Millenium Falcon Taco Build

Received my goodies today!

 

Perhaps the dancing broccoli was premature.
The compressor is leaking at one of the seals in it's case. Oh boys

Which is odd as it held a vacuum for 3 days when I did the test.

 

External pressure vs internal pressure? Can you just torque up some bolts?

 

Unsure Mark. About torquing up bolts, I'm unsure about that either. The Compressor would need to come out as the pulley has to be removed to access the bolts. I'll probably just purchase a replacement compressor at some point. It does still work atm but the leak is not a small one imo.

 

After installing the Bell Crank Return Springs I have realized that the mechanism itself needs to be cleaned up as the new spring can not fully pull it back. I guess it's a trip to the sand blaster for both sides once I remove them from the truck!

 

Today I replaced the drivers side signal light socket. I cut one of the ones off of the parts truck harness and soldered and heat shrunk it to my trucks light harness.
Previously, someone had super glued the harness conector to the bulb socket. As if that was not bad enough, the wires were no longer clipped into the harness connector, someone had drilled two holes through the harness connector and into the bulb socket, stripped the wires and super glued them in there.


I also removed a non functioning automatic car starter that was in the truck and installed a new one.

I've reinstalled the grill and marker lights.

 

Well there's 6 hours of my life I'll never get back... Moar please

 

lol

 

I'm just wondering if it was something loose, the vacuum could have been pulling it up tight and sealing it, while the internal pressure from the freon is pushing it out and causing it to leak. It'd be a shame to shell out all that cash for a new compressor only to discover it was just a couple of loose bolts.

 

Well...
With the help of a friend I put the bed back on the truck.
This pic is not representative of the rake on the truck. It's not on a level surface and the front tire is a bit low.
Removal of rust and a repaint will have to wait until next year.
Just blasted the Bolts and Nuts that hold the bed and tow hitch to the frame.
Going to paint them and then fasten the bed down and reinstall the tow hitch.

 

Kind of pretty excited about this pic.
Been wanting a thule rack for some time now.

 

That lean though. It's gonna be fast because it's always going downhill. It looks like those Novas my classmates had back in the 80s.

At least it's not a Florida bro lean (front end way up high). I'd have to unsub then.

 

So I have the truck back together.
I've swapped my rims with the ones off the 4Runner.
I've put the 4Runner in the shop and am now back to using the Tacoma.
After my ride home I have to say that I'm quite happy with the suspension work that has been done. Truck rides very well.
The back end has settled a little bit with the bed, thule rack and spare tire installed.
I still have a few small things to look after but none of those things involve taking the truck off the road.
More pictures to come.

 

It was very fast on the way home. lol
I have to say there is a night and day difference when comparing the 3.4L engine in the Tacoma to the 3.0 in the 4Runner.
No wonder it's been named the 3.slow.

 

Was flipping through some old pictures and wanted to show some before at after pictures of the rear end.
Have come a long way from the day I originally pulled the bed off.

 

After driving the truck for a week I have to say the suspension work has solved a lot of problems.
I am experiencing vibrations at 60-70mph.
Gets worse the higher the speed.
Not sure if the rear suspension lift has thrown the geometry off of the rear drive shaft requiring a shim to bring it back to spec.

 

A lot has been done here so not sure; did you change your carrier bearing? A 3* shim is usually used at 3" lift in the rear but nothing at your height is generally needed.

 

The carrier bearing I have on the truck now was on the complete shaft I pulled off of the parts truck. Truck had 181,000kms on it.

 

Slide under the truck and grab the shaft by the carrier bearing and see if there is any play in the bearing. Shouldn't be a whole lot.

 

The truck probably cant handle you working on it topless.

I know I get the shakes when I see women topless...so...maybe wear a shirt when you drive it and see if that helps? lol