Topher's build

damnit... im convinced. I'm getting them, not sure if i will be able to get them before the engine goes in though.

 

What's going on here.... Motor progress?

 

X2

 

ah sorry guys have been super busy lately. The motor has been in for about 2 weeks now. It runs alright but not how a new engine should. Im a little disappointed that this job only took one day to take the motor out (week wait for the motor) day and a half to put back. There were a few questionable items that i wanted to replace but never had time to go out there and show him in person so they never got done (things that were easy then but are hard as shit now.) I still have a vibration at idle and a vibration while i turn the steering wheel at idle. I think the vibration in the steering is due to the rusted out vacuum lines going to the power steering rack (one of the things i wanted to replace that didn't get replaced) Also something i noticed that was really strange was I guess the P/O put a little rubber cap on the front diff breather and disconnected the regular breather hose.

The thing i was most disappointed with was that I found the exact same engine online as the one he ordered (except the one i found came with even more new parts.) for 2200 shipped w/ same warranty. I paid 3600 for the engine i got from auto zone w/ his diamond membership...

Also don't have your mechanic do the ECGS diff bushing replacement w/o watching the video. Lol..

Im planning on actually doing something to the truck this weekend hopefully.

 

After a long while of doing nothing to my truck i finally did some work on saturday. I got the driver side LBJ on (fucked up a brand new OTR though and i need a new one) and also fixed one of the bushings on my TC UCA's and installed the zerk fittings (had to buy a 1/4" 20 SAE thread chaser). Gotta make sure those things are greased up real nice.. I broke my spanner wrench while trying to adjust my coil overs too.. I guess i should have cleaned the rust off before trying lol. Called toytec this morning and all i have to do is pay for shipping for a new wrench. Ordered some tri flow lube and some super lube from wheelers.

PS: The main reason i haven't been on for a while is because when my parents helped me pay for the new engine they said no wheeling at least until its a little more broken in. So i may not be as active as i was before until i can use the truck for what i want to.

 

How'd you mess up the Otr?

 

Apparently I hit the threads too hard w/ the hammer. It didn't even look messed up but for some reason I couldn't get the nut to thread on to save my life. So I ended up getting some channel locks and grabbing the OTR stud on the bottom (where the joint w/ all the grease is) so I could tighten the nut on the top. Which in the end squeezed all the lube out of the OTR.

 

Dude that sucks! Otr easy to replace?

 

Super easy to replace and not very expensive either haha. like 35 or 40$ from camel back. It was just the frustration in the moment that really got me cause i had to get my truck working so i could drive to the 49er game the next day.

so after i finished all that work i started getting this gnarly squeak from my dr front side. Just looked at it today w/ my mechanic and he showed me what it is. We lifted it up on a jack and spun the tire and it turns out it was the seal on the back of the axle on the dr side. It came out and was rubbing against the front diff. So on monday he is gonna come replace that and try again at the front diff thing. This time i will be there w/ a grinder.. Its going down. lol.

It sounded identical to a bad wheel bearing even he thought that was a possibility. Woulda been like 220$ in parts alone for the two front, phew dodged a bullet.

 

did some more work on the truck over the weekend. It felt good. I got rid of a squeak coming from the front Dr. side body bushing, greased up and cleaned my front suspension pretty nice, cut the exhaust a little more so it would stop rattling, fixed leak on radiator hose, installed vacuum hard lines for the front diff. I figured out my engine vibrations are probably from the charcoal box.. i read somewhere that if you overfill your gas tank even once you ruined your charcoal box which would explain it. plus its one of the only things i reused from the old engine.

I noticed the heim joints on my front passenger shock seemed like they were frozen/seized.. any suggestions? I tried shooting some pb blaster in there.

 

Finally my truck is squeak free. Fixed the front CV seal and installed the ECGS bushing.

Now i just need to get my passenger coil over heims unfrozen somehow.

 

that thing about the charcoal box kinda worries me, is there anyway to check that?

 

Congrats dude. Good work.

 

Thanks bro.

Good question. Would probably be a good idea for me to test it anyways before dropping 300$ on a new one. I'll let you know if I find out anything about testing them.

 

perfect! thanks bro

 

Great progress on your truck bro, I'm looking at running the OME leaves as well, in the stoc location would a 10" 5125 work?

I see you have a 3 degree axle shim and the carrier bearing drop, figure I will need those too... Do you have a picture of the rear driveline (from carrier bearing to diff)? Speedytech7 is helping me figure this out too.

 

Hey Topher, really digging your build! I was wondering if you could do me a favor and measure the resting mounting point distance on your rear shocks (eye to eye).

 

Thanks guys, sorry for not getting back to you sooner.

Just ordered some goodies:
-04 OEM exhaust manifold & gasket
-new cv boot
-silicon vacuum lines
-mailed boss shocks to toytec for refurbishing

Also my new apartment/in-law unit is super small with no room for tools, but I have a nice backyard. Thanks to my GF's dad who hooked me up with this bad boy i can finally bring my tools home.



Just need to pick up some locks and I'm good to go.

 

Nice! Too bad you don't have the garage anymore but... It wasn't really that much garage anyways with all the clutter btw, I bagged two ducks this year, made me think of all the taxedermy pieces in your last place haha