TYetti's 2.7L Rebuild/FULL SEND/EAF build

Wow what an amazing 6 days, since forest fires prevented me from doing my Oregon coast adventure I decided to take on some of the best trails available in my own backyard. The first stop would be the whipsaw trail. Located just outside Princeton BC, it is a very challenging trail because the weather changes so fast and depending on the winter the conditions and obstacles on the trail can be difficult to surmount.

I got off work early on Thursday and we loaded the truck up to the nines with gear, food, and beverages!!!



We hit the road and made the 3 hour trek to Princeton BC and topped up the tank(later I'd be thankful we did this), we hit the whipsaw creek fsr around 730pm. Now the directions we had were very long winded, and overly detailed, which made it hard to translate into what we saw driving down the road, we ended up making one wrong turn just before the trailhea, by the time we realized our mistake, it was late, and we decided to set up camp for the night



The next morning we hit the road early only to spend a couple hours backtracking to the highway where there was cell service, to get more specific directions, with the right directions in hand and a better understanding of my back road map book, the trail head was found and we were quickly coming across sites I'd seen in the various pictures and videos I'd watched prior to embarking!! The first stop was a couple minning cabins



The next site we got to was "the grave which also sports a cabin





After awhile longer on the we suddenly found ourselves amongst the alpine meadows





This marked the end of the Sunday drive section of the trail as we got to the fun stuff

Rock shelf



Simply amazing



Then suddenly memorial rock climb it if you can!




I made it about 1/4 of the way up before wheel spin and had to abort next time !!
Shortly after here the trail descends and quickly gets very technical and difficult, the ditch lied ahead which was on my list of things to watch for on the trail, a deep v that would swallow my taco whole right after that however you're greetd with the blissful sight of the wells lake rec site, made camp here for the day










While hanging out at the lake a group of 10 trucks rolled in we spent the night swapping stories and drinking beers as a thunder shower rolled in and we all hung out in the shelter, the next morning we all left the lake together and continued on as a group, which I'm glad as the next obstacles were challenging, ifs ledge was next and my taco hoped up it first shot after a quick line adjust, the next challenge was falcon hill which is so steep stopping would be very very bad, pick your line and commit is all I can say, our next stop was the alpine meadows for the group to catch up, I had the pleasure of following this German military truck all day



Next stop death hill





Suddenly a mud hole awaited us after the ATV bridge I had to take the hard line because it would be easier to recover me than the twisty side track which was also a mud hole, only two trucks made it the hard way, the military truck and a bad ass fourth gen 4runner, I almost made it but slid back and rather than beating up the trail and the truck we went for the recovery



Free


This was the last obstacle on the trail we hopped back onto the mine road and headed for Coalmont BC



Thus we parted ways and a group of us headed for Molybdenite Peak, once mined for molybdenum the only thing left are the shelf roads to the peak, and at 9500 ft above sea level its a peak for sure

This trail isn't the technical trial like whipsaw, the challenge here is not losing your cool, one mistake and you'll be the next memoriam plaque on the side of the road










The saddle


The view from the saddle











We inched our way back down from the peak and headed over the molybdenite lake to camp for the day





This grizzly for as close as 80m to our camp, one of our members was armed but the bear decided rolling rocks down the mountain was more fun





The next morning we drove up to the lake lookout, this road has deteriorated and a washout makes it impassible otherwise you could have driven into the next valley.








After this we headed back into Lytton said our goodbyes and went our separate ways, I spent one more night and today hanging out at my favorite local spot hale creek before returning home, an amazing weekend, with some great new friends!! I'm definitely going to be returning with some others who want to do this same trip I can't wait to do it again!!!

 

Not the best video, next time I'm definitely gonna be rockin a go pro or two Lol but here's my truck hoping up IFS ledge on whipsaw

http://youtu.be/tnRIgPezR5U

 

Nothing major just went out for a burn with some local toyota guys explored some spots couple fun trails I'd been waiting to try, fossil beach and sunrise lake

Did a bit of a loop, fossil is an offshoot of hale creek anyways pics







Vrock did a number on my sliders but they held up as I expected them to do I actually got stuck for a sec on one of the support bars, painted up the scrapes don't want rusty bars. Didn't get any pics from this part of the trail the land cruiser broke a shackle so we did the rock then got to repairs





Painted

 

Ya so this weekend got really interesting fast!!! Sunday I went out with a couple guys and we did the cell tower trail at Vedder mountain in chilliwack bc, this trail is one I'd done a few times, nothing terribly exciting except Sunday there was a bit of rain which was nice cause it's been drought like dry here for months, so here we are at the end of trail trying to navigate the rock and I pose for pic real quick



Right after this I cranked her over hard driver admittedly I was a little off the line I wanted but it was totally saveable, suddenly my back tires slide right off the rock and I come to rest on my sliders and frame, but I was sideways and in a precarious spot to say that least, we threw a winch line on the back to try and pull her back straight but to no avail, we then hooked up to the front, with a snatch block, and using a combination of high lift and clutch kicking we were able to get her to pivot on the high lift and inch me forward eventually we got her to swing around and awkwardly get off the rock. Now I was happy as fuck that there was no body damage and that the truck didn't roll but getting back on the pavement I noticed a squeak sound I pulled into a gas station and found this



So now I'm like fuck, there were no vibes just a squeak, so being tired and hungry I went to the pub, and decided to start fresh today, pulled her into the shop and got her up on the hoist to inspect everything, I had also picked up a spare carrier bearing and some oil since she was due for a change anyways

The carnage




So I marked off the shaft on the diff and transfer case side so I could put it back right



Then I took the front shaft off and loosend the rear, and finally dropping the carrier bearing after getting a couple of jack stands to support it




Next I inspected the bearing


It still spun freely with little play, so instead of replacing I went with plan b, I grabbed my breaker bar and used all of my 215 lbs to torque on the member to get it as straight as possible



Once satisfied I buttoned everything up did my oil change and took her for a drive, load tested the truck at various speeds and rpm ranges, no squeaks no vibes, so time will tell buy for now I'm happy things could have been a lot worse, I'm looking at developing a carrier skid but I need to do more research, the c member will need to be beefed up for it to be effective I think, I really need to get on getting my truck lifted and some proper skid plates my fuel tank has a few scars in it too so ya lots to be done

 

^ouch! Any idea yet about what type of lift your looking to run? OME setup worked good for me. Nice truck, looks like you've had some fun adventures. Really like your sliders, do they ship to the US? Glad to see another 2.7 build.

 

Hey sorry it took so long to reply finally coming off shift after weeks of solid work!!! Anyways yest the sliders do get shipped to the US go to www.cruisinoffroad.com and talk to Jason he's awesome !!!

Ya mam I bought the truck to have adventures and they're just getting started and it was a availability thing on getting he 4 cylinder this was the only truck that had all the things I wanted that was in my price range

I do plan to go with ome 3" for now but I'm constantly looking at different options, ie the ome bp 51 system which looks bad ass !!! Nothing is certain until I hit the buy it now button lol

 

Another weekend adventure, this time we got ourselves into the britania mines located just outside Squamish bc, it's an area thats super cool and often difficult to get Into because of active logging and mining and if you don't know where you're going you'll miss all the sights and get lost, so we got a group together and headed out,

First stop and lookout



Next stop was one of the flooded mine shaft entrances


Old rigging


Next stop was the old mine camp pool and we found some slouse boxes just up the hill buried in the trees




Next up was the dam for the mine

Not big but still interesting

Next up was the pump house not much left but I love this kinda stuff 110 years of mining history here




We stopped for some mac n cheese and found a little place to play




And then we headed for the peak all along the cliff face you can see holes from the mine that punched through






Driving wise this is not a challenge at all but still super cool and fun gonna head back again and do some more exploration !!!!

 

Well with winter fast approaching and various reports of awesomeness form trips conducted throughout the summer. A bunch of the guys from BCtoyota4wd decided to throw together a little thanksgiving Whipsaw run!!!! I was immediately down as long as there wasn't any real snow cause my stock truck would just be a drain on everyone else. Luckily the weather held off and we only had minor flurries on the Saturday. Anyways it was an awesome adventure made some new friends and I'm so happy I got to do whipsaw twice this year !!!




not long into the trail we found the snow line


then we egged Cody on to try and get through a mud hole


Had some fun



We ended up taking a little offshoot just to see where it went and found an old mine site




Bad ass TC LT taco


Next up was memorial rock I opted out as I couldn't get it done in the dry during the summer never mind after its been splattered in mud

just before the rock


Jessie Broke one of the links on his rear axle just after this pic was taken

but we got him patched up enough to get to the campsite at wells lake

had some fun in the ditch







The LT Taco got ahead of us while we stopped to fix up the 4Runner. He was trying to turn back to check on us when he killed a Duratrac


obligatory land bridge shot



Wet set up camp around the shelter and got to work the turkey was a little frozen still so much drinking happened on kinda empty stomachs so some pics are a little shaky lol



suddenly some wild v8 snow trucks appeared




Finally turkey omnonommom


Don't pass out


for being so delicious we sacrificed james the turkey to the toyota gods and displayed him for all to see


back onto the trail some of us were a little hungover but still having a great time onto ifs ledge




posers




Stupid mud ledge stopped me again


and finally Loadstone Lake


we ended up having a quick snack in coalmont while we decided which way to go home here I am wishing I hadn't forgotten to bring coffee



we ended up going to the Coquihalla summit via a fsr out of tulameen and came home that way great trip!!!! I can't wait to get back there with some lift next year and beat some of those obstacles !!!!

 

Here's some videos from the trip I apologize in advance as I uploaded the wrong versions and haven't had time to edit them properly

http://youtu.be/z8lIpIc-eew
http://youtu.be/p50nX_NjVXg
http://youtu.be/c3SNmWQHxws
http://youtu.be/5hNJAGSl-xo
http://youtu.be/psnZ7C1ajqU
http://youtu.be/l2-njWRLX8I
http://youtu.be/E_ZeJZlhOAQ

 

Picked up some icon 2.5 coilovers today from one of the local bctoyota4wd guys!!! One of those too good to pass up deals!!! Gonna send them out to be rebuilt so they're nice and fresh!!

 

Haven't been up to much in the last little bit just wheeling and the guys from BCToyota4WD put on a toy run which was awesome huge turnout!! Also went on my first snow finding journey!!!







Saw this guy at the airport


BCToyota4WD toy run



Snow Wheeling at 12:26 am







Lol




And then I got a leaf recall letter in the mail so I was like hmm maybe I should check my leafs

yup they're broken toyota Canada is working on a solution till then I'm just gonna drive my wor truck

 

Did you ever get your icons rebuilt and put on yet? I got out for my first trail ride in September and I was sure glad I had cruisin sliders and sos ifs skid. Saved this stock tacoma. I've got some ads shocks, expo leafs and MCM UCAs to put on over Christmas. Oh congrats on donating 224 toys with your toy run. You guys do great work.

 

Ya the toy run was awesome huge sucess !!! I had a great time!!

The icon coilovers are still sitting in my parts room, I was going to go up to Baja north in Kamloops and drop them off while visiting family in about a week and a half but that's not happening without my truck, I don't have chains for my work truck and it's not 4x4 either so ya kinda on hold till I get this figured out, I already suggested that they just reimburse me for Dakars but I'm not doing anything until I get the go ahead from toyota Canada.

 

Soo I'll start with the leaf spring debocle
Took my truck to toyota the spring was going to be covered under the recall. However I figured they would fix both because that would only make sense. NoNope they didn't so now the truck leans really bad. I've gone back and fourth listing all the reasons why this is stupid blah blah blah. Basically the dealer has done everything they can for me but toyota warranty has said no they won't fix the other side unless it brears. Soo looks like I'll be spending my Christmas bonus on finishing my lift kit. Here's a pic for reference on the lean I threw about 600lbs of sand in the back for this demonstration



So here's the rundown of the lift
-Icon 2.5 extended travel coilovers (check)
-Icon uniball uca's with covers
-ironman 4x4 foam cell pro rear shocks
-ome Dakar leafs
-extended brake lines
-u bolt flip
-shackle flip

Looks like it's gonna run me about 1800$ to finish this off

I also had a few lights out which I replaced with led's

Plate lights


Reverse lights


Last weekend I also went out for a coffee meet up Vedder mountain, the cell tower trail left me with some damage last time so I wanted to redeem myself unfortunately Jesse who was with me on the last whipsaw run had his brakes fail at a bad spot which uultimately lead to him rolling





We towed him off the mountain and decided to do another trail while we were at it







Everyone in the 4runner was ok and he's already got it swapped into another shell and back up running !!!

That's it for the last few weeks, planning on doing a new years camp and wheeling fest so I'll have more after the holidays !!!

 

Dang, you're truck can do some work for being stock height and hardly any armor. I plan on lifting my truck and doing some major stuff to it soon. I'm only doing 5100s and 884 and aal tho haha

 

Haha thanks man !!! Sliders, tires and careful line selection can get you lots of places !!!
I was gonna go full ome lift but the icons I bought used were a sick price also came with aal for the rear. I just don't wanna mess around. Been denied a couple times because I just didn't have enough clearance. My timeline has been stepped up cause of this leaf spring bs. Once suspension is set skids are a must my poor tranny x member lol it hits everything

 

I live in Nebraska, no technical offroading here. Mostly dirt roads and the occasional muddy spots after it rains. No real NEED for a huge lift, so that's why I'm gonna start out with the AAL and the 5100/884 front setup. My 265/75s look a little big on my stock height 2012

 

Nahhh I'm actually thinking my 265's are a little small. I think some 285's will fit better lol

Fml front diff bearing is howling away now!!! I'm quitting today in favor of beer and hockey

 

Canadians

 

Lol its an awesome religion not gonna lie best park iis no one cares if you're drunk at church !!!