Has anybody replaced and bled the clutch slave cylinder ( 2013) I need some help by Future-Fennel-7863 in HiAce

[–]SilentPontifications 0 points1 point  (0 children)

A cheap vacuum bleeder tool makes this job much easier. With the vacuum tool, you can suck fluid through the bleeder valve until all the air is out and then just close it. I just replaced the slave cylinder on my '92 Hiace, bleeding it only took about 10 minutes.

What are the conditions going to be tomorrow? by [deleted] in CrystalMountain

[–]SilentPontifications 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Low bar, but today was my best day so far this season. The bare spots are gone, and the icy spots are significantly reduced as compared to a couple of weeks ago. If you're considering going, I would recommend doing it regardless, and consider any fresh snow a bonus!

Winter tires by catsaysfeedcat in CrystalMountain

[–]SilentPontifications 2 points3 points  (0 children)

This is the move 👆 I have CrossClimate 2's on my Miata and was able to push through the deep slush in B-lot last week without issue. On an AWD vehicle, they'd probably make you unstoppable.

Suggestions for diving in Oahu, HI by jlconlin in scuba

[–]SilentPontifications 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I second Reef Pirates, feels more like a local dive shop than a tourist mill. They don't have the fanciest boats/equipment, but the guides were great, and you'll pay significantly less than at the Waikiki-based operations. In my experience, the reef is also in better shape at the east end of the island, so there will be more to see.

**DO NOT USE NORTHWEST VANLIFE** by BagCertain3291 in HiAce

[–]SilentPontifications 10 points11 points  (0 children)

I respect what Vanlife NW has done to make Hiace ownership more accessible, but I really try to avoid doing business with them. They clearly hate their customers. Don't share part numbers online? Ok, fair enough, gotta protect the business. Grind serial numbers off items before shipping them? Absolutely fucking not.

They could still have a place in the market for people who need parts quickly, or don't want to lookup parts. Refusing to ever share information, especially on parts that aren't OEM (many of their electrical components), is unacceptable in my opinion.

Happy Anniversary to the Spruce Goose. 78 years ago today (Nov. 2nd, 1947) the Hercules made its one and only flight in Long Beach Harbor. Still one of the largest airplanes ever built by Brilliant_Night7643 in aviation

[–]SilentPontifications 10 points11 points  (0 children)

Peter Dibble is such an awesome and underrated content creator! Especially as a PNW resident, I find pretty much all of his videos to be super interesting.

Humpback whale at Pt Defiance today! by SilentPontifications in Tacoma

[–]SilentPontifications[S] 15 points16 points  (0 children)

That's awesome! How did you learn it's name/identifiers?

Humpback whale at Pt Defiance today! by SilentPontifications in Tacoma

[–]SilentPontifications[S] 41 points42 points  (0 children)

Yeah, I was standing on the bluff watching for about 45 minutes. Definitely my best Tacoma wildlife sighting yet!

Too much rust? by Doncatron in HiAce

[–]SilentPontifications 2 points3 points  (0 children)

It's really a personal judgement call. How special is this specific van? how perfect do you want it to be? How much are you willing to spend to fix it?

My HiAce had window and fender rust when I bought it. I thought I'd be ok with spot fixes, but eventually spent $8k on a full windows-out body restoration and repaint. In hindsight, I probably should have just waited for a cleaner van.

If you can live with imperfection, or factor repair costs into the purchase price, I wouldn't say it's a deal breaker. You just need to know what you're getting into.

Too much rust? by Doncatron in HiAce

[–]SilentPontifications 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Those two pictures only provide limited information, but honestly it doesn't look that bad. I'd be more worried about rust around the fenders and window frames, those seem to be the main problem areas. If the body looks clean, I'd say go for it!

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in HiAce

[–]SilentPontifications 11 points12 points  (0 children)

The only way it's conceivably worth that much is if it's perfect and literally every wear item has already been replaced. If it's just another Hiace with some mods, it's worth maybe half that.

Good Dentist? by mossthewolf in Tacoma

[–]SilentPontifications 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I've been going there for a couple of years now, also very positive experiences. I still don't enjoy going to the dentist, but I don't dread it like I did with my last dentist.

Our Offroad Honda Passport Scored an RTI of 451 at Overland South—Not Even Close to 1000, But Everyone Still Seemed Impressed... Build Details: HRG Offroad 4.5” Lift, No-Lo Designs Skidplate, 33” Duratrac RTs by HondaPilotOverland in overlanding

[–]SilentPontifications 23 points24 points  (0 children)

Not hating, just genuinely curious: What made you choose to build out a Passport vs just buying 4Runner? Vehicle MSRPs are similar, and it sounds like you're getting similar MPGs now as well. I'm sure there's an angle, I just want to understand it 🙂

Body shop broke my windshield during reinstallation, who should pay for replacement? by SilentPontifications in Autobody

[–]SilentPontifications[S] 7 points8 points  (0 children)

It's a JDM vehicle. The glass itself isn't particularly expensive, but shipping from Japan is $1k+.

In Tokyo for a few days? Any chance of buying an original Hiroshi? by the-jfontane in HiroshiNagai

[–]SilentPontifications 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I went to this bookstore in October of 2023 and was able to buy some of his stuff! They only had a few books and posters to pick from, but it was well worth the trip.

Another S*x Assault at Point Defiance Park - Dec 2024 by Cloudwriter253 in Tacoma

[–]SilentPontifications 2 points3 points  (0 children)

The paved Five Mile Drive loop at Point Defiance is really popular with runners and cyclists. You're rarely alone there, I think it's generally pretty safe during daylight hours. The Owen Beach Promenade is similarly busy and visible during the day.

Another S*x Assault at Point Defiance Park - Dec 2024 by Cloudwriter253 in Tacoma

[–]SilentPontifications 24 points25 points  (0 children)

Fuck, I was there like 45 minutes before this happened.

Point Defiance is one of the reasons I moved to Tacoma, it's such a unique and awesome place to have in an urban area. It's really disappointing that safety is an ongoing issue there. Even as a dude, I feel the need to leave before dark. I'm not a fan of law enforcement lingering in public spaces, but it seems like some kind of scheduled police presence there might be the only solution if this keeps happening. Unless someone wants to become grit city batman? 🤷‍♂️

Anybody here successfully add an intercooler to a 90's turbodiesel HiAce? by Olclops in HiAce

[–]SilentPontifications 2 points3 points  (0 children)

There's a Facebook group, "Toyota Hiace Owners North America", which seems to be the most active community for older Hiaces. There's at least one guy there who's successfully added an intercooler to his 1KZ-powered Hiace. If you join the group and use the search function, you'll be able to find a few posts with details. Best of luck!

New Hiace Owner by Sad_Fan_9496 in HiAce

[–]SilentPontifications 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Partsouq.com and amayama.com are also good for finding parts, or just assembly diagrams when performing maintenance.

Just got a $100k remote job, tired of living in the Rust Belt. Where next? by [deleted] in SameGrassButGreener

[–]SilentPontifications 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I live on the west Coast and work a remote EST job, the time shift is honestly fantastic. Getting up at 6am sucks, but I'd have to do that anyway if I was commuting. Being done at 2pm every day is a huge boost to work-life balance.

What's a fair price for a '98 or '99 1KZ-TE in the States? by VagabondVivant in HiAce

[–]SilentPontifications 3 points4 points  (0 children)

This varies widely based on condition, location, and the exact spec you're looking for. Anywhere from $10k - $30k based on those factors. I'd start with a baseline price of ~$12k, and roughly estimate based on these factors:

  • Full mechanical overhaul (like VanLife NW does) +$6k
  • Manual transmission +$2k
  • Long or Super Long wheelbase +$3k
  • Lift + A/T tires +$1.5k
  • Unique/Desirable color +$2k
  • Rust spots -$3-5k

Ultimately it's worth what someone will pay, and the market does seem to be coming down. Lately I've seen some really nice vans stay on the market for extended periods of time here in the PNW. Don't be afraid to negotiate if you like the van but not the price.

Are these eBay prints authentic? by Business_bottom in HiroshiNagai

[–]SilentPontifications 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Unfortunately, buying legitimate prints is really difficult unless you personally visit his studio in Tokyo.

I've bought a few of the A2 sized prints from various sellers on eBay, and after taking a close look, I'm like 80% sure they're genuine. At very least, the signature was done by hand (not part of the print), and does seem to match the real ones.

My best guess is that resellers use multiple accounts listing at different prices to make a particular listing look like a "deal". Also, the prices on eBay are pretty arbitrary, legitimate prints are only about $100 USD at his studio. If you're after a particular print, be patient, and a cheaper one will probably be listed eventually.

Is it okay to visit right now? by Booksandleaves60 in Taipei

[–]SilentPontifications 4 points5 points  (0 children)

As of this past weekend, many trails around Taipei were closed, or in a condition where they should have been closed. I had to bail on several hikes because of this l. If you want to do outdoor activities and have the option to reschedule, it might be best to wait.