The Getaway...Crom's build and adventures

Yes, this mural is downtown. And looks like we are getting a second one, plus a Mary's Donut Shop.

http://www.eccalifornian.com/article/around-lakeside-mary’s-donuts-and-new-mural-coming-lakeside

 

Barona Speedway is only 15-20 minutes north from me and I have never been there. Gonna make a sincere effort to go this year.

http://www.baronaspeedway.com/schedule.html

 

That's awesome!

I didn't know Barona built a race track! Thanks! I'd like to go too, at least once with my kids.

 

Originally it was about 2.5", but now I'm not sure. I have measured before from center hub to fender lip. That way of measuring kinda bothers me a little bit because the body bushings between the frame perch and cab factor into that, and they can wear down. Right now, I suspect that my drivers side front body bushing may be compromised.

I plan to swap them all out for Energy Suspension ones in next 2-3 months. They will last the life of the vehicle.

Another weird thing related to ride height is when I look at the front axle shafts, the drivers one is almost completely horizontal. The passenger one is at an angle, slopes down from center of truck to wheel hub.

I don't know why. It could just be excessive taco lean because of all the mods on that side of the truck?

Anyways, I'll have to measure again.

Will do.

 

Hey Crom!

I've been reading up on your build and its been sick! I liked the net you added to your bed but I didn't see anything of quality when I was online or in the stores. Bought a roll of paracord and build my own with some square knots. thanks for the inspiration.

 

Welcome! I don't recall having a net, maybe my brain is going bad Link? Anyways, Thanks and welcome!

 

Scrattch that! @IronPeak4x4 for the topper overhead net inspire. Could have sworn it was from your build, but found my comment just now.

 

Roger that. He is doing some great stuff!

 

Net I used, sub 10$, very good quality, thanks Nick !

 

On sale right now 7.99$ well worth it I was really quite surprised at the quality, would buy again. I was going to bisect it with some paracord but found it unnecessary as the tension is perfect, and it returns to the taut condition above after having sleeping pads/ bags stuffed into it for a weekend.

 

Changing oil in the Tacoma V6

I change the oil myself for two reasons, 1.) It saves me time, 2.) It's done right, and easy.

I also have the benefit of a Fumoto Oil drain Valve, which makes it a simple operation.

I judge how well I'm doing when changing the oil by two factors.

1. How much I spilled.
   
2. How many paper towels I use.

I think I've got it down pretty good now, and wanted to share what I know and how I've been doing it.

I start by making sure truck is at normal operating temp, and then parking my rig in the street with pass side wheels on top of concrete curb. This gives me the height I need to work.

I throw down a tarp, and slide in my oil collection container, which is a large washing machine soap bottle with funnel taped to it. That bottle goes inside an oil collection bin as a secondary containment system if a spill should occur. I slide the whole thing under, and open the Fumoto Oil drain valve by hand.



Oil draining out, no mess. 100% containment.


Next I get my oil filter wrench ready. I'm using a

$13 Lisle 63600 Oil Filter Tool,U.S.,2-1/2 - 3-1/8

Lisle 63600 Oil Filter Tool which I really enjoy. I've tried others, but stopped when I found this one. It works every time with no fuss. It's a 3/8" drive. The harder you turn the harder it grips the oil filter.

Here it is attached to my ratchet extension and 3/8" ratchet.


Next I stuff a paper towel into the aluminum oil filter spill cup just below the oil filter.

Then I use the filter wrench to loosen the oil filter, but just enough to break the seal, then hand tighten it back up so it stops leaking. Then leave it alone. The oil will drain out by itself internally most times.



I crack loose the cap on the oil filler neck and then walk away for 20 minutes.

When returning, I close the Fumoto oil drain valve, drag the used oil container out and cap it.

Get new oil filter ready. I use the Toyota OEM ones because I think they are worth the extra cost, I buy in bulk so save $$. I think they are under $4 each this way...



Then unscrew old oil filter now empty, and hand tighten new one on, and mark the days date on it with paint pen.



Then full remove cap from oil filler neck spout, insert my very clean new oil funnel, and carefully add 5.5 quarts of new oil.

I'm not a zealot when it comes to oil brand. I generally use the least expensive fully synthetic oil I can find at the time. Usually ends up being the Super Tech Fully Synthetic stuff. Four years and my engine hasn't blown. Seriously, though I do like the oil, and it's a step up from dino oil.



After that I put the cap back on the filler spout and done.

I put used oil filter goes into zip lock bag, and used oil gets a ride to Oriely auto parts for disposal when convenient.

 

I haven't used an OF wrench in 25+ years. Isn't it half a turn after the gasket makes contact? Maybe you use wrench cause filter is so hot? I see you change oil at operating temperature. I let mine cool down a bit.

 

Way too hot to do it by hand.

For tightening, I just hand snug it on there, so yeah half turn seems right.

I have used bare hand strength to remove Tacoma oil filters before, but it seems to put a lot of stress on my wrists, so I enjoy the using the wrench, makes it cake.

You must be strong as f***

 

HaHa.

Actually, I do use a wrench on wife's Lexus cause it uses the cartridge style filter cover. It's torqued to about 25 ftlbs.

 

same here haven't needed a OF wrench on the Taco since I started doing the changes. I also let it sit for about 30 min after being at temp. Put a rubber glove on and it comes right off. Soo nice. You didn't pull the plug below the filter? I do that with a solo cup under it. It's a breeze on these trucks. I do question the cheap oil though? When you can buy a quality jug at Wally or Costco M1 6qts on sale now and then?

 

Just leaving this here for everyone's viewing pleasure.


New Billet Tacoma upper arms almost ready to ship. Just waiting on the uniball caps to get back from the laser engraver. @fkrodends 1.250" uniballs and 3/4" heims with 7/8" shaft. These are also designed for a high and low caster setting using different spacer lay outs. Will also be available @sdhq

 

You too, are pulling them filters off by hand.

I used to pull that little plug and let it drain out that way... it works too.

Remember that Toyota calls for conventional dino oil in our V6's, and I'm using fully synthetic oil, which is better.

I've never bothered with used oil analysis (UOA) since I never hit the 5K interval for changing, it's always the 6 mo. time interval I run into.

I occasionally like to read over at BITOG forums, lots of people running ST stretching back over a decade, and I have yet to find anyone who has had a problem with it. Bottom line is I like it, and good value for the $$ IMO.

When it comes to fuel, I always use the highest octane rating for the Tacoma, in CA, that's 91.

Remember when we used to have 92 octane? Hard to believe it's been almost 15 years. The linked article says it was mostly because a legal dispute, patent avoidance, that 92 disappeared.

Those look great. Make sure they ship to mah house!

 

Lol I'm not buying them. They won't fit anything I own lol

 

Yet another cradle adapted for Ram.

I replaced my phone recently with a Nexus 6P, which is a larger format phone than my old Nexus 5.

I could not find a RAM cradle / mount that I like, and I didn't want to try the x-grip, so I adapted one that I found in a store that fit like a glove.

Probably the stupidest name for a product I have ever heard , but whatever, it fits the phone super well.

Pictured below, 1/16" alum flat bar, cradle, and new phone.


I removed and trashed all the plastic mounting crap on the back of the cradle.

Ram diamond mount attached to flat bar, screws ground flush, and mounting holes drilled for tie wraps.


Shot it with flat black paint.


Final product. Ready for off-road abuse.

 

Since I stretch my oil changes to 10K, I did a UOA: one, to make sure my oil could last that long; and two, to see if the oil contained contaminated particles within acceptable limits. My last UOA showed I could easily go 13K and wear levels were normal. For that UOA I used Mobil 1 Extended with a Fram synthetic filter. I'll be doing another UOA with Valvoline MaxLife 5-30w. I forgot what filter I'm currently using - I think a Wix XP.