Canman’s build and misadventures

Here’s the invoice for the clips. Still can’t get over it. The plastic deflector beside the rad, needed 5 as most were missing, and some broke when I removed it. At CAN$3.44 ea x 5 = $17.20. You would think the deflector itself isn’t worth that much.




Also got some “aftermarket” clips from Ottawa Fasteners. They used to sell them for around CAN$3.39 for a box, and now looking at the invoice, they’re now at $4.48 for a box. They also used to contain around qty 3/box, but the stuff I had 2/box, except one box which had 3. So, qty 9 clips there cost me $26.88 before tax, or $2.99/ clip. Not much cheaper than the dealer. Just crazy!



[edit] Had two more boxes with 2 pcs ea, so qty 13 in total or $2.07 ea. Still too much.

 

To be honest, Amazon.ca has replacement plastics but make sure you measure mm to get proper pin diameter.
Most say 'Toyota' or Nissan or Honda or whatever. Can certainly get cheaper but you will end up with a box of
extra crap, cause Amazon is same as online costco. More than you need but still cheap

 

Yeah, I actually did. I ordered the clips for the top of the front bumper. I think they arrived, but haven’t yet checked the mail.
Next time I need some, I’ll order them from Amazon if I can make sure form/fit/function matches the OEM one. I’m sure all the Toyota clips are made in China, so quality is probably same. Speaking of China/quality I bought a roll of foam tape for the shroud around the trans cooler. It was totally useless. The adhesive if you could call it that, was total garbage. I also a had another brand new roll at home and tried that, and it was the same. Wouldn’t stick to the shroud at all. I’m so glad to see the mass exodus of capital and manufacturers leaving China for India, Mexico and other countries.

 

Added a piece of AC window foam I had laying around between the rad and crossmember. There was one in there a while ago, but it was full of rust proofing oil, pretty much useless. I just stuffed it in there. Wonder if it will stay. In between doing yard work. I’m going to try to degrees the engine bay. I’m sick and tired of having my hands/arms covered in grease/oil everytime I stick my hands in there. Will keep the engine running while I hose it down. Don’t think I’ll use the pressure washer (at least not at first). Lol!

 

So, did one cleaning with the garden hose. Used up what remained of one can of engine e degreaser. I would say it got 50% - 60% of the grease off. Decided to spray again, but this time use the Champion 3,000 psi gas powered pressure washer. The “spray” nozzle wasn’t much better than garden hose, so stick on the “white” nozzle tip. Pull the trigger and nothing. The tip is blocked from what looks like corrosion. It’s SS, but has a bit of rust on it. Now that it is pressurized, there is no way to relieve the pressure. At least from what I see, and from reading the manual. Now on the phone with Champion Customer Service. I have a Champion 7,5kW generator, and when I had an issue years ago they sent the parts at no cost. Hoping they can help. Broke the plastic hand grip while trying to loosen the connector to the pump. Just another day of fixing/futzing…





Was going to make some baked drumsticks for supper, but now, being pi$$sed with said situation, and waiting on the phone (with a beer), I’ll be getting a burger and poutine.

 

Well, while waiting, I decided to see if I could disconnect the fitting at the wand. I tried earlier by hand, and the swivel plastic nut turned all the way, but did nothing. This time, I held the brass nut with an adjustable wrench, and was able to loosen it. No drama. No pressure. Good thing, because 5 minutes later I was disconnected. Lol!



Meeting my youngest and going to Jean Berger in an hour. Maybe enough time for another beer, and to finish cutting the lawn. Lol!



Not sure about best poutine in all of Quebec…

Actually did another spray, and just hosed it off with the garden hose. Looks pretty good now.

 

Never heard of Jean Burger.

 

Haha! It’s a local joint. Two burgers, a poutine, and onion rings were $44. They were very good though.

 

Was just talking to my neighbour at the end of my driveway after leaving Jean Burger, and the driver from Amazon showed up with the clips. Not sure if a day late and a dollar short apply. Maybe another beer will help me make sense of that. Lol!

 

If it is good, then the price be worth it.

 

Amazon plays by different rules.

 

Yep. My youngest ordered it for me, and said during dinner that they said it had been delivered, so I thought it might be in the mail. It wasn’t even an Amazon worker/truck. The guy was here last week dropping something off. It was funny, after he handed me the package, and while talking to my neighbour, he went up her driveway to drop something off. Gotta feel for these folks driving all over hells half acre (I live 45 mins from downtown Ottawa in the country) working until 7-8 pm. God only knows what they get paid.

 

I think I can now close the clip saga chapter. Pretty much all new clips for front bumper, and lower wheelwell liners. Couldn’t get one of the clips in on the PS liner upper hole, but will look at it later. Crazy amount of effort, time, and money went into this. Looking at some GMC pickups, it appears as though they just have a one-piece wheelwell liner. Better in some regards (simplicity/cost), but might make servicing a bit harder. Not to mention that I’m missing all but one of the soft rubber “flaps” that go in The wheelwell. The undercoating really screws with all these rubber based products. I priced out one of these flaps a while back, and IIRC the dealer quoted CAN$130, and I said forget it. I have some rubber sheet at home, and when U get a chance, I’ll make some templates from those on my daughter’s Tundra.






Not sure if the yellow zinc-chromate screws are correct, but they were free, and they seem to work. They don’t match what was there, but then again not sure if that was stk either.

 

This fell off this morning. Luckily, I was going slow through the village and was able to retrieve it right away. Already missing one when my daughter purchased the truck. Would like to replace the missing one as well.

 

How much are they new?

 

Going to repaint the grill and sideview mirrors that we painted black last year. Lots of paint has come off. I did scuff it up, and did apply a surface adhesion coating, but didn’t seem to help much. Will see how long this coat lasts.

 

Will ask the dealer today as I need to get new wiper blades.

 

Painting over chrome is always a challenge. After you scuff it try using a self etching primer next time before paint. Try a harder paint, I’m thinking enamel or something. I don’t know exactly what kind, just a suggestion

 

Yeah, I typically use self-etching primer when painting metal. Never painted plastic before, so Thought maybe the self-adhesion coating would really help, but seems not to have done much. Just touched it up so it didn’t look so ghetto. It was the kiddo’s idea to get rid of the chrome, but if it had been mine from the get go, I probably would have left it as is for a while at least.
Far from perfect, but looks good enough from 10’.

 

This rust has just gotten really bad all of a sudden. Now bottom of door has a rust bubble. Told my daughter to keep the side steps on, so thinking having them removed has contributed to the rust. There are a few other rust spots, plus the two holes in the bed the PO “patched”. Thinking I better attack this bus rather than later. Damn! I really need to start working on my LX which is what Should have been doing since the spring.

 

Dealer said it was CAN$140 if it is the style that fits in the channel. I thought the style I had was a style that “glued” on with two-sided tape, but looking more closely, it seems it just sits inside the channel.
Picked up some wiper blades while I was there, as yesterday I was caught in a bit of a rain storm on the way home, and the bloody blades were just flopping side to side. They weren’t that bad the last time I used them. Freaking things were ONLY CAN$123.00!!! WTF is going on with Toyota pricing?

 

I noticed an exhaust leak getting continuously worse the last month or so, and especially the last week. Well, it got really loud today on the way home on the hwy.
This is what I found. Seems the exhaust I fabbed up last year put some strain on the exh upstream. Didn’t seems like it when I had fabbed it up and bolted it on. Guess I’ll be futzing with that tomorrow.

 

Decent, better than before.

 

It doesn't end with this truck.

 

I’m calling it the TundraTurd…

 

So, I thought I was just going to have to remove the three nuts securing the down pipe, but now I see there are two O2 sensors on that pipe, and of course, Toyota has put the connectors up out of the way which would have made an easy peasy job, an almost impossible task for me with my Sasquatch mits. The rear O2 sensor connector should be much easier, than the forward one. The other issue is never knowing how these connectors actually come apart. Will check out some old O2 sensors from my LX to see what the connectors on them look like.
Also, I cannot believe how rusty the muffler and pipes are that I fabbed up just a year ago. Unbelievable!
At least now, I’ll have the opportunity to clean up those awful booger welds of mine. Lol!

 

Well, after almost 30 mins, I got the rear O2 sensor (PS) finally disconnected. Thought I would be clever, and removed the brkt bolted to the trans that supported the sensor and some cable/linkage for the trans. Nope. Snapped that bolt (lower one), not realizing there was a second out of sight higher up. Popped off the three clips holding the harness to the bracket, which itself was not easy.
Even spraying with engine degreaser. scrubbing with a toothbrush, and then using the air nozzle, it wasn’t enough by just depressing the tiny “lever” on the connector. Had to insert a screwdriver into the connector to pry up on the “lever” to actually get it to separate. I don’t think I’ll be able to get the other (more difficult) connector apart, but we’ll see. Going to disassemble what I of them exhaust and work in that fur a bit.

 

Another view of the failure.

 

More dumbfookery from the PO. Honesty, plumbing strapping!?

 

Interesting. Wonder if something else fell out?