Darth Haul - Dark Yota build

here are some pictures of my old trucks /cars
1970 Ford F250 Camper Special, 390 cu in V8 bored out to over 400 rebuilt. Dual glasspack exhaust.
1968 Ford Ranchero 289 V8

 

Got the maintenance light to go off! Thanks tacomaworld for the info as always.
Then today, got a key to the lock on my hard shell A.R.E. Tonneau cover! Lock was frozen, but the shop sprayed some liquid wrench in there and freed it up. Nice
Now I can actually close the thing and keep my bed secured.
I got my shift knob in the mail and tried to put it on last night but the threads are too small.. even talked to the dealer about it today and they said it should fit. Bummer cuz it looks sick.
Wondering if my shifter is aftermarket or something?

 

Love this build! Amazing work man keep it up

 

Thank you very much!! Will do

 

After measuring the threads, they are Not in fact too small. But just a little tight on the tip. Got the nut and ball on today, and tightened down. Can’t wait to drive it with this on.

 

When I first re-started the truck and got er running and driving again, I flipped he wipers on and... after bout 5 min the passenger wiper stopped working.
Well, it was the most important thing on my list to fix, but I made some time this weekend to take the cowl off and what the problem was.

The little plastic cap/nut that holds the arm onto the pivot ball had fallen off. So I greased it back up, and put some rubber bands on it to hold it together. Now it works again! Fixed it for $0, and about 2hrs.

I also went by the dealer on Thursday and picked up some new exhaust gaskets, studs and bolts to Fix some annoying exhaust leaks.

Took the Y pipe off the manifolds on both sides and put the new copper gaskets in there, then new bolts instead of studs, and some new nuts too to hold em on.
Also got new bolts for the back section of the Y pipe to the muffler. Replaced the big old gasket in there.

Started er up and she runs better now. Or at least sounds a little better!

Ordered new floor mats and the CV axles this am! Will be here next week and I’ll get into that.

 

Yesterday I got a couple more parts on for the interior.
Floor mats! Total necessity since I was ripping up my carpet shifting, and gettin all kinds of crap on em from the bad weather. These are a major improvement. Westin brand, good fit.


And got a clock from junkyard in the mail. $50 including shipping, now I have emergency flashers.


Now I just need the Stereo head unit and I’ll be in business! Missing my music, but I do like listening to the sound of the engine purr.

 

Doing the front CV axles this weekend.
Starting w the passenger side.
Got the axle out yesterday relatively easily, although the nut behind the dust cap was b*tch to get off. Had to get some extra leverage on the breaker bar. But got it after after a while.

Disconnected the tie rod end (TRE) without too much trouble. Used a tie rod end separator I rented from the store. And had to hit it w the PB blaster first.
Popped the bolts out of the knuckle and then was able to get the CV Axle out of the wheel hub relatively easily. Little fighting it w my legs, but no leverage required.
Popped the CV axle itself out with some not-so-gentle prying w a couple crow-bars, a chisel and a hammer. Got it out pretty quick though.

I noticed before I started that there was some fluid leaking out of the front differential on the drivers side where the Cv axle connects, so after I inspected the seal decided it’d be a good idea to replace. Called Auto Zone and made sure they had em. Picked em up and came back, only to find the chick there

ordered me two of the Drivers side seals.
I needed one drivers and one passenger, obviously. Stupid AutoZone.
So I called Napa auto here locally and they had the passenger side. Ran over there and get it, and came back and installed. Props to Napa for actually knowing what they’re talking about!

Popped the new seal in and hammered it in place. Then grabbed the new Axle and inserted it into the diff. Had to push on it a bit, Rotate, and then bang on the end with a ball pein hammer in the center hole & a sledge hitting that. Definitely the way to go.

Got the wheel back on. Ready to reconnect the TRE. But mine were shot, so I picked up new ones of those yesterday too. Just the Duralst brand, but figured that they’re still better than the one side on the truck that are shot.
Will slap that on today and I’ll be done with the passenger side. Get back on the road and do the drivers next wknd.

 

alright well after messing with the seal on this bad boy for days (hammered mine in way to far), I got the passenger side fixed.
and I finally got around to putting the drivers side CV axle in this weekend.
was a piece of cake compared to when I did it before. Amazing what a little experience will do. had the wheel and nut off in no time, took out the CV axle w/ a hammer and pry bar. popped out the old seal and put the new one it w/ some RTV sealant. put the new axle in and reassembled. rotated the tires too while I was at it.
back running and driving again same day. seems to be running smoother.
There is still some noticeable vibration at low speeds. I believe it may be the wheel hubs. or the fact that the ball joints are shot.
need to do the ball joints and bushings next. along w/ some new spark plugs.
but I'm thinking since I'm going to be replacing the ball joints anyway, maybe I should put some new suspension components on there. new UCAs maybe?

 

Minor update: got the truck started up again after a failed attempt at installing it myself. had a bad ground. still working to improve that. grounding the block to the frame, battery to the fenderwall, etc.
anyway-went to BestBuy to install and they said they need the original mounting bracket for the stock stereo.
ordered em from the local yota stealership, gotta pick em up today.

Put new spark plugs in the other day to. With the new battery and new plugs, the thing is running strong! Have an appt to take the truck in next week and get it aligned. New UCAs, ball joints, and potentially brakes.
so, i'm looking forward to it handling a little better. steering drifts quite a bit at high speeds, and it pulls to the right. need the other new tie rod end put on for the drivers side and then it should handle even better.

 

Ok well I took it in. got an oil change and an alignment. had em look at the suspension. rundown:

• Alignment is better but couldn't be 100% dialed in b/c the tie rod ends are off/crap..
• one of the leafs cracked on the Right rear leaf springs.
• rear shocks are shot
• furthest rear U-joint is coming apart. lot of play in the driveshaft. needs to be replaced ASAP. 0

My AC on/off & recirc buttons still aren't working.

New stereo is installed though! I finally have tunes! stoked about that.

Another appt booked at the toyota dealer tomorrow. have em fix the U-joint.
prolly gonna do the brakes & shocks myself.

 

Got it back from the dealer on Monday. replaced all three U-joints on the rear driveshaft. Wow! What a difference.
The u-joints were literally falling apart before. Shifts were bad, truck would buck all the time and there was a ton of vibration.
Now it shifts way better. has more power! no vibration, doesn't buck. and can hold back down hills a lot better.

next is on to the brakes and suspension.

 

Got all new brakes yesterday. Needed it bad. Started sticking up on me.
Midas special, rabestos, etc. all good. Least I can stop now!

Picked up the new leafs from a 3rd gen over Memorial Day wknd.
Now, just paid for some new shocks from another TW member! stoked. With <10k min off a ‘17 TRD off road 3rd gen.

Will have the shop throw it all on for me.
Be in great shape! Trucks running nice now. Quick and stops.

 

Alright well I couldn't wait to save up $ and pay shop monkeys to throw my suspension on so i went ahead and did the rear shocks the other day. bolted right up np!

slight improvement in the handling and feel of the truck. not as jarring when I hit bumps in the back.
can't wait to do the leafs too.

next up - fronts shocks/ coils this weekend!

 

Update; bought the new wheels!

Bout to buy the tires.
Worried the new ones will rub with the shocks I currently have on it.
I have the new TRD Sport shocks, which sit about an 1" lower than what the Bilstien 1500's did. So, i have some slight rubbing now when the wheel is fully cranked, but it's not a big deal. however, tread is almost gone on the tires ive got on it.

wheels are 17 x 7"
4mm offset, Toyota TRD pro wheels, 6 lug.

Tires need 265/R70/17

was thinking of going with the
Goodyear Wrangler DuraTrac - 265/70R17 115S Tire, but Sams Club doesn't have em in stock!

Instead going w/ my first instinct, The BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO2 - 265/70R17C 112S


looks pretty chunky! tread depth 15/32nds of an inch.
Getting installed next week! Cant wait

 

Got some new springs! Plan for leveling back out the suspension lift is on.
Ordered some

$214 ARB 2884 Old Man Emu Coil Spring

ARB 2884 Old Man Emu Coil Spring should give me back my 2.5" of lift I had when i got it.

• Put the new leafs on the back (finally)
• put new coil springs on
• Put new control arms I already have on
• new wheels,
• new tires

hopefully it won't cost me too much to install all this!

 

Just came across this thread. That is one hell of a road you've been down with this truck. That has to be really rewarding seeing where it's come since you aquired it!

 

Heck yeah!! Thank you. Yes, it’s been quite the journey. But I have learned s lot along the way, and it has definitely been rewarding driving it lately every day reliably without issue since the engine swap and everything.
Enjoying these type mods now even more since the truck is running well

 

Got the new wheels on!

Before:
Tread: gone

After:
New wheels & tires.

Looking really sick. I’m loving the murdeted out vibe, really changes the whole look of the truck. Handles better too, with a wider stance.

Had a couple minor clearance issues I fixed this am. Had to take one mudflap off. And screw in some portion of the front bumper

New coil springs comin in today. Anyone swapped these out theselves?

 

Most definitely, now you have a solid foundation to work off. I just started building my 2013 recently. It's been a blast so far.