one more trip out to the mountain laurel sanctuary. There was more activity in the vernal pools a month ago. Looking forward to getting out there when the mountain laurel is in full bloom. It's going to be gorgeous.

 

I bet it'll smell as wonderful as it looks!
More pics are in order once the bloomin mountain laurel kicks in high gear

Have fun!
Pat☺

 

a friend sent me this today, the 4runner was spotted at Dunkin Donuts around noon. Now I have people watching out for it for me😂

 

My turn to drive it to work , on a lovely spring day.

 

cool article in this months Hagerty magazine!

 

That 22RE took us on another hiking adventure in west Hartland CT today. I thought this trail was going to be another overlook of Barkhamsted Reservoir but turned out to be some incredible water falls. I Don't think this trail was out here 5 years back or may was just some unknown dirt road.








A quick stop for lunch on the way home.

 

Very cool! Love it when people post trail pics to their build threads

 

lol, it was very tempting to take the 4runner down this trail, it might fit.......but



seriously though if it was leagle it would be a fun rock crawling ride but that's how it is in CT.

 

Not much for big adventures this weekend with the 4runner but we did take a trip out to Stores CT again and a chilly picknik at Mansfield State Park.


Now the 4runner is the only vehicle getting out. We just had the drive way paved so all other vehicles are trapped in the back yard.

 

Nothing like hauling your 31 year old bike with your 36 year old truck. I brought my mountain bike so I could ride to Mansfield Hollow State Park while I waited for new tires to be mounted on the 4runner.

New BF GOODRICH KO2 tires . I know can't quite see em.

I liked the Mexican knock off tires it had but they were drying up fast and cracking. I like the BF Goodrich tires better after getting a set for the FJ back in the fall of last year.

 

I think that just about does it for rubber hoses on this 22RE. When doing an oil change today I replaced the IAC valve hoses with OEM that I picked up from 22RE Performance . A little pricey but I bought em with that description in mind, the last ones lasted 30 something years. So maybe I'll never have to replace them again. That back one was a real joy to get off it was on there real good.

 

After 30 years attached to the same hose barb, with a decently tight clamp on it, the rubber does tend to seal up to the metal. Sometimes to the point that you have to peel the rubber off after cutting it in half long-wise. Even then, sometimes you wind up with bits of rubber still attached to the metal.
Not only that, but a lot of the time, the hose barb has a fair amount of corrosion built up on the metal, under the rubber. You need a good brass wire brush to get it all off without damaging the metal excessively.

A good way to prevent that stuff for the NEXT 30 years. is to spread a thin layer of Vaseline, silicone dielectric grease, or baby oil on the inside of the hose, and the outside of the hose barb. Works great for preventing the rubber from attaching to the metal, as well as reducing the corrosion buildup on the barb. Also, ensures the removal the next time is a simple pull, no cutting involved.

Glad you're getting to where the finish line is in sight. Just regular maintenance, now! Plenty of that, too
Have fun!
Pat☺

 

It never occurred to me that them hoses were on there since day one . With this being the second rebuild I assumed that I had removed them but I wouldn't have a reason to take them off the IAC Valve nor did the last guy. I kinda wish I did. I forgot about the dielectric grease idea too. It's no problem to go back and get it now😉 I usually just grab a stubborn hose like that and twist it to break the seal but that one was hard to get to. Maybe it would have been more accessible with the side panel off in the wheel well. I've never taken that off yet. It could come off easy due to the Fluid Film but you never know.

I was wrong there are three more hoses to go. The one's going to the heater core. I have them but was planning to do them last spring then the world went crazy. Next on the list.

 

Due to my laziness, and the accessability of so many items, the oil filter, fuel filter, the starter, etc etc, I took that side panel off the wheel well years ago, and, naturally, promptly lost it. No idea at all where it might be. No big, IMHO.

I bet you're going to have fun, with at least ONE of those three remaining hoses

Yeah, as long as they're fresh, so to speak, pulling a hose off to grease it up is no big, but like I said, after 30+ years...

Have fun, no matter what. Otherwise, what' the point?
Pat☺

 

And that's another reason why I haven't messed with the heater core hoses 😂 but I did replace the control valve a while back and it wasn't a big problem. Those hoses are newer. Then I got the old control valve to work, just needed a little love.
maybe it's time I get some of these!

I never knew what they were till I saw Stacy David on Gearz mention these.

 

We put 215 miles on the 4runner yesterday and drove all the way to East Jamaica! Wow, what a gorgeous day. A little cool in the morning but it got up to 80. Anyone in southern Vermont here? We spotted another first gen 4runner on Rt 9 near Brattleboro. heading the other way. Looked to be gold metallic, Was it you?😉




Vermont Welcome Station, Gilford VT

This is just walking distance from the welcome station.


Hogback Mountain

Top o the world, Hogback Mountain

East Jamaica

First time someone else rode in back. The top has only been off since March, ha ha!

 

A few more from our Vermont trip.
The new tires did the trick. After the wheel swap back in the fall last year it was better from 40 to about 63ish. Now 65 feels like 50. Much better on the highway.

 

We stacked some 4runner miles yesterday too!
Melrose, MA to Pomfret CT. Even hit a cruise night there before rolling home through Woodstock, Southbridge and the Mass pike.
My son who is on his learner’s permit got to drive a lot of country roads and had a great time!

 

we went to that cruise night a couple weeks ago! KITT joined us.

 

Herbie’s lookin good!
we just went on a whim. Don’t know if we’ll be there again but will let you know.