Cynicalriders "J0hnny5 is ALIVE!" 01 build thread.

Survived VT with @Chux @Rockbaron1 and @JLink

We got up to camp Friday night with hella mild temps, the low only hit about 37*.

I got up there late, around 10 PM so I only had enough time to smoke a cigar and have some beers. You can tell how comfortable it is because you can actually see my hand...

Untitled by Michael Halat, on Flickr
Untitled by Michael Halat, on Flickr
Untitled by Michael Halat, on Flickr

Left camp around 8:30 and got dumped on all day.

As we rode temps were dropping and winds were picking up. @JLink left around lunch time to be home for work the next day while the rest of us stayed till 3ish or so. Got back to camp with some light still left, enough to get our shit setup and start prepping for a cold night.

This was not long after we got back to camp:

Untitled by Michael Halat, on Flickr
Untitled by Michael Halat, on Flickr
Untitled by Michael Halat, on Flickr

We were trying to use ez ups and walls to block the snow from coming into our beds.

I got out of all my wet shit and kinda just laid in the bed for a bit trying to warm up before I stood around a cold camp fire all night.

Untitled by Michael Halat, on Flickr

I gotta say that thermo electric fan was the MVP of the trip. After about 20-30 mins of that running in the back of the truck I can easily get comfortable enough to change.

@Chux came in clutch making us dinner. His mac and cheese and chili really warmed us up.

Untitled by Michael Halat, on Flickr

The temps kept dropping and the wind kept getting worse. We were hovering around 15-20 mph winds and 40 mph gusts overnight with negative degree wind chills. Standing by the fire wasn't even helping because the wind chill would take your heat away. We eventually pulled my truck in front of the fire to block the wind and this helped a ton.

Untitled by Michael Halat, on Flickr

This was the lowest I saw it go on my app but Chux has a screen shot of 10* with -6* wind chill.

Untitled by Michael Halat, on Flickr

Inside my topper literally everything froze. My gatorade bottle, my piss bottle that I used through the night, and everything was frosted/iced up

Untitled by Michael Halat, on Flickr
by Michael Halat, on Flickr

The next morning I didn't even make breakfast, just shoved all my shit in the bed and rolled out. It was still only 11* and I didn't want to do shit but go home.

Untitled by Michael Halat, on Flickr

Overall it was a fun challenge and glad we did it. It definitely is my new record coldest camp experience for sure.

Untitled by Michael Halat, on Flickr

 

That's comparable to temps on my last trip to Rausch, it was brutal. I was cozy when all bundled up without a heater but the wind was so loud slapping the side of the tent. I got my single digit camping girl scout badge and got a hotel room for the next night. Like you said it was a fun challenge but no thanks, once was enough for me.

 

Can I get some of those cookies you be selling?
2 boxes samoas and 2 boxes thin mints please

 

You like samoas? Immediate unfriend. Coconut is nasty.

 

This guy knows what’s up

 

Everyone knows Tagalongs are where it’s at.

 

Thank you for some sanity, those are my favorite. I will crush half a box in one sitting if I’m not careful.

 

hunting these down is significantly more difficult than I thought it would be lol. But somehow I've ended up with two, one oak and one charcoal lol

 

Not sure if interested in selling one but @SR5.3.4L just pm'ed me asking how I found one.

 

Garage is getting a huge upgrade, 50" TV from my cousins.

Untitled by Michael Halat, on Flickr

Untitled by Michael Halat, on Flickr

My brain has officially shifted to 2 wheels mode so aside from a good wash from VT, this is how my time has been spent lately.

Untitled by Michael Halat, on Flickr
Untitled by Michael Halat, on Flickr
Untitled by Michael Halat, on Flickr

Been heading out after my sons bed time and riding into the night to get extra seat time in. The deadfall fucks with my head sometimes and the pines can feel a little sketch, but it's what I have to work with.

Got a helmet light on the way that should help with some illumination issues and as the season progresses I'll be riding in complete darkness less and less.

 

I can def get used to the whole tv in the garage thing.

 

The pony lux is rad.

 

Yeah it is! love the canopy on it, reminds me of mine a little bit. Those particular episodes were a blast to watch too. The one creek trail looked so sick.


I got the outlet run and installed last night along with the mount. This TV is going to be a game changer in shop enjoyment.

Untitled by Michael Halat, on Flickr

Also got my oxbow voyager in and mounted. Hoping to test it out this week if the thunderstorms on Thursday magically go away.

Untitled by Michael Halat, on Flickr
Untitled by Michael Halat, on Flickr

 

Yeah, I would like to make a similar setup for my 1st gen. Not sure if my sewing skills are up to it though.

 

Yeah i have an upholstery guy I plan on bringing the truck to to finish my back door. I so not have the patience to learn to sew.

Was perusing the durobump site today and realized my pic is on his site lol. Last pic in the gallery comparing the two was taken on my work bench.

https://durobumps.com/product/1st-gen-toyota-tacoma-front-bump-stops/

 

Got out the other night to test the Oxbow, goddamn it's bright! Was a fun ride with warm temps right before a storm was supposed to hit.

Untitled by Michael Halat, on Flickr

Truck's been idle, but I have a bunch of plans for small repairs to get it looking nice again. Trying to work through the stuff while balancing Dad mode and getting out and riding as much as physically possible.

Bringing this list to the top to get my ass motivated again on cleaning the truck up for this year. A lot of the upcoming maintenance is dealing with rust/repainting shit.

Fix drivers side rear axle seal leak

Get a back door stitched up to attach to current rack.

Get tube cut and bent/welded to the back of the current rack.

AC pulley

Decided to de-prioritize the steering rack leak since it's far less bad than I thought.

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Alright making this it's own post. I took a deep dive into the goals for the truck, and the things I want to improve. This list is always changing/ being improved upon, completed or added to.

As always green was just completed, BOLD is priority/realistic. Anything previously green gets deleted (though I still need to update the build specs lol). Of course this is all for my sanity's sake.

Maintenance:

Armor up rear diff, fix plug, or weld plug permanently shut and replace two studs with bolts to drain

Plugs

Wires

Carrier Bearing (Might wait on this, still feels tight)

Paint rear bumper, drill holes out bigger to accept 3/4" shackles

Rust convert and paint sliders

Deal with rust spots on the cab under the doors

Remove rust and touch up paint on rack - specifically in the hinge/latch area

Swap doors so I can start on half doors

• Passenger door needs to be swapped for spare door in better condition
• Drivers door needs rust removed, painted and resealed with seam sealer - reference link
• Donor drivers door needs tar cleaned off of it to start on half door build
• Passenger door needs rust repair before being able to be used for half door build

Paint black stripe on bottom part of body to address rust staining - this will help for the doors that have been repaired from rust

Rebuild the spare alternator (need rebuild kit)

Rebuild spare cv's

Power steering rack, filter and system bleed

New OEM ac tensioner pulley

Fix drivers side rear axle seal leak

Replace clutch/TOB that's driving me insane - Deprioritizing, the noise calmed wayyy down.

Interior Mods:

Test fridge on drivers side

Finish installing latch system into the truck behind the fridge for the car seat base

Put oem cup holder back in to test car seat fit

Get drivers seat repaired - scheduled to drop them off May 2nd

Recondition seats

Install seat heaters - scheduled to drop them off May 2nd

While fridge and seats are out, run wiring required for seat heater install

Platform in back with taller rear locking storage, a place Mac can be raised up on while the fridge stays at the same height)

Lit up cup holders

Tablet lighting solution using Raspberry Pi

Switch reconfiguration

Put in cubby under the fridge:

Change of clothes, canned foods with long expirations, fire starter kit, emergency blanket, MRE's. Stuff that is worst case scenario survival shit.


Exterior Storage Mods:

Build a dual swing out tire carrier. The one swing out will contain the 35" tire, and a fold down table. The left side will hold the high lift and chain saw and will also have a fold down table. The goal is to make everything more accessible without needing to unload the truck. - Potentially decommissioning this idea.

Get a back door stitched up to attach to current rack.

Get tube cut and bent/welded to the back of the current rack.

Figure out a ramp mount solution when hauling the bike. Maybe prinsu rack on cab?

Potentially add a roof rack above the cab to hold traction pads/a plano case that contains recovery gear. The jury is still out on this concept. I would like to avoid adding anymore weight that high if I can. See ramp mount point. ^


Performance upgrades:

ABS controller delete/LSPV delete/manual valve install and complete fluid flush

Dual battery setup, one battery in current location, the other under the bed. This will be the house battery that the fridge, and all lighting accessories will run on.

Crawl box: I need lower gears to really take the truck to the next level crawling wise.

Build/get built beefier drive shafts

Custom Alcans or Deavers: Once I get the average weight of the rear figured out as a typical always on rolling weight, I want leaves to be able to hold the weight of my normal everyday load. Airbags will be the interim solution.

Install Manual hub tube, replace the seal. Potentially pull the shaft, get heat/cryo treated.


Lighting Mods:

3 additional floods to rock lights (one facing from the rear bumper to the diff, and two near the front facing down near the bumpers, goal is to eliminate the current dead spots)

Hood lights on pin switch

Two Toyota rock lights as additional turn signals


Misc Exterior/ Camp Mods:

Redline Hood struts

Heat exchanger in engine bay for warm showers

Fiberglass fenders and bedsides (this will eliminate some of the body glamage I have gathered over the years)

Half doors

New bedside decals

Print up decals of trails from Moab, put on cab

Window tint

Far future plans:

LT or 3-link


Bike mod list currently:

Black side plastics
New graphics
Suspension Tune

 

Fixed your list

If you still have the OEM AC pulley, it uses a replaceable bearing an a c lip holding it in. Can get a pack of replaceable bearings for $ compared to a new pulley $$$

$8 PGN (2 Pack) 6301-2RS Bearing - Lubricated Chrome Steel Sealed Ball Bearing - 12x37x12mm Bearings with Rubber Seal & High RPM Support

https://www.amazon.com/PGN-6301-2RS...0351&sprefix=koyo+6301+2rs+ce+,aps,216&sr=8-1

Definitely agree on the rear bumper shackle holes. Not sure why 4xi made them the 5/8 vs 7/8 holes. This is a pia todo, hard to get a drill and bit with enough room to drill. Recommend a right angle adapter an a step bit, drill from both sides and then some die grinding. But worth the upgrade and plenty material for those 1/2" mounting plates.

Next. Half doors! Been waiting to see you start these things. Ping me if you have any questions, etc.

 

Nice light work list there!!!

 

Yeah like an idiot I threw away the OEM one. I bought a brand new OEM one that even came with the bracket too. Just need to put it in but I think the noise I thought was that pulley ended up being the TOB.

@EatSleepTacos mentioned getting a reamer for the bumper, honestly I think my HF bit set should make quick work of it if I stop being lazy. I just need to do it haha.

And yeah the half doors are def getting started soon, the nice part about that project is I can start and stop it very easily. Since I have a hard deadline on the seat heaters/fix and I am going to be gone on vacation/riding the next two weeks I think my focus will be there and I'll just polish the turd in the meantime with all the paint work that needs to be done.

It seems like it never gets shorter.

 

Haha that's for sure! I found my self reading your list and thinking back to my reliability issues, and thinking of making a pre wheeling season PM program for the truck like a dork!!

As for the bearing I am sold on just buying the OEM pulley and bracket instead of swapping out that bearing It's quicker and easier for me to just swap it rather than mess with a bearing seized in there.