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

I so want a soft topper for both my trucks. It would be awesome for the Tundra, just unclip, fold forward and hook up the 5th wheel camper.

I want one for the Tacoma just because they look cool. I like being able to roll up the sides, kind of reminds you of going on a safari.

Have you checked out the soft topper thread?

 

I briefly looked up an image of a soft topper and wasn't sure how I felt about it honestly. But if it will relieve our issues with the claustrophobia for a low cost, I'm interested!!! : ) Sounds like I need to look into this more, thank K!

 

Kirk,
Best wishes for your pending surgery. 2 1/2 years ago I had a knee replacement, recovery goes quickly but not w/o effort on your part. I thought I was 'tough' until I talked with a couple of people that had both knees done at the same time. Mostly to avoid two surgeries, two recoveries and some monetary savings. Then nine months ago I had an ankle replacement. Easy surgery, but slow recovery. That said, I've done some hikes of four+ miles, and today I put on 10 miles on my bike (in the mountains, of course). My forum name is reference to my new suspension parts. Will be sending good vibes for you on Wednesday.

 

Funny, I got the Stryker implant in the right knee. Honestly can't tell its even there. I love it. Thanks for the encouraging words. Looking forward to hitting the PT good an proper.

Thanks, again

Kirk

 

OK, this might sound too Hallmark-ish, but I gotta say, I am so grateful to have such NICE people contributing to this thread!! How did that happen? I feel like all the nicest TW people are on this thread!
You guys rock man!! I hope we get to do this road trip or some sort of party all together someday!!

I'm warning you guys in the east, we DO occasionally get back that way to visit family. Don't think you are immune from a visit from the lovemytacolotsmobile!!!

Might go for the topper today. It was NINETY FIVE here yesterday. Had to set up our little room AC, which is only needed maybe 5-10 days at most per summer in Portland!! Gives you an idea of how unusual it is to get that hot here, especially in early June. Anyway, I worried that the paint application might act funny in that much heat. Today's supposed to get up to 91. Thinking if I get it washed right away this morning (filthy again after camping!), it should dry fast, then maybe try to paint it if it's not HOLY CRAP hot afterwards yet.

Figure even if we manage to replace it with one better suited to our needs, may as well go ahead and still paint it/make it look as best as I can. At least then it can look better in the meantime, plus may as well look good for possibly selling anyway.

Will share pics of the process whenever I do actually go for it, so y'all can learn from my mistakes!!! Very curious as to how this project is going to turn out, I have no idea at all. Seems like patience and technique of paint application will be key to success, as well as proper prep, especially the taping.

Since I don't have enormous amounts of patience, I won't hold my breath for a showroom finish

 

Looking forward to pics.

I like how you are using paragraphs now. Internet paper is cheap.

 

Like totally! The mall is like so totally awesome!! I like totally ♥ Washington Square Mall!! Like, ALOT!! And cosmic, have you been to like the Woodburn Outlet stores??? OMG those are like totally the BOMB!!! Dude, they like have the best like cute clothing like deals EVER!! : )

We have like the best malls in like all of the whole country!! Like they are so totally cool!! I ♥ Portland area malls and would choose them anyday over the lame forest crap and all that!!



PS, how was that?

 

Thanks buddy. I know, I get a little wordy and run on sentencey sometimes. Get lazy I suppose!

 

Derp. Just remembered I have to scuff the surface before painting. And after washing. Maybe a more realistic plan is:

1) wash now
2) once dry, scuff surface
3) tape off prep - good times
4) tomorrow - paint, when it's cooler out anyway

Man, I just might find ways to justify delaying this project all the way through summer!

 

Got the washing part done. Now finishing up washing the Taco. Then gathering tape and newspaper for taping off, and rags. Got all my paint supplies together already. Then hopefully by then the topper will be dry and I can start scrubbing it with that scotch brite pad.

Uh oh, this might actually happen now.

 

Taking a break.

I want these:

$290 Covercraft Custom-Fit Front Bench SeatSaver Seat Covers - Polycotton Fabric, Tan

http://www.amazon.com/Covercraft-Cu...ts=p_76:1249128011,p_6:ATVPDKIKX0DER,p_10:Tan

Or is there a better way to find a deal on these? I looked on RA, but it doesn't look like they sell seat covers.

 

ummm why????????????

seat covers , no matter how good, always fit and look crappy

you can buy a good used 60/40 bench seat for that much or even put in bucket seats for that kind of money because all you would need is the drivers side bucket seat anyway and you have bucket seats

I did this in mine and decided I didn't even need or want the center console.

look here: http://www.car-part.com/cgi-bin/sea...e=1999&userUID=0&userBroker=&iKey=&userPage=2

tell us what wrong with your seats and post some pictures of the problem

 

I knew you'd help with this one Keakar! Thank you! : )

Basically they are just worn looking, with a few stains. We've eaten/drank to our hearts content in there over the years on many a road trip, so naturally they just look shabby. Dirty doggy paws, etc. I tried shampooing them last fall and they didn't really look much better, if at all. Although I was using our shitty carpet shampooer's attachment, and that machine is fairly old and not the best in the first place. Maybe a better machine would do a better job?

Figured covers could be a cheapish way to hide it/protect from further damage, but yeah, the ones I found that are supposedly guaranteed to fit the Taco's exact yr and all that crap (the link I posted) were way more expensive than I'd expected.

Which is weird, cuz I recently bought some for the Civic for like $20, and they look/fit great! The upholstery in the Civic is TRULY shot though, literally worn through in places on the driver's seat! The Taco is a tougher call - looks bad but not awful. But at the rate we're going, we may keep this damn truck for 20 more years, so I could see the Taco's upholstery eventually wearing through too!!

Topper's almost dry. And it's in the sun now, so scuffing it could turn into hot miserable work fast. So glad to have that mister for breaks And TW!

 

well what are we talking about? just bottom cushions or are the back cushions messed up too?

the reason I ask is our bucket seats come apart in 3 pieces, 1 the bottom cusion/foam/frame and 2 the back cusion/foam/frame, 3 the bottom frame rails that mount it to the floor.

if you take the side covers off the seat, then you will see there are four 12mm bolts (2 on each side) you remove them and the bottom cushion/foam/frame lifts right out and is an identical swap out for any bucket seat from a 4runner or other taco from 95-00 4runners and 96-04 taco and they are not really side specific except one side panel is cloth (hump side) and the other is vinyl (door side) so you would be the only one that knows it came from the wrong side seat. I mention this because if you find a raggedy driver side bucket seat its easy to swap cushions in it from any Toyota taco or 4runner.

 

this is the one I have. I like all the pockets.

http://www.sportsmansguide.com/product/index/browning-tactical-seat-cover?a=1582242

Nothing fancy and quite cheap. I've been using it in the Tundra for the last 3 years. I think it is holding up quite well for the price.

But I do agree, all seat covers look like shit. I just want to try to keep the seats looking somewhat decent for when/if I go to sell.

 

I wish you lived here. You could do this for me!! I mean, er, um, you could HELP me do this!! : ) I'm too chicken to take apart the seats. Great idea, but not unless you're coming to Oregon to do this for me.......I mean, help me do this!!

 

Those are decent for the price, definitely! Thanks buddy. I agree with you, the main mission is avoiding any more damage to the upholstery, after seeing the Civic upholstery wear away completely in spots.

You guys will get a kick out of this. Can't believe I'm sharing this on the internet. For at least a year or two, before all the Taco troubles, when we thought we'd be replacing the Civic any minute anyway, we duck taped the driver's seat where the upholstery was missing to keep the little foam bits inside the seat from going everywhere. Yes, I was too cheap/lazy to buy seat covers for at least a good year or more until just recently, after the Taco scare. Remember when I detailed the Civic recently? Part of the "detailing" was removing the duck tape and installing my brand new $20 seat covers That poor ugly little car gets ZERO love compared to the Taco

If ya can't duck it, f*ck it, right?

 

I'm stalling on scuffing the topper surface. Got hung up in the shed trying to get organized in there in preparation for starting a bunch of new projects.

Once I'm doing with the topper project, going to start pressure washing & staining fence boards and lattice, refinish a table my grandpa built in high school (~1920), and we need to choose an exterior paint color because I'm painting our house this summer!

Smaller upcoming projects include using some cedar fencing scraps to build a couple of flower box planters, and also build cedar edging for the perimeter where our drainage rocks meet the grass. Had a few too many mowing accidents recently, those damn river rocks migrate into the lawn, then suddenly as you're mowing, you get that god awful noise and your mower instantly dies.

Anyone have any fun color suggestions for exterior paint scheme??

 

I did it!! I scuffed the topper surface. Time to tape now.

 

Paint the house the same color as the topper, kill 2 birds w/ 1 stone.
Plus you only need i can of touch up for the truck and house!
Win, win!