What Did You Do To Your 3rd Gen Today?

[Spiker Engineering]

Since I noticed that the starter currently in my truck is the 1.4 kW version, I decided to buy a junkyard 1.8 kW model, and rebuild it leisurely.

Yesterday I finally received the parts needed to finish the job:

The rebuild was straightforward enough. Take everything apart and clean:

Add grease to all the gears and moving parts:

Check that brushes and armature are in spec:

Then reassemble!

I used Timmy's great video on starter contact replacement, but noticed that the FSM has some additional instructions on how to install the contacts. They want you to fabricate a small wooden block and use it to push down onto the contacts with about 200 lbs o force prior to torquing the contacts:

It helps to have a load cell on hand to know when you reach 200 lbs, but I don't think the number has to be exact - just enough to push the contacts against the back:

All done:

Out with the old, in with the new!

 

[octanejunkie]

Those look really good! How were you able to get your dash lights to not have hot spots? What brand of bulbs did you go with?

No hot spots for me using super bright LED bulbs

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[Rushthezeppelin]

No hot spots for me using super bright LED bulbs

Sent from my Pixel 4 XL using Tapatalk

What is that display below your stereo?

 

[Rushthezeppelin]

Since I noticed that the starter currently in my truck is the 1.4 kW version, I decided to buy a junkyard 1.8 kW model, and rebuild it leisurely.

Yesterday I finally received the parts needed to finish the job:

The rebuild was straightforward enough. Take everything apart and clean:

Add grease to all the gears and moving parts:

Check that brushes and armature are in spec:

Then reassemble!

I used Timmy's great video on starter contact replacement, but noticed that the FSM has some additional instructions on how to install the contacts. They want you to fabricate a small wooden block and use it to push down onto the contacts with about 200 lbs o force prior to torquing the contacts:

It helps to have a load cell on hand to know when you reach 200 lbs, but I don't think the number has to be exact - just enough to push the contacts against the back:

All done:

Out with the old, in with the new!

Good to know this stuff. I'm sure offroading with a stick I will have to replace mine sooner than later. Glad to see beefy contact nuts on this. Last starter I had to change was 15 years ago on a 89 Prelude and it had those super thin nuts the thickness of a washer which made the job a nightmare (in addition to the super tight quarters to get it in and out). Still remember being halfway through the job and realizing this then trying to go around my apartment complex to find someone who had a set of those thin box wrenches.

 

[clearock]

 

[octanejunkie]

What is that display below your stereo?

It's a Subaru Field Monitor which gives me compass heading, altitude, barometer and temperature

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[405Runner]

Got the 140A alternator installed today. Seems to work great, and no more squeaky alternator lol.

 

[octanejunkie]

Got the 140A alternator installed today. Seems to work great, and no more squeaky alternator lol.

I'm up to do that next. Did you upgrade the charge wire?

What did you use for a spacer (7mm) washers?

 

[habanero]

Replaced my busted radiator with a little bit shorter version. Had to stay skinny due to the dual battery box and relocated coolant reservoir.

Mid-install...that's the old lower radiator hose, you can see the new radiator is tucked up more. This was kinda mostly sorta plug n play, with a new lower hose and cap needed, some modification to the shroud and some hammer instigated hood abuse. Shroud is not fastened in the pic. The truck is an m/t with a 1" body lift.

 

[octanejunkie]

Replaced my busted radiator with a little bit shorter version. Had to stay skinny due to the dual battery box and relocated coolant reservoir.

Nice!
What vehicle is that rad for, 20.5" core for Tacoma?
What lower hose did you use?

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[JBurt]

Nice Hab! Glad you settled on a radiator. That' looks like the pretty rare lower snorkel option.

 

[habanero]

Nice!
What vehicle is that rad for, 20.5" core for Tacoma?
What lower hose did you use?

Correct, Denso 221-3136 20.63"
and
Gates 22515 with a small trim

Nice Hab! Glad you settled on a radiator. That' looks like the pretty rare lower snorkel option.

:laugh: you know how I like to keep up on all the dumbest mods

 

[405Runner]

I'm up to do that next. Did you upgrade the charge wire?

What did you use for a spacer (7mm) washers?

No but I'll be doing the big 3 pretty soon. My current alt was squealing and not charging so I just decided to go ahead and do it. My 4R is stock though so not much load going into it.

As for spacers I just went down to Atwoods (hardware store) and grabbed a handful. 4 Fit just about perfect so I'm happy with it. I'd def recommend supergluing them together or welding them to make it a little easier. Think they were 7/16th's? I just took the bolt with me.

 

[jrm]

how did you mount it and get power

 

[JoeT4R]

Made my 3rd gen lose 300K miles and all of a sudden I only had 20K!


My phone has some mad editing skills apparently, lol.

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[Rushthezeppelin]

Made my 3rd gen lose 300K miles and all of a sudden I only had 20K!


My phone has some mad editing skills apparently, lol.

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Well I guess you now have a lemon lol. Hopefully you plan to keep your 3rd gen until the frame rusts into dust like I do.

 

[JoeT4R]

Well I guess you now have a lemon lol. Hopefully you plan to keep your 3rd gen until the frame rusts into dust like I do.

Most certainly. I'm aiming for 400K, then 500K. Not even kidding.

 

[96RedRunner]

Most certainly. I'm aiming for 400K, then 500K. Not even kidding.

Was my intentions with 96Red @374k till the other driver/vehicle changed the plan,
I have memories, nothing like sliding on the roof airbag in the face sparks flying from 65 to 0 mph. Lol

 

[JoeT4R]

Was my intentions with 96Red @374k till the other driver/vehicle changed the plan,
I have memories, nothing like sliding on the roof airbag in the face sparks flying from 65 to 0 mph. Lol

Jeez man. I'm sorry to hear that. I share a similar experience with my first 3rd gen, and in hindsight, I could really kick myself for losing it. It was a 96 base model, 2WD, manual windows, 3RZ with 164K on it, original engine and trans. Wrecked it. This was almost 10 years ago. Not knowing at the time how rare of a rig it was, I bought my current truck. It's alright though, everything happens for a reason. But man I miss that truck some kind of bad!

 

[JZiggy]

Sound deadening / insulation on the roof.