Technical Notepad & How To's

Disclaimer: I have no idea if this is the right/proper/safe way to do this. This is the way I did it. Your results may vary. You tamper with your vehicle's electrical system at your own risk. Utah safety inspection requires a full compliment of fully-functional lights. If you have modified your grill or bumper you may need to add lights back in to satisfy the requirements. Round grommet-mounted lights are nice to use because they can be installed easily, cheaply, and cleanly. The LED versions of these lights are durable, low profile, and don't create heat, so they are a natural choice. The drawback of these LEDs is that dual-element versions are not available (at least not that I could find), so using a single light as a...

I put a GM TBI kit on the Heep (AMC 360) but I'm having some timing issues. I can tweak the initial timing to where she runs great at bottom or top end but not both! I'm running an MSD ignition with an old distributor and I could fork out the dough for a new MSD distributor or re chip the puter (free) and run a GM distributor (about the same $$ as the MSD) Any input??

so i got bored and thought i d through together a DIY thread. the vehicle: 76 FJ40 SR kit: Proffitts cruisers Kit price: 75.00 HOURs to complete: 3-4 approx. skills needed: 3 out of 5 bananas tools torch, cut off wheel, sockets, hammer, welder, paint a couple buddys and some mtn dews

ok ok i know their is another one out here but i thought since mine are a little different i would post up, cost: 175.00 rim size: 15x8 kit: ruffstuff tools: air compressor, welder, grinder, some paint, a few nickels, some drinks and some patience Time: 8+ hrs, waiting for rims to cool, paint and tightening 165 bolts twice bananas: 3 word of caution, do not attempt on reverse mount wheels, youll never get them on.

Official Utah Vehicle Safety Inspection Laws Here is a link to the current Utah vehicle safety inspection manual for Passenger cars and light trucks. Everything you need to know about keeping you trail rig "street legal". Click Here

I have received a few PM's and emails regarding ARB Compressor Problems, that combined with RME's lacking tech info, motivated me to write up a guise (with the help of the ARB service manual :D) 3 Basic air supply disruptions: 1. Compressor fails to switch on - a. Electrical fault (most common, usually a fuse, wiring, relay) - b. Mechanical fault in compressor (rare) - c. Isolating switch fitted and not turned on (as in a aux. fuse block switch) 2. Compressor fails to switch off - a. Electrical fault (pressure switch) - b. Air leak (compressor trying to meet pressure switch req.) 3. Lockers fail to engage when button is presson on - a. Electrical fault (see part 1) - b. Sized or leaking solenoid valve (easy to...

Well the stock filter is in a box and the mass air flow sensor is in a wierd housing so a cone filter couldn't fit on it. What I did was took the top part of the box off leaving the four studs that come out of the mass air flow sensor housing. Then at auto zone they have this plastic piece that converts square to round 4" and has 4 holes on the outside corners. Well those holes didn't fit on mine so I drilled some more and screwed that on in place. Seal up the little area that the plastic piece doesn't cover with some blue rtv or somthing similar and walaaaa better air flow for the cost of the filter and a piece of plastic that was $4.99 I will post pics when I get a chance.

I have heard about this mod for some time, but didn't know exactally how to do it. Until tonight... :D Basically, on a Tacoma TRD, you can only activate & use the E-Locker in 4 Low. As you'd think, it would be nice to use the E-locker in 4 High or even 2 High. I found this link by way of TTORA, so props to them for the info & also to 'Jason' & Offroaders.com for the detailed article on the mod. Here it is- Full-time E-Locker Basically, on the drivers side, you unscrew the plastic strip on the floorboard. Once that's off, you unbolt the kick panel & locate the rear diff ECU. Then, after un-bolting the ECU, you cut & splice the Grey wire, then hook it up so it's permanantly grounded. And that's it... you now have a...

This is how I set mine up in my 4runner so I can do a 4 link this summer, pics will be posted later. Parts: Summit Drag 12 gallon fuel cell 2" wedge shaped sump. 89 F250 Fuel Pump from checker part number E2000 I sourced all my fittings locally at an "evco house of hose" 10 hose clamps The fittings were kindof complicated to go from the two -8AN outlet fittings to a 5/16 barb. as well as the vent fitting that goes from a -6AN to a 1/4" barb G-5/16 Fuel Line 4' G- 1/4 Fuel Line 8' The 14mm-6MJ Metric M14x1.5 Was the male end that plugs into the stock fuel line. from that fitting It connected to a 5/16 barb adapter that plugs into the pressure side of the pump, from there its 5/16 line to a barb adapter that plugs into...

Here's a little write up I did a couple years ago for my site. ------------------------------------------------------------- Building custom control arms isn't neccissarily very hard. It is just a matter of taking your time and getting measurements right and knowing what you need for your application. Attain your measurements by placing your axle under you vehicle exactly where you want it. Make sure the axle is centered and is the right distance from the frame as it would normally be when the suspension is all together at static ride height. Then measure from frame mount to axle mount (center of bolt holes). This will give you your overall length of the control arm. Now you have to take into consideration the bushings used to...

Quick hint, don't blead the brakes with the drums off the vehicle. This will let the little cylinders go too far out and go out of their casing then you have to take the brakes apart to get it back together.

I bought a thumb throttle from www.roadlessgear.com and installed it on my zuk. Currently it is in a temporary situation, and I plan to change it soon, but here is a good idea as to how this can be done with a STOCK carb, insted of the weber carb that their instructions showed. First, I just clamped the lever onto my shifter: then I ran the cable though the gromet hole that is also used for the hood latch on the passanger side: so far, nothing special, but here it the trick. Aperently on a weber carb there is a large plate for you to drill a hole though and use as a stopper for the cable cover. I decided (temporarly) to use a bracket just above where the main throttle cable attaches for this purpose: In...

Here's the story: '91 XJ, 4.0L + 2+years worth of wheeling with 33" Swamps and 35" MT/R's, the LCA mounts are starting to tear away from the cute little D30 axle. This seems to be a problem (IMHO). I hope to document how I fix it. Rather than weld on something that would probably work for a couple more years (how long will a unibody last), I want to improve my suspension geometry a little while doing it. Here's the plan: I bought (yeah, I know-make your own, but these are not that different than what I had envisioned and just as thick--10 minutes with a grinder and I'm in business) some 'tabs' (3/8" bastids :D :D ) from Mepco for some fabwork---they were like $7 or $11 apiece or something that will work great with the LCA...

Yesterday I installed my SR kit on my zuk, keeping it spring under axle. Why sua??? because I have to drive it a LOT every day. FYI the SR kit just moves the shackles from the front end of the leaf springs, to the back end. Instalation was a breeze, it was all bolts everywhere, no welding, no grinding, no drilling, just bolts. First step was to install the new shackles on the rear end of the spring. These are inside/outside style shackles so that it would fit on the outside of the spring bushings, and the inside of the origonal spring hanger. I did have to widen the spring hanger and shackles a little, but nothing a BFH and a vice couldn't handle. (see first pic) Second was to install the front brackets and truss...

I recently got the privilege to try out Rocky Roads JP-Eater YJ spring conversion. I had been shopping around for sometime and had looked at many other vendors. I personally did not like the missing link or the shackle reversal setups. When I saw what Rocky Road offered I thought this is the ticket. The kit comes with everything you’ll need to install this with the exception of the springs. Springs can be found in a junkyard, 4x4 shop or you can purchase them new from Jeep. I chose to purchase new springs (6pack). The install is very easy and straight forward. You will need a metric wrench set, small sledge hammer, drill and bits up to ½", a grinder, vise grips and a floor jack and stands. The kit comes with all the hardware and...

how to keep cops away I kept getting pulled over for no flares and I do not have $300.00 for new ones for my zuk. So I made some out of the rubber moulding that is used for the bottom of walls. It covers 10.50" tires just right. And cost about $52.00 for rivets & rivet gun washers, drill bit & moulding. It is very easy to do!! ;)

http://www.wildyoats.com/toyota_4x4_building_101.htm