Automotive
Background
I started messing with cars as soon as I could drive. YouTube was my handy next-door neighbor. At the time, I drove a $3k 2003 VW Golf, stick.
Early on, I stuck to relatively easy jobs. Head unit and speaker upgrades, brakes, coilovers, wheels, and tires. This hobby was expensive for a high school student, and I needed to buy tools on top of parts. These jobs were relatively cheap.
In 2020, I moved out to Colorado for college with my lowered Golf, completely unprepared. FWD was tough in the snow, but surmountable with good snow tires. Ground clearance was a bigger problem. My car would scrape going over large potholes. It was time for a new vehicle, and I wanted to find something with a big aftermarket following. I settled on a 1998 Toyota 4Runner.
4Runner Work
The first upgrades were upper and lower control arms, lower ball joints, shocks, and struts.
Next, I learned to replace the steering rack and tie rods. I also swapped the brake calipers for a tundra pair with more pistons.
Engine Job
Toyota has a sterling reputation for reliability, but I picked a bad egg. At 120,000 miles, my engine started losing compression in its cylinders. A head gasket job wouldn't solve this problem; I needed a new engine block.
After getting quotes from a few shops, I decided to do the work myself. Even with all the special lifting equipment I would need to buy, I could do the job cheaper myself. I also saw this as an amazing learning opportunity to dissect an engine, but the work was going to be difficult. I spent a few weeks researching, buying components, and sourcing a remanufactured engine. It was finally time to get to work.
The first step was lifting the car to remove the axles, transfer case, sway bars, and frame crossmembers.
The transmission came next, disconnected from oil lines, electrical connectors, shift linkages, and the engine bell housing.
Then it was time for the engine. Air intake, exhaust, radiator lines, accessories (alternator, AC, power steering), spark plugs, fuel lines, engine mounts, and electrical connectors all needed to be disconnected.
Getting the engine out was only half the battle. I transferred the timing components, accessory brackets, valve covers, fuel injectors,and oil pan from the old block to the new one.
Putting everything back together was very satisfying. Instead of relying on remembering which hose went where, I took the time to understand what each hose did. The same went for electrical connectors. I was able to follow my intuition putting everything back together, and after a few cranks, she started right up.
Bumper Fabrication
With the truck back up and running, it was time to continue modifications for off-roading.
I welded together a front and rear plate bumper. This was my first in-depth welding project, so I spent a lot more time grinding then laying beads.
After paint, lights and winch install, I was almost ready for the trails
Bigger tires, a rear locker, and an on-board air compressor make this build seriously capable off-road.
