She's back on the road finally, insured and registered. It's almost exactly two years to the day that I first thought I might have some issues with the motor and took it in to a shop thinking my third party warranty with EasyCare would take care of it. It didn't, and in the ensuing two years since, I've put in more money and time than I was really anticipating on a car I initially only had a passing interest in. My original plan was just to buy a simple muscle car (since I've owned an example of every other sort of enthusiast car), drive it for a year or so and see if I liked the style/power and then save up for something a bit nicer. The car gods had other plans though and I'm hitting the four year ownership mark on the car this year, breaking commandment 6 of the car enthusiast "thou shalt keep thine garage door revolving"). It hurts to type out "four year ownership".
I have to say though, it's a pretty fun platform and fairly easy to work on. I've learned a whole lot and I'm oddly grateful as this happened, as it forced me to really learn and complete a project as opposed to just letting it sit. Yes, this has taken an exorbitant amount of time and a lot of frustration (both self imposed and from external factors), but I can't say there's been a dollar wasted. The thousands I've put into this I look at as tuition towards the development of skills that I was sorely lacking in. Thanks to everyone that has offered advice and listened to me rant, and huge thanks to those that came to my house and helped me put the thing back together. Work keeps me from being super active in MM, but I appreciate that even 5 years after I graduated, I still have a network of carbro's that are willing to help me out. Anyways, no more sappiness.
Motor seems to be okay and after driving my 4Runner for two years, the GTO feels like a rocket ship. The new clutch and flywheel feel much better than stock and the one piece drive shaft makes the car feel much more responsive than it did with the two piece. It's in need of a tune though and I can tell it's running a bit rich. I'm getting some squeal that I can't quite identify yet, but I believe it may be belt related as belt dressing seems to take care of it for a few miles before it comes back. Maybe pulley related? Not sure yet. It's only on mile 40 of the break in so I'm not too concerned yet.
Keeping in line with this car being GTO University, I'm going to start pricing a suspension overhaul and plan to do it during the summer. I've talked about it before but the car really needs it. I know there's a certain amount of roughness that I'll never really be able to get out of the car but looking underneath I can see that there are several bushings that are pretty bad and need to be replaced and tire wear was a huge issue when the car was on the road two years ago. Shocks and springs will be part of that too and possibly swaybars. I went back and forth on coilovers but I don't think that's really something I want for this application; it'll make the ride way too harsh for what my usage scenarios will be and way too expensive too. Bushing replacement sucks so I'll have to see if I can find a shop in town that's willing to press bushings in for me if I run into any issues. Everything else I plan to do myself.
After that, the car will be mechanically perfect nose to tail. Hopefully.
I have to say though, it's a pretty fun platform and fairly easy to work on. I've learned a whole lot and I'm oddly grateful as this happened, as it forced me to really learn and complete a project as opposed to just letting it sit. Yes, this has taken an exorbitant amount of time and a lot of frustration (both self imposed and from external factors), but I can't say there's been a dollar wasted. The thousands I've put into this I look at as tuition towards the development of skills that I was sorely lacking in. Thanks to everyone that has offered advice and listened to me rant, and huge thanks to those that came to my house and helped me put the thing back together. Work keeps me from being super active in MM, but I appreciate that even 5 years after I graduated, I still have a network of carbro's that are willing to help me out. Anyways, no more sappiness.
Motor seems to be okay and after driving my 4Runner for two years, the GTO feels like a rocket ship. The new clutch and flywheel feel much better than stock and the one piece drive shaft makes the car feel much more responsive than it did with the two piece. It's in need of a tune though and I can tell it's running a bit rich. I'm getting some squeal that I can't quite identify yet, but I believe it may be belt related as belt dressing seems to take care of it for a few miles before it comes back. Maybe pulley related? Not sure yet. It's only on mile 40 of the break in so I'm not too concerned yet.
Keeping in line with this car being GTO University, I'm going to start pricing a suspension overhaul and plan to do it during the summer. I've talked about it before but the car really needs it. I know there's a certain amount of roughness that I'll never really be able to get out of the car but looking underneath I can see that there are several bushings that are pretty bad and need to be replaced and tire wear was a huge issue when the car was on the road two years ago. Shocks and springs will be part of that too and possibly swaybars. I went back and forth on coilovers but I don't think that's really something I want for this application; it'll make the ride way too harsh for what my usage scenarios will be and way too expensive too. Bushing replacement sucks so I'll have to see if I can find a shop in town that's willing to press bushings in for me if I run into any issues. Everything else I plan to do myself.
After that, the car will be mechanically perfect nose to tail. Hopefully.
2008 4Runner
1974 CB360
2015 FJ09
1974 CB360
2015 FJ09