sheepers

Finished up the new brake install. New shoes, new wheel cylinders and not pictured new front brake pads. To say that it stops better now is a bit of an understatement.

You're not going to believe this but the top bit of the swaybar link that wasn't broken broke when I tried to undo it. So I welded a new end on it.

Story time/ going down the rabbit hole. The issue- I never did any homework at all when it came to buying this blaupunkt head unit. If I had of I would have very quickly been made aware of how crap it is. Is unusable as far as changing the volume, shipping tracks or doing anything. Its physically impossible to change the volume accurately, and most of the time is not possible at all. Totally my fault for not checking a single review or anything. So, present day me (well yesterday me actually) was yarning to Nick the sparky about steering wheel controls and clock springs and whatnot and he said "I've got a 2013 Highlander steering wheel, see it that fits" It does. I needed to make a indicator canceling wheel to adapt the new wheel to the hilux. Not super difficult, made a frankinstien rig up to machine a parallel diameter in the back of the wheel. Them made a ring that I will shrink onto the back of the wheel once I confirm its fits the truck. Then the next hurdle will be getting signals through the clock spring. It has 3 spare wires that aren't used so we can use those to send signals to the head unit. But there are probably other clock springs that will fit the truck that have more wires if we need it.

Nick recharged the AC system and now it works fucking ace. Couldn't feel my fingers by the time I got home so I'm calling that a win. Installation of new discs and drums. Front was easy, as you'd expect. Rear was a bit bit difficult to get the drum of due to the massive lip on the inside. However once I got the drum off I discovered the thinnest brake shoe I've ever seen. And of course the wheel cylinder was leaking so I'll get new bits next week and re- do the whole back brakes. Also I found the reason why I'm now the best 4wd driver in NZ. Auto disconnected sway bar for max flex bro. That's what the 4wd people say, you wouldn't understand.

Yea it was semi not terrible to get out with the dash apart. Was a cunt to put back in

I'm a bloody farmer now you fucking ignoramus. Anywho, The heater drive motor has stripped a gear and thanks to the Nicksparky I got a new drive motor. Also the AC compressor I ordered had the wrong pulley on it so I had to swap the new bearing into the old pulley. I didn't want to smash the new bearing with a hammer so I machined the pulley away from the outside of it. Once I got the old bearing out I chucked some metal glue on the new bearing and pushed it into the old pulley. Jobs a goodin

All of which I have on order.

The seats actually came out looking quite good. So I put them back together and put them back in the truck. Fuck, so much more comfort. And now both seats have adjustable lumber support. Then I fitted a cooling fan I had to the AC condenser. I made a bracket and it's in there pretty good. I made up the wiring loom for it but it got dark so I'll fit it tomorrow. Also I bought new discs and drums for it.

I are a pulsterer. I pulled the other two seats apart and have collected the best bits from the 4 to make two good ones. The seat covers weren't super gross but I decided a turn in the washing machine wouldn't hurt them. Tbh they didn't come out looking much different They might get another turn in the washing machine I reckon.

Also fitted a new radio. The one in it had FM and CD player. And nothing else. Yip yip new radio. Nick the sparky found this thing on special so it was cheap enough. Also fitted a reverse camera which was quite the job getting the cables into the rear door. By some fluke it works.

New AC system. As previously I bought one of everything from rock auto. Then I installed it. It was quite the job to get the TX valve out but yea whatever. I still have to fit a fan to the condenser, factory they don't have one which doesn't do the rest of the system a lot of good and is the reason why the TX valves shit themselves.

Also shit I forgot to mention that I put the rear bumper back on. This was harder then it sounds but basically I pulled all the brackets apart, soaked them in evoporust for a few days then painted them all. I beat most of the dents out of the side bits and then bolted it all back in. One of the mud flaps was broken in two so I welded it beck together with a soldering iron using cable ties for welding rod. Is it good as new? No. Will it last a thousand years? Also no But it's back on the truck and works until it doesn't so I'm calling it a win.

What, for the whole truck?

With no idea what I'm doing I decided to pull the seats apart and see if any parts are interchangeable. Long story short, the cushions can be swapped over. So I did. I now have a fucking ace drivers seat and a fucked passenger seat. Then I found a pair of good looking seats on TM in the same colour so I bought them. Between the 4 seats I should have no issue making 2 good ones. Stoked tbh

Is it a gofasteradi?

Cheers for that but god dam this seats are fucked

Our new oven came with a huge waste of space under it so I drew up a drawer with wheels on the corners and I got it cut and folded. Then I welded it together. Its designed so the wheel brackets slot into the sides and base but it doesn't need welding, that way I can change the wheels if I ever need to.

Id fucking live a pair of (factory) recaros for it....

Did the 185s come out with recaros? I wasn't sure if it was only the 130s?

Good idea man, I'll get on to that

Cheers man.

oh shit also, i forgot to mention but i need to put some roof racks on it. its got rails but i don't know what type of rack mount will fit into the rails.

yea cheers for the heads up. i may put a new radiator in it. i have no idea what state the current one is in, ill know more when i change the condenser. it "looks" like the water pump is fairly recent but again, for what its worth ill probably just put a new on on it.

what next? ive ordered most of the stuff to replace the AC system because it doesn't work as well as id like. coming from rock auto is a new compressor, condenser, TX valve, drier and a full o ring kit. other things to do include a new stereo, full oil and filter change, order a bunch of clips and bits from Amayama, new steering wheel (current one is through to the foam at the top so wont get a warrant like that) probably new front seats? and if i get really carried away i may paint it. i purposely bought a red one because it would be the most sun fucked (read, cheap) and I'm keen to paint something that doesn't require 8 months of rust repairs and panel work before painting. time will tell if i ever get around to doing this or not......