San Diego BS Thread.

So I’m getting closer on the engine since I’ve only had time to work on it at night and the prep takes waaaay longer than you would think.

Got all the piston rings gapped properly, installed the pistons on the rods with spiral locks (Fuck those things BTW, what a pain) installed the rod bearings and plugged them and torqued them all down, which is 30lbft first step then 50 more degrees and ends up being around 87lbft after all said and done so the shortblock is assembled for the most part so it’s getting there!

I also threw in a pic of a pretty CMC if anybody needs one…

 

For those of you that have done the Black mountain truck trail in Ramona.. how long does trail take to complete approximately? To the top and back down.

AllTrails says 7 hours & 17 minutes. I feel like that’s a stretch. Maybe that’s for hiking it but I know it’s mainly an ohv trail right?

 

2-1/2 hrs with a beer break at the top, pretty boring trail honestly

 

Sounds good. Thanks homie

 

Happy Sunday!

Lately I have been hanging out at the 60+ forum on TW, but still want to offer my Baja California travel experiences and assistance to the (not so old) gang here, in my County of San Diego.

My Baja website is VivaBaja.com with my 55+ years of Baja travels and research housed for anyone to enjoy. With so much content, I have grouped subjects, photos, and links into the following categories to reduce your time searching for what you want to know more about!

As before, you can ask here, email or PM me any specific questions that I might be able to help with.
My 2010 Off Road 4x4 Tacoma continues to rock with just 137,000 miles on it. Since 2018, I have only been driving it a few thousand miles per year (I retired in 2020, so no more work miles or Baja trips, other than riding with others in 2019 for two TV shows and 2022 with a friend to Mission Santa María).

OK, here are the groups on VivaBaja.com. Also, I maintain two Facebook groups (VivaBaja and BajaMissions) which you are welcome to join!

LOCATIONS: https://vivabaja.com/locations/
HISTORY: https://vivabaja.com/history/
DRIVING: https://vivabaja.com/driving/
PHOTOGRAPHS: https://vivabaja.com/photographs/
MEDIA (my TV and film appearances): https://vivabaja.com/media/
LINKS (page 2 of VivaBaja): https://vivabaja.com/davidslinks/
VIVA BAJA INDEX: https://vivabaja.com/viva-baja-index/

 

Have you done the Meling Ranch? Is it still open? I did that route about 30 years ago in a Dodge Caravan. Almost took out my oil pan! Beautiful spot with great memories. I'd be game again in my Tacoma

 

Reminds me if when I took wife’s 89 Corolla up the Palomar Divide trail. Made it all the way to the fire tower lookout and only bottomed out once. That was less than 20 years ago. I went up there last year in my Taco and the trail has gotten worse. It is much more rutted but doable without four wheel drive, just need a little more clearance than a sedan offers.

 

Nate Harrison Grade? If not, where do you pick up "Palomar Divide Trail"?
Have you been around long enough to remember hiking down to Hummingbird Falls? (Before it was closed because too many yahoo's hiked down but could't make it back up)

 

It's probably Highpoint 8S05 to Palomar divide 9S07. It's on the 79 side. I did it once like 12 years ago, and it was boring.

 

Most Forest roads are closed.
https://www.fs.usda.gov/detailfull/cleveland/alerts-notices/?cid=stelprdb5340229

 

Lame

 

pretty typical during the rainy months...Thats why you go to the desert.

Desert was super fun this weekend

 

How are you planning trips out? I want to go!

 

100% desert or nothing.

 

That’s the one. Going back up there in a month or two to hike the Barker Valley trail.

 

The hiking I can imagine is great there in the spring time. Never done the hike.

 

Brake upgrade, what a huge difference in stopping.

 

Those are purdy, but why not just do the 14wa rotor and caliper?

 

First time for me too. A buddy is dragging my ass to it. Looks like a seven’ish mile hike, starts downhill and ends uphill - wish it was the other way around.

 

Long time WilWood user on race cars, plus the Truck shop had them in stock.