Replaced The Beater Truck Today

Yea I know it seems crazy trading off my little fun car, but honestly I`m going for more practicality for one. I think I`ve put MAYBE 1500 miles on it in the past 5 months. That and if I want something fun to drive, I`ll just take the German Miata out:

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Been a fun journey on that thing getting maintenance back up to snuff. I seem to get the odd ones in my driveway... But that`s a whole nother topic.

But in the end they wouldn`t give me what I felt the value is (for the GTI) and I`m not about to do another negative equity episode. I`ve grown up just enough to walk away from those situations. I`m trying to downsize as we`re going to have to move sometime in the Spring as the owners are up and selling everything. That was a fun Monday morning phone call...

I have no idea why this thing (the Taco) is so hard to keep up. I don`t want to keep polishing it out yearly, so I might just have to go with a round of PB`s White Diamond once a year. In the end it`s a truck, I`ll keep it sealed and wash it properly, but need to remember it`s not a show vehicle.
 
Nizmo- Yikes, I bet that *was* quite a way to start the week! Hope it goes smoothly for you.

Heh heh, 1500mi is a lot more than some of mine get in a year or more! Perhaps you`re being more sensible than Yours Truly ;)

I always liked the looks of the early SLKs! I wouldn`t consider it more practical that the VW, but choosing between them? I could probably go either way.

Hey, any rust issues on the SLK? I`ve heard horror stories, but those often blamed it on the switch to water-borne paint and that doesn`t make sense to me.

Apologies if we`ve discussed this before, but have you tried FK1000P on the ss white? I know...that`s my Miracle Answer for everything LSP-related :o Heh heh, I thought I could say my Tahoe is "...[just]..a truck, and an old/worn-out one at that", but, well...that Curse of Autopia ya know :o
 
I still enjoy driving the GTI, but the parking lot at work is a scary place. I could park all the way out and someone will still park their hooptie right up to me door.

There`s a small bubble forming on the corner by the passenger side of trunk on the hardtop, but other than that it`s clean. Kinda weird since it`s been garage kept up until this year. I think all the oil leaks have made a good anti-rust coating, lol. I`m of the opinion if it isn`t leaking a little bit there`s no oil.

I`ll definitely keep the FK1000 in mind. I`m about due for some new products in the Spring!
 
Biil D- Now stop that ;)

(Says the guy who`s thinking that all big sedans and a Tahoe is a goofy, uhm...accumulation...of vehicles for somebody who takes so long to do even a maintenance wash.)

I bet I could wash a SLK in no time by comparison.. fewer hinges/jambs for one thing, and less acreage underneath

But the fabled Rust Issues on those R170 cars gives me pause..e.g., that "little bubble".
 
Accumulator said:
I bet I could wash a SLK in no time by comparison.. fewer hinges/jambs for one thing, and less acreage underneath
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Only takes 20 minutes to wash and dry the outside. Add another 20 minutes for jamb and engine cleaning :D



Now washing the Taco, hah, you`re in it for an hour just for the outside. Or maybe I`m being too picky?
 
Nizmo said:
Only takes 20 minutes to wash and dry the outside. Add another 20 minutes for jamb and engine cleaning :D



Now washing the Taco, hah, you`re in it for an hour just for the outside. Or maybe I`m being too picky?
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You`re killing me here! The last time I did a between-washes cleanup of wheels/tires it took me nearly an hour, and I was working as fast as I possibly could on some easy 5-spokes! I doubt I`ve ever done an engine compartment/undercarriage in less than an hour, and that`s during a quick summertime wash on something that gets done before it`s really dirty.

Too picky? Heh heh, nah...like, how much time do you spend on the back sides of the wiper arms where the tensioning springs are? What about cleaning *inside* the sideview mirror housings? I doubt I`ve ever thought somebody was "too picky" about Detailing ;) At least that last one doesn`t need done very often except in the winter.

EDIT: And FWIW, I spend *longer* on the Beaters than I do on the Nice Ones..seems screwy but that`s how it always goes.
 
Accumulator said:
Too picky? Heh heh, nah...like, how much time do you spend on the back sides of the wiper arms where the tensioning springs are? What about cleaning *inside* the sideview mirror housings? I doubt I`ve ever thought somebody was "too picky" about Detailing ;) At least that last one doesn`t need done very often except in the winter.
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Ok, I think you win that round, heh. I guess compared to your average vehicle owner I`m picky, we`ll phrase it like that :D

Now I might be going way off in the deep end as far as vehicle maintenance (on the truck), but right now I`ve been working on taking apart bolts, fasteners, etc. and treating them all to anti-seize and rounds of Fluid Film. Am I crazy? According to my neighbors, yes, but when I need to work on something simple I don`t want any issues. Nothing like a 20 minute job turning into an all day and 30 pack of beer job because of a snapped off bolt. This happened to me recently on the Jeep`s front brake job. Those pesky capped wheel nuts cost me 2 hours and $60 worth of tools just to have to have the local service station wing it off in seconds and $5. All the front nuts got replaced that day, I was going to rotate tires, but after that I was not touching the rears that day... That thing is headed for the JY in about 3 years anyways as rust has really got it.
 
Nizmo- Heh heh, I won`t say how long it took me to clean the A8`s wheels/tires yesterday :o At least it wasn`t the *whole* afternoon :D

IMO your preventive maintenance with regard to corrosion/etc. isn`t a waste at all. You know *from experience* that it`s necessary in your situation so [screw] what somebody else in a different situation believes ;) Like...I *gotta* use anti-seize on lugs, which I learned by snapping off a few due to listening to the "never use that on lugs!" crowd.
 
Nothing much has change with the truck. But I did score a set of 2019 Tacoma TRD wheels and tires with about 5K on them.

(yes I know the GTI is filthy, rural PA roads will do that...)
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My old wheels are corroded and flaking bad and the tires I bought also are terrible. Was going to repaint the wheels and replace the tires, but a member on the Tacoma forum was selling his old setup for less than the tires I wanted. I figure if I get a year out of them I`ll be doing good. Too cold to install today, but I`ll get them on tomorrow.
 
Installed the tires/wheels today. Also got a chance to clean up the truck halfway decent. I swear I spent an hour pressure washing the frame and body!

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And just a sample of how nasty the old wheels were. Most looked this corroded and chipped.

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IMO it looks like a whole different truck. Gray wheels aren`t everybody`s taste, but I like it. Also surprised once cleaned up the truck still shines decent. Got a bottle of Collinite 845 to try in the spring after another quick polish.
 
Nizmo- It does indeed look good! White is just perfect for such vehicles IME.

I`d use the old wheels for winter, with some ice-compound tires :D

IF you`re concerned about frame rot, I`d just treat it now before it gets terminal. Yeah, easy for me to say, but really...you might be surprised how well stuff like Eastwoods Frame Coater works (yes, even on already-rusting ones).
 
Unfortunately for me I can`t touch the frame until July 2021. They did their coating back April of 2019 and in order to keep the 12 year frame warranty I can`t touch the stuff. It`s peeling and cracking in several places right now. Best I can do is keep it washed and when I go to the dealer for a transmission service in the spring I`ll have them do another frame inspection.
 
Nizmo- OK, far be it from me to encourage [screwing] up the warranty. ALTHOUGH...I bet they`d never even know you sprayed that stuff inside the frame...I mean, how could they? Although#2, if they sprayed their stuff inside there it`d mess up the Eastwood stuff`s efficacy anyhow. Maybe it`ll hold up fine as-is, better than you think. You`re about due for a pleasant surprise!
 
Unfortunately they did spray the stuff inside, but it is what it is. Most spots it`s holding up ok, others not. I`ll get a better look at it when my local shop puts it on the lift for some driveshaft and bearing work.

Don`t know why I`m concerned, everybody knows from my history I`ll be swapping it for something else in a couple years anyways :P
 
Looks good with the new rims.

It seem like Toyota like spraying that goop on frames.

My friend Tacoma had the frame replace, leaf springs, and other stuff under the recall. Toyota sprayed that goop everywhere. Now the truck rides almost like new.
 
Nizmo said:
Unfortunately they did spray the stuff inside, but it is what it is...
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Then I`d be expecting their stuff to do its job. Wishful thinking maybe...

I`ll get a better look at it when my local shop puts it on the lift for some driveshaft and bearing work.
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Heh heh, that`s why I`m all about keeping the undercarriages detailed, so I know for certain what`s going on everywhere.

Don`t know why I`m concerned, everybody knows from my history I`ll be swapping it for something else in a couple years anyways :P
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Maybe you`ll get over that ;) I used to go through at least one vehicle every year, usually more, but now I`m completely over wanting something different. Sorta weird, like I basically just woke up one day no longer caring about it..."Eh, I like what I have now, and I have too many already!" Don`t even miss the ones I sold off and I`m still debating further thinning the, uhm....accumulation. In my version of a Perfect World I`d have about half the current number (I`m down to 6 now) between me and my wife. I`m actually debating selling the S8 since I never seem to drive it any more.
 
Just got my truck back from the shop. Been fighting a groaning and grinding noise for months that`s been driving me crazy. Turns out my left rear wheel bearing was shot. I kinda got a clue when I swapped the tires/wheels and seen/smelled gear oil from a blown seal which took out the grease sealed bearing. Turns out the axle vent plugged up and the excess pressure had nowhere to go. I removed the old vent, put a barb fitting in the differential and relocated the vent behind the tail light, so hopefully it won`t plug again. Shop let me use and recommended my own parts, and between parts and labor was still under $300! I did bring him several extra consumables and extra small parts I thought he`d need so maybe that played a factor. Definitely found a new shop for stuff I don`t want to do. The bearing assembly I found was a Timkin assembly off Rock Auto. Turns out it had the same Koyo bearing that Toyota uses and was only $115ish shipped to my door in a day. Toyota wanted $495 for the same assembly...
 
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