8.9.2026

 We got to see a deer family this morning - mom and baby...

Dad walked out of the shot but he was close by...

Jim finished putting together the parts washer today...

All done!

Jim had to do some outside work to get caught up - he brought the Bobcat out to take all the packaging from the parts washer down to the trash, and then back dragged the driveway.  Then he had to do grass mowing after we finally got some rain and then sunshine.

High 81.5/Low 67.8

8.8.2026

 Jim did some sanding of my new shelf today...

Since it is a short day, Jim didn't want to get involved in the engine work, so instead he unpacked his new part washer.  The inside of the box was kind of destroyed, so he wanted to make sure that all the parts and pieces were there...

He started doing some assembling...

Time for church!

High 82.5/Low 68.1

8.7.2026

Back in the auto bay, Jim continues to take the engine apart...

First cylinder head off!  

You can now see the piston cylinders...

Second cylinder head off!

Jim's part washer came in today - dragging it into the auto bay at the end of the day.  I'm sure this will get lots of use soon.

High 85.2/Low 69

 

8.6.2026

Jim did a test fit on my new shelf today - it was perfect!

Then it was back down to the auto bay to start tearing apart the engine.  You can see cables, wires and hoses are loose...

Front of the engine is off!  Jim has found some evidence of leftover mice nests from when the car sat outside when we were building.  You can see it below if you look close (not that you want to)...

No surprise - this was just part of what we found after the mice wintered in the 4Runner while we were building and it sat outside.  Jim stripped carpet out and we used all kinds of things to get rid of the smell.

Parts and pieces are surrounding Jim now...

Jim got the wiring harness off - yikes!

Half of the intake manifold and valve cover...

A peek inside the engine...

Look at the build up inside - Jim said he's surprised it ran!

Jim got the exhaust manifolds off - pictures to come!

High 86.2/Low 64.1

 

8.5.2026

Jim finished up unhooking all the hoses and electric cables from the engine today.  Then he had to dig out more tools - this time his engine hoist...

Starting to lift the engine out of the compartment...

It's out!

The empty compartment...

This is a peek in how much Jim had to disassemble on the inside too...

Jim pushed the car back to make room to move the engine around...

Then he brought over his engine stand and connected the engine block to the stand...

He unhooked the hoist from the engine and moved it out of the way.  Then he moved the engine stand over so he had room to start taking it apart next!

High 83.8/Low 58.9

 

8.4.2026

Today is National Chocolate Chip Cookie Day, so hopefully you celebrated!  Jim and I will celebrate after dinner.  I've discovered the best sourdough chocolate chip cookie recipe - Jim said it's the only recipe to make from now on!

Jim did a little work on the shelf today, including more sanding...

Jim was able to get the air conditioner compressor loose and moved over to the side...

Next, he needed to get the hood off so that he had better access, so we got it off and onto the ground...

He moved it over to the wall so that it would be safe...

He had to tie the engine in place now that the compartment is emptying out and the transmission isn't holding it in place.  He took off the heater hoses from the back wall...

Jim had to take the dashboard apart to get to the onboard computer so that he could get to all the cabling.  In the picture below,  he was working on disconnecting the electrical cable from the bottom of the engine.... 

High 83.5/Low 60

8.3.2026

 While Jim's been busy in the shops and with the 4Runner job, I've been busy with a big fire school mailing.  Of course, Jim still does all the schlepping for me in between all that he's doing - carrying printing boxes and envelopes up the stairs, taking completed envelopes down to the pantry for metering, and finally to the car.  Thanks, dear!  Glad this job is done!

Jim did some sanding on the shelf today...

He spent the afternoon down in the auto bay, continuing to take things apart on the 4Runner...

Radiator is out...

Fan and belt off...

Spending all his time just like this...

Air cleaner housing out...

The engine compartment is starting to look empty...

He's tackling getting the air conditioner out - that's never been off and is hard to reach.

High 75/Low 68.2