December 2010
9 posts
Project Engine Shop drop - 12/20/10
Well, took engine to the shop today.
My old engine shop is no more, so I’m forced to try out a new one on this project. Scares me to death, but I really have no choice. Did some shopping around on the web and asked some folks. Got some decent references, so I’m going with R&L Engines, in Dover, New Hampshire.
Loaded up the block, and everything else, into the Tacoma.
Met...
Project Front End - 12/20/10
Remember that front end I worked over cleaning up?
Well I caved, and bought mostly all new stuff. Tie rod ends and pitman arm. I had worked over the steering box a bunch. Remember this?
Well, I knew all along that I had a supposedly new one lying around somewhere. Way back when I had become irritated that the steering was showing a little slop. Young and stupid(now I’m just older...
Project Bell Housing - 12/19/10
Finished up the bell housing with 2 coats of POR15 GlistenPC.
Project Engine Score! - 12/12/10
CHECK THIS OUT! Total score cruising Craig’s list.
LC Engineering is one of the premier names in Toyota performance engines. And I have found a used one that fits my car!
They build a whole host of different configurations, so I really could not be sure what I had until I tore it apart. Still, for the money, I grabbed it.
Got it home, and immediately tore it apart.
Had weber...
Project Bumper End Caps - 12/9/10
Rubber end caps for the front and rear bumpers were looking pretty tired.
Guess I didn’t take and before photos at all. Oh well. Again, had a few bumpers collected now, so I sorted through to come up with the best set of end caps. One of my original front ones was rotted. They put steel form on the back of them to hold the shape. Cleaned up the ones I chose and coated steel inset...
Project Bell Housing - 12/9/10
Trani bell housing needed a good cleaning. Just started on it, you can see puddle of brake cleaner in the bottom left.
It really was pretty filthy. This is the kind of thing some folks just shrug off and bolt back on.
And you will never see it, and it will get all filthy again anyways. But… I just can’t help myself.
First go over it, inside and out with wire toothbrush and...
Project License plate bracket - 12/5/10
For those that recall, I totally butchered the front license plate bracket, when I disassembled the front bumper. Even after I tried to straighten it back out it was a mess.
Well, I was in a minor bit of panic, because of course, it is not like you can buy a new one at Toyota like you could in 1978. This was one of the reasons I acquired a couple of donor front bumpers. Got one for only $20,...
Project Bumper seals - 12/5/10
My original front bumper seal was a bit wasted…
But after buying two donor front bumpers for parts, I had one decent one I could salvage. Threw the donor for the front and my existing rear one up on the workbench for an overhaul.
Rubber seal is stapled right onto the sheet metal. The sheet metal mounts inside the bumper frame, such that the rubber edge makes a cosmetic visual seal to...
Project Bumper frames done - 12/5/10
Bumper frames all finished. Final coats of POR15 on. Back on the shelf until reassembly.