2005 Everyday American Build

Nice truck. I should plasti dip my grille as well. Looks good. I assume your mirrors were done same way?

 

The rainforest store.

$8 [Upgraded 2024] ICBEAMER 3" 76mm Carbon Fiber & Matte Black Aluminum Short Car Radio Antenna - Universal Fit for AM/FM - Internal Copper Coil - Replacement for Car, Truck, Van

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07J4Z144C?ie=UTF8

 

Yup. Maybe you didn't catch it, but in the picture of the grill, you can see my masking off of the mirrors too. I masked everything off and sprayed the mirrors and grill at the same time.

 

Yeah somehow I missed that... I was looking more at the first pic. Looks great! I'm going to give it a shot. Can always just peel it off right.

 

Thanks. The first picture isn't really all that great, as it is. That was before I resprayed it. You can see all kinds of spots where the chrome is showing through. With the plastidip, it'll come off,but it's a bit more involved than just peeling it right off.

 

My leer cap was leaking a bit and it’s going to start getting a lot more wet around here. I picked up some waterproof foam tape and resealed the two side windows. I’m not sure where I got my preconceived notion from but, it was WAY easier than I thought it was going to be. Before and after photos even though they’re a little boring.

 

Spent a few nights in the woods with my dude.

https://www.tundras.com/threads/an-hour-north-of-i-90.96427/

 

Nice lookin truck.

So what's that front grill look like now? Is it all Black?

 

It's not entirely black. I just resprayed it, like it was before. It had gotten a little warn and chipped up with bits of chrome starting to show. It's got a much cleaner look now.

 

Took the Tundra in to have the tires rotated and they let me know I needed the brakes done. I knew it was due but, Les Schwab really increased the urgency. I went home and ordered the parts. Stops better than ever.

fronts redone:


Rear redone:

 

I finally got around to doing the timing belt yesterday. I've heard it's a 9+ hour job. It was my first time around and it took me 12 hours. At about hour 10, I really started losing steam and it became not fun. There's a plethora of writeups and videos on the process so, I'm not going to do a service thread. Also, I didn't take many pictures of the process. I will share a few highlights that, I hope, can help some people.

I've watched quite a few videos on doing the service in the past but, this is the one I watched as I was doing it. A good, quick and concise video of the process (with the exception of replacing the water pump).


The screw on top of the AC compressor was a bear. I stripped the head trying to get it out. Had to use a drill and extractor to get it out. Putting a new bolt in was also a huge pain and took a thousand tries. Getting the bolt through the ground wire and bracket and into the threads was NOT easy.

Another bump in the road was lining up the AC compressor with the fan pulley bracket. With the AC compressor unbolted, it feels like the rear bolts were holding it and it wouldn't move. When I installed the fan pulley bracket, the bolt holes didn't line up. After taking the new bracket off a number of times and lightly trying to pull the AC compressor up, I was having no luck. I even reinstalled the old one thinking the new casting was misaligned but, that didn't work. Finally, I reefed on the AC compressor and it budged up. That was huge relief. I was really at a loss when I thought the AC compressor wasn't going to be moving.

Having a lifted pickup didn't make things easier.

I got coolant everywhere. I suppose I could have spent more time draining it properly.

Getting the timing belt on wasn't too bad. Advancing to ATDC (cam marks advanced to the "T") is the way to go. I had no problems with the cams moving.

I didn't remove the rad. Like the guy in the above video, I placed cardboard in front of it. I didn't have any problems with space to work. FYI, the unfolded box for the Aisin fan pulley bracket is perfectly sized to protect the rad. It's surprisingly perfect, as if it was made for it. It's even got a tab that folds over the top of the rad that holds the cardboard in place.


Everything off:





Right and left cams at ATDC with new belt:







Everything buttoned back up (except for the 4.7 cover): *updated*





All in all, if I had to do it again, I would. It was a long job but, I'm sure I could do it in 1/2 to 2/3 the time. Like I said, it got long and stopped being a fun job at 10p-11p. I was getting tired of it and was really losing steam. Maybe I could have stopped and finished another day but, I just wanted it done. The next time won't take near as long. Also, the only special tool used was a crank pulley holder. Every other tool was a simple hand tool. I guess a torque wrench was used. I won't consider that a simple hand tool.

Maybe I was tired and really done with it all but, it was really pretty anticlimactic getting it all buttoned back up and starting it for the first time. It all just worked like it did. Kind of boring, really. Not like getting new exhaust or tires and it looking, sounding or performing better. It's just the same old rig as I had before.

Service done.

 

The first time I did mine took me 12 hours too. It was mostly because I was unfamiliar with the process and did work I didn't need to do. also, I didn't have the crank pulley tool for torquing the bolt. I had to make one out of a 2x4 lol. The second time I did it took me 8 hrs. I did it a total of 5 times over the years. The last time I did it took me 6 hrs. I always took my radiator out though. More room to work.

 

How many miles on the truck?

 

500,000-ish. I maintained the stink out of that truck. Did preemptive work. Paid close attention to what the truck was 'telling' me as I drove it. Only stranded me twice and both of those were my fault. I sold it because it was time for a newer truck, but that 500,00 mile Tundra had another 500,00 miles in her. It hurt to have sold her and watch my girl roll down the driveway without me. At that many miles, she didn't burn oil. The compression was perfect. She didn't leak oil. She fought the good fight. She kept the faith.

 

I allowed 3 days to change my timing belt. I took my time, spread out the parts in the order I removed them, and took regular breaks to consult with the videos. The ground wire on top of the AC compressor gave me the same problems, but otherwise nothing to write home about. I was done by noon of the 2nd day, so 10 - 12 hrs overall. I saved ~$900, so my time is worth $75 - $90/hr...not bad!

 

Probably a better strategy. I had space, laid everything out, separated fasteners in containers and kept everything organized. I also only had one full day off. I did it in my Dad's shop and could have come back another evening but, my parents live 30 min away and I didn't want to make the drive and burn another night. Next time, it'll go quicker with much less stress.

 

I'm going to be real here, I don't think I could sell a pickup like that. I'd have to keep it. Unless you got a heaping pile of cash for it, a rig like that would hold more value to me than what some stranger thinks a rig with 500k on it, is.

 

I know it. I needed a bigger back seat and more power to tow my trailer. I almost kept the other Tundra but I got a really nice offer on it so I let it go. He wanted it because he knew my maintenance record and figured he’d never find its equal. I still think about that truck though.

 

Out with the old and in with the new.

 

Where'd you order these from? I noticed some rust on mine recently.

 

And great looking rig, by the way! Looks like a wonderful truck for enjoying the PNW.

 

I just picked them up from the rainforest store. Nothing special. Just needed to be the correct length.

Garage-Pro Tailgate Cable SET Compatible with Toyota Tundra 2004-2006 Fleetside, Crew Cab Pickup (Double Cab)

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07MJWQBX1?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details

Thanks. It's been a good pickup for as long as I've owned it. For the real PNW, it's a bit on the big side. Recently, it hasn't been getting driven much at all. I bought a little built '85 pickup for my son that he will be driving shortly. It's fun to run around in and much better in the hills. I've REALLY been considering selling the Tundra and finding a nicely built 1st Gen 4Runner. I need that back seat for other kiddos.

 

Anyone want to buy my DC so I can buy this AC?
https://losangeles.craigslist.org/ant/cto/d/acton-toyota-crawler/7583221791.html

 

I’ve been searching for a while. How serious are you? Last Mileage I saw from the vehicle is 170kish? I’ve looked over your build thread but have any more information? Cheers

 

I PMed you but, here’s the mileage from last night, as it sits.

 

As you can see, I didn't work on it. Light's still on. I got up some motivation until I got under the rig, on my back, and realized I'd have to remove an inner skirt, bumper and drain the fluid just to get to the float. Maybe I'll get more motivated some time. Probably won't, though.

 

Closing the loop on this thread. New sway bar bushings arrived today. Threw them in and ran around the block. Went over a few curb cuts without a sound. Old brackets and bushings came off easily and new ones went on without a problem. I was able to use the original brackets. Easy job, probably took me 20 minutes. The rocking clunk has been resolved.

Old vs new bushings

 

Took my two youngest out for a quick hike and hang in the hammocks. The weather couldn’t have been better.

 

Hey I was reading your thread and noticed you had this planned; I wouldn't hesitate to do it, it's a solid product and works great. Some of my install documented here.

 

Mileage update for record keeping.

Still haven't replaced my wiper fluid level sensor. I'll get around to it some time...