New Mexico Owners BS Thread

Good to know! i know that my best bet is to stay off the reservations in general, but good to know where the hot spots are. You ever been further south around Oscura Peak? IDK the name of the mountains around there but it looks like a killer ridge road overlooking the Trinity Site.

 

Land Grants and Reservations are different animals entirely. Search “Tierra Amarilla Courthouse Raid”. Never been to Trinity.

 

Hey Guys,
We live in ABQ. before, it’s where my wife and I were married. I was born and raised in the East Valley of the Phoenix area. While living in ABQ. I couldn’t handle the place where I worked so I went back to my old employer in Phoenix, my wife followed me back. Fast forward my wife is a school teacher and she’s retiring the end of this school year. She wants to move back to ABQ area. The weather is much cooler than the convection oven of Phoenix. Oh it’s October 1st and just going to be a 110 today.
But I have one issue with moving to ABQ., my LS swapped 5 lug Tacoma will not pass emissions no matter what I do even with the cats. I don’t like vehicles that stink either but the truck will not pass emissions with the LS swap.
I understand that vehicles that are registered in Bernalillo County have to pass emissions or vehicles that travel into the county must pass emissions. Here in AZ it’s registered at my stepmom‘s place outside of Maricopa County.
Anyone know what I can do to register the LS swap in Bernalillo?

Thanks in advance!
Randy

 

That's quite the pickle.
1. Make the truck compliant, not sure the cost or complexity that requires.
2. Don't register it here in NM.

Not ideal at either option.

 

Find a friend to let you use their address in any county but bernalillo. Know anyone in Rio Rancho?!

 

I think we found a Casa in Placitas, it’s in Sandoval county.
I called an old boss @ Sandia Casino and asked if they needed anyone in transportation he said he was full up why? I told him my wife and I might move back and I was thinking about something part time and Im never going back to the city again. He said I thought you left here to drive a city bus. I said that was the biggest mistake in my life. I got shot at as I started to break up a fight and a passenger was killed one night on my route from a “At Risk Youth”! Trust me you see your life flash before you, it’s the fastest slow motion that you can’t stop, as you realize what just happened. Every customer either says Thank You or Fuck You as they exit the bus. That was it I quit and started driving a garbage truck for Phoenix again. At least the garbage in the can doesn’t yell and swear at you plus it smells better.

 

If you reside in Sandoval county, you can skip the emissions test. People who commute to Albuquerque are supposed to pass emissions, but I don't know anyone who lives in Sandoval county who does that, and I work with a lot of people who live in Rio Rancho.

When do you plan to move to the ABQ area?

 

Well,
The Boss (aka wife) says we are not moving to New Mexico now. Her sister-in-law decided to stay in Portland so now the Boss is thinking the Boise area. You know how the saying goes, Happy Wife = Happy Life… I guess that’s why I’ve been with her for 25 years now…

 

As someone who just relocated from Boise to ABQ, it's not a bad choice. Traffic is worse there, but hey, no emissions. Lots of cool areas to explore in the mountains. Summers are hot and winters are cold. I enjoyed my time there, but really don't miss it. Hope your move goes well!

 

Hey, does anybody know of any successful LS swapped second gens? Im thinking about swapping an LS into mine and need some references. There are some things on here about it, but nothing real concrete and looking at stuff online isn't helping much either. I might just need to get everything in hand and then figure it out from there.

 

While I don't have experience swapping one into a truck, I did build an LM7 (iron block 5.3) for my truck.
A couple questions that might help you:
Are you planning to rebuild the motor before putting it in?
There's a really awesome step by step book that will explain and walk you through a rebuild. Highly recommend.
How to Rebuild GM LS-Series Engines (S-A Design)

$27 How to Rebuild GM LS-Series Engines (S-A Design)

https://www.amazon.com/dp/193249460X

What's your plan for the transmission?
I bought my motor standalone which was not bad for $1000. But when you look at the project as a whole, you still need a lot more than just the motor. If I were to do it again I would buy a complete, running/driving Tahoe so I had all the parts, including the trans and all the computers needed to make it all work vs piecing it together. Can part out or scrap the rest of the truck once the swap is complete, but it'll be nice to have all the parts at your disposal. You might have to shop around but Ive seen them for $3-4k and the extra price is worth it.

Do you know what year of LS you want to use?
I went with an 01. It is before the cylinder deactivation nonsense and still has a throttle cable. If you get a throttle by wire, you'll have to source a pedal to work with it, but like my last point above, can be easy enough.

Good luck, it was a fun project while it lasted and I hope one day I can do it from start to finish. Life has other plans the last time.

 

Hmmm,
The hardest part is the electrical! There are plug and play motor mounts for 4x2’s. I don’t know about 4x4’s.
I think you would need a front sump to clear the front diff.
Also do you want to use your stock gauges? Dakota Digital makes stuff to convert and a member here makes a conversion for the coolant temperature.
I used a OE drop in Radiator and Corvette accessories w/ a OE Vette radiator hose. On the bottom we cut one of the radiator hoses in half and used a 16” piece of 1.5” aluminum tube to join the two together. There’s actually a few others who have done LS Swaps. You be shocked on how well it drops in the engine bay! We had to buy a lot of parts twice and even three times to get what would fit / work.
Do some more research you find others who have done an LS Swap into a Taco…

This below is not necessary but I had it done to be able to service the engine with out pulling the engine.

See how easy the Tremec TKX fit?

 

Yeah the plan would be to rebuild it. I have no idea as far as a year. After spending the last several years (while the Taco was not running) driving Tundras, 1500 and 3500 Chevy's, and F450's for work, the Taco is just lacking a ton of power. I want a good mix between the torque numbers and power off the line. A little bit of a sleeper I guess. I know I'll need full transmission, ECU, and other parts all the way to new drive shafts. But I'm just getting started into the planning phase.

 

Anyone have an issue with putting 4 17" tires on here for sale? Or is that not allowed on this Thread?

 

Has anyone recently been to Chaplan sledding hill up past Sandia ski area? We’re wanting to take the kids but want to know if there’s enough snow first before going up there.

 

My nephew said the day after New Year’s there’s only snow where they’re making it, other then that it’s all rocks.

 

Thanks for the info

 

Sup homes.
Figured I'd introduce myself here since it seems more active compared to the 4Runner forums/others.
Up in the Jemez, have a manual swapped 2000 4Runner.
Thinking of picking up a 2011 F350 and throwing and OVRLND camper on it in the next year.

 

I have a cover for a DCSB with cap. I’m not using it as much as I thought. Still in nice shape. Free to anyone in the Albuquerque area, so long as I don’t have to drive too far. (such as the westside or rio rancho). I’m in the East Mountains.