Any updates on that 4runner?!

 

Sorry, no updates for the 4runner! Still working on my camry.

 

Good deal..

 

Update! Truck is doing great, got her buffed and waxed a couple weeks ago and I got this Cabelas roof basket and extension on sale. $122 delivered because I also had a gift card from a couple years ago...lol. I think the Cabelas basket is made by Curt. This will make my annual summer trip to Mammoth mountains easier to load up for. Albeit my trip will be a short one this year because of the baby on the way.

 

Wow awesome, she looks beautiful! Rock n Roll

 

congrats on the impending mini you

 

Amazing build thread! Thanx for documenting and sharing what you've done. You are an inspiration!

 

Sooooooo......

Truck has been running great and fine for the MOST part. Been busy with my little one (Travis 4 - months) so haven't done anything to it.



Anyhow I went up to the Sierra Mountains for my annual trout fishing/camping trip with my buddies a few weeks ago. About an hour into my 5 hour drive, I noticed my headlights were dimming and flickering just a bit, about 3 hours into my drive I noticed my voltage gauge starts acting up and moving all around. I pull over and check the alternator belt just a little loose, check my connections to the battery everything looked good.

About 4.5 hours into my drive I hit a major town (Bishop). My voltage gauge is showing 12.5 - 13V while running. I stop at Napa and make sure they have my stock alternator....good to go . I have a funny suspicion it is my upgraded alternator (the 130AMP) and not my fairly recent sears diehard battery.

I make it up to an elevation of 9,000 feet to the camping spot and meet up with my friends. My voltage is reading barely 12V. Tell my buddies what happen, and the next morning we fish down the mountain and my buddy takes me to Napa to pick up the alternator. Come back up, swap it out and DEAD!! Check around and notice my 70AMP Alternator Fuse is blown! Takes me a while to figure out I need to unbolt the fuse box, take off the bottom shield, unscrew the fuse and push it out. Make sure no other fuses are blown.

Another buddy takes me back down the mountain to O'Reily's (closer side of town to us but they didn't have an alternator) and I find the right fuse, they had two of them and bought them both for a $3-4 bucks each. Put it in and I'm good to go again!

The Napa alternator is a stock rebuilt Denso 70AMP. I traded the 130AMP back in for my core refund (wanted nothing to do with it after that).

What are your thoughts on what happen? I'm thinking the Diodes went bad?

 

Glad to see that the little one is well, and Dad's taking good care of him!

I think a simple continuity check, if you had the time, would have revealed if diodes were to blame.

BTW, my wife caught a rockfish and blue ling cod choked on it last weekend. Made good bluish sashimi!
Pic on Boat's website...

 

Hey Ray! nice you're getting out this year! Epic season, that probably won't come back for another few years. Nice Lingasaurus! sashimi style? never tried that with a ling. Ling taste as good as rockfish in my opinion.

I know that deckhand?! can't remember his name, but he was on my last Pacific Dawn charter, he works out of Ventura on the Pacific Dawn except for tuna season when it comes down to San Diego. My last tuna charter for the season is on the 26th out of Seaforth Landing on the Endeavor.

Anyhow, guess I'll really never know what happen, but I'm gonna stick with this stock alternator. It's running fine again, so not going to mess with it.

 

Not sure why I ws not getting any updates. Congrats on the kid. They grow faster then you think. They make life fun. Someday I have been wanting to do the 130 alternator upgrade but stock does fine for me. I find having an alternator rebuilt seems to last forever over the part store replacement. I had to take a part store replacement and one of my old alternators to make one one time.

It may have been your alternator was just getting old. Seems like every 4-5 years I had to change one on something. Luckily it started to give you a warning instead of just quitting all at once.

I got a laugh at RADs 2 for 1 fish catch. I bet that was a surprise seeing it when pulling it out of the water.

 

Hey Terry! long time no chat. i don't think that alternator had more than 10,000 miles on it and it was only a couple years old. I can look back up my thread when I installed it.

I think I'm fine with stock. I wanted a higher amp alternator for when I put some additional off-road lights and some other gadgets so my battery wouldn't drain. But I don't think I'll be doing many mods anymore. The lights I installed for the bed are all self battery operated (AA's) so I think I will be fine.

 

Just wanted to say you've got a beauty of a truck and I think your build is just plain fantastic. I've got a 1992 extended cab myself and wanted to know if its the BRY89SBK Bedbug that fits our trucks? Your install looks fantastic however all the fitment guides on the websites I find don't agree that this will fit our box but rather the taco 74.5 inch box. I just wanted to know from someone who's already got it in. If you could let me know that would be awesome,

Cheers,

Fahim

 

Replied to your PM. I don't think that is the correct one, I looked it up and it says 1999 - 2004 models.

The only tag I could find on mine has the following: BR1212-A. I've had mine for over 15 years I think, so I don't even know if they make it anymore. You should call them to see and maybe they will do a custom order if they don't do it in mass production anymore.

*EDIT* I just found this link....and the model you stated says for 1989-2004. I really think you should call the manufacturer and speak to someone who can verify for you. I would think that so long as the wheel wells are in the same location it should fit fine.
http://www.pickupspecialties.com/bedrug.htm

 

5 Months.....

 

Congratulations. Your son is at a great age. Child proof ASAP. My oldest started walking at 8 months. I wish I could see them as babies again.

 

I must say that you have one heck of a build thread. You sir are a fine craftsman. I will definitely be using your thread as a reference for my future mods. Oh yeah, Your truck looks awesome. I love how you have maintained the factory look.

 

Thanks for the pleasant comments guys! much appreciated!

So I purchased this radiator on February 17, 2014.....it now leaks! Bottom passenger side corner where the fins are. The seller is still around and selling the radiators which are "suppose" to have a Lifetime hassle free warranty so long as you have proof of purchase, which I do, since I purchased it using paypal. I just sent an email off along with image of proof of purchase..... so WE SHALL SEE.

Of course, I foresee a long process, so I didn't wait around for this transaction to occur. I already ordered a CSF 2314 all metal - brass core - 3 row. If the warranty goes through, great! if it doesn't I'll see if I can get it welded up and fixed. Either case, I will keep it as a spare in case the CSF springs a leak at some point.

I'll keep everyone posted on the warranty transaction, it will be good information for everyone. A quick google search demonstrated that quite a few people have purchased the same radiator, so the warranty test will be worth posting in the open forum as well as on my thread for others to read and assist in making a decision in the future.

Other than that, truck has been running great still. Just busy with the boy, 7 months now and crawling, babbling up a storm, and pulling himself up to his knees and attempting to stand whenever he gets the chance!





Veteran's Day photo together...

 

What a beautiful child. My son started walking at around 8 months too, wished he started a little later but he wanted to follow mom and dad walking instead of crawling. That giraffe looks very cool.


As for the radiator, mine leaked 2 years ago and replaced it with a Cooling Central plastic tank version from Rock Auto. I wanted an all brass version from LC Engineering but tried the cheaper version and so far it works fine, no leaks.

 

Good to see you guys and the little boys! Best of luck with the radiators, and Merry CHristmas!