How's everyone doing?

[4x4mike]

As we know it's been slow around here but all it took was a new member, not that it was a female or anything, to get everyone from coming out of the wood work. I take a poop and eat some lunch and her thread was 3 pages long. So much for the sausage fest we had going.

Dan, I assume you're back stateside?

I know Ken's probably going all Office Space on Hanna's new computer.

Sean's been making holiday cards.

Lance, I'm sure you've been super busy with work and family.

Chris has been thinking about working on his Landcruiser.

SloChris has been Spartan racing.

It's been awhile since I've seen a late night beer and ramen fueled Facebook post from BK but I do know he's got a firmer clutch pedal.

JD's getting ready for the desert.

Avi's been putting his 4Runner back together.

Troy is coming home to give some love to the rear end of his 4Runner.

Not sure what the Marks' have been up to.




So how has everyone been? I hope everyone has a safe and happy holiday season.

[DHC6twinotter]

Yup, I'm stateside again. I extended my stay in the Philippines for 3 extra weeks, and I flew back to NC for a couple months. I'm in NC now for the holidays.

I've got some updates to post in my road-trip and Philippines thread, but I've been pretty busy the last few months. Got some job applications I'm waiting to hear back from, some in CA and some in NC. I'm also thinking about going back to school, perhaps as early as this spring semester. Also thinking about the possibility of a few more trips. Everything is up in the air right now (been the case for the past 1.5 years).

[Good Times]

mike you crack me up!

I think ken already went office space on that windulz machine :P

indeed you got sean's xmas card too eh? I finally picked up my mail (been a few weeks and then some) and noticed I was part of the cool kids and got one too!

I'm not too busy but if you say so that works for me. I'm more sore from the Spartan run that Chris suckered me into doing.. Two words... Knees HURT!

stay safe out there. mighty cold everywhere!

[Seanz0rz]

Sean's been making holiday cards.


Nah, I made my wife do that! Seriously though, she LOVES Christmas cards and I supervised.

As for Troy and the rear end of this 4Runner, TMI!

I've been working on a few different projects, most recently a tablet holder for the 4Runner. It's bonkers cold this week, so I am trying to stay inside as much as possible.

I'll have some posts for what I've been doing.

BTW, if you got a card, you are NOT a cool kid. It was merely a way for me to infiltrate your homes and plant genetically modified homicidal dust mites. VICTORY WILL BE MINE!

[Jaydee914]

VICTORY WILL BE MINE!

Easy there, Stewie!
Now that Victoria and I are back from honeymoon, it's back to workworkwork. Ok, we've been back for a month, but reality sucks!
And dreaming of 4Runner (and track bike) mods.

[Good Times]

Any of ya knuckleheads want to experience pain by doing a Spartan Race? Chris (slosurfer) and I will be torturing each other at the Jan 25 Temecula event if you guys are down to the challenge. :) Hit one of us on fb for more info!

That includes ya nocal folks too!

Talk about jacking a thread there eh! hahahaha

[Seanz0rz]

Eh, I'm good. I would die on the field. Actually, I would die walking from the parking lot.

[04 Rocko Taco]

no kidding Sean, Ive got to get in some sort of shape to ever even think about a spartan race. I think I may do the tough mudder coming up in the spring though.

EDIT: and now that I know about your card... Im not going to open it (finally got my mail after a couple of weeks today too)

[4x4mike]

Good to hear everyone is doing good.

Lance I didn't know you did the race too. I only saw pictures of Chris so maybe he shopped you out.

We've been busy with work and the kids/family. Everyday is something and somewhere to go which is fun. It's been pretty cold up here so my bike commute has become a little more work and at times the kids seem like they've got cabin fever.

I'm hoping to scrape up enough time to change the oil in both cars and do some Christmas shopping in the next week.

[paddlenbike]

You guys have me all figured out. I'm wrestling computers, extending a trex patio at my house and trying to talk myself into a tile job in my master bath, trying to find time to change the oil on the 4Runner and flush the power steering fluid, which I have talked about doing for probably two years now. Enjoying married life and we had three major vacations this year, which has been a fantastic break from my job. Now I come home to Sean's genetically modified homicidal dust mites. No wonder the cat has been acting strange lately.

[Good Times]

Mike I only did it cuz I've done one in the past (not the spartan but a different one but similar) so I figure what the hell it can't be that tough... lol boy was I wrong! ha

Ken make sure you wear some gloves just to be safe! ;)

[slosurfer]

Wait, there's a girl?!.... ;) Been super busy since the jamboree, with work, family stuff, and some fun stuff. Been hunting a few times (got a couple turkeys), and ran the spartan race with Lance. Anyone is more than welcome to join us for the next one in Temecula. Team Muddy Beer Bums! It is painful, but oh so fun.

[CJM]

Work, school, sleep, work on my atv. Tried to see if I could get my truck aligned again, shop told me sorry the day we planned cause of snow. ALso fuel injectors might be leaking down or dirty. Had a heck of a time starting it the other day! Put a can of sea foam in the tank and not another issue but it doesnt start as nice as it once did it seems. New truck fund is slowly going along, thinking if I find a clean 03-06 tundra x-cab or a silverado. need the v8 for sure by now.

[4x4mike]

Wait, there's a girl?!.... ;)

She says she is.

She brought up Sean's year old thread and about doubled the responses in no time. If we were animals we'd be easy prey.


Marc, after all you've been through you deserve a clean and straight Tundra.

[troyboy162]

haha yup I'm over here wasting brain cells on the rear suspension. And going wheeling this weekend!!! Saturday its cleghorn with sean and JD. Sunday its Cougar booties with J-money and creepers from t4r.org

Oh and I found 4 OEM stundra axles yesterday!

[Robinhood4x4]

Spartan race on the 25th? If I weren't already signed up for a half marathon on the 19th, I totally would. Wait, no I wouldn't, I would die after tripping over Sean's body in the parking lot.

[4x4mike]

^^Ha, ha.

[Bob98SR5]

Hey guys,

Great thread, good to catch up.

As Mike mentioned, my ramen fueled posts on FB are typically where I hang out these days. Clutch and brake hydraulic systems are working well, thanks to Lance for his help. Many changes in personal life too, out with the old, in with the new  More on that later.

4Runner is doing good, almost a quarter million miles now. As I’ve bitched and griped the last 2 years, one replacement item keeps coming up one after the other. Motor is solid, brake, and clutch are solid, but there’s this odd “clunk/thump” sound that I believe (and yet again) is suspension related…I think. When I launch from stop to first, there’s a clunk/thumb (sharp sound) about ½ the time when I launch. More likely to hear it when I take a faster start. I can duplicate the sound by standing outside and rocking car back and forth. I’ll need a second ear to help me pinpoint it.

My second car, the 76 BMW 2002, is quite a pain in the ass, but sure is a shit load of fun to drive! Though I really don’t get carburetors at all and distributors, etc. Everyone says they’re so simple, I don’t. In the last few months, I’ve had a new carb put in (Weber 32/36) and new Bilstein shocks in the rear by a shop nearby. Got the dent repaired but my insurance (even still with the video cam evidence) still can’t close the case on this. The accident happened in June and they say it won’t be closed until March/April.

Attempting to plan another June Lake (or thereabouts) trip for the early summer. I’ve mentioned it to a few of you, this is more like a family hang out at the lake trip than an off roading trip. Though the last time we did this, we did end up taking our trucks to the Bodie ghost town which was a errr…gravel road off roading trip! I’ll have more time to think about it over the Christmas week.
Lessee…what else. Going to take all of Christmas off and take the new little lady and her sister on a road trip up Route 1 and spend time in the SF Bay area during Christmas week. Should be fun. You guys should check out this website called www.airbnb.com. We lined up and booked some homes for 4 nights. Yes, I did say homes. Saved a ton of money and have the luxury of staying in a home with all the home amenities.

Ok, so whose the new chick on the forum and why are all you horny bastards so hard up on e-meet/greeting her online? Maybe you guys are getting catfished like that Notre Dame linebacker. Bitches, I will laugh at you guys if that’s the case. It’s probably Lance when he puts on his Spanx and gets into his drag queen moods!

[4x4mike]

Ah, I miss Bob. Good to hear things are well and you're busy.

As for your 4Runner sound I'd get your links and panhard bar mounting bolts. Seems like tightening them gets rid of intermentant clunks like you mentioned.

I love June Lakes and that loop. Great fishing and scenery.

[Seanz0rz]

Bob, also check the engine and trans mount (especially the trans). With 250k, they are probably dead. I too have a strange suspension clunk, but only on SOME bumps. Today is the day I investigate, once it warms up a bit!

Your x-mas plans sound better than mine, although spending time with the family I actually like will be nice. No more doing the x-mas thing for the family we hate, I'm sick of that crap.

[paddlenbike]

It's always good to see one of Bob's posts. Congrats on the new lady!

Hanna and I are big fans of airbnb. We stayed in two places in Austria and one in Slovenia on our trip back in October. Can't say enough good things about the experience. Be sure to share when you return!

[Bob98SR5]

Good advice on checking the links, bolts and mounts. I thought about changing the engine and trans mounts for quite some time. Ahh...time and money. Money and time. I thought perhaps too it might be related to the driveshaft as it hasn't been lubed in quite some time.

Sounds like everyone is doing just fine. Carry on!

[CJM]

Marc, after all you've been through you deserve a clean and straight Tundra.

I swear Mike I just cant win with that T100. Id have long ago sold it but I love it so much still lol. To this day I wonder if its just the truck is cursed or something.

Im really edging for a clean 03-06 x-cab tundra, but Im quite afraid of the rust and frame replacement stuff. Been out to a few on the job and lemme tell ya what the frame might be good but the rest oh my! Its either that or a silverado, undecided if I want a 1500 x-cab or if I should spring for the 2500 crew to get the 6ft bed. I drive an 11 crew and 13 x-cab at work and honestly they are built really well. The 11 already has 100k and so far everything is holding up, no major issues. I sitll rather a tundra tho, size is good and v8 is even better.

[Seanz0rz]

I checked my rear suspension today, no obvious signs of clunk-inducing looseness or brokenness. I checked all the bolts with a torque wrench. Only thing I can think of is my air bag moving around in the coil. I will be finding a better solution for the air bags soon though, stay tuned for that! It might also be my bumper moving around. I never did get a good alignment when I cleaned up the hinges on the swingouts.

[4x4mike]

I thought perhaps too it might be related to the driveshaft as it hasn't been lubed in quite some time.



You're still talking about the 4Runner right?

[Bob98SR5]

It's always good to see one of Bob's posts. Congrats on the new lady!

Hanna and I are big fans of airbnb. We stayed in two places in Austria and one in Slovenia on our trip back in October. Can't say enough good things about the experience. Be sure to share when you return!

WE'll be in Oakland right across the SF bay on the 24th and 25th. We have not a clue as to what we can do in Oakland. Got any suggestions?

[troyboy162]

I checked my rear suspension today, no obvious signs of clunk-inducing looseness or brokenness. I checked all the bolts with a torque wrench. Only thing I can think of is my air bag moving around in the coil. I will be finding a better solution for the air bags soon though, stay tuned for that! It might also be my bumper moving around. I never did get a good alignment when I cleaned up the hinges on the swingouts.

Hey sean I'm pretty sure I found my mystery clunk yesterday. I've been trying to find it for years.... Check your rear storage box. Mine was almost completely broken off and could swing and hit the sheet metal making a sound that I asosiated with a bad body mount or a shock with destroyed rubber mounts.

[DHC6twinotter]

Back when I had my 2nd gen, I had a funny clunk in the rear. Took me a while to figure out, but it ended up being the jack sliding around under the back seat.

[Seanz0rz]

Bob: duck and cover!

Troy: I haven't had that box for 7 years now.

Dan: jack is tight, I checked that first!

[slosurfer]

I will just put this right here....
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e113/slosurfer27/10152_da05f351ed73e7edd5ff3cd32b6a6f40_Sunday_Dunk Zone_zps5dee1b34.jpg (http://s38.photobucket.com/user/slosurfer27/media/10152_da05f351ed73e7edd5ff3cd32b6a6f40_Sunday_Dunk Zone_zps5dee1b34.jpg.html)

[Seanz0rz]

That's so awesome!

[Good Times]

damn that's one ugly fool. how did you find these pix cuz I can't find any of em... lol

[Seanz0rz]

Chris has a smartphone notification when pics of you are posted to the internet.


On a completely unrelated note, my awesome step daughter and son in law (or will be one day) got me a sweet pair of LED tail lights. They are sooooo pretty!

[paddlenbike]

Chris has a smartphone notification when pics of you are posted to the internet.


On a completely unrelated note, my awesome step daughter and son in law (or will be one day) got me a sweet pair of LED tail lights. They are sooooo pretty!

Nice! Are the same Eagle Eyes ones I am running?

[Seanz0rz]

Yep! They are amazing! I will eventually upgrade the reverse and turn bulbs to some super high output LED, but for now they are so much better than my old lights in every way!

I also have (so far) no problem with the abs light coming on with all 3 brake lights being LED now. I will be redoing my 3rd brake light to be much brighter now.

[4x4mike]

Cree red stars are cheap. Like half the price of some mid level warm white ones. A nice diffuser and a driver and you're set.

[slosurfer]

Lance, here's the link: Spartan Sprint Photos (http://pages.spartanrace.com/timeline.php?utm_source=email&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=malibu+sprint+2013&c3ch=Email&c3nid=Email)

Make sure you pick the sunday events in the drop menu. Also try my bib number 11013 if yours doesn't work. I found the pics of you when I used my bib number