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Gahhhhhhh!!! So last night i got frustrated about the non-fit of the header, so I attempted to test fit the motor without the header…. The MF’r wouldn’t sit on the mounts!!! WTF?!?! I already confirmed it did fit!
Since that first test fit, I re-hooked the chains on the motor from the manifold studs to the bellhousing. First attempt on the bellhousing wrapped aroubd the EGR pipe, that created trouble because I couldnt slip the header past the studs of the EGR pipe. So I reset the chains in front of the EGR pipe… WRONG-O!! That was more than a weekago, and ever since the EGR and firewall have been playing keep away with the engine mounts.
Sooooo, I have to reset the chains again, and make sure I do it right this time. Once I discovered this last night, I cracked a beer and put my feet up.Long tube header still doesn’t fit, just being stubborn.
Ribs still eff’d, tryin’ to get an appointment at the chiropractor this week.
Just today I Made a $300 sale of donor 4Runner parts, the trans, tcase and rear driveshaft are gone. To date I’ve sold $950 worth of parts off a donor that I paid $900 for.Hoping to finally beat this header issue this week.
Progress took a hit when I did, but doing my best to keep chipping away at it.
Last night i tried again to get the LCE long tube header in place, but the Upper Control Arm just won’t get out the way. I started heating and beating the interference out of the header, but I need a new tactic to minimize the deformation. I’m going to reattach the hoist and lift the motor a few inches, bolt the header in place, lower it until I get contact to the UCA, mark the location, then heat and beat that spot.
I will also have to re-route the fuel return lines to the tank, and move the brake lines further to the passenger side fender.Haha yea windshield has been a canvas for 2 years now. The kids draw on it, my buddies write on it
I forgot to mention I solved my terrible transfer case shifter lever by harvesting the one of the donor tcase. The mating flanges were not interchangeable, but the lever assembly is held in with a curclip, and once popped out, the lever were identical!! Made me sooooo happy, built lots of motivation.
Great day of progress yesterday, hit some milestones, then hit a hard stop and abruptly killed any further progress.
I started the day by cleaning and prepping for a rear main seal, and new oil pan. I had to buy a piece of PVC to drive the old seal out and new seal in, and buy RTV for the seal plate.
Once all was dry and set, I began stuffing the 3RZ into Redee. The ONLY interference point I came across was between the oil pan and steering stabilizer. I removed the damper, and will figure a way remount it under the original slot. A spacer and a longer bolt should allow me to mount it lower. That’s a later task.
With the damper removed, the 3RZ was able to sit fully on the conversion mounts, and have it fully bolted in place. I still must remove the 3RZ again to install the flywheel, clutch, pressure plate etc. think i want to install the trans too and stuff it in as one so I don’t have to reach bellhousing bolts, the firewall clearance is low.
Before I pull the 3RZ again, I’m gonna try to get the long tube header in place.
At about 3, Matt and I went for a ride on the old bikes, unlucky for me, my worn front tire washed out in gravel and I took a spill. Nothing broken, but my shoulder elbow and rubs all fight for supremacy, ribs lost. Very tender. Too tender to make any more progress this weekend. Crap.
Got two new bolts at Bolts+ for less than the cost of one lug nut at Ideal Supply. Struggled to find appropriate washers in my garage, but alas two were located. All buttoned up, just in time to take it apart in the morning to continue progress.
Started to figure out which bolts go where for the bell housing, turns out I’ve misplaced two of them. Not even drawn on my cardboard template, so I misplaced them during the initial separation nearly a year ago. Gonna buy the replacements tomorrow at lunch, they’re a M12 fine thread about 50 mm long.
I got the engine and trans mocked together, but still didn’t replace the rear seal.
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Small victories last night, got the old dip stick tube hole plugged using the original bushing, therefore I did not need to drill and tap the block. I hammered in the new dip stick tube, only bent it a little when i gave it one extra tap to be sure it was fully seated…but i straightened that by hand after. Thirdly i reassembled my hoist and have the 3rz dangling off of it. The rotisserie is still attached, wanted to have some reassurance the hoist wasnt gonna lose pressure overnight. Perhaps tonight I’ll pull the rotisserie off, and start on the rear main seal and glue on the new oil pan.
Alright, time for a mini update. In the last 3.5 months nearly nothing has changed, but I’m gunning to change that this weekend.
Since June, I painted and primed the gas tank, cleaned the mating surface for the oil pan, modified the new dipstick tube so it’ll fit the conversion engine mounts, removed the old dipstick tube bushing, then drilled/tapped/plugged and sealed that bushing. Tonight i intend to reinstall the old bushing, and install the new dipstick tube. Currently the tube is in the freezer so it’s a little easier to drive into the block (having shrunk ever so slightly).
The plan for this weekend is to test fit the 3RZ in the engine bay! Prior to Saturday (when I’ve got the day to myself), i want to get the motor onto the hoist so I finish this oil pan conversion……I must replace the rear main seal, and glue the new pan in place.
Hoping for big update with pictures by end of weekend. Fingers crossed.
I also finally sold the old TH350 trans to a cool Kijij dude building an Iroc Camaro. $70 in my pocket.
Not much The Shop these days since getting the atv sorted out.
On the labour day weekend i did a full brake job on the Caravan, pissed me off that i had to put another set of calipers in the rear end….my lifetime free exchange calipers failed again, lucky for me the Shop was closed by the time i got dug in, so i had to buy a brand new set from Canadian tire to the tube off about $450. These better last till at least the spring. This damn van eats through rear brakes in about 15,000 km, perhaps Ive gotten 30,000km once since we bought it.In lighter news, I am nearing my 3,000km target on the bike this year, up to 2,000 as of Saturday. I had to adjust the rear brakes, too much travel on the pedal when i need to lock it up on the trails.
Weather looks killer for next 10 days or so, will hopefully get another 250-500 kms closer to my goal by end of next weekend.
Got a full day in the shop to myself, and no family at home this coming Saturday. Hopefully big things come from this opportunity.
Makes sense, but I’m not ready to give it up yet. Gonna be tire shopping this winter, might just go down to a more A/T style (70:30 tire) as opposed to the 90:10 MTs I’m rolling on now.
Friday on my home from work i detoured to Mono Centre Brewing Company and picked up 6 brewery-fresh beers, thoroughly enjoyed them over the weekend. Thinking this may become a regular detour while riding weather is in stock. I was hoping to make another trip there with Matt today, but his wife has kept him busy, and now MCBc is closed for the day.
On Saturday i had to do pads and rotors all the way around Sams caravan, calipers in the rear as well (fucking again!!!). I did the brakes in the rear exactly 11.5 months ago, exactly 30,000 kms ago. One pass on back left was down to the baking plate, which prompted Sam to alert me of the servicing required. I think i noted in April when i pulled the snow tires off that the rear brakes looked like shit. This damn van EATS rear brakes, pretty sure I’m gonna outsource the job next time. Maybe somebody else will have better luck.
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Last night I took my atv OUT of The Shop to put her through a good heat cycle since the swamping.
I ripped down the local section of OF-ATV trail about 6 km each way, going hard southbound, and cruising back more sanely Northbound home.
The heat cycling worked, the oil is now a perfect colour with no appearance of aeration or water contamination. As a bonus, I also learned the top speed of my ‘91 is right where it was advertised 32 years ago. I hit 70km/h, perhaps a tick over, and the internet claims a top speed of 45 Mph (72.5km/h). To be honest, I had prolly topped out at 45 km/h previously riding with the kids. Most of my accumulated mileage has been in LOW range, and I don’t mind that at all. Still looking to buy a two-up seat so i can take the kids on longer / better tours.Today i rode the bike to work, hoping to over compensate a little in September because I have not ridden nearly enough kms yet this summer. Sitting around 1,500 total, goal is to hit 3,000 before i put her away for winter.
Last night in The Shop, I tore the front tube out of the bike to inspect it for a leak. There was a tiny pin hole, worthy of a patch. I held the tube beside to tire to determine what inside the tire caused the pin hole, and I found bits of a “QC passed” sticker mashed into the inside of the tire. Looks like the tube just rubbed and chaffed the sticker, until a sharp corner managed to wear away at and poke through the tube. Such a stupid failure, but at least one small patch was all i needed.
Currently layering up for a cold ride in this morning.
Tonight in The Shop, I had a helper working on the atv with me. Together with My middle daughter, we welded in studs and bolted the front back into place using 5/6 locating fasteners. 3/6 are M8 bolts in the original nut, 2/6 are the new super strong 3/8” studs welded to the frame tube. The last M8 needed a whole lot more work to make proper, and it was plenty late enough already.
Def a win tonight working with my darling daughter.
That’s exactly why I thrash the cheap machine haha. Getting into camp at Ardbeg is the furthest offroad the Taco gets, but I do send it down No Winter Maintanance roads on a weekly basis.
Crap day today. Finally got a Kijij buyer to show up for my old shop beer fridge, go figure it wouldn’t get cold after 20 mins of running. I apologized to the buyer, dragged the dead fridge to my scrap metal pile. 30 mins before that fail, I hop in the bike to ride home, discover a flat front tire. I pumped it up, rode home with a slow leak. 20 mins after getting home, tire is dead flat. No luck this year. Only 1,200 kms accumulated, got my third flat tire of the season. Feeling defeated, need a small victory to turn this luck around.
Last week I DESTROYED my cold heading machine at work. One little ooopsie, prolly 2-5 weeks downtime, minimum $5k repair. So glad I don’t pay the bills there.
