I cannot be trusted with my leisure time. Because I spent my evening creating a shopping list for building a mini desert sculpted landscape in a terrarium, also for farming cacti and succulents from seed. Hobby project I'll start up tomorrow, then potentially sell it if it's pretty enough 🏜
🙏✅️ Full spectrum growing lights, led strips, dragon stone, pumice, cactus soil, driftwood, bedrock, dry arroyo... a woman's wish list
So I started gathering the tools and parts to replace the timing belt on my truck (there's several parts besides the timing belt that are usually replaced at the same time while you're there) and should have everything I need by next week. All I need after that is good weather. I'm thinking that I should look into replacing the valve cover gaskets as well since the engine is leaking oil and that's where it appears to be coming from:
That doesn't seem to terribly difficult or expensive to do but I'll need to remove part of the intake and probably the throttle body. Probably add a few hours to the job. While I'm doing the timing belt I think I'll replace the radiator and heater hoses as well as they're getting rather cracked. It's very old
Once I actually start I'll post up lots of pictures and maybe a couple videos as I'll be taking lots anyway to keep track of everything.
I'm following a guide I found online as well as a repair manual my dad bought years ago when he was working on the truck:
Learn how to replace your timing belt and water pump in your 1995-2004 Toyota Tacoma (or any other 3.4L V6 5VZFE, such as 4Runner or Tundra)
I've done some work on cars before but nothing like this so this should be... Fun!(Scary) I've done my research so I think it's doable, and as far as timing belt replacements go it seems like this is a pretty easy vehicle to do it on. The best way to learn is to jump right in, right?