Red-Runner getting built
- Thread starter red-runner
- Start date
red-runner
New member
Brian, sorry, I've been away from the forum a bit. We discussed the engine in another thread. Ship has sailed, and a rebuild is on the way. I'm very happy if I get 100,000 out of it, since the runner is mostly a desert/camping machine, and not a daily driver.
My shop is SD Trux. They're a good bunch, and have treated me well. I'm having a friend do the swap though, since it would cost a fortune with SD Trux. Friend is an excellent mechanic, specializes in Lexus & Toyota, so I'm in good hands now, and I get to help out (making lemonade outta lemons).
Crapped out at just under 190,000.
red-runner
New member
Something seems to be missing...
Out with the old. Rebuild should be here in 10 days or so.
Out with the old. Rebuild should be here in 10 days or so.
red-runner
New member
Well, so much for 10 days. We could have rebuilt the old engine by now. Btw - it had a bad bearing and every cylinder had some wear. Odds are the previous owner had some head work done, and saw there was carnage below, and just sold it (to me...yay) instead of rebuilding.
New engine shipped on Friday, and will be ready to install this week. Since I can't control myself, we are doing a little more than just the engine swap.
Also adding:
* New radiator
* New motor mounts (old ones had cracks)
* Tranny cooler
* Doug Thorley Headers
* K&N cold air intake
* Magnaflow exhaust
* Rewiring my battery wire hack.
* mounting a sweet pair of Icon 2.5" piggy-backs on the rear-end.
Should be back on the trail in less than two weeks, and I can not wait!
...oh, and in the meantime, I guess I'll also be buying a long-travel truck to share the driveway. :bounce:
New engine shipped on Friday, and will be ready to install this week. Since I can't control myself, we are doing a little more than just the engine swap.
Also adding:
* New radiator
* New motor mounts (old ones had cracks)
* Tranny cooler
* Doug Thorley Headers
* K&N cold air intake
* Magnaflow exhaust
* Rewiring my battery wire hack.
* mounting a sweet pair of Icon 2.5" piggy-backs on the rear-end.
Should be back on the trail in less than two weeks, and I can not wait!
...oh, and in the meantime, I guess I'll also be buying a long-travel truck to share the driveway. :bounce:
2014 Warthog
New member
Holy cow, it'll be practically new! 
Good luck with the build
Good luck with the build
what did you decide in terms of sourcing a new engine? where is it coming from?
red-runner
New member
I stuck with the toyotatruckengines.com order. It was ~$2,700 for the long block with new water pump and injectors. Aside from being slow, I'm pretty happy with them. They seem to care that I'm getting a good engine after spending that much money.
They build engines as they are ordered, and the mechanic didn't like a couple of the parts they got (a bearing with a scratch and a dodgy head gasket), so they delayed shipping in order to get good parts installed. Spoke with several different people who work there (they also go by Engine Monster), and their stories about delays were always consistent. ...just kinda bummed it's taken so long to ship.
I'm pretty confident the engine will be good based on communication with their staff. Of course, only time will tell.
We are looking into rebuilding the broken engine for another project.
red-runner
New member
Expect to see my "new" engine tomorrow. Can't express my excitement to have the runner back in the dirt.
In the meantime, my wife wanted something she could drive fast through the bumps in Ocotillo, so we've added a long travel pickup to the family. Couldn't keep her off the dirt shoulders on the way home this evening. Truck needs a little work, but is already a great start. ...she wants me to paint all of the tubing hot pink. May look cool, so I might just do it.
The happy lady.
Sorry for the pickup pix, but my runner is in surgery.
Braaaappp!
In the meantime, my wife wanted something she could drive fast through the bumps in Ocotillo, so we've added a long travel pickup to the family. Couldn't keep her off the dirt shoulders on the way home this evening. Truck needs a little work, but is already a great start. ...she wants me to paint all of the tubing hot pink. May look cool, so I might just do it.
The happy lady.
Sorry for the pickup pix, but my runner is in surgery.
Braaaappp!
red-runner
New member
Engine and intake arrived today. Waiting another week for the headers. Almost just cancelled them, but may as well do them while the engine is out.
We are so excited, we're planning a night run in Ocotillo Wells in two weeks. May be an excuse to install a roof-mounted light bar. RZR, Runner, and Pickup in the desert...at night...what could possibly go wrong?
red-runner
New member
Unwrapped new engine. Looks pretty good...time will tell.
Used Icons for the rear. Look pretty good. I think these will really improve the rear, and help it keep up with the front.
Night run in two weeks. We are going to get dirty!
Used Icons for the rear. Look pretty good. I think these will really improve the rear, and help it keep up with the front.
Night run in two weeks. We are going to get dirty!
red-runner
New member
Headers finally arrived today. Hoping to be running again this weekend.
red-runner
New member
Kyle's got the engine together. Probably the best shot of those headers we'll ever get...hopefully.
BrianSD_42
New member
Come to the meet up tomorrow night.
red-runner
New member
If she's running, I will definitely be there.
Engine is in. Shocks mounted. Headers require some exhaust hacking. Need a 45º exhaust elbow tomorrow in order to get everything right. Some more pics.
red-runner
New member
She's almost finished. Just a few little things left. Anyway, here's what my new engine sounds like with no cat, and no muffler. Too bad we can't leave it that way.
red-runner
New member
We were, but it's still not finished -- a few odds and ends to get it right. I'll probably drive quite a bit over the next couple weeks to get it broken in, and then do a trip.
MyHigh
New member
WOW!!!
You certainly know how to make the most out of building up a reliable runner.
All the pics of borrego are making me home sick, I basically grew up in the desert every weekend, that or Martinez lake, Yuma.
Great ride man, I can just picture her now cruising around the desert.
Go Padres!!
You certainly know how to make the most out of building up a reliable runner.
All the pics of borrego are making me home sick, I basically grew up in the desert every weekend, that or Martinez lake, Yuma.
Great ride man, I can just picture her now cruising around the desert.
Go Padres!!
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