- Joined
- Dec 10, 2006
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- 9,069
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My passenger side catalytic went out and started this entire project. I had it replaced in March 2012 by the dealership under warranty. Less than two months later my engine was burning massive amounts of oil and I developed an engine knock above 3k --- dealer inspected the engine, spun a bearing.
And so began THE K2 PROJECT. I saw two options:
After a little arm twisting from friends and fellow XRU members, and the offer from a few people that helped A LOT (and I mean A LOT) on this project, I decided to go with option two and get busy. First step was replacing the engine. Gadget from URD helped me source a great engine and offered to help get it to me so that we can install it. Only criteria he requested ---- that we have the old engine out by the time he arrived. I had never done anything this extensive but Steve (ntinhri) offered to help and also offered his garage, tools, pool and even beds if we needed to spend the night.
For the weekend of July 7-8, 2012 our mission was this:
It was a long two days but we got all of that stuff done. Steve and I pulled the engine with the help of another friend, Kevin (not on XRU) but we couldn't have gotten it all back together as quickly as it happened without Gadget and Sam from URD. This is not a shameless plug --- these guys busted ass and I can't thank them enough.
Enough writing - onto the pics!
DAY 1
Truck Arrives Friday around 1:00 - driven nearly an hour in 100+ degree temps - we had to let it cool for nearly 2 hours it was so damn hot
Up on jack stands, hood off, radiator out, supercharger off, etc, etc
Drive shaft out, y-pipe out, cross members out, tranny coming out (we had to improvise since we didn't have a tranny jack --- Steve whipped this up in like 15 minutes and it worked great)
Tranny removed by Steve's phantom leg
About to remove the power steering pump, A/C compressor and starter
DAY 2
A quick trip to Lowe's got some bolts and hooked the engine to the hoist
Engine out!
Yup... its really out.
Never fear... UNDERDOG IS HERE! Gadget confirming that the oil pan was not empty. :argh: We had to swap the oil pan since the new engine was from a 4x4.
Lightweight flywheel going on!
Stage 2 Clutch going on!
What's that?!
G-man making magic happen
New Engine IN!
And this is why there is a Sleeve Kit!!!! :motz:
That was it for week 1. I was BEAT after that weekend. It was 100 degrees both days and we worked hard, nearly nonstop. These guys taught me a lot and also made me realize just how much I still need to learn.
For the weekend of July 15, 2012 our mission was this:
Not really many photos this time around since it was just Gadget and myself for most of the time. Gadget walked me through the fuel pump install step-by-step - and by that, I mean he did the wrenching and I asked questions. Learned a lot though. Here is the new fuel pump installed and getting to go back in:
The rest of the time I was pretty busy working on fixing the clutch line that got routed wrong the week before. This meant removing the supercharger bracket it was supposed to attached to, removing the header and getting it all sorted out. I fought with that damn header forever and felt like a total noob. But in the end, with some guidance, got it done.
10 minutes before we headed out to tune the truck a MASSIVE downpour hit and lets just say it made tuning interesting. But we did the best that we could with the weather and road conditions that we had.
I can't say thank you enough to all that were involved in all of this. Steve, Gadget, Sam, Kevin, Eddie, Tapp (phone calls), Dwayne (also helped with the o2 plug locations via phone) and my wife and kids for being so tolerant these past couple weekends and last 6-7 weeks while the truck wasn't running. I am surrounded by an awesome group of people and it has reminded why I started this site and spent so much time here. You will see me around here more often, I guarantee it.
I can also say that WITHOUT A DOUBT the truck now drives like it SHOULD HAVE from the beginning. This thing is a complete beast and the fun factor of driving this truck just went up about 300% in 3 days of hard work. I have always loved driving this truck but its been a while since it put a silly grin on my face and that happened today.... a few times. :top:
Last but certainly not least - and if you made it this far (my longest post ever I think) then you deserve this... my photoshop concept of what I'm shooting for in the next couple months.
Coming SOON:
Stay tuned.
------------------------------------
Update 7/4/12
New Fuel and Oil Pressure Gauges ordered
------------------------------------
Update 7/12/12
Varrstoen 2.2.2 19x9.5+12 in Hyper Black ordered (on backorder)
------------------------------------
Update 7/28/12
Gauges installed. (pics to come)
------------------------------------
Update 8/2/12
Moog Ball joints and XII stock height coils ordered
------------------------------------
Update 8/9/12
Stock height coils arrived!
------------------------------------
Update 8/14/12
Ball joints pressed into DJM control arms
------------------------------------
Update 8/15/12
Wheels arrived!
------------------------------------
Update 8/17/12
Tires ordered - Falken 452 245/40/19
------------------------------------
Update 8/23/12
Tires mounted on rims. Paint quoted and scheduled.
------------------------------------
Update 8/30/12
Truck goes in for paint.
------------------------------------
Update 9/5/12
Got the truck back from paint! :rock:
------------------------------------
Update 9/30/12
PHOTOSHOOT!
And so began THE K2 PROJECT. I saw two options:
- Sell the truck and get something else.
- Fix it and keep going, doing some of the things that I'd always wanted to do but could never justify
After a little arm twisting from friends and fellow XRU members, and the offer from a few people that helped A LOT (and I mean A LOT) on this project, I decided to go with option two and get busy. First step was replacing the engine. Gadget from URD helped me source a great engine and offered to help get it to me so that we can install it. Only criteria he requested ---- that we have the old engine out by the time he arrived. I had never done anything this extensive but Steve (ntinhri) offered to help and also offered his garage, tools, pool and even beds if we needed to spend the night.
For the weekend of July 7-8, 2012 our mission was this:
- Remove the old engine and pull the tranny
- Install the new engine
- Install a new Stage 2 Clutch from URD
- Install a new Lightweight Flywheel from URD
- Install a new URD Competition Y-Pipe
- Replace the throwout bearing and sleeve the tranny using the TSK from URD
- Put all that shit back in
It was a long two days but we got all of that stuff done. Steve and I pulled the engine with the help of another friend, Kevin (not on XRU) but we couldn't have gotten it all back together as quickly as it happened without Gadget and Sam from URD. This is not a shameless plug --- these guys busted ass and I can't thank them enough.
Enough writing - onto the pics!
DAY 1
Truck Arrives Friday around 1:00 - driven nearly an hour in 100+ degree temps - we had to let it cool for nearly 2 hours it was so damn hot
Up on jack stands, hood off, radiator out, supercharger off, etc, etc
Drive shaft out, y-pipe out, cross members out, tranny coming out (we had to improvise since we didn't have a tranny jack --- Steve whipped this up in like 15 minutes and it worked great)
Tranny removed by Steve's phantom leg
About to remove the power steering pump, A/C compressor and starter
DAY 2
A quick trip to Lowe's got some bolts and hooked the engine to the hoist
Engine out!
Yup... its really out.
Never fear... UNDERDOG IS HERE! Gadget confirming that the oil pan was not empty. :argh: We had to swap the oil pan since the new engine was from a 4x4.
Lightweight flywheel going on!
Stage 2 Clutch going on!
What's that?!
G-man making magic happen
New Engine IN!
And this is why there is a Sleeve Kit!!!! :motz:
That was it for week 1. I was BEAT after that weekend. It was 100 degrees both days and we worked hard, nearly nonstop. These guys taught me a lot and also made me realize just how much I still need to learn.
For the weekend of July 15, 2012 our mission was this:
- Install new fuel pump
- Install UCON EMS
- Install URD Supergrip Pulley on TRD S/C
- Fix a mistake I made on routing the clutch line
- Tune it
Not really many photos this time around since it was just Gadget and myself for most of the time. Gadget walked me through the fuel pump install step-by-step - and by that, I mean he did the wrenching and I asked questions. Learned a lot though. Here is the new fuel pump installed and getting to go back in:
The rest of the time I was pretty busy working on fixing the clutch line that got routed wrong the week before. This meant removing the supercharger bracket it was supposed to attached to, removing the header and getting it all sorted out. I fought with that damn header forever and felt like a total noob. But in the end, with some guidance, got it done.
10 minutes before we headed out to tune the truck a MASSIVE downpour hit and lets just say it made tuning interesting. But we did the best that we could with the weather and road conditions that we had.
I can't say thank you enough to all that were involved in all of this. Steve, Gadget, Sam, Kevin, Eddie, Tapp (phone calls), Dwayne (also helped with the o2 plug locations via phone) and my wife and kids for being so tolerant these past couple weekends and last 6-7 weeks while the truck wasn't running. I am surrounded by an awesome group of people and it has reminded why I started this site and spent so much time here. You will see me around here more often, I guarantee it.
I can also say that WITHOUT A DOUBT the truck now drives like it SHOULD HAVE from the beginning. This thing is a complete beast and the fun factor of driving this truck just went up about 300% in 3 days of hard work. I have always loved driving this truck but its been a while since it put a silly grin on my face and that happened today.... a few times. :top:
Last but certainly not least - and if you made it this far (my longest post ever I think) then you deserve this... my photoshop concept of what I'm shooting for in the next couple months.
Coming SOON:
- DJM 3/4 Drop (already have it - trying to find someone to install it)
- Varrstoen 2.2 Wheels in 19x9.5 +12 - Hyper Black (already ordered but on backorder for about 4-6 weeks)
- XII front and rear sways
- All new gauges from Prosport
- New paint on the hood, front bumper, tailgate and door handles to fix the shitty factory finish. If I have enough money I'll fix and 3M the flares as well. Mine aren't that bad since Toyota replaced them just a year or so ago.
- Custom vinyl for the driver's side quarter panel and tonneau, and corresponding vinyl for the passenger fender and hood. Vinyl will be color matched (as close as I can) to the wheels. Most likely a dark gray/gunmetal.
- Some logos added to the sideskirts for shit that makes me smile
Stay tuned.
------------------------------------
Update 7/4/12
New Fuel and Oil Pressure Gauges ordered
------------------------------------
Update 7/12/12
Varrstoen 2.2.2 19x9.5+12 in Hyper Black ordered (on backorder)
------------------------------------
Update 7/28/12
Gauges installed. (pics to come)
------------------------------------
Update 8/2/12
Moog Ball joints and XII stock height coils ordered
------------------------------------
Update 8/9/12
Stock height coils arrived!
------------------------------------
Update 8/14/12
Ball joints pressed into DJM control arms
------------------------------------
Update 8/15/12
Wheels arrived!
------------------------------------
Update 8/17/12
Tires ordered - Falken 452 245/40/19
------------------------------------
Update 8/23/12
Tires mounted on rims. Paint quoted and scheduled.
------------------------------------
Update 8/30/12
Truck goes in for paint.
------------------------------------
Update 9/5/12
Got the truck back from paint! :rock:
------------------------------------
Update 9/30/12
PHOTOSHOOT!
.
