Winter Projects?

[cyclone]

I'm redoing my stereo setup, I'm making a custom speaker/light bar that will hold four Polk Atrium 45 all weather speakers. More power. I will probably get it powdercoated to match the tower. Pics to come soon.

The whole thing will detach with two pins and a couple of banana plugs.

What're you all working on?

[toyotafreak]

Beer belly.

[shawn]

perfect pass and new custom molded fiberglass subwoofer boxes in the corners  of the rear locker with linear actuators lifting the rear hatch.

[cyclone]

Shawn, that sounds awesome. Take pics. I'm gonna do something about my anemic subwoofer too. If you end up with any spare custom parts that fit an epic, don't toss 'em. Somebody here would do something with them.

Don't you already have about 8 12" subs back there anyway?

Derek, Sounds like fun, but don't take pics!

I think I'll take a look at my trailer before the season starts, here's what'll happen if I don't.

[shawn]

i pulled that box out for now, too many friends and not enough boats, and the magnets weres so strong from the subs that my fuel gauge was pinned on full.  I started to get tired of playing the guessing game.

[cyclone]

It is a piece of Epic history. It was a source of wonder and amazement on Wakeworld for a while, and more so for me when I figured out that it was an Epic. It is without question the baddest system ever put in a Toyota Epic. To my knowledge.  Don't ditch it, it should go in the Epic hall of fame, or my boat or something!

[dawsonr]

You folks in the Western  or Southern states have no ideal what a winter project is.  With 0 degrees, 8 inches of snow on the groundand a foot of ice on the lake, you work on INSIDE projects, like redoing your bathroom or kitchen.  My poor boat is outside in the cold.

[phenom_1819]

Project 1: finish my winterization.
Project 2: Buy and install a new head-unit that is iPod compatible (supposedly there is even a new head-unit that works as a remote for the iPod).
Project 3: Install the second set of board racks (thanks Pete!).
Project 4: Replace trailer bearings (anyboby wanna help? Where do I get bearings, are they hard to replace? Mine are about done, better to replace than risk it.)
Project 5: Pay somebody to re-do my trailer wiring (there's a short somewhere)
Project 6: Drop one 4.7L into my 4runner, and one into my Epic.

[cyclone]

Dawson,
I feel for ya, but I moved from the frozen tundra to the warm and sunny South.  Not looking to move back any time soon!

Cal, the trailer thing is something I will tackle this spring. It's not very hard, the parts are off the shelf trailer parts. Basically, you take the wheels off, take the calipers off, and remove the rotor. Then, you beat the old races out with a hammer and a punch, tap in the new races, and lube and install the new bearings, put new seals in and put it back together. It would take an afternoon, hand tools, and about 60$ worth of parts.  I'll take pics:) I'll go through the brakes, too. I think I read that the brake pads are stock Dodge Neon brakes.  

[phenom_1819]

Cool, I'll wait for you then Pete.  Thanks for the pics -- they are very helpful to the less-technical do-it-yourselfers.  As to the brakes, I think I remember reading that they came off of a early 1990's Chevy Cavalier, but could very easily be wrong.  It's in my manual at home.

[cyclone]

I read the trailer doc on the how to page, the brakes are off a '91 Plymouth Acclaim.

[toyotafreak]

Hey Cal, make sure you get the new 4.7L with VVT-i. Adds HP and some torque down low. Better yet, wait and see if the new upsized V-8 has the same bolt patterns, etc.


In the literature page of this site, you'll find some TMS info on trailer bearings and brakes. I called Ameritrail about the pads and brakes and they'll ship them, no problem. Cyclone's correct that the bearings are COTS - West Marine, Overtons, Barts, probly even Cabelas.

On my trailer there's a trailer ground/return back by the right brake light that's just riveted to the trailer - wiggle it just a little bit and the lights come right back. Poor design IMO cuz of corrosion, etc. A simple threaded stud seems like a better dillyo.

[2000epic]

I plan on switching my single axle trailer to a double.  There are places that sell parts specifically for this purpose, and I'll have a machinist come and weld everything up after I've tacked it all in place.  I was woldering though, would anyone be willing to take a measurement for me?  I need the distance between the very rear of the frame and the center of equalizer mounting bolt.  I'm pretty sure "X" is going to turn out to be the same location that my single axle centered on.  I sure do appreciate any help.  Oh yeah, and Cal, sorry for stealing and butchering a pic of your boat.

[phenom_1819]

Kinda weird to scroll through a post and see somebody else posted a pic of your own rig!    Too funny...

I'll try and take that measurement for ya tonight. Unless somebody can beat me to the punch.  I must say though, I if I were doing a custom trailer job, I would move my axles forward a few inches to get rid of some of the tongue weight.   I really liked Derek's idea to get exact measurements on our toy's, but I haven't had the opportunity to go to transfer station lately to add anything to the record.

I would guess though, that our tongue weight is somewhere right around 1,000 lbs.  It should be more like 400 lbs or so, if it were 10% of the total weight of the rig.

Anyway, since you're gonna take on the project head first, might as well get them to fix the weight ration while you're at it...

[phenom_1819]

2000 Epic -- looks like 75".  It's a really hard measurement to take with the boat on the trailer, but I'd bet that's within 1/2".  Sorry I can't get be more precise.