State of Emergency in the northern half of the state means I had more time to work on my truck. After I took the cruiser out back for some more firewood. 15 inches of snow on the ground and that thing never even slipped a tire! BEAST!!!


The driver side head still needed the valve seals done and everything cleaned up. So I got to work. I got creative on my tools. here is my valve spring compressor set up:




it is large 10 inch c clamp and a oxygen sensor socket. the slot in the socket was big enough to get a pair of long needle nose pliers in there to do what needed to be done.


Here is a shot of before during and after the valve cleaning.


And just in case you were wondering how cold it is:



That is frost on the inside of my garage windows, after I had the salamander heater going for 6 HOURS....


I got the heads torqued down and was installing the cam bearing bolts. The front passenger cam cap had both bolts strip out!!! UGG. About that time I found out I have to work tomorrow and I was getting cold anyway. Tomorrow is another day...

 

here is the bolt. the little piece of metal next to the bolt is the aluminum threads of the head.

 

A few days ago I saw this sitting at a repair shop in town. I was surprised to see such a rare Toyota here in the Midwest, since this tends to be Jeep territory.






In case you missed it, its a diesel 4x4 5 speed 2 door land cruiser that is RIGHT HAND DRIVE!!! completely awesome!!


I also saw this sticker on a Tundra and made me laugh:

 

Today was a good day on my truck. I tapped and helicoiled the bad cam bolt threads. and it worked!! whew I was definitely relieved that I didn't have to get it machined. I got a lot done on the truck. intake and injectors are installed,1 of the headers and a bunch of little stuff done too. Basically, I have to do the timing belt upper intake and finish the exhaust.


The headers are a complete pain in the ass to install. tight spaces and a lot bigger piece of metal to try and maneuver. I have the driver side header on but not bolted down tight. I can get to 4 of the bolts easily, the bottom 2 on the back are nearly impossible to get a socket on or a wrench for that matter. I hope to get a lot more done tomorrow and possibly drive it!! we shall see

 

Thats a hell of a homemade valve spring compressor!!! That fj is awessome!! Great job on the helicoils.they can be a pain

 

Or landcruiser...my bad. but still sweet

 

yes that Cruiser is pretty bad ass. and so was my Valve spring compressor!!! lol I do what I do......

 

Nice going on the valve spring compressor! Whatever works!

 

Thanks! when you are faced with a 300 dollar ticket for driving on the roads in a state of emergency, but you don't have the tools you need, you get creative. whats the saying?? necessity is the mother of all invention. lol

 

The truck is going to get done today. Come Hell or high water, the truck is going to get done today. It has been 2 weeks since I have driven it and I think I am starting to get withdrawal symptoms. Plus I am really exiting about driving it with the new injectors and headers. Wish me luck!!

 

Keep us posted!

 

Good luck man! I know the anticipation must be killing you, it would be if it were me especially with this new goodies you got there!

87 4runner 22re 5speed *traded*
93 xtra-cab 22re 5speed

 

Yay get it done!

 

It lives!!!!! And sounds bad ass!!!!!

 

When is the test drive?

 

Tomorrow, once I finish the exhaust. I ran it with the header and crossover pipe only. Very loud!

 

Those headers are a complete pain in the tail to install and tighten. 1/8th turn by 1/8 turn in very little space to get them tight. took a long time and they better be worth it. The truck runs and revs nicely. Sounds smooth, might have a small exhaust leak or it could be because there is not enough backpressure due to a lack of muffler. I will finish up the exhaust system and take it out for a drive tomorrow.

 

I got the exhaust done today! I went with 2 1/2 inch pipe and a Thrush welded muffler. I thought about using a Flowmaster 40 muffler but I couldn't justify the extra 40 dollars at the moment. I think it sounds pretty good.












I went on a test drive and WOW is this thing fast! off the line it really takes off! then new injectors and headers really make a difference. I am really a happy man right now. !! more photos of the exhaust:

 

I made a video of how it sounds, I will try to load it up soon