My Rough n Ready Taco excruciatingly slow build

The new Toyo AT-lls and some Tundra steelies, like them so far:



On the way to work around 0500, that’s the Great One with some alpenglow:



He is quick... very quick... I slowed down to about 20-25 (didn't want to herd him/her) and it left me in the dust....



Yeah, home sweet home:

 

Dang. I wish we had country like that down here! Beautiful!

 

Road trip.....
Although as a disclaimer, if you wanted to travel this road, it would have to be by shuttle bus, but still a great ride.

 

Apparently, I can't get there from here!

 

I think you have to go down to New Jersey and then back up? 58 days seems pretty quick for walking...

 

Well it has been awhile since the Taco has been on the road.

Recap: while replacing the stock exhaust system- had a split in the crossover pipe- so one thing led to another- first attempt was the DNA motors SS header- had crap fit and since this wasn’t a frame off and I’m no metal worker- requires electricity. Plan B.
The next winter I found a TRD header on sale- and last summer during the wrestling match trying to get the dna header to fit right I noticed the glycol leak I had been chasing for awhile- radiator time.

So I brought a Champion aluminum radiator back up north along with the TRD header and swapped all that out, cranked it up and she ran ok, so I figured a cooling system flush was in order- and behold a head gasket leak of substantial proportions. I managed to get back from Fairbanks without mishap, other than filling the radiator a few times.

Then I tracked down some options- given the history of the truck’s mechanical condition so far I figured the best option was to either go with a rebuilt long block or a low?mileage salvage engine. The wallet said salvage engine, if possible.
Next trick-hydro locked it the old one the next week pulling it over to the neighbors to get my engine from him ( he had picked it up on an Anchorage trip)

Found one from a salvage yard in Ohio, on eBay. 112k 3.4l, I got it shipped up, then organized getting it picked up in Anchoragua- 250m south. Got the whole package hauled up to a shop in Fairbanks and they dropped it in and got it going.

So I picked it up and took it for a 500m road test. Seemed ok, so loaded it up and hit the road to ‘merica. Final report ran good, ok mileage- 14-15 towing a utility trailer.

So there it is: 1 hydrolocked 3.4, next stop?( the oil pan and valve cover are for the new 22R long block for Roland the 85’)

 

a few of the road trip

 

Nice build, would like to get up there and see those places in your photos

 

Stop by anytime, I should be around there for a few more years I hope.
Finally got the 04 round cup holder console in place, still need to clean out the truck from the road trip and then load a couple photos....

 

Nice build and you live in some beautiful country.

 

Coming along, thinking maybe I should change my title to -really, exceptionally slow build.....

 

Super cool. This pic gives some perspective on the scale. AK sized!

 

It does indeed, keeps me balanced. Better than a corner office.....

 

Well back up North again, the trip up was way too fast. Never again, seems like I say it every trip but any more trips up and down will be of a leisurely nature. Hope to get the Tundra brake mod done this summer as well as getting rid of the Warn hubs (came with them) and going back with some Asin OEM ones.
Thought I would post a couple photos from the last year.
Last fall


An attempt at an aurora borealis pic

Traffic jam in the Ross Sea

rare black bear sighting out here

last night

This morning around 0400 hrs

 

Nice truck, awesome photos

 

I like it. Built for the real world and not Instagram.

 

Thanks, it's coming along, still a ways to go, luckily the bigger ticket items are coming when the money is tight....
Still have to get this editing sorted out, been awhile since was on here..
Think I got it sorted now, that took way too long...

 

It’s coming along, it was pretty well abused when I bought it but $$ was tight and I was stuck in Moab and was on a schedule time wise. But beside the few surprises it has been a good rig and I have definitely enjoyed it.

life in the great land has it’s challenges but there aren’t many finer places to hang yer hat.

 

Finally tracked down some reconditioned OEM Steelies, getting the Toyos onto them today.

A better pic of the OEM steelies,

 

Blue sea sub panel installed, now it’s time to run some wire and order some switches