LukeCC’s Build & BS

That’s as far as I got today.
Hoping to find time this weekend to do wire and gauge. It’s all down hill from here though.

 

Temp sensor?

 

yep. Figured after I spent all that money on the new trans I might as well get a gauge and monitor the temp levels.

 

My radiator started leaking like crazy when I started driving it with the new trans after it sat for so long.




Bought a new one and installed it after work before the rain hit.

 

Yeah, the leak came out of nowhere but I could tell the one that was in there had been there a while. Feel much better about driving the truck on and off road now that I got that replaced. Peace of mind for sure.

 

Right on, that's not a bad idea. Kinda been wanting a trans temp gauge for my new transmission, too, since I did my 4x4 conversion

 

Do it.

It’ll be nice to drive by the temperature. The 3.4s have a reputation of over heating and blowing head gaskets when running them hard so to be able to monitor numbers could provide a early warning of a cooling issue or excessive overload. Too much heat= money. One way or the other.

 

Finished installing the trans temp gauge.
I hate wiring.

 

Took the truck out for its first real shake down today. After a year of building and battling bullshit issues. Finally got to run the truck hard and see what it was capable of. Day trip to plaster city. Front end handled really well. Continued to surprise me all day long. As was expected, the front end and it’s glory illuminated the rear and how badly it’s lacking across the board. Bucking like a bronco and kicking out like crazy. Going to start getting things together and working on the rear. Looking forward to bringing the rear up to speed.

 

Truck looks great, man! When I get back to CA for winter break I gotta hit up superstition or something it's been ages since I took the Tacoma out to the desert

 

So what you're saying is your truck is a mullet?



Stoked you got to get some dirt time!

 

Thanks dude. I’m down for sure.

 

hahaha that’s exactly right. Total mullet status

 

Pretty much just like that on whoops along side Evan Hewes hwy

 

Little update:

picked up the truck from the transmission shop today after work. Replaced the speed sensor ASWELL as the wiring to the sensor. Truck is running strong for now. Just gotta put some miles on it and see if that does the trick. In the meantime, the build now resumes accordingly. More to come next week.

 

Package arrived a few days ahead of schedule.


https://trail-gear.com/120165-1-kittacoma-rear-frame-box-kit.html

 

Ended up pulling the trigger on a pair of 2.0s to replace the bilsteins I’ve been running. A friend at 4WP gave me a deal I couldn’t refuse. Should make the rear handle a little better in the dirt until I can get the rear end ready for something more permanent.

 

fun day run at superstition. Truck handled well. 2.0s are definitely better than the clapped out bilsteins I had before. Time to get to work on the rear.