The Turbo Rock Lobster

[BigFishAllDay]

I got a few more pics of this guy running hells gate...

Looking good @ the start...

Passenger side is getting a little low...

Back passenger has slipped off, but hanging on with the front passenger... look at that FLEX!!!

:ybrick:

Shoot my spotter...

 

[steezemcqueen]

How do you like your blitzpro light bar? Is it bright? im looking at getting one soon.

Totally missed this :spy:

I do like it. Its definitely not as bright as a Rigid but its also not the price of a Rigid either. It is more of a flood pattern so it is bright but it doesn't throw light very far. I think if it was a spot or a spot/flood combo, i would like it way better. Still definitely worth the money though.

 

[cdrewferd]

Any updates? How's the t-case coming along?

 

[cdrewferd]

[MENTION=9139]steezemcqueen[/MENTION], any new updates?

I also had a question on your trans lift. Did you lift the engine as well, or is the back driveshaft at more of an angle with just the trans and tcase tilted up?

 

[steezemcqueen]

[MENTION=9139]steezemcqueen[/MENTION], any new updates?

I also had a question on your trans lift. Did you lift the engine as well, or is the back driveshaft at more of an angle with just the trans and tcase tilted up?

Not much new to report. Its all back together and running well. I just have been DDing the car so haven't really been driving it a whole lot.

I didn't raise the motor mounts so it has essentially tilted the trans and tcase up. Its been running that way for a bit now and haven't had any problems. Only thing is the engine dipstick reads higher than normal.

I think i'm going to redo that whole crossmember soon and use both the trans mount and the t case mount. Right now it only uses the t-case mount. That or i'm just going to say eff it and buy the FROR crossmember.

 

[steezemcqueen]

Looks like its time for some new plugs

The 3 on the left are from the driver side head and the ones on the right are the passenger side head. The driver side head plugs will wear faster due to the waste spark system but i didn't think the difference would be as drastic. I have about 35k miles on these plugs which are the Denso IK22's. Not super happy with the life but it could be worse. I couldn't find any IK22's locally and i didn't want to run these any longer so i just replaced them with some 2 step colder NGK copper plugs. We will see how long those last but i'll probably swap them from side to side after 15k or so.

 

[smkd13]

Looks like its time for some new plugs

The 3 on the left are from the driver side head and the ones on the right are the passenger side head. The driver side head plugs will wear faster due to the waste spark system but i didn't think the difference would be as drastic. I have about 35k miles on these plugs which are the Denso IK22's. Not super happy with the life but it could be worse. I couldn't find any IK22's locally and i didn't want to run these any longer so i just replaced them with some 2 step colder NGK copper plugs. We will see how long those last but i'll probably swap them from side to side after 15k or so.

oh man those look like they have plenty of life left in them. I am interested to see what the effects of running a cooler plug will do w/ your SC.

 

[LINY4Runner]

you pushed them 35k miles? Toyota recommended interval is 15k on these trucks!

 

[steezemcqueen]

oh man those look like they have plenty of life left in them. I am interested to see what the effects of running a cooler plug will do w/ your SC.

Yeah the ones on the right look pretty much brand new. I was kinda confused when i pulled them out. The IK22's that were in there were already a 2 step colder plug and they worked great. Just wish they lasted a bit longer.

you pushed them 35k miles? Toyota recommended interval is 15k on these trucks!

The recommended interval according to my owners manual is 30k for non platinum plugs and 60k for the platinum. I figured the Iridiums would have lasted as long as the platinums but apparently not

 

[LINY4Runner]

The recommended interval according to my owners manual is 30k for non platinum plugs and 60k for the platinum. I figured the Iridiums would have lasted as long as the platinums but apparently not

30 huh? We sell them at 15k :lol:

 

[smkd13]

Yeah the ones on the right look pretty much brand new. I was kinda confused when i pulled them out. The IK22's that were in there were already a 2 step colder plug and they worked great. Just wish they lasted a bit longer.



The recommended interval according to my owners manual is 30k for non platinum plugs and 60k for the platinum. I figured the Iridiums would have lasted as long as the platinums but apparently not

Yeah I would be a little confused too. Where they on the coil side that they can out better??? Kinda interesting that you are burning up one side more than the other.

Damn you performance parts and costing more money!!! :lol:

 

[steezemcqueen]

After being pretty much stuck at home for the past few days due to the floods, I've been pretty bored. Hence the reason i am updated my build thread :lol:

I have an emissions test coming up so i figured i might as well put a catalytic converter back in. I was getting kinda tired of the exhaust being so loud too. Must be getting old or something :lmao:.

Also thought now would be as good of a time as any to install the wideband AFR gauge i've been putting off for awhile.

The best all in one gauge i could find was the Innovate MTX-L. It had some good reviews on Amazon and wasn't stupid expensive. Amazon has it for $162 shipped. Its comes with the gauge, sensor, wiring, and a bung for the exhaust. All you have to do is drill a hold in the exhaust pipe, weld in the bung, and run the wiring. Easy peasy.

Its currently just resting on the Ultragauge but a double gauge pod is on its way.

And a short video of it in action

 

[steezemcqueen]

Holy Cross, Colorado

Holy Cross has been on my list of trails to do for a long time. I got invited by some CO members on Tacoma World and went along with them this past weekend.

For some reason i didn't think to charge my DSLR battery just used my phone to take video so these pictures are all courtesy of NYCO (Bob) on Tacoma World

Near the beginning of the trail

Jace up the 1st obstacle

Eric heating up his tires

Myself

Winching was needed on the 2nd obstacle for most of the group. It was pretty tricky since you had to hug the rock wall on the right and try and turn in as much as possible. The long wheel base of the Tacos made it challenging.

Kinda shows how close you had to hug the wall

Eric with a nice wheel stand

Cameron getting twisted

Getting the Lobster to stretch its legs

The 80 made it look easy

Bob pulling himself up

Next up was French Creek. This is one of the main obstacles on the trail. There are a couple different lines you can take through it but really only one is possible on IFS. The line on the left is really the only option but there is a rock that sticks out and you will eat your quarter panel if you aren't careful.

Jace was the 1st to head up. The quarter panel muncher is the one Cameron is standing on.

Using the slider to pivot around the rock

Cameron was up next

My turn.

 

[steezemcqueen]

Continued...

Of since i am stupid, i had to try the hard line up the middle.

It was just too much without bigger tires and a front locker so i backed off and took the same line as Jace and Cameron.

After the creek we turned around since not everyone was going to make it past.

Coming back down. I attempt to take the left line but i was going to crunch a door for sure so i figured dropping down the middle was safer. Not sure if that ended up being true or not but my doors made it through fine.

On a side note, did you know that a ODL antenna mount will bend about 90 degrees if you catch it on a rock in just the right spot? :lmao:

Photos rarely capture how big some obstacles are.

Thats all for now. I have some videos i will post up and I'll probably steal some more pictures from other people and post them here too

Thanks again for the guys from TW for the invite and to NYCO for his awesome photo taking abilitys

 

[Dous]

Gorgeous place to wheel! Very jealous

 

[downpour11]

Welp, just added that trail to my list if I ever make it out to colorado.

Awesome pics!

:cheers:

 

[rideexileex]

Pictures are awesome!

With those plugs, take a look again... They caught me off guard on the plugs too. I think it has to do with the direction of the spark. On 3 of my plugs, there was still quite a bit of a lower electrode, but the top of the plug was really pitted... Again, I think its because that's where the arc begins with positive vs negative spark set.

 

[Dirtco]

Sweet pictures, looks like a fun trip! You should have let me know, Holy Cross is one of my favorite trails but I can never seem to find someone that will run it with me. Did you make it all the way up to the city, did anyone try Cleveland Rock?

 

[steezemcqueen]

Sweet pictures, looks like a fun trip! You should have let me know, Holy Cross is one of my favorite trails but I can never seem to find someone that will run it with me. Did you make it all the way up to the city, did anyone try Cleveland Rock?

HC is now one of my favorites too! I'm definitely up for running it again so we need to plan a trip for sure. I know Glen wants to run it as well and i told Jeff he needs a locker 1st .

We turned around after the creek since it was getting late and started to hail. Also, the 2nd gen Taco's were a bit to wide to make it up the creek without damage so we just headed back down after that. I really want to go again and check out the city and i'm definitely going to give Cleveland rock a try.

My guess is that we won't be able to run it soon seeing as you already have snow up in Summit!

 

[cdrewferd]

Great pictures. I've wanted to run HC for a long time. Not sure I could get past French Creek, but would be fun to go up that far.