GHOST SHIP: Custom Chingaderas

I dig it!

 

I’ll hook you up when you come up to your install!

 

I’m in!

 

CMC and viper cut today. Dude had 285s on stock suspension. Even I was surprised when it didn’t rub as he drove off. Full, or even partial stuff will still definitely rub, but he’s got more room for now until the suspension goes on.

 

How many marks are on that damn fence of yours?
I know I made at least one

 

Haha. It’s getting worse. It’s a tight driveway, but I’m used to it. I’ve had many people hit the fence or even the retaining wall on their way in and out. One guy even tore the gate off the hinges because he came in waaayy too fast. There is a faint drag line along most of the fence that is the exact height of Tacoma mirrors. I may start a new thing where I pull the truck in and out of my driveway for anyone that comes over.

 

Just looked up the White's and Nicks.......damn. Time to start saving for something other than truck and guns!

 

A good pair of boots should last you a lifetime. The good thing about Nicks and Whites is that they’re not only resoleable, they’re also rebuildable. Meaning that you can send them back if the leather gets torn or cut or burned and they will dismantle the boot and replace the leather panels that are damaged. Here’s a sample video of that work from Nicks:

https://youtu.be/UAbKy1hdVlE

I could watch videos like that all day. Kind of like the Ship of Theseus but usually the parts that get the most damage are the toe box and the counter, so the upper ankle supports remain the same. Both companies got started for the logging and woodland firefighting industries so they had to be made tough to justify someone spending that much money on boots that will get beat to hell and back.

 

I like it! Definitely on the list!!

 

Turned this into this:



Poor angle, but for anyone wondering, the ECGS bushing is almost 1/4” wider than the OEM needle bearing. It will give the axle more support on the diff side which is one of the reasons why it’s such a great upgrade for us.

 

I've always heard of this upgrade, and know it by name, symptoms when it needs to be swapped, all of that, but haven't actually ever seen them side by side. Substantial difference!

 

This post by @MyWyfsRnnr shows just how much play there is in a worn needle bearing:

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/needle-bearing-yes-replace-it-ecgs.716338/page-11#post-28502806

 

So beautiful sir, great job as always! That hot rod red is legit!

 

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/needle-bearing-yes-replace-it-ecgs.716338/page-11#post-28512526

Here is the play stock dvr vs pass

 

CMC and viper cut today.

 

Rebuilding a cv on my truck. After 110k miles, I finally got a tear in my inner boot. It was a small hole that I noticed while doing some maintenance this past week so I figured I’d take care of it before it became a greasy mess in the wheel well. This is also why I’m an advocate for cleaning your undercarriage whenever you can- it makes potential problems easier to identify.

While I was in there, I welded on the Total Chaos spindle gusset. Because I’m tired, I only did the passenger side. Once my drivers side boot tears, I’ll be doing the same on that side and throw in the ECGS bushing that’s been in my toolbox for 3 years now. This corner of the truck is looking fresh and clean now.

 

Any issues getting the CV out? I've had two new ones to go into the 4Runner sitting in my parts pile since last summer. Outer boots on both CV's are torn and I'm sure have no grease left, I just haven't wanted to fight them all day if one gets stuck so I keep putting it off.

 

I’ve heard of the struggles people have with pulling cvs. I’ve never had a problem. I use a pry bar with the clocking method. You basically wedge a pry bar between the inner cup and the diff housing and apply a little pressure. If it doesn’t want to come out, you rotate 10 degrees and try again. Eventually you find a sweet spot and the cv just pops out. Doing it this way I’ve never had an issue. I’ve seen people chew up the cv cup with a hammer and chisel and the cable on a hammer just sounds country AF. I have a 36” crowbar I use just for the leverage but even then I’m not putting my full weight into it. Patience is more important than brute strength.

 

Solid advice, thanks! One of these days I'll get on it.. When I put my lift on last Fall and the CV angle went from positive to negative water literally poured out of a boot. They have to be real close to toasted.

 

You got it Spencer! I have two Napa CVs that I keep as backup and was about to throw one in rather than reboot the OEM one, but I had some time today and the whole job just snowballed from there.