Chicagoland area members

I know. I am saving all the goodd pics for myself.

 

Badlands this Saturday, the 18th.

 

Well I got a bit more work done on Erics steering saturday.
First off I measured the TR positions to determine the correct ram location. Currently the ram is 6" c/c with the axle and it looks like it needs to be 5 3/4" so looks like the bracket we made will accomodate just fine. I also measured for the stop tubes which will be taken care of this week as well. 2" stop tubes will stop the ram just before the knuckles contact the steering stops.

Eric had the correct borgeson U-joint sent to me last week, which is 3/4" on the orbital valve side, and a "DD" style shaft on the other. My only complaint is that only the one side was drilled and tapped for set screws. And since the valve input shaft is smooth I had to come up with something for attaching this end. I ended up grinding to small flats 90° apart and tapping the u-joint for some set screws as well.



Moved on to mounting the TC pump. The pump does not fit great in the factory bracket so I...used some steel spacers to "space" the pump to the front side of the factory bracket, this puts the pulley where it needs to be. This would have been trick http://www.chilkatdesigns.com/PumpBracket.html but for now the factory bracket worked out fine.

I used a bolt and washer to pull the PS pulley onto the pump (while holding the pulley), to avoid damaging the pump internals. Also the hub with the groove goes outward so a pulley remover can be used later when neccessary.



Decided to run the pressure lines to the ram on the outside of the frame for clearance reasons, and made a bracket from some 3/4" black pipe and a steel sleeve. This should locate the fixed end of the lines on the frame rail and keep them out of the tire. It also utilizes a steering box bolt no longer used. The center sleeve is a little long on the frame side to prevent overtightening the bracket and pinching the hydraulic lines :





No real issues so far except for relocating little things (relays, airbag sensors, small wiring, etc.) and need to re-route the lower radiator hose as well.
Next up is mounting the reservior.

 

They are about 1/4" away. I cut some more fender away already and theres not much more I can take out. I am gonna put some door edge crap on the cut, but the hoses shouldnt move enough to create a problem.

 

HEY CHICAGO!

We are having a toyota jamboree At the Cliffs September 22/23rd Looking forward to wheeling with some of you out there!

 

Just when I thought I could stop going to the Cliffs...

You take the event over from Jon (4rnr) did ya?

 

John gave it to me when I asked about it.... I love the event... mostly from the ability to night wheel out there... it can be really terrifying sometimes because you can't see anything! I also love looking at a parking lot full of built Yotas and hanging around a camp fire! Good Times!

 

Yeah the night wheeling is really the only reason I come. Guess I'd better put it on my schedule...

 

Holy shit the wife is going to kill you Mark. I am in for the wheeling trip!

 

Hi Everyone,

I am from Plainfield. Picked up my Tacoma from Bill Walsh Toyota in Ottawa on Satuday. Just wondering how many other Tacoma owners are in the area.

Mike

 

Haha, not many. Like 3

 

Yeah no shit....esp since the only reason I am able to go this weekend is because I said there was no Jambo this year and I wanted to see the 'Cruiser guys. Then whatdya know the once cancelled jambo is resurected! fml (or not )

 

Mark im in the same boat.. Had wheeling trips planned, and then poped this on the wife.. she was like, really 3 weekends in the next month WTF.. I just kinda looked at her and was like.. uhhh ,, yea! I guess so! Its worth the day or so of crap to get out and have fun!

On that note, im gonna start some questions on the other thread!

 

I bent $500 worth of axles two weeks ago at the badlands. I am going to the badlands again this weekend, then to TN for all of memorial day weekend, and now CTJ...oh...did I mention we have a 7 wk old at home?

 

A few pics from Saturday at Badlands:



Trail Po-Po checking wristbands/coolers:



Shot the tubes since the creek was wayyyyy low:





Broken upper link heim in blue buggy:



Sweet cruiser (resto just finished):

 

Pulled the trigger on this yesterday:



T-Maxx dual battery system

 

I have hated these since day one.. yes they where bright w hid retro but still couldn't stand the look


I finally bit the bullet..


So much better

 

Very nice Nick, if that bar is missing one day it isn't me

 

How big is that bar? Fits the bumper perfect!