Just got my first Toyota a few months ago. Everything I've done so far has been for looks or just because i felt like it. I have a general idea of what I want but no set in stone plans yet. Everything I post in here I encourage feedback or advice. I'm new to all this mess and its much appreciated. So myswell jump right into it.

Here's the day I got the truck. $2500 with a fresh backyard paintjob, bad rings and valves, and a future that will give me hell.




Of course the first thing is a clean and wax:




And naturally stickers. Mainly horsepower gain, but also to throw some things I believe/support:








And of course one to piss some people off:




After the stickers had it track ready I did something that I'm sure will piss some people off. So hear me out here. I LOVE this country more than anything other than my family. Thw opportunities here are endless. And odds are, if this offends you, you're someone that enlisted to protect my freedom; which includes this next picture. So take a step back before you chew my ass. Besides if I'm gonna violate one flag code, myswell do a few. Overall I'm pleased with the result. I'm in my toolbox a lot and enjoy seeing this:




Next was a craigslist find, a nearly new set of 32x11.5 Hankooks for $400. A soft touch with a hamme and i have very minimal rubbing, which will be addressed soon.








Next is another craigslist find. My muffler exploded and i stumbled across a magnaflow hi flow cat. Matched with a flowmaster 40 series and 2" pipe throughout. Opened it up quite a bit, but damn this 4 cylinder is slow. Coming from a few 302s I'm still adjusting. And for anyone that is looking into this and reads any type of review stating a "rumble" disregard. Id call it a "deep buzzing" at best.




Next is a mod i haven't even got to experience yet. I went pacesetter and after i reviews i may regret that one. But it will be welded so maybe that will decrease atleast one leak. Threw on some new paint and here she blows:




As of right now, my front seal completely went on me and I bent a rod. Lucky me I didn't mess anything up. While I was looking forward to my first rebuild, ( I had planned to rebuild anyway ) a terrible work schedule has prevented this. So I pick it back up Thursday, with a new crank kit, rebuild kit, fresh paint, and my header installed (since i don't have access to a welder.)

Like I said, not much so far, and with no type of schedule with it who knows what's next. But here are some things I'm looking at;
Gearing. Currently looking for some 4.88s.
Lce intake, the whole plastic tube across the whole motor just doesn't make sense to me.
Flex fan/electric fan, not because I expect much difference, but mine has been beat to hell.
Lift. And that's all i have to say about that for now. I know i want maybe 2-4" but do not know how I want to get there yet.
I want some damn fender flares without spending half a months rent on them. Still looking there.
EGR delete, why have it if I don't have to?
Something other than a blown sony xplod and an off brand speaker to compliment my sweet factory tape player.
The list keeps growing the more I think about it, so i'll leave it for now. Like I said I'm open to ANY suggestions.

 

I like this thread so far.

 

Well i sure do appreciate it. I already said I'm new to the toyota world, but it should also be noted I'm new to the "wheelin" world as yall call it. I've been in the mud, but not on actual trails in parks, in a truck atleast.

 

Well while the trucks been at the shop I've been thinkin about my next step when I get it back. Was thinking about the intake setup. The LC Pro kit has a polished aluminium tube that's powdercoated with a k&n. Well since I'm not equipped to powdercoat anything I was thinkin bout just ordering the $230 kit. But after a quick ebay search, there is the little cheap ones for around $70. So I was considering getting that abd figuring out something with the tube. What do yall think about wrapping it with something, such as a header wrap? Think it would be effective? Take that, if possible, get a better filter, and save a little money.
Just figured i'd check with some folks with a little more experience than me to see if it'd be worth it, or be better to just go with the LC kit.
Thanks yall,
Jake

 

http://pages.ebay.com/motors/link/?n...d=281148575811
Guess its $285

And here's the little cheapo ones:
http://pages.ebay.com/motors/link/?n...d=390594900192

 

FINALLY got my truck back today. Its only been a week, but I've been chompin at the bit to get it back. Plus finding a ride back and forth to my second shift home has been interesting. Yall would be amazed at the excuses you get for asking for a ride home at 5 am haha.
But i finally got it back to our house. I've been babying it with the whole break in deal, but can still tell a huge difference. While I'm sure its still slow, maybe this 4 cylinder isn't as terrible as I was thinking. He even painted it for me without me asking. When he told me that over the phone i was expecting to come back to a chevy orange block, but he went with a pretty nice black and silver. While he was there I took my new headers in and he welded them for me so I could skip the flange set up. I had already painted them black, so I've got a black block, silver head, black valve cover and headers. He even filed off the toyota and EFI part.
So now she has 120ish miles on the rebuild, 190,3xx on the truck itself. I'm kinda bummed i didn't get to rebuild my first motor, but work made it impossible. But I'm thrilled to have it done regardless.
When I got back to the house tonight I took off the little elbow between the headlight and air box because it seemed easy enough. 30 Minutes of cussing at the rivets in my house shoes with a flash light I had it back in. Haven't drove it since that, and I honestly don't expect to even notice a difference, but hey, Why not?
I'll be sure to get some pictures tomorrow since I plan to do some cleaning anyway.
But like I said, motor seems to have a little more "power" (HAH) than I thought, so as far as any "performance" (And again, hah) Upgrades, I may hold off on those for awhile. And after my little $1400 bill my wife ain't gonna go for much more for at least a few weeks. I still don't think that was too expensive though for parts and labor. So for now I'm starting the hunt for 4.56/4.88s, and from the looks of my local craigslists, it may be awhile.

Damn that was a long post with no much said. So like I said I'll get some pictures of it tomorrow to share.
Yall have a good one.

 

Great thread already!! Welcome to the forum. I really like the truck and the simple mods you have done already. Toolbox looks great with the flag.

Nice that you were able to get a new motor built and in already. Im in the same boat as you right now. Im creeping towards 100 miles on my rebuild in my 4runner. Trying not to beat on it yet.

Definitely need some pictures of the new Heart!!

 

Well thank ya. Now my phone camera is state of art, and probably has a whole half a megapixel worth of quality, but I've always heard somethings better than nothing so here's a few pictures;
















He told me he was gonna get in there and clean everything real good for me, but I told him not to worry about it and I'd take care of it. Was planning on doing that today but ran outta time since I have to be at work in about 20 minutes.
But enough of this rebuild nonsense, I know yall are looking for the real horsepower. So here it is:








All yall with superchargers and turbos better look out.
Like I said I don't expect much of anything from this, but I don't see it hurting anything either. Simple enough to undo 3 bolts and fight with the little rivets to get the elbow out.
Truck is running great now, and as much as I liked the truck before, I love it now. Definitely something I'm looking to hold on to for awhile.

Hopefully they'll move us back to 10 hour shifts and I can have some time to play with it some more. Maybe I can get it cleaned real good tomorrow since I got busy today.

I'm looking at flamethrower injectors and may pick some up later this week, anyone have any reasons not to?

 

Couple small updates for the truck:
-First off thanks to Jb451 for sending me his old stock head lights. Mine were mismatched and one fell apart as I was swapping it out. Nice to see again at night.
-Another thanks to Discombobulated. He didn't like the flamethrower injectors and is gonna let me test them out just for covering shipping. I appreciate both of yall.
-SR5 cluster hopefully if its still available Monday. Which means i'll also have to give in and buy the damn $30 sending unit. Oh well, the extra gauges will be nice. I also plan on swapping to LEDs when I put that in. And replacing the check engine light since the PO thought he was oh so sneaky..
-Ordering some ball joint spacers for the front and black magic coils for a zuk mod in the rear.
-STILL on a craigslist hunt for stupid little things like corner lights a sterring column cover.

So as of now I've got a whole lot of nothing done to the truck lately. Been working 70 hours a week and sleeping the rest of the time. But I got my first weekend off in forever, so truck is DEFINITELY getting cleaned tomorrow.
All I got for now, but a few things coming soon.

I did however finish my tattoo if any of yall are into that. Only took 5 weeks to navigate around the work schedule haha.

 

So i took a look at the sending unit, this looks similar to what I'm seeing online for the one to run a gauge instead of a light, do I already have the right one on there?

 

Subscribed.

 

Anyone?

BIG update today! HUGE is probably more accurate.
Game changer:

 

Trucks coming along great! And Im diggin the new TATTOO, I have some ink myself. So I can appreciate.

 

Thank ya! I've been tryin to plan and ease into things so I don't wind up spending double the money later on. Should have some slightly bigger updates shortly. As much as I'd love to go balls to the wall with it, I enjoy having it as a daily driver. So as it stands now the plan is just to do a few more little things just to be comfortable cruising down the easier trails with the wife. If I get a wild hair I can always ride along with my brother in his cj. Won't have a lot of time to go on any big trips anyway.

As far as the tattoo goes, I appreciate it! I love it. All my other ones can be covered with a t shirt, so I was a little skeptical getting one that's visible living in the Bible belt and not having a set career, but I figure its my arm and I can always throw on longer sleeves if needed.

Ball joint spacers and springs for a zuk mod will be ordered this week!

 

Before you know it your brother will like the toy over the HEAP

 

I don't know, a lot bigger and a lot more motor in his. Maybe one day I'll throw a v8 in mine, but not for a loooong time.

Update! Southwest Speed in Arkansas is the ˟˟˟˟. Got me my coil springs for the rear in about 3 days. Went with the 13" black magic coils. 100lb ones. Little less than what most use but maybe it'll ride a little smoother. And I use the other truck for hauling anything. Rented the last spring compressor at O Reilly and will hold it hostage until I actually get it done.

Also thanks to discombobulated my flamethrowers oughta be here either Saturday or Monday. Thanks again buddy!

Bj spacers will also be here Saturday or Monday, hopefully Saturday.

And I just bought my sr5 cluster. Already have the correct oil sending unit I believe, so just a couple dash screws and I'll be set!

Knocking out little things pretty quick! Loving the truck still, and its running great. Still need to pick up an o2 sensor monday most likely.

Coming up on 500 miles on the rebuild. I will be changing the oil this weekend. And will run synthetic in the future. Couple questions though:
-I've heard not to run it in fresh rebuilds, so should I wait a little longer before switching?
-Planning to go with royal purple since I can get it right here in town, recommended oil weight for the 22re?
-And finally, would someone be si kind as to give me a part number to cross reference of the biggest filter I can run?

Springs!



Notice the sticker. I walked outside for 5 minutes and came back and the beagle had happened. No more sticker.




Me and my wife are young, 21 & 20, with no kids. But we do have that tankass of a beagle, Delilah.

 

Not sure on the filter size.... sorry there.

I would wait to run synthetic until you are positive that the rings have seated. Thats the trouble some people run into. I had a student that rebuilt a B16 Honda engine and ran Synthetic right off the bat and his rings never wanted to seat. Even after a few thousand miles.

Again... others might have a different opinion, but I would wait a little while longer to go synthetic. I am running just conventional oil with comp cams break in additive with High zinc content to help make sure everything gets squared away inside.

I usually run either 5w30 or 10w30 in the 22re. Right now I currently have 5w30 in it.


Cool looking dog. And sometimes I think they are just as much work as kids!! Wife and I have twins and a 120lb american bulldog. WAIT to have kids. hahah

 

Yeah we definitely plan on waiting awhile. 2 Year anniversary in January, but it'll still be quite awhile. Gonna get her through college first. So Delilah is gonna have to work for now haha.

And now I've got spacers!




Also! Im learning to weld at work. I would love to make my own bumpers eventually. But I have no idea on what I'm doing, just pull the trigger haha. Been at it for about 3 months now. Anyone that welds able to tell me if these are worth a damn? All these are my tries going vertical instead of my usual side to side.




Just looking for a little advice on what to concentrate on or good techniques.

 

Welds lookin O'tay.

 

Good stuff. How do I weld up though? I tried and it just turns into a runny mess.