Squeaky Penguin's (Trip Reports) Build Thread

We'll see how it turns out!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MhLqPfAylF4


Actually though, when I ran Chinaman's in May, we were following this guy in a Xterra with a hot pink skid plate. You could see every single rock he hit

Also, pulled my skids off for the season. They got some use for sure. All-Pro's idea of a transmission 'skid' I think is scrap metal. The IFS skid could use some modifications too, there's a nice little bend after the rear mounting bolts. Want to come up with a rear crossmemeber and a more solid skid from the IFS skid past the transfer case.





Also for good measure, hit my gas tank on Chinamen's



Maybe I should finally get around to getting a real gas tank skid.

 

I think today we hit the high temperature for the week of 10* F. No painting going on here. In fact, my truck started up pretty slowly and with ample amounts of noise the other morning at -30* F.

 

It's supposed to drop in the negative digits again next couple weeks.

 

So, mod day and beer drinking at your place?

Buy hey, may not be able to do any painting, but took a weekend trip to Moab a couple weekends ago, pull out the snowboard whenever I want, things like that. We just have seasons that dictate our hobbies...

I'm up in Steamboat for break, it's colder up here

 

So, finally got around to ordering OEM lower ball joints. Going to look into replacing the LCA bushings as well. Still decided what to do with front shocks. That one 5100 is leaking really bad now, thinking OME is the best answer for the time being. Wish I could go with a coilover and new upper arms, but that isn't going to happen. Probably should replace the upper ball joints at the same time.

Did the tie rod to tie rod steering replacement last spring, so all this should have me with a solid front suspension.

 

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/1s...-product-1st-gen-gas-tank-skid-low-range.html

 

I was hoping to win one of those in Moab. Bought 3 tickets and put them all in for that skid. Anyways, for the price, I would like to try to make my own. Lumpskie's looks pretty good.

 

i may have my ome shocks i took off forsale. i promised them to a buddy at work, but i will see if hes serious if u are interested? only were on the truck for 15k.

 

Got a bunch of parts that will be going on soon, or at least before this coming wheeling season.

So far I've got in my possession or on order:
- OEM Lower Ball Joints with new bolts (and plenty of loctite)
- OEM Upper Ball Joints
- Jace's old Nitrocharger Shocks
- Whiteline LCA bushings

Also have plans to do some rear suspension work. Will be modifying my leaf pack so it can hopefully handle my fat ass and switching out to 1" lift shackles. Would also like to toss Jace's old 10" 5125s, and pick up some 12" 5125s. Would like to pair those with a shock relocation and a ubolt flip.

 

no need to put Loctite on lbj bolts? just torque them

 

I've always heard the oposite... I loctited the shiznit out of mine lol.

 

Yeah, I've always heard that to. Can't imagine it would hurt anything.

Regardless, I'll make sure to torque them properly.

 

Use paint pen or nail polish to mark the bolts for easy movement check before wheeling.

 

I've got this wonderful mental image to remind me to check the bolts...

 

Fuh.... Yeah that's a hard lesson learned lol

 

On the other hand it is a cool stuffed photo LOL

You should post this in the stuffed photo thread... Pretty sure there is one haha

 

Thanks to jberry for his advice on shackles and springs. Used this method:

And determined I'll most likely be going back to stock shackles.

 

But I loved watching them attract rocks!

You are going to want to set out a loooooong block of time for those LCA bushings. I have probably 10-15 hours into mine so far and just finally got the old sleeves out and sanded the rust out, not pretty at all. I have quite a few tips if you need them, I followed this thread (clearly for a 2nd gen, but I can't imagine they are any different for this purpose).

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/suspension/176250-diy-lca-bushing-replacement-2005-tacoma-4x4.html

I am going to make a new one with the pics I have been taking as these pics don't work.

 

Yeah, I've been reading and learning about shackles and determined all I accomplished with those is preloaded my springs, screwed up my pinion angle, and lost all my uptravel. Probably can be attributed to the axle wrap I'm told I have too, along with some vibrations. It definitely will be nice to not have them hanging down either, but I'm guessing I'll manage to hit the bumper more without them. I guess that's why that's there though...


Anyways, I want to do all the front end work at once and only get one alignment, so I will probably have to push everything back to spring break. That'll give me a whole week to tear into things. Was going to follow Pliny's writeup on the LCA bushings:

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/1s...er-secret-build-bs-thread-89.html#post8757531

 

Fixed to reflect Brett-specific instructions