My 85, Roland

Well Roland has settled in for a long winters nap. So far he is doing well, I have a few more tweaks for next summer, but it did very well as a daily driver, a bit cold blooded but I am still getting used to the electric choke set up, and still wrestling with the fuel cut off solenoid wiring as well as the fuel air mix and timing(pretty close on timing now.)so I might have to re jet the Weber, but that's a chore for next year.
Anyway I have a build thread for Roland going on Toyota minis , it may have a more disjointed layout but has more history pics.
Should anyone have an interest

https://toyotaminis.com/forum/threads/the-life-and-times-of-roland.29205/

 

Missing playing with Roland, but the prognosis is good. Finally got his new engine, so gears, suspension tweaking and brakes are next, and by then maybe the road issue will be solved and the true commuting testing begins:
Pretty rocks photo dump from the Arctic Taco thread:

I thought I might add a few older photos that I have of the slump at Pretty Rocks to add some perspective. It has been a chronic situation that has gotten much more active over the last 3-4yrs mostly due to thawing of the frozen (less than it was 10+ yrs ago)mountain side which the geological info identifies as a rock glacier.

I believe this was about 2? yrs ago, maybe 2019 I think approaching from the east

This was earlier in 2018 I think, the road crew sometimes uses ore trucks(leased) to speed up the gravel stockpiling - it takes a lot of gravel to maintain an 80 mile gravel road- I think this year they also used the ore trucks to help haul fill in to the slumping area- dark grey portion of the road. Approaching from the west.


Late April/early May 2018, heading west for my first shift



Another Pretty rocks slump picture- core drilling summer of 2018:

So this one is from this spring:







Another aerial picture from this spring(?) looks like quite a drop, hopefully I can round up some pictures from the summer.




I did find a photo that a pilot friend of mine took about 2 weeks after the road crew pulled out for the winter. It looks like the road has slumped about 8’ -12’ or more so far:

 

a few more updated photos of the slide area:
last spring:


Late May 2023:

 

Pretty Rocks slide update:
Early spring 2023 comparison picture:
Pioneer road across the slump summer 2023, looks like fun!:


Well they are making some headway on the slump, west side site prep!

 

Well not much to report on Roland this summer.
My buddy helped me fab up some spacers to move the front bumper out far enough to mount a pair of 4" Anzo HID driving lights.

The summer was mainly taken up by work and other higher priority tasks, brakes and a front axle on the Tacoma.
I did have to upgrade one of the ground cables,
and a voltmeter/USB charger as well...
but it looks like there is some issues with either the key switch or another ground, or I guess I'll find out next summer...

 

Hello! Cool thread. We visit Denali once or twice each year but I sure hadn't seen any good pics of the slide like that! Thanks!

 

Hey John, thanks. Glad you have been checking out the area. You would surprised at how few locals get out in the park. Too busy making a living I guess.
I’ve been working out west fairly consistently since 04. Got trapped outside during the plague. I’ve been lucky to spend a lot of time out west, no better commute on this continent for certain.
Hopefully I can get Roland sorted out before they get the bridge done, be great to get him back on the park road again.

 

Any updates on Roland?

 

I do actually, I got the suspension work 80% done last summer, need to get some shocks for the front.
I replaced the springs on all 4 corners, OME front and rear HD leaf packs. Grease-able shackles installed, need to get grease-able bolts for the springs next up.
The front shocks are now too short, they are at 95% extended sitting empty, looks like the new springs gave me a bit more than the 2”+ I was looking for:


Starting up front



Had to get extended brake lines front



And rear



Rear springs done



Grease-able shackles



Much easier without the tailpipe in the way



Looks like new front shocks are next up

 

A few pics of the semi finished product


Front end finished (except for shocks)



Wrapping it up



Looking fierce



Liking the look



Hanging out at the wayside- still has a bit of the Toyota draggy butt syndrome


waiting for a flight

 

Glad to see it's still around and you're still tinkering with it! I'd just throw a 1 or 2" block in the rear and call it good.

 

Thanks, it’s about 2600 miles away, maybe out .of sight but not out of mind. I am stocking up on parts for this summer. Need front shocks, a u-bolt kit, and a set of Rough Country 1-1/2” blocks should do it.

I got a bit more lift out of the front springs than I thought. It definitely doesn’t sag, usually has between 500-700# in the back depending on the job.

Also on the docket is re-plumbing the fuel system, electric fuel pump, press regulator, and tuning.

Then cabin projects, and upgrades.

Always a full load heading north.