5,500 miles in less than a month!

 

Sounds like a good plan. Maybe be meet up with a few members along the way.

 

Originally a thread called How much Fluid Film do I need?...

I got a new frame for free in November 2021, and after talking to several TW members, I have decided to apply Fluid Film to the new frame. My friend and I will be doing the job this Sunday. I will likely be buying the stuff on Amazon, but I don't want to underbuy or overbuy...

How much do I need to undercoat an RC 5-lug?

 

I could kick myself in the ass for not realizing that just 2 days ago, I was 20 minutes from where @BartMaster1234 lives!

 

I do mine every fall/spring and 1 spray can gets all the area's I need including control arms, leafs, rear dif, driveshaft, etc.

To do the entire frame including inside the frame rails you will probably need 2 spray cans.

 

Sound advice above and I got more efficient with it every year.

I use three cans - one whole rattle can inside the frame rail on each side near the cats using a 360 degree extension wand, the third can I use to hit everything else (leafs, c-channel frame in rear, spare tire mechanism, control arms, etc.)

I used to use way too much, now I just use a little too much...

 

You can save a LOT of money over the course of a few years by buying it by the [what passes for a] gallon and spraying it on yourself. I do mine each year, and am very liberal with the application. I would estimate that I get ~5 years from one "gallon" can. And as an added bonus, if you don't already have a compressor and/or undercoating gun, now you have a reason to buy them!

 

I used Woolswax and bought the spray kit and a gallon. I used less than a pint when I did it. Woolswax is a little thicker than fluid film. I had a can of fluid film with a spray nozzle for areas that I had trouble reaching. I will do it again in the fall. You don't use as much as you would think. Drop the spare tire and hit it heavy. Nice to coat the chain and cable so you can remove your spare if you need it.

 

Exactly the same as @Saskabush here. I buy Fluid Film by the rattlecan 6-pack on Amazon and use the stuff around the house and on three vehicles (two Tacomas) and other projects. Two cans should give you plenty to do one truck.

Fluid Film sell a longish plastic tube with a small brass spray nozzle at the end to replace the normal straw. This can be a help on longer enclosed sections, like frame and rockers. The nozzle sprays a fan outward 360º. If one inserts that tube its full length (probably around 18 inches) and sprays as it's withdrawn, a good coating is applied the length of the cavity. There are enough access and drain holes along the length of a panel or frame rail to coat the full interior that way.

 

Nothing to contribute other than to say I love Fluid Film.

 

I bought two cans!

 

What exactly is Woolswax?

 

In use a couple cans of Fluid Film under the truck. For the suspension (rear shocks, front coilovers, upper control arms, and remote reservoirs) i use Boeshield T-9... less greasy and clear compared to FF.

 

A different way to skin the cat. Does the same job in the end and some folks prefer it over fluid film due to its thicker formula. Makes it harder to wash off. Think road spray l, etc.

Additional reading

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/my-woolwax-vs-fluid-film-experience.705899/

 

Where can I buy it? I bought the FF on Amazon...

 

I buy it on Amazon but Walmart, Lowes, Home depot also carries it (either online or in store.)
https://boeshield.com/why-boeshield-2/

 

How much of that do I need? And I still apply the FF to the frame?

 

I may have overbought last year. 1 gallon will go way farther than you would think. We hit 3 Tacomas and a 4Runner with 1 gallon and still had some left in the can.

 

I plan on doing my dad's Yukon and my mom's Murano too...