Big Sky Euro

SweaterVest wrote: Side note, anyone want to buy a sweet topper? I'm not sure I want to keep it

I don't know about you, but I dislike toppers. To me the whole point of having a truck is so that you can load and unload things in and out of the bed easily. If you want a truck with a topper on it all the time why not just buy an suv? Just my 2c.

So as some of you know I bought a house about two months ago. I have been putting all my time into this house and haven't really been projecting on cars... Then I got a roommate, then his girl friend caught it on fire while intoxicated not knowing how to put a cigarette out. it's no longer livable apparently. So I all of a sudden have crazy amounts of time again...
I decided I was going to start working on my mk2 VR6 six speed swap again. Oh wait, my transmission was in my garage along with a ton of parts. So that project is on the ropes for a while. So there's my update on life, on to what I came here for.

I did a compression test on my truck numbers came back something like 95, 110, 95, 100. Decided I was losing compression through the rings. After a few months of driving it and trying to figure out what I was going to do I remembered that I had an extra 22re engine laying around in the snow. so I decided that I would rebuild this motor then just swap it into my truck. Minimal amounts of downtime. I want the 4wd for sure this winter! So I ripped it all apart then put i cleaned it up as much as possible. Block, crank, rods, head, valves, rockers everything. This is going to be a complete rebuild. All the parts are at the machine shop currently. Heads getting decked, rods are being rebuilt and balanced, blocks getting the cylinders boarded and line board and the crank is getting reground plus what ever else I'm forgetting. I'm rebuilding the head might do a slight port. New valve, springs, seats, retainers, guides and seals. So that's what I'm up to




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Aw shit man! I think we all saw your FB post and were concerned, and we even mentioned it at our last GTG - so where are you staying and is the house totally gone? Can we help, and could you use or need anything?

You got that 22re on lockdown

Holly shit dude!!! That's so unbelievable. What an absolute nightmare. I've got extra rooms if you're in need. Also it's good to see you have something to occupy your free time to take your mind off of your nightmare....if only for a bit.

The fire stayed mostly to the garage. Insurance is telling me it might be totaled because of the smoke damage throughout the entire house though. I'm currently living at the broadway hotel just a few blocks from my work. I'm okay at the moment it seems to be kind of a waiting game with insurence, lots of inspectors and red tape. So I don't know what's going to happen yet.


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Dude.......... Sorry
Hang in there and keep a positive outlook.

For sure, and if there's anything you need don't hesitate to let us know.

I got some shinny things back today! Still waiting on some parts for the head. The bottom end will go back together soon enough though.
I also picked up some 63" chevy half ton leaf springs that I might be retro fitting into this truck (might actually be the very first American automotive part I've ever bought??) Toyotas are kind famous for having sagging rear ends and flat springs. So rather than replacing them with stock spring I thought I might as well put a longer heavier spring in that won't go flat quite as easy. Plus, it should give me a slight lift and way more suspension travel (aka seen point AND ride quality. I didn't even know that was possible to do both at the same time.)


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I wan't to know how the leaf springs work out for you. Best of luck with your house too.

This makes me so happy. Something about putting internals together, brings out my inner car nerd I think. Well I got the block all assembled, pretty excited about that.
Also I got most of the head put together. Valves, springs, guide and seals all in. Then I went to torque the camshaft in and all 6 of the bolts that hold it down were striped out. I should have got a different core. This head has been nothing but garbage. All the valves were bent or had already been ground down to far to use, the head has been surface ground down to minimum specs, and the seats seemed a bit iffy for a while. I should have gone with my gut early on and looked for a new head. Either way it's all good to go now and all the cam bolts got helicoiled sooo..




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