SOLVED! Post 2853 Leaking Injectors, Dealer Techs Rock! Extended Cranking after Engine Swap 3.4L 5vz

Mr Eric,
The spring/shock thing might be worth considering. However you do have the warranty on the old fellows so you might consider some aftermarket stock springs to go with the new (replacement) shocks. The "TRD" package "progressive" springs were famous for sagging in just a few years. Of course if the ride and ride height is OK by you, then you could skip the springs, nothing bad is going to happen.

What ever you do, treat the compressed spring like a loaded gun, be aware of the directions things will fly should the compressor fail or slip. The stored energy is enough to maim or kill.
It might be a little late but if the ride height changes (more likely with new springs) you will need an alignment so measure the height first.

I stole this pic of a TRD progressive coil. See how the upper "softer" coils have sagged to the point of nearly touching. This is an extreme case.

 

Things can go easier if the sway bar is disconnected at the lower control arm (both sides) before jacking and on level ground.

 

I find it easier to just put the truck frame on jack stands, then use the floor jack under the A-arm to lift up the spindle assembly. Install the 3 top nuts to the top then install the bottom bolt. If it hasn't been done, turn the bottom bolt around so the bolt head is to the front. For some reason they come from the factory the opposite way. Makes it much easier the nest time around.

 

Thanks you guys!! Here's a pic of what our coils look like....



Meanwhile, smart ass neighbor with good tools and creepy clown figurine was outside just now. Asked about the clown, he had it on his workbench! Said he's going to plant a cactus in it, you'll see why that's kind of hilarious when you look at this pic......

 

Jeezus, how come you didn't take the pressure washer to that. Would have made Eric's job a bit easier.

 

I never know if I'm gonna spray something I shouldn't. Which makes no sense, considering I live somewhere that I basically drive through river sized puddles most of the year....

EDIT: geeze, you're right. just looked at the photo again, and that is nasty. oops.

 

For your type of use, them coils don't loo too bad.

More "meanwhile".
Tasteful Co graphics, Dinosaur NP.

 

One more thing.
Before you get too far into it. See if the spring compressor "hooks" are going to fit between the coils up top where they are closer together. This was another quirk with the TRD's.

 

OH yeah, meant to comment on this and forgot with all the shocks talk.

First of all,

Second, not sure what dealer this belongs to around here, but 99% sure it's not our place which is definitely a good thing Our dealer had this really bad ass 1976 Toyota Corona in my fave color blue. Here:



Wait, if everything happens for a reason, maybe you stumbling across that pic means I should paint the topper like the truck in the photo you posted?

 

That's a nice looking truck DP! Nice looking background too! Want to visit this place! Nice of Toyota to donate to a good cause too

Eric is assessing things, I think he is saying the shocks are in good condition so we either just live with them or spend $ on fancy off road ones......not doing the 2nd option anytime soon for sure.....

 

OK, apparently that's his final call. He's taking wheels off to remove those center cap things. Said front shocks look fine. Took both rear shocks off completely and they are fine too. So we will live with their performance for now and dream of fancier shocks in the future.

@Dirty Pool , what kind of shocks do you have? @koditten , you?

Next steps are errands - Depot for black topper paint and a mister (gonna be a hot one), dealer for oil filters and some plug thing, Auto Zone for gear oil. Then he's doing the 4wd fluid and oil change, and I'm painting the topper. Then if we haven't already started drinking beer, swing by his work to print some decal sticker thingys for the topper!!!

PS: I went to great lengths to find a close match in spray paint for the center caps, something that was basic and close in color to the wheels. Then I remembered I had some glittery sparkly silver spray paint from when I did the Civic wheels..........we put it to a vote, both men present chose the basic one, both women chose the sparkly one, so little 1.5yr old Emily was the deciding vote. I asked her to say Taco if she wanted the sparkly one, guess what she said next? Looks like Taco is getting a lil' bling : )

 

I vote for glitter, it looks awesome on the girls at the gentlemen clubs. It would look just as good on a Tacoma.

 

I don't "like" gentlemen's clubs, but I do like giving the Taco some bling : )

 

That thought popped in my head and I typed it-I wasn't intending to hit send. I got distracted and off it went.

 

you =



EDIT: Sweet, finally got an opp' to use the paper bag dude!!! This is awesome : )

@koditten , aren't you going to ask me how I know the paper bag person is a "dude"?

 

Off to dealer, Depot, and Auto Zone!! Eric is starting the rear gear fluid or something like that......neighbor just took off to his dad's to use his media blaster on my precious wheel cap things, so they will receive some seriously glittery sparkly silver paint tonight!!! SWEET!!!!!!! Will share pics : )

EDIT: You guys think I could tape off the roof of the topper to have a giant red Toyota emblem up there, then paint black around the taped off part that would stay red? That would take some taping skilz......

 

Quick note: Make sure you can get the fill plug out before you pull the drain plug. The fill plug is not bathed in oil, so it can be a pain to get out. It would suck to drain the oil, then have no way to get the new oil in.

 

That's not unsafe if done carefully, I've done it without problems.

 

drained rear axle just cause i felt like it...good thing! picking up a (rear axle) new breather valve too.

Hi, it's lovemytacolots, just got home and Eric was about to post that. Now he's driving the truck to heat it up or something. I just got back from dealer, Auto Zone, Depot with all the plug goodies and gaskets/washers and more gear oil and such. Also got some topper paint, went with a gallon of rustoleum in gloss black, and saleslady talked me into primer too. Doing this!! Got that mister thingy too, will be nice to sit in a lounge chair with a cold hefe and that thing after the work is done today.......

Got to chat with parts guy and fill him in on all our adventures since the starting problem's been fixed. Told him my wacky design ideas for the topper, then some dude behind me started getting all pissy that he had to wait. Screw him, that was an important conversation

Also swung by the library and picked up just a small handful of books for inspiration in trip planning this summer.......

@Dirty Pool , bet you've never read that Blue Bucket Mine book, have you? Surely there's gotta be something I can find to one up you on, or beat you to




PS: William Sullivan is the best author in the world in my opinion. That guy knows every corner of Oregon, and does a great job of explaining how to get to where you're headed. Good maps too!

 

Some of the goodies I collected today for the Taco stuff/neighborhood car washing & detailing/fence building party (it was yummy!). Looks like we are not going to make it to Eric's office today, bought time to set up the mister and pour another hefe