motor in. More problems.

I used my motor hoist to pick up my engine and lower it into my 04 Taco. Motor mounts not lining up. Well, one is. I may have to pick it up again a inch or so and try again. Then a hard rain came.
Those who have followed my posts know the problems I had with the accident a year ago. Lots of problems getting everything together and rebuilding the LF suspension. The first alarm bell I got was when I tried to put the sway bar(aka anti sway bar, aka stabilizer bar) on the truck. It didn't line up right. This is the bar that runs from LF wheel to RF wheel. I actually ordered another one from a salvage company thinking mine was damaged in the wreck. It wouldn't bolt on either. Then. My worst nightmare! Measuring the wheelbase. I now have 4 wheels on the truck again! Left side from front wheel to back is about 1 3/4" longer then the right? Yikes!
When I did the front wheel I changed upper control arm. Tie rod ends. Upper and lower ball joints. Stabilizer bar from the donor truck. I ordered a new LCA from parts geek. I spent several days trying and trying to install it. Finally I noticed the brake line fastener made onto it was on the wrong side! I had a right side LCA. I was so PO'd, I put it back together with the original LCA. I compared it carefully to the one out of the donor truck. Both the same. No visible damage. I wish now I had used the donor LCA but it is a solid mass of rust, having come from Virginia.
I need to find someone with a frame straightening machine that can pull it back. There is one shop that does that where I live and he doesn't seem too interested in helping. I thought about trying to pull it myself. I wonder where to pull from, and where to anchor to. At least if I can finish the engine install, I will be mobile. Surely I can find a shop who will do this for me. I don't know what's wrong with these shops around here. I suspect they only want to do the big jobs for bigger money.

 

I wish I was close enough to help in person . Working alone dropping an engine sucks even when things go well.

The thing with a frame machine is having so many different tie downs that you can jack and pull from being each job is different.

Your right about shops wanting the high paying insurance jobs.

 

I wish you were too.
Dropping the engine wasn't bad at all. Well. Having something that heavy that high up in the air is always scarry. I was on concrete this time. I am applying all the lessons learned from my earlier experience on the grass and plywood. It's sitting in there now.
There is a body shop with a frame machine that may help me 63 miles away. I wonder how it will drive with one wheel out ahead 2"?
Thanks for your (always encouraging) comments!

 

I got both motor mounts secure, and bolted into place this morning. It just had one holding it yesterday. Manual says it has to be level. So great! I get to try out my new leveler! What I had to do was loosen the 2 bolts on either side of the mount, where it attaches to the frame. I had to remove one bolt on the right side, so I could align the center, main bolt, then pry, and shift the engine to a point where the last bolt went in.
I spent some time arranging wire cables, and planning my next move.

My build page https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/04-coil-spring-bucket-graft.745614/#post-26553633

 

Good job!!

 

how'd you get your valve cover that color? I dig it.

 

Yea, I thought it looked cool. 300 degree rated, it remains to be seen how well it will hold up to continued heat. It is engine paint. Metallic blue. I painted my intake with it as well, but not yet put back on the truck. I think I got that off of Amazon. My 2.4 is "Ole blue"!