2003 V8 budget build and dreams of theladyviola and Gypsy

Ladyviola,

I love that you're doing this work yourself, makes me feel all warm inside, not many ladies would even consider taking on an oil change much less the build you're doing!!

Kudos from one hippie to another!
 
AuSeeker said:
Ladyviola,

I love that you're doing this work yourself, makes me feel all warm inside, not many ladies would even consider taking on an oil change much less the build you're doing!!

Kudos from one hippie to another!
Click to expand...


Thanks!
Not going to lie, rolling around under cars was much easier 15 yrs ago, and there's more ibuprofen involved now. But it's only going to happen if I do it because I can't afford to pay someone else.

Won't get to the timing belt/water pump change this go around but hopefully the suspension will be done and the transfer case/actuator will be installed without drips.


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Today, everything I touched turned to crap. Snapped the head off a tranny pan bolt. One of the exhaust studs/nut is now trashed. The cuss nut (flange nut on transfer case) is still not budging after chipping away at it with Blaster, heat, breaker bar, impact, and now cutting it. Hit myself in the chin with the pry bar. Then to top it off, I figured I'd press ball joints but the kit I got on loan from Advanced Auto had a broken threaded rod.

I decided to call it a day. To be continued...


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What to do after my 14 hr shift? Press ball joints in the kitchen, of course!


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Thanks to a friend, I've got new bushings and ball joints in the LCA's and the UCA's are ready to install.

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And there's a little garage porn for fun...
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Bit more progress today. Axles rebooted, new wheel seals/axle seals and got the front almost completed.
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And no garage day is complete for me without some sort of injury
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theladyviola said:
Bought a EZ oil drain valve with hopes I'll be less messy.
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I see you also got the hose end to attach a hose, are you going to leave that on or just keep it attached to a hose and install it when you change oil?.

I have been leary to buy one of these valves, I'm afraid that if the lever got bumped by road debri all the oil would drain out before I realized it and ruin the engine, even if I did realize it had somehow opened and I stopped I would be out on the road without any oil to add back.
 
AuSeeker said:
I see you also got the hose end to attach a hose, are you going to leave that on or just keep it attached to a hose and install it when you change oil?.

I have been leary to buy one of these valves, I'm afraid that if the lever got bumped by road debri all the oil would drain out before I realized it and ruin the engine, even if I did realize it had somehow opened and I stopped I would be out on the road without any oil to add back.
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It takes effort to move the valve as it's spring loaded and has to be pushed and then turned. I kinda gave it hell before I installed it to see how sturdy it is. Held up to my abuse and has good reviews.

As far as the hose attachment, it depends how it sits when I put the skids back on. I'm hoping to just leave it on there.


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theladyviola said:
It takes effort to move the valve as it's spring loaded and has to be pushed and then turned. I kinda gave it hell before I installed it to see how sturdy it is. Held up to my abuse and has good reviews.

As far as the hose attachment, it depends how it sits when I put the skids back on. I'm hoping to just leave it on there.


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Thanks for your preliminary review, please report on how you like it after a couple of oil changes.

I may get one, but I'm old school and if I'm not busting my knuckles I don't feel I did a good job even changing the oil or maybe I'm just hardheaded!!:bash::doh:
 
AuSeeker said:
Thanks for your preliminary review, please report on how you like it after a couple of oil changes.



I may get one, but I'm old school and if I'm not busting my knuckles I don't feel I did a good job even changing the oil or maybe I'm just hardheaded!!:bash::doh:
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I'll let you know how it holds up. These projects have reminded me I'm getting older...even though I try to deny it. When all is said and done, I'll try to minimize my rolling around under the cars. Still probably won't pay anyone else to do it though :)


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People often say things like "budget build" but they never really elaborate on how it's budget. Thought I'd throw that in there. I don't get bent out of shape when people ask what's the cheapest or use the word cheap. That word lends more to perception, so I'm not offended by someone asking what's cheapest. I'm thrifty... meaning I'm not a big impulsive buyer. I don't mind doing the free research to save a little money. I'm not about turning my $6K 4Runner into a $30K 4Runner with every cool mod on the forums. If I had that kind of money, I probably wouldn't have bought a 2003 with 150K miles. However, if I can build my Gypsy 4Runner on the cheap to do what I need her to do, I'm all about it. I plan to do a little offroading, but nothing ridiculous which requires every locker made or a lift so high I need a step ladder. I camp, I backpack, I explore. And this is what I've spent on my main maintenance/upgrades thus far:



FJ rear coils used $50

Moog 81088 front coils $23

Front Bilstein 5100's $160

Rear Bilstein 5100's $150

UCA's Spindle Source Camburg knockoffs $235

Moog upper ball joints $42

Moog lower ball joints $24

Moog LCA bushings $62

Moog tie rod ends $26

KYB strut mount kits $38

Prothane front sway bar greasable bushings $18

Prothane rear sway bar greasable bushings $15

Daystar 1.5" rear spacers $28

Powerstop front rotors/brake pads $75

Spidertrax 1.25" wheels spacers used $125

Go Rhino roof basket used $100

CV joint boot kits $45 I'll prob never do this again. I'll drive it til it clicks and buy remans



I'm posting all this to show people who are on a tight budget that parts can be acquired rather inexpensively with patience and motivation. There's a loud sect of the forum members who preach "you get what you pay for" and "save your money for higher quality", blah, blah. Some statements are true, but at the end of the day I still have money to go on vacation and no bills in the mail. I'm not entering car shows, competing or expecting to show off. Do your research, be patient, learn from others and HAVE FUN!



And to ultimately save money, learn to do the work yourself. It gives a sense of pride in the outcome, teaches you new skills, and gets you off the couch.



And if anyone has negative criticism to my budget build, I'll gladly accept sponsorship with free high dollar parts at your expense. Really, I'm down with Icon, Total Chaos, Toytec, etc. I'll send you my address.



GO WHEEL!
 
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theladyviola said:
Just installed it yesterday. Still have to fill fluids because they're all drained out right now. It's basically just like the Fumoto but with a different gasket and rubber grip on the lever.
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Sorry, I misread the join date as the post date so I was thinking you had done that longer ago.
 
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