mbomberz1

It was pretty heartbreaking when that happened, still amazed I got it back. Thanks for stopping by the thread, curious if the pictures are working better for you now? I tried viewing the thread not logged in and from a different computer, everything seems ok. Maybe just a momentary glitch? Not sure! Hopefully all working now.

Thanks again buddy, it still has a standard title thankfully. I tried looking into the stated value insurance that was suggest by Skypilot, but everyone I talked to wanted nothing to do with it since my truck is 'only' an 88. Its not really a classic and it seems all the people who do that are looking at either older vehicles, or vehicles that are only driven a few times a year for shows and parades. Definitely not what I want to use mine for!

Curious if I am missing something obvious here about what you were suggesting Skypilot.

Well a little update, its been slow. Had a big present show up from the santa who drives a truck



Things are really cold and dark after work these days and its been hard to get outside and make much progress (at least for me and my CA weather tolerance, I dont know how you guys in the east work on anything in the winter). I got the transmission pulled and started the rebuild. Slow going as I gather appropriate tools to get it rebuilt. Final big hurdle is separating the output shaft gears and bearings. Now that I have a bearing splitter I think I should be good, just gotta get outside and do it!



Hope everyone is having a good start to the Christmas season.

mbomberz1

Finally got the transmission done, at least it seems to be done. We will see how it shifts once its back in and the swap is complete. Getting a little more nervous by the week thinking about how much stuff is going on at the same time. Didnt really plan it like this but between the 3.4 swap, it also being my first engine rebuild, and my first transmission rebuild.. there is a lot of variables going on. That first start sure is going to be a memorable one.

Thought I would throw up a few more pictures of the transmission rebuild in my build thread now that it is done. In case anyone is curious, I would have to say the rebuild wasnt THAT hard. Hardest part is figuring out how to press stuff apart and back together correctly. That and trying to decipher the older version of the R150F rebuild manual, its very lacking on pictures, and if you dont know what everything is called it can be hard to follow along. Seems to have a lot of implied knowledge built into the way it was written. But that didnt make it impossible, just slowed me down, which was probably good. Spent more time trying to understand how everything worked and hopefully after all of that I will end up with a good fresh transmission.

First and 5th pulled off the output shaft



First Gear Needle bearings



2nd and 3rd gear still on the output shaft



Input/Ouput shaft bearing with the 3/4 shift collar



Intermediate plate all cleaned up and painted



Everything almost all back together with new bearings, syncros and a few new snap rings. Also installed Marlins cromeoly 1st gear thrust washer. If your going this far in, why not do it right?



Marlins heavy duty bearing retainer



Going back together, first couple of test fits, trying to remember how everything came apart and how to get it back together



All togeother and shifting correctly in the vise, marlins 1st/2nd gear shift fork installed



Cases all cleaned up and clear coated, ready to get a new transmission installed into them finally



Front case installed



Rear case getting installed



Input shaft bearing cover painted, installed and torqued down



All done! Shifts into all gears on the bench just fine. Hope it does in the truck too!

84 yota dude

Damn impressive work!

ladybugRC

Awesome.

mbomberz1

Thanks you guys! Cant wait to get this swap completed.

Made some decent progress the last two days. Was able to pull out the 3.0 and drop in the 3.4 to test fit the exhaust crossover. Hoping to get it fully welded up tomorrow.






Ill be updating the swap thread with most of the details. Hope you guys had a good Christmas.

space-junk

iTrader: (1)

Time to change the name of your build thread.
​​

mbomberz1

Haha, good catch there space-junk. I think I will hold off until this thing makes it through the california bar. Will be a nice way to celebrate

84 yota dude

Gonna cut a hole in the hood?

mbomberz1

Luckily I already had a 2" body lift installed so no hood issues!

Engine is finally in for good!



The wiring is killing me.

84 yota dude

haha good call

mbomberz1

This project is finally coming close to the end! Only things left are getting the cooling system back together, weld a new flange up to my muffler pipe to get the new exhaust connected, making a clutch line bracket and topping off the fluids. Things sure have taken longer than I had hoped, especially with all the rain we have been getting here in CA finally. Seems like every time I am able to go out and work on something its raining out there, but finally the end is in sight. Those first start up nerves are starting to set in, between the wiring, transmission rebuild and the engine rebuild I feel like there are a lot of areas to have missed something..

Engine bay coming together



The rain stopped for just long enough today to replace my blower motor resistor, something I have been putting off for quite a long time. Infact the 15 years now that I have owned this truck, I never had the lowest setting. While I was in there I took the time to clean up the motor a little and wash the fan, remove the sticks and leaves. Its like a new hvac system now! Here is a silly video of how nice and quiet it is now, couldnt believe it. I should have done this years ago.


Anxious to get back out on the road again.



Hopefully my next post will be a video of a running truck!

mbomberz1

5vz Swap is basically complete, I was able to finish up the exhaust and cooling system over the weekend in time to start it up and take it for its first few drives.

Here is the first start!


and a 2nd video after topping off the fluids and a few drives




And the first trip to down town, felt great to drive it around again and have everything turn out so well in the end. Very little issues once I got it started up.

SKT

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Job well done!!

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joesgarage

Wow, great job!

mbomberz1

Thanks guys, feels so good to have the hard part behind me. Now the fun begins Can't wait to take it up into the mountains and try it in the hills.

84 yota dude

Wow nice! Looks awesome. Hows the increase in power? also hows the rebuilt trans feel?

84 yota dude

Also what's your suspension setup? 2in body lift? Stock torsion bars/rear leafs?

Gizler00

iTrader: (1)

WOW!! I forgot about this thread, and also forgot about amazing your truck is! Looks better than new. Nice work on the 3.4 swap!

mbomberz1

Thanks buddy, dower is definitely noticeably better than the 3.0, though I haven't really been hammering it much.. trying to let the engine break in a little bit before I get on it! I am just running a 2" body lift on 32"s, that is all for lift.

I keep pondering the idea of switching to 16" wheels so I can run 285 75 r16s, but I think that would require a little bit more lift. If I could find a good way to get another 1.5 inches front and rear I think that would be perfect.

Thanks a bunch Gizler, its been a long road but worth it!

84 yota dude

Right on and I understand that with the suspension and motor break in. I wish there was a coilover conversion for these ifs trucks and not one that made the track width so wide like the total chaos one. I also like how you have a fully rebuilt engine in there vs something with 100k plus miles. Well probably wasn't the cheapest route haha

When you did the repaint how did you touch up the chrome bits like the bumpers, windshield trim, and the grill/headlight buckets?