Update your rig status here!

[ChevyKev]

Well, the brown blazer now has pretty much the entire trans hooked up except for oil and the flexplate cover.

There were so many little things to take care of... and this late things move slowly - or at least I do.

The oil driain plug was leaking - due to someone overtightening the drain plug and squishing the washer. So much so that when I removed the drain plug, not 1 drop came out! The oil filter was still full - but other than that - bone dry! Now if NAPA would catch up with McD's and Taco bell and be open 24 hours...

Time to go waste some time.
Hopefully tomorrow the brown blazer will be running.

I'll also drop off the flywheel for the '90 to be turned so I can install the new clutch Monday.

[4x4_MMMH_4x4]

:whistle:if your not busy theres an 84 toyota over here that needs some attention:whistle:

[akram]

Kev don't forget to check out the valve covers. Are you going to use the ones witht he breather or the ones you gave him? Remember the ones he had don't have a baffle on the inside at the breather.

[ChevyKev]

Kev don't forget to check out the valve covers. Are you going to use the ones witht he breather or the ones you gave him? Remember the ones he had don't have a baffle on the inside at the breather.

Valve covers are those I sold him with baffles, re-wored the seals, and so far no leaky leaky.

It is outside, plugged in, and nto popping breakers anymore! Hopefully it starts like a champ again tomorrow.

Plow truck - took the brown blazer out and brought my '75 plow truck inside as the plow decided it didn't want to go any direction except left. 32 year old wiring that has survived all our winters - and it actually wasn't the biggest culprit. 1 dead wire going from the new switch to the directional solenoid. Rewired a new one, but then the pump didn't work! So I replaced the pump solenoid with one that I tested and it worked... when I tested it. When hooked to the plow system, no work. :mad: So I tested the bad solenoid I took off - it worked when hooked to the main battery with jumper wires. Hrmmmm. the voltage read 10.3 on the extra battery, but who knows how many amps. The teset light was very weak on that battery - wonder if it is low amps that aren't getting through these solenoids??? Hooked a Battery cable from the main battery to the left side of the solenoid, everything else was wired the same, and it worked like a charm. Must need to replace that extra battery... or...

Plow fixed, on to the lights. For the past week I've tried to only drive in the daytime as I have only bright lights. The plow frame lights didn't work. Dead switch - but now (then) it is 2 AM and NAPA isn't open. I don't run the plow frame lights anyway - so figured out how to wire it back to the stock configuration and Whalah - both low beams and high beams work as they should. While the dash was apart I replaced those little dash lights in hopes to actually be able to see the gauges, seemd to improve it a bit, as did the windex and paper towel.

Shower - and sleep are next on the list.

Tomorrow AM I will mount my other plow on the '90.
Noon the chiefs attempt to beat the Colts.
4 PM meeting.

[AK20]

Tomorrow AM I will mount my other plow on the '90.
Noon the chiefs attempt to beat the Colts.
4 PM meeting.

:eek: :eek: :eek: Baaaaaahhhh, crap the meeting is today...Been at work since 1030 last night and don't get off for another hour, man sleep will be rare today. Thanks for the reminder though Kevin. *end hijack*

[ChevyKev]

'90 Blazer - last night when I pulle dmy pickup into the garage I pulled the '90 blazer into the driveway so I could work just outside the garage this morning. Gotup later than I wanted to, and got to work on it about 10 AM. -20 with carharts and away we go! Took the old bumper off (anyone have experience with the carriage bolts on the angled surfaces of these bumpers? not fun.) But off it came and on went the plow frame and the plow pump was mounted up and it seemed to be getting warmer (wnet inside about noon and it was -24... Strange how you can get used to it after being out in it so long.

Anywho, when Kris came back from the store I had her pull the blazer out of the wayso I could go a plowing - no problems. Started up the truck , plow still moved both ways and up and down. Backing it out it died. 1/2 way out. :angry: :mad: Seems like it is empty - though the gauge read 1/2 tank. SO I had Kris pull it out of the garage so my pipes didn't freeze - then I went to the Moose Creek Gas and Gouge (otherwise known as MC General Store) and got 5 galons of gas. Came back and dumped it in and sprayed starting fluid to try and prime the pump and did that 5 or 6 times and then dumped some gas in the carb and still nothing. :angry: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: After all that stinking wiring and... Went inside to cool down and wondered if one of the lines was possibly kinked. Went out to check adn - no. looked in the carba nd moved the linkage a bit and heard a few bubbles. did it again and bubbles changed to squirting. Why not... cranked it over and she fired right up. Of course by this time there is no time to plow and go to the meeting! :mad: And I'm running late for that!

So I think my plow pickup is fixed for the moment, except for the gas gauge anyway. Craig, I'll plow at your place, tomorrow... :oops:

Monday at 8AM I'll have the blazer on the trailer and be at NAPA to pick up my flywheel I had surfaced. By 9AM I should be at my friend's shop in FRBKS to replace the clutch, install the battery, and run the plow wiring. Maybe I can even get it IM'd on Monday!?!

Brandon, Derek, and Ryan all are planning on swinging by to help out. Anyone else want to swing by call my cell.

[4x4_MMMH_4x4]

yes im planning on swinging by i need to do something with my time

[AKMark]

Keeping the ZJ and working on a stronger rear axle on the cheap, (it's the only way the wife would let me upgrade, sorry Mel) It's a secret, for now. Got sick of $3000 offers for a rig worth that in fair condition in stock form.

Starting to clean up the front winch bumper I found to put on the ZJ, gotta clean off the surface rust and go from there.

During the axle swap, I will swap in the brand spankin' new 4.5" RE coils I've had in a box since I got here. Soysauce's long shocks will go in at the same time.

Will start shopping for a cheap used winch for the ZJ, prefer a 9K+ device since the ZJ weighs in around 5K right now.

Sometime next fall, thinking of swapping a 12 bolt in the rear of the Burb to replace the weak 10 bolt. Will swap 10 bolt front from the donor Burb I got at the same time and gear the 12 bolt going in to match the 3.73 gears. 3.42's aren't horrible, but I'd sacrifice a few MPG's for a little more pull. (22 mpg in a 6000lb + vehicle seems insane. The ZJ gets 15 on a very good day.


Note to self, need to help Kevin more in paying back the time he lent me in the Burb's motor swap.

[ChevyKev]

Due to several factors, I got about 1/2 of what I had planned to do today done. I towed the 90 Blazer down to the shop and someone had put something else in my spot! :confused: And it wasn't running (factor 1) so after the old fellah (employee, not my firend who owns the shop) and I pushed and pulled it back and forth several times by hand, and after his attempts to move it with a forklift... and after we pushed it some more - it was out of my way (I really wish he would have let me steer....) Then Ryan showed up - just in time to help us unload the blazer - which didn't want to roll very easily at all.

Factor 2 - overnight it dropped to -38 and although the blazer was in a warmish shop, it wasn't (warmish) And as it warmed up, slowly I might add - the snow on such said blazer began to make a nice shower - which i don't normally like to take lying on a creeper (although Brandon didn't seem to mind - kinda liked making jokes about his wet crotch - I worry about that boy sometimes.)

Factor 3 - on Friday I dropped off a flywheel to be turned so that I had a good one for the new clutch to go on with. only to find out that that flywheel was the wrong one :mad:. So to NAPA I go, will get the guys lunch - should take an hour - no big deal. Except NAPA calims it will take 2-2.5 hours. :angry:

Factor 4 - the shop space available to me is only available until 4PM at the latest. When the big truck (over the road diesel) comes back - I ned to be gone already. They normally come back between 4 and 4:30, so I like to be gone at 3:30. There was no way waiting until 3:00 for the flywheel that we'd have it bolted up and done. So we went back to the shop and cleaned up all the parts and tools, and then headed to lunch. Picked up the new flywheel (that only took an hour :angry: :mad: :whistle: ) and figured we'd come back on thursday.

So, Thursday at 3 AM I'll pull the truck into the shop and sleep on the couch for a few hours while it warms up a bit and then will install the new clutch and stuff around 8 that morning.

[AKMark]

Ouch, that stinks.

[AK20]

Sorry I couldn't stay longer, had to get home and get some sleep for work this evening...That sucks you guys didn't get it done...

[ChevyKev]

It'll be warmer on Thursday. Things happen.
I'm getting used to frustrations and delays! It's just part of life.
I'm also blessed enough to have 4 other running vehicles at this time, so...

[4x4_MMMH_4x4]

ahhh come on kevin we are all so in tune to know how thursday went...

[ChevyKev]

It'll be warmer on Thursday.

Well, it was definately warmer!

ahhh come on kevin we are all so in tune to know how thursday went...

Ok, ok...

Things happen.
I'm getting used to frustrations and delays! It's just part of life.

OK, maybe I'm getting used to them, but this is a bit ridiculous!

Thuirsday went ok. I decided not to use the used but in decent condition clutch I had and ponied up the $140 for a new clutch and pressure plate. Seeing as the flywheel was turned - this would give me a new setup.

Got up on 3 hours sleep and drove to town, picked Brandon up and pulled it into the shop. Spent a few hours figuring out wiring stuff and went to breakfast. Was at Napa at 8 AM to get the parts. Back at the shop at 8:40 and started doing stuff. Trans went in very smoothly!

Brandon had an idea of where to put the trans jack that made it a breeze!

Derek showed up and then left to bring me a generous gift of a t-case drop kit.

Brandon can't read a tape measure, which sent us to the parts store several times for the correct exhaust fitting. While he and Derek were running for the correct fitting, I started an oil change. Noticed the antifreeze was low, so i topped it off, only to have the antifreeze drain out through the oil pan! :eek: :angry: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad:

So we buttoned the trans up and towed it home. I will put the donut tires on it and bring it into my garage to investigate the cause. Possibilities: blown head gasket, cracked head, cracked block. I'm not quite expecting the easiest and cheapest of these solutions.

I'm also blessed enough to have 4 other running vehicles at this time, so...

Ok... but...

Blazer (Green '77) runs and drives but has no rear brakes and is not currently licensed. :oops:

75 keeps loosing it's gas pressure - will drain and loose the prime. So it will start and run briefly while the carb bowls empty and then dies due to lack of fuel. And it has a new fuel pump! :mad:

'74 Blazer is nto registered to me nor is insured.

99 Burb the wife has at work.

86 Jeep has ball joints replaced but is not registered or licensed.

Looks like I need to spend the day at the DMV!

[4x4_MMMH_4x4]

toyota... hint hint... minimal work... hint hint...


i have a paypal account too kevin!!!

[Jackrabbit]

Well, it was definately warmer!



Ok, ok...



OK, maybe I'm getting used to them, but this is a bit ridiculous!

Thuirsday went ok. I decided not to use the used but in decent condition clutch I had and ponied up the $140 for a new clutch and pressure plate. Seeing as the flywheel was turned - this would give me a new setup.

Got up on 3 hours sleep and drove to town, picked Brandon up and pulled it into the shop. Spent a few hours figuring out wiring stuff and went to breakfast. Was at Napa at 8 AM to get the parts. Back at the shop at 8:40 and started doing stuff. Trans went in very smoothly!

Brandon had an idea of where to put the trans jack that made it a breeze!

Derek showed up and then left to bring me a generous gift of a t-case drop kit.

Brandon can't read a tape measure, which sent us to the parts store several times for the correct exhaust fitting. While he and Derek were running for the correct fitting, I started an oil change. Noticed the antifreeze was low, so i topped it off, only to have the antifreeze drain out through the oil pan! :eek: :angry: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad:

So we buttoned the trans up and towed it home. I will put the donut tires on it and bring it into my garage to investigate the cause. Possibilities: blown head gasket, cracked head, cracked block. I'm not quite expecting the easiest and cheapest of these solutions.



Ok... but...

Blazer (Green '77) runs and drives but has no rear brakes and is not currently licensed. :oops:

75 keeps loosing it's gas pressure - will drain and loose the prime. So it will start and run briefly while the carb bowls empty and then dies due to lack of fuel. And it has a new fuel pump! :mad:

'74 Blazer is nto registered to me nor is insured.

99 Burb the wife has at work.

86 Jeep has ball joints replaced but is not registered or licensed.

Looks like I need to spend the day at the DMV!

The key to the DMV is down load the forms from there web site, then get there about 08:10 or so to get in line early. If you have to wait till the afternoon show up about 15 min before they close, know matter how many people are waitng when they close the doors they man all the stations so they can to get every one out of there.

[sevenslats]

My junk is parked at American Tire South awaiting an alignment. I flat-towed it there with the ZJ so I wouldn't have to have a second driver. Lemme tell you, I'll never do that again.

[Fix_It]

well here goes mine ,

85 toy , while replacing the timing chain and gears found why i had such a bad oil leak ...timing chain cover was badly cracked (welded it and fixed ) also the hidden 22r timing cover bolt was stripped so i had to buy a helicoil kit and fix ...only to find out i broke head gasket off trying to rehang said timing cover back on ... still sitting in shop figuring what to do about this mess .

2000 tacoma is sitting in my shop melting snow and ice off it so i can clean it out and prep for sale . after finding out were having twins we need bigger car asap !

94 4 runner april rammed my 4 wheeler today (mistake ) and broke off all the fog lights (night before i did the same thing only cracked her turn signal lense it was minus 30*

67 scout is finally on the road and is my daily driver right now till i fix something lol .

[ChevyKev]

After the ball joints in the 86 Jeep were replaced, I needed to put the front bearing/brake/wheel and tire back on. Test drove it and it did fine until I tried braking! I had compressed one side to get it back on and not the other. Need to bleed the brakes and see if next week it will pass IM. As soon as that is done it is gone!

Pulled the 74 Blazer out of the garage and swapped to the 36" TSL's - much improved over the 27" shop tires! Was running great excpet I noticed a couple of small things:

1. Temp gauge doens't work. I think the steel wrapped copper sending wire is broke by the sensor.
2. Found an oil leak :mad: but it turned out to be the oil pressure sending tube right at the fitting - must be craked. need one of those little crush sleeves and it should be fine.

Pulled the 75 Plow Pickup into the garage and tested the fuel pump - it worked fine; it filled 1/2 a coffee can in about 7 seconds of cranking. The line up to the carb had a few questionable spots, so it was replaced. I cleaned up the metal lines coming out of the pump and the carb, then double clamped each end of the new rubber hose. Started it up and all is well. I willcheck in the AM and see if it still ahs fuel or not. Maybe this one is back on the road for a while.

Have the 90 Blazer ready to swap to the shop tires and pull into the garage tomorrow so I can start investingating the engine/antifreeze in the oil probs. I may take advantage of the warmer weather though and look at a few other "too big to fit in the garage" projects.

[AKLJ8]

The key to the DMV is down load the forms from there web site, then get there about 08:10 or so to get in line early. If you have to wait till the afternoon show up about 15 min before they close, know matter how many people are waitng when they close the doors they man all the stations so they can to get every one out of there.

And what ever you do don't ask for a boat registration for your car... Or a title and registration for your boat... And then tell them the title and boat registration has the wrong vin/hull number on it...

[naturalbornmudder]

update for my heep:
Lil' T is fresh out of surgery once again, this time for smaller things. I re-installed the front tow hooks on the new Holeproof bumper, relocated all of my winterization connection, modified the stock air box, and am in the middle of internal mounting my winch control box to keep it out of the elements and protected from braches, corrosion, mud, and stuff like that.
Once I get the correct wire ends, I'll finish the job, then the T will be back in surgery to finish up the front bumper, modify the rear bumper, add tabs to flat tow the heep, modify the tow bar, and etc etc etc

[ChevyKev]

'90 Blazer - I think I have found my leak. And Prayers have been answered - it seems to have been the least of the scenerios. A simple intake gasket - $17 and a few hours (was hesitant to see exactly what I'd find - plus I labaled all the wiring as I didn't know what went where.)

I removed the intake, cleaned the heads of old gasket material, cleaned the valley of gooey antifreeze/oil sludge, cleaned the intake of both susbtances as well (gasket and goo), and reassembled.

Waited 40 miutes and filled it up until I heard a leak. :eek: :angry: :mad:
Found sorce of leak = top radiator hose that wasn't re-connected.
Stopped that and heard another leak. :eek: :angry: :mad:

That was from the thermostat housing as the engine had filled - so after I popped the hose back on and suctioned the antifreeze out of the thermo housing and removed it to prep for a new gasket - I did the big check. hifty:

The oil pan drain plug had been removed the entire time - a quick look under the truck revealed no antifreeze leaking through the oil pan. :pray: :clap:

so now I have another hour of reconnecting things - gaskets, thermostat, throttle-body, gas lines, hoses, wiring, vaccuum, etc... and I'll fill it with oil (first replacing the drain plug and filter) and see if it fires up! If so, I'll let it run for about 5 minutes and change the oil and filter again. Hopefully it'll be ready to IM very soon!

[STOMPR]

Wahoo!! good to hear that it was a relatively simple fix.

[ChevyKev]

Wahoo!! good to hear that it was a relatively simple fix.

Was looking for the "whew" emoticon!

[4x4_MMMH_4x4]

sweet deal makes me happy to see all the time and running around and me grabbing the right parts, for the wrong measurement, wasnt a total loss

[4x4_MMMH_4x4]

ITS ALIVE!!! but its pissing antifreeze like no tomorrow... turns out my "oil pan leak" wasnt an oil pan leak, it was leaking out of the crank pulley seal and spraying so it looked like it... 10$ worth of gas 7$ part and i was good to go... now i just need to figure out why its leaking antifreeze... it would be nice if this toyota wasnt covered from head to toe with grease!!!