Nice Rear End

Removed the gas tank, rear axle, brakes and suspension this weekend. Front axle, brakes and suspension are half-way removed.

Also, Constantine's should be finished with the engine tomorrow.



Project cost: $1620.00

Nice Body

Got the body off the chassis on Sunday. Took some muscle, cutting, grinding, swearing and hammer induced persuasion but the body finally came off. Thanks a $1000000 Lloyd and Sushil (my brother) they devoted 5 hours of their time to the cause.

Certainly a nice milestone.






Project cost: $1620.00 (lumber to make a bench for the body)

Engine Prognosis

The report is in. Looks like about $1500+tax to bring the engine back to factory standards.

More then I expected and it would probably have been over budget if I had the foresight to make one. But I'm going go for it! Of course.

It turns out the cylinders were fine. So the usual cleaning and honing needs to be done, the deck and the base of at least one of the heads needed to be planed and the crankshaft needs some machining.

Project cost: $1585 (will double next week when I pick the engine up)

Constantine the Great

The engine has been stripped down to the block and has gone to Constantine's Engine Machine shop. We'll get the word on the feasibility of the blocks in a few days. Even after around 400,000 km the 4Runner cylinders looked great, a testament to Toyota quality. But apparently the issue with the Toyota engines is that they are more prone to deck warp then cylinder scoring.

This weekend I have to get back at the body, the engine will need a home.

Project cost: $1585.00 (but about to increase fast)