YotaFun's Tess (97' SR5 4Runner) [Archive]

YotaFun

04-12-2007, 05:18 PM

This Is Test a.k.a "Project Something Or Another"

Bought off Ebay back in November of 2005
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a2/Nighthief/4Runner/Now%20And%20Eventually%20Later/My4Runner.gif

More or less how she looks now:
http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz219/Yota-Boy/Rausch%20Creek%2001-05-2013/DSCN2121_zps6a262f91.jpg

Plans For The Future:
Nothing is set in stone with this 4Runner, over the years I have gone from Trail/DD, to Expedition Only, to Trail Only, to Trail/Tow/DD rig.

As for now, the plan is to just make it a capable reliable truck for any duty I see fit for it to preform.

Engine:

Stock
Toyota Red Coolant
Toyota Oil Filter (larger size off Tundra)
Toyota Drive Belts
Toyota OEM Spark Plugs & Wires
Toyota Air Filter
Deckplate Mod
ISR Mod
Stock Aftermarket Exhaust

Transmission:

Rebuilt Stock

Axles:

Trussed Rear Toyota E-locker
4.88 Gears front and rear

Suspension:

Modified Sonoran Steel System 1.51
All-Pro Upper Control Arms
Custom Rear Lower Control Arms
Custom Rear Upper Control Arms
All-Pro Extended Adjustable Coil-overs

Armor:

Budbuilt Front Skid Plate

Exterior Enhancements:

Satoshi Mod
Sport Edition Hood Scoop
Sunroof Wind Deflector
Bumpers and Bottom Half of Rig Painted Black
Limited Edition Flares
Limited 5 Spoke Rims with DD Tires
FJZ80 Land Cruiser Rims with Off-Road Tires

Interior Enhancements:

Head Unit with iPod & Satellite Interface
99+ 4Runner Center Dash Upgrade w/Two Extra 12V Outlets*
99+ 4Runner Center Console Upgrade*
99+ 4Runner Rear Cargo Accessory Outlet Upgrade
1st Gen Roll Bar

In Storage:

2- CVs
Extra Oil
Extra Coolant
Extra Transmission Fluid
Extra Brake Fluid
Complete Tool Kit
WD-40
Towing Straps
Camping Equipment:
- Small Tent
- Lantern
- Fire Starters
- Emergency Blanket
- First-Aid Kit
- Second Set Of Cloths

There are many things I plan to do still while the direction of the trucks purpose is always changing it will still remain my main Rig

YotaFun

02-02-2008, 04:45 PM

Well I thought I would update this with the life of Tess:
This is how I got her November or 05:
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a2/Nighthief/4Runner/Now%20And%20Eventually%20Later/My4Runner.gif

First Time Wheeling (I was a fool and new to the world of off-road driving, and I actually lost the stock skid in that muck lol!!!):
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a2/Nighthief/4Runner/First%20Time%20Wheelin/0321473-R1-044-20A.jpg

Second Time, Running boards off, and my last days of saying I love mud:
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a2/Nighthief/4Runner/Second%20Time%20Wheelin/RightOne.gif

Thrid Time Wheeling (Rear seals went and both front rotors wasted, so she sat there for a month till we had the money to get teh work done):
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a2/Nighthief/4Runner/Third%20Time%20Wheelin/DSC01966.jpg

Hitting 100K:
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a2/Nighthief/4Runner/Hittin%20100K/th_MOV02330.jpg (http://s8.photobucket.com/albums/a2/Nighthief/4Runner/Hittin%20100K/?action=view&current=MOV02330.flv)
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a2/Nighthief/4Runner/Hittin%20100K/DSC02332.jpg

My First actual Wheeling trip on real trails (anything before that I told myself was mudding, not off-roading :D, oh and my a/c compressor bearing went):
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a2/Nighthief/4Runner/Paragon%2001-13-07/CIMG0205.jpg

Second Time Actually Wheeing:
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a2/Nighthief/4Runner/Paragon%2003-31-07/Done%20For%20The%20Day/Avdian.jpg

Third Time Wheeling at Rausch Creek (first times where at Paragon R.I.P. PAP):
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a2/Nighthief/4Runner/Rausch%20Creek%2006-30-07/049TrailOne.jpg

Then The Accident:
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a2/Nighthief/4Runner/Accident/FullView.jpg

Went on a 4Th wheeling Trip but she stayed in the lot, she wont be on the trails from now till she is Locked, Lifted, and has sliders :-D:
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a2/Nighthief/4Runner/Rausch%20Creek%2001-19-08/DSCN01962.jpg

Now just some poser pics:
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a2/Nighthief/4Runner/Poser%20Pics/TessLight.jpg
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a2/Nighthief/4Runner/Poser%20Pics/AngelTess.jpg
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a2/Nighthief/4Runner/Poser%20Pics/DSC03360.jpg
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a2/Nighthief/4Runner/Accident/TessIsBack002.jpg
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a2/Nighthief/4Runner/Accident/TessIsBack003.jpg

Some Poser pics of stepdads and mine (Which I hope one day I get as a DD):
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a2/Nighthief/4Runner/Poser%20Pics/rigs.jpg
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a2/Nighthief/4Runner/Poser%20Pics/FlipRigs.jpg
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a2/Nighthief/4Runner/Accident/TessIsBack008.jpg
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a2/Nighthief/4Runner/Accident/TessIsBack009.jpg

YotaFun

05-19-2008, 07:05 PM

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a2/Nighthief/4Runner/C%20and%20D%20Canal%2004-15-08/DSC03716.jpg

YotaFun

10-22-2008, 03:15 AM

Well Its Been A While Sine I Updated This Thread.
Lift has been Added:
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a2/Nighthief/4Runner/The%20Lift/DSC03867.jpg
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a2/Nighthief/4Runner/The%20Lift/DSC03878.jpg
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a2/Nighthief/4Runner/The%20Lift/DSC03886.jpg
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a2/Nighthief/4Runner/The%20Lift/DSC03904.jpg
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a2/Nighthief/4Runner/The%20Lift/DSC03902.jpg
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a2/Nighthief/4Runner/The%20Lift/DSC03920.jpg

And a BudBuilt Skid was Added:
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a2/Nighthief/4Runner/NE%20Takeover%2008/DSC03961.jpg

Then It Was All Tested Out:
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a2/Nighthief/4Runner/NE%20Takeover%2008/RauschCreekJULY_2008151.jpg

Big Thanks Again To J and Katy For Helping Me Install The Lift, And A Great Thanks To My Friend JT For Getting The BudBuilt On For Me

YotaFun

10-22-2008, 03:22 AM

I also promised myself that the day she is lifted she gets her first stickers.
So I finally put some on.

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a2/Nighthief/4Runner/Sticker/IMG01472.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a2/Nighthief/4Runner/Sticker/IMG01473.jpg

Since I will be getting mostly everything I need from Northridge, and them sponsoring Pismo 08 I put some NTP swag on:
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a2/Nighthief/4Runner/Sticker/IMG01474.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a2/Nighthief/4Runner/Sticker/IMG01475.jpg

No you may have noticed that she is de-badged. What I am doing is changing the badges around to look more like the 99+ style rears.
This involves moving the Top 4Runner Badge to the Left, The SR5 badge to the Top Right and adding the 4WD Badge with it which was not available on the 96-98, and keeping the Toyota Letter Badge on the Lower Right, and the Toyota Symbol Badge stays Right where it is.
Also I will be doing the black pearl emblems but thinking of changing it up a bit a putting a little red in there to match the Suspension, brakes and Satoshi Mod.

YotaFun

05-30-2009, 09:48 PM

Well I need to update this thread a little bit.
Since my last post I have done the following:
E-Locked and switched to 4.30 Gears
Sliders
1.5" Body Lift

First Diff Change and E-Locker
Thanks to Wab for getting me the diffs!
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a2/Nighthief/4Runner/Diff%20change/IMG01509.jpg
So heavy that they about made the suspension sit level again...
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a2/Nighthief/4Runner/Diff%20change/IMG01510.jpg
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a2/Nighthief/4Runner/Diff%20change/IMG01511.jpg
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a2/Nighthief/4Runner/Diff%20change/IMG01519.jpg
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a2/Nighthief/4Runner/Diff%20change/IMG01518.jpg
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a2/Nighthief/4Runner/Diff%20change/IMG01514.jpg
Cheesy shot of me really happy:
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a2/Nighthief/4Runner/Diff%20change/IMG01517.jpg
Install:
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a2/Nighthief/4Runner/Diff%20change/IMG01560.jpg
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a2/Nighthief/4Runner/Diff%20change/IMG01561.jpg
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a2/Nighthief/4Runner/Diff%20change/IMG01562.jpg
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a2/Nighthief/4Runner/Diff%20change/IMG01563.jpg
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a2/Nighthief/4Runner/Diff%20change/IMG01564.jpg
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a2/Nighthief/4Runner/Diff%20change/IMG01570.jpg
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a2/Nighthief/4Runner/Diff%20change/IMG01569.jpg

By By Old Diffs!
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a2/Nighthief/4Runner/Diff%20change/IMG01565.jpg
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a2/Nighthief/4Runner/Diff%20change/IMG01566.jpg
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a2/Nighthief/4Runner/Diff%20change/IMG01568.jpg

Sliders:
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a2/Nighthief/4Runner/Sliders/IMG_0003.jpg
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a2/Nighthief/4Runner/Sliders/IMG_0002.jpg
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a2/Nighthief/4Runner/Sliders/IMG_0004.jpg
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a2/Nighthief/4Runner/Sliders/IMG_0005.jpg
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a2/Nighthief/4Runner/Sliders/IMG_0006.jpg
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a2/Nighthief/4Runner/Sliders/IMG_0009.jpg
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a2/Nighthief/4Runner/Sliders/IMG_0011.jpg
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a2/Nighthief/4Runner/Sliders/IMG_0012.jpg
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a2/Nighthief/4Runner/Sliders/IMG_0014.jpg

Pictures of the body lift later.

YotaFun

05-30-2009, 09:56 PM

Also picked up these:
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a2/Nighthief/4Runner/Rims/IMG_0166.jpg
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a2/Nighthief/4Runner/Rims/IMG_0168.jpg

They have my center caps on them while I took the caps that came with them on my current rims.
they are off of a 97' T-100 but are the limited.
Plans for them is to clean them up and then paint them and run a 33 BFG AT for DD and with my current rims I will paint them white, yes WHITE and run the 33 MT retreads for the trails.

YotaFun

10-07-2009, 04:05 PM

No process pics since my camera was being a pain and it was late and my fingers were covered with paint so....

But here are some pics of the new shoes...
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a2/Nighthief/4Runner/New%20Rims%20and%20Tires/DSC04556.jpg
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a2/Nighthief/4Runner/New%20Rims%20and%20Tires/DSC04557.jpg
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a2/Nighthief/4Runner/New%20Rims%20and%20Tires/DSC04560.jpg
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a2/Nighthief/4Runner/New%20Rims%20and%20Tires/DSC04561.jpg
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a2/Nighthief/4Runner/New%20Rims%20and%20Tires/DSC04562.jpg
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a2/Nighthief/4Runner/New%20Rims%20and%20Tires/DSC04563.jpg
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a2/Nighthief/4Runner/New%20Rims%20and%20Tires/DSC04565.jpg
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a2/Nighthief/4Runner/New%20Rims%20and%20Tires/DSC04567.jpg

No Mastacox FJ rims but they def do the job!

YotaFun

02-22-2010, 02:59 PM

So now that the locker is working, its time to address the very stiff suspension I have up front:

All-Pro UCA's
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a2/Nighthief/4Runner/The%20Lift/DSCN0336.jpg
One need to be rebuilt, but other then that going to clean them, paint them, get new washers and put them on.

All-Pro Extended Coilovers:
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a2/Nighthief/4Runner/The%20Lift/DSCN0339.jpg
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a2/Nighthief/4Runner/The%20Lift/DSCN0344.jpg

Going to clean them up and paint the coils again and install them.
These are 500lb coils, I figure they will give a little more,
I do have a set of 600-lb coils to put on, but I will wait till I get a front bumper and winch to do so.

Also going to be doing an on-board air set up:
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a2/Nighthief/4Runner/On%20Board%20Air/DSCN0330.jpg

YotaFun

06-26-2010, 01:34 PM

Well I finally got the UCAs and Coil-overs installed:
By By Old!
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a2/Nighthief/4Runner/Upper%20Control%20Arms/iphone395.jpg
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a2/Nighthief/4Runner/Upper%20Control%20Arms/iphone394.jpg

Hello Sorta New!
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a2/Nighthief/4Runner/Upper%20Control%20Arms/iphone397.jpg
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a2/Nighthief/4Runner/Upper%20Control%20Arms/iphone398.jpg

YotaFun

06-26-2010, 01:36 PM

Oh And I Installed some old 35s for fitment:
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a2/Nighthief/4Runner/35s/iphone390.jpg

Man that is a lot of weight...
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a2/Nighthief/4Runner/35s/iphone391.jpg
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a2/Nighthief/4Runner/35s/iphone392.jpg

What a size Difference:
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a2/Nighthief/4Runner/35s/iphone388.jpg

Truck on 35s!
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a2/Nighthief/4Runner/35s/iphone399.jpghttp://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a2/Nighthief/4Runner/35s/iphone400.jpg

YotaFun

12-18-2010, 10:06 AM

So Added Something To The 4Runner

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a2/Nighthief/4Runner/Hood%20Scoop/LegendDream.jpg

YotaFun

04-02-2013, 05:29 PM

So after the fitment of the 35s to see clearance, I went back to the skinny 33s, that decided to fail doing 75 down the highway so it was time for new tires.

So I scored some worse for wear Ivans, Spruced them up and installed some Dick Cepek's on them:
http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz219/Yota-Boy/4Runner%20Mods/Picture133.jpg

Then I felt I needed some more on the outside done, she was just looking a little plain, so Limited Flares, Sunroof Deflector, and Hitch Mount Tire Carrier went on:
http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz219/Yota-Boy/4Runner%20Mods/IMG_2357.jpg
http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz219/Yota-Boy/4Runner%20Mods/IMG_2137.jpg
http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz219/Yota-Boy/Rausch%20Creek%2007-28-2012/616298_10151965823085594_891446520_o.jpg

YotaFun

04-02-2013, 05:44 PM

Then this past summer I finally received the title for my birthday.
Great news until I lent the truck to a friend who found my mortal enemy hiding underneat:
http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz219/Yota-Boy/Rusted/DSCN2100.jpg

The frame had finally rusted through underneath.
While this was the only spot to make it through, it was clear the truck had gotten the cancer and it was past the point of being saved:
http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz219/Yota-Boy/Rusted/DSCN2098.jpg
This Picture dose not due the rust justice, its fare worse...:
http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz219/Yota-Boy/Rusted/DSCN2096.jpg

So I came to the decision,
1) Do I patch, revert to stock and sell?
2) Do I patch, look for a cleaner 4Runner, move everything over and scrap?
or
3) Do I find a way to do a frame swap?

As I have always done with this truck, I decided to do the most difficult option #3 as and effect of option #2 essentially a frame swap like the Taco's, however there is a problem, they do not make the 3rd gen frame anymore, and even if they did, it would cost me $2500 for the frame, which if I searched enough could purchase a cleaner 4Runner for around that price.

So, while search on Craigslist for another 4Runner that I would possibly use in replacement I came across a Diamond in the rough, literally:
http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz219/Yota-Boy/Donor%204Runner/IMG_2797.jpg

It was a running, moving fully functioning 4Runner with a practically new frame, for a golden price of $900!!!
So the frame swap was on!

YotaFun

04-02-2013, 07:08 PM

So apart they came:
http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz219/Yota-Boy/Frame%20Swap/IMG_3251_zpsa2a44589.jpg
http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz219/Yota-Boy/Frame%20Swap/IMG_3266_zpse401aa19.jpg

YotaFun

04-02-2013, 07:10 PM

Cleaned and Coated:
http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz219/Yota-Boy/Frame%20Swap/IMG_3261_zpsffda937e.jpg
http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz219/Yota-Boy/Frame%20Swap/IMG_3262_zpsa6ed0407.jpg

http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz219/Yota-Boy/Frame%20Swap/IMG_3271_zps41c4ab81.jpg
http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz219/Yota-Boy/Frame%20Swap/IMG_3279_zps2d600897.jpg

YotaFun

04-02-2013, 07:12 PM

The trans on the Donor truck was silent and pulled strong (mine was whining and getting weak)
So I swapped over the donor trans to my engine.
Then installed it back in the frame:
http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz219/Yota-Boy/Frame%20Swap/IMG_3268_zps8f0c276b.jpg

YotaFun

04-02-2013, 07:14 PM

Together:
http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz219/Yota-Boy/Frame%20Swap/IMG_3365_zps2f96d7bd.jpg

And thats how it currently sits for now, and the donor truck has my old frame with lift and all:
http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz219/Yota-Boy/Frame%20Swap/IMG_3379_zps441c0453.jpg

YotaFun

04-02-2013, 07:16 PM

At the moment my build is on hold till I can come to a decision what I want to do, and if I can do it.

YotaFun

08-08-2013, 07:01 PM

Well, reviving this a little.
I have come to the decision to down size to one 4Runner.
At the moment I just can't handle two, or have the means to keep both and use one or the other the way I would like.
I am a little down about it since I would have had a nice platform for a Toy, but you have to play the cards you are dealt.

SO enough of my SOB story.
I have been working on a few maintenance and a few upgrade items the past couple of months.
I am going a little out of order since this is all I have pictures of right now.

I wanted to change out my lower control arm cam's because the right side was locked up thanks to wonderful rust, I could barely get the right arm to budge.

I ended up with a set of donor arms from a Tacoma, which I am very happy I went with (i'll elaborate more later).
First task at hand was removing the old arms.
I decided to start with the passenger arm since I knew it would be difficult, how difficult didn't rear its ugly face till I really started to get my hands dirty...

I will let the pictures explain:
http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz219/Yota-Boy/4Runner%20Mods/IMG_4513_zps084dd8ec.jpg (http://s829.photobucket.com/user/Yota-Boy/media/4Runner%20Mods/IMG_4513_zps084dd8ec.jpg.html)
http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz219/Yota-Boy/4Runner%20Mods/IMG_4514_zps6d5abb35.jpg (http://s829.photobucket.com/user/Yota-Boy/media/4Runner%20Mods/IMG_4514_zps6d5abb35.jpg.html)
http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz219/Yota-Boy/4Runner%20Mods/IMG_4515_zps5b19a467.jpg (http://s829.photobucket.com/user/Yota-Boy/media/4Runner%20Mods/IMG_4515_zps5b19a467.jpg.html)
http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz219/Yota-Boy/4Runner%20Mods/IMG_4523_zpsd34dc574.jpg (http://s829.photobucket.com/user/Yota-Boy/media/4Runner%20Mods/IMG_4523_zpsd34dc574.jpg.html)
http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz219/Yota-Boy/4Runner%20Mods/IMG_4525_zps9272995e.jpg (http://s829.photobucket.com/user/Yota-Boy/media/4Runner%20Mods/IMG_4525_zps9272995e.jpg.html)
http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz219/Yota-Boy/4Runner%20Mods/IMG_4527_zps8f06bbb2.jpg (http://s829.photobucket.com/user/Yota-Boy/media/4Runner%20Mods/IMG_4527_zps8f06bbb2.jpg.html)
http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz219/Yota-Boy/4Runner%20Mods/IMG_4529_zps3370166e.jpg (http://s829.photobucket.com/user/Yota-Boy/media/4Runner%20Mods/IMG_4529_zps3370166e.jpg.html)

A lot of heat, a lot of chiseling, and a lot of grinding but they finally came out....

What funny is the drivers side cams came out like they were brand new...
http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz219/Yota-Boy/4Runner%20Mods/IMG_4517_zps1440537f.jpg (http://s829.photobucket.com/user/Yota-Boy/media/4Runner%20Mods/IMG_4517_zps1440537f.jpg.html)
http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz219/Yota-Boy/4Runner%20Mods/IMG_4519_zpsa8fd0bca.jpg (http://s829.photobucket.com/user/Yota-Boy/media/4Runner%20Mods/IMG_4519_zpsa8fd0bca.jpg.html)
http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz219/Yota-Boy/4Runner%20Mods/IMG_4521_zps5f1b0c41.jpg (http://s829.photobucket.com/user/Yota-Boy/media/4Runner%20Mods/IMG_4521_zps5f1b0c41.jpg.html)
http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz219/Yota-Boy/4Runner%20Mods/IMG_4531_zps7b6aa31c.jpg (http://s829.photobucket.com/user/Yota-Boy/media/4Runner%20Mods/IMG_4531_zps7b6aa31c.jpg.html)
http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz219/Yota-Boy/4Runner%20Mods/IMG_4533_zps398833c2.jpg (http://s829.photobucket.com/user/Yota-Boy/media/4Runner%20Mods/IMG_4533_zps398833c2.jpg.html)

As you can see here in comparison of what everything should look like:
http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz219/Yota-Boy/4Runner%20Mods/IMG_4538_zpsd36472a5.jpg (http://s829.photobucket.com/user/Yota-Boy/media/4Runner%20Mods/IMG_4538_zpsd36472a5.jpg.html)
On the Right is the passenger cams, missing the sleeve that the bolt goes through, and on the left, how everything SHOULD look -_-

Finally all done:
http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz219/Yota-Boy/4Runner%20Mods/IMG_4536_zpsa70689e0.jpg (http://s829.photobucket.com/user/Yota-Boy/media/4Runner%20Mods/IMG_4536_zpsa70689e0.jpg.html)

So I went to put it on the alignment rack thinking I would have to mess with the cams a lot (which all were set top dead center), however I was really lucky, here is the before shot of when I first put it on the rack:
http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz219/Yota-Boy/4Runner%20Mods/IMG_4554_zpsa1e3512e.jpg (http://s829.photobucket.com/user/Yota-Boy/media/4Runner%20Mods/IMG_4554_zpsa1e3512e.jpg.html)
Practically dead on for Camber and Caster

After alignment:
http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz219/Yota-Boy/4Runner%20Mods/IMG_4555_zps96a3d2fe.jpg (http://s829.photobucket.com/user/Yota-Boy/media/4Runner%20Mods/IMG_4555_zps96a3d2fe.jpg.html)

This 4Runner (Tess with new frame and stock suspension) has probably not seen specs like this since it left the factory!
http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz219/Yota-Boy/4Runner%20Mods/IMG_4557_zpsb71646cd.jpg (http://s829.photobucket.com/user/Yota-Boy/media/4Runner%20Mods/IMG_4557_zpsb71646cd.jpg.html)

Seanz0rz

08-08-2013, 07:45 PM

Right rear cam usually rusts due to the drain for the AC evaporator being right above it. Mine was a bit corroded when I removed it.

Glad you got it in spec! Wish I could do that!

YotaFun

08-08-2013, 08:00 PM

The funny thing Sean, I was able to get that one to move a little bit!
The front cam would not budge!

paddlenbike

08-08-2013, 09:38 PM

Looking good Avy! I love seeing 4runners being given a new lease on life, I think they are one of a hand-full of vehicles worth the trouble. One of my favorite builds right now is THIS ONE (http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/142589-shinyblackdeers-98-toyota-4runner-sr5-v6-build-thread.html) where a husband and wife bought a 3rd gen as an anniversary gift and are completely going through it, as a team no less, to end up with one really nice expedition rig.

Anyways, good stuff.

YotaFun

08-09-2013, 06:24 AM

Thanks!
I think this one wont be staying pretty forever but its def gonna be staying road worthy for a LONG time to come.
I will be getting the old arms I took out stripped and powder coated with new bushings for stepdads 4Runner which will need it in due time.

If I inherit his 4Runner (hoping I do) the body and frame are still immaculate (just needs some armorall and a good buff lol!), I plan on turning that into a expedition rig that will hopefully be as clean as yours!

YotaFun

08-15-2013, 05:56 PM

To continue with the improvements, here is a few others I have done since I have had Tess back on the road.
Besides the control arms I also changed out the lower ball joints, inner and outer tie rod ends:
http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz219/Yota-Boy/IMG_4410_zpsfc9b281a.jpg (http://s829.photobucket.com/user/Yota-Boy/media/IMG_4410_zpsfc9b281a.jpg.html)

There was some play in the inner tie rod ends, and I figured the frame and suspension on it had about 280k on it by now so it was time.

Then on the hottest week of the summer this year, my truck decided to be a little drama queen and over heat.
It took a few attempts to tame this issue.
My first round of replacements was a new radiator, thermostat, and radiator cap:
http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz219/Yota-Boy/4Runner%20Mods/IMG_4665_zps6eeec20c.jpg (http://s829.photobucket.com/user/Yota-Boy/media/4Runner%20Mods/IMG_4665_zps6eeec20c.jpg.html)
http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz219/Yota-Boy/4Runner%20Mods/IMG_4666_zpsa1122486.jpg (http://s829.photobucket.com/user/Yota-Boy/media/4Runner%20Mods/IMG_4666_zpsa1122486.jpg.html)
http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz219/Yota-Boy/4Runner%20Mods/IMG_4669_zpsbc6b05d6.jpg (http://s829.photobucket.com/user/Yota-Boy/media/4Runner%20Mods/IMG_4669_zpsbc6b05d6.jpg.html)

The reason I replaced these is when it over heated the truck didn't push coolant into the overflow reservoir, it actually blew the top tank of the radiator. I figured out it was the cap that cause the coolant to not escape to the overflow.

I thought I had the problem fixed at this point until the second hottest week of the summer hit and she decided to get sassy with me again.
Finally figured out this time that the initial cause of the overheat was the fan clutch, so a new one went in:
http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz219/Yota-Boy/4Runner%20Mods/IMG_4671_zpsa14aa2c2.jpg (http://s829.photobucket.com/user/Yota-Boy/media/4Runner%20Mods/IMG_4671_zpsa14aa2c2.jpg.html)

That fan clutch is off of a 05+ Tacoma with the Tow package.
A friend of mine and I found out that 1) the clutch fits the 3.4 fan 2) the cooling properties of the clutch seem to run the truck cooler, I think its probably just my mental thought process, but the A/C was kicking really good once the fan was spinning at where it should be!

Looking at the pic of the engine bay, I will slowly be changing out all the coolant hoses and vacuum hoses, over 200K on all of it, its about time...

YotaFun

08-15-2013, 06:45 PM

So in the process of putting Tess back to lift ready form, I have been slowly removing things from the old frame that has my lift to address some issues before transferring everything over to the new frame.

First issue I wanted to address was my all-pro coilovers, which have seen there fair share of time and use:
http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz219/Yota-Boy/4Runner%20Mods/IMG_4686_zps22a47950.jpg (http://s829.photobucket.com/user/Yota-Boy/media/4Runner%20Mods/IMG_4686_zps22a47950.jpg.html)

I bought these used and they already had about 15k on it, I added about another 50K to them.
So they are a little worse for wear and I want to take care of that fact:
One of them being the bushings in the shocks themselves:
(sorry already popped it out...)
http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz219/Yota-Boy/4Runner%20Mods/IMG_4675_zpsc3d06289.jpg (http://s829.photobucket.com/user/Yota-Boy/media/4Runner%20Mods/IMG_4675_zpsc3d06289.jpg.html)

As you can see this bushing was starting to get a little worse for wear, the others are on there way but not as bad:
http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz219/Yota-Boy/4Runner%20Mods/IMG_4689_zps39161cae.jpg (http://s829.photobucket.com/user/Yota-Boy/media/4Runner%20Mods/IMG_4689_zps39161cae.jpg.html)

Now according to various sources, nothing on these shocks is replaceable or rebuild-able. But I didn't wan't to dish out the cost of new shocks for just the bushing cause the shock itself still functions perfectly.
So I took some measurements to see if I could find anything to fit in there and then it started to occur to me, that those bushings look like they can press out, and they also look very familiar to the size of the bushings in stock 4Runner structs, which also had a replaceable bushing.
So I ordered one:
http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz219/Yota-Boy/4Runner%20Mods/IMG_4675_zpsc3d06289.jpg (http://s829.photobucket.com/user/Yota-Boy/media/4Runner%20Mods/IMG_4675_zpsc3d06289.jpg.html)
http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz219/Yota-Boy/4Runner%20Mods/IMG_4673_zpscc6837f6.jpg (http://s829.photobucket.com/user/Yota-Boy/media/4Runner%20Mods/IMG_4673_zpscc6837f6.jpg.html)
http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz219/Yota-Boy/4Runner%20Mods/IMG_4693_zpsd0483761.jpg (http://s829.photobucket.com/user/Yota-Boy/media/4Runner%20Mods/IMG_4693_zpsd0483761.jpg.html)

So with that figured out it was time to get these things apart and cleaned up:
http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz219/Yota-Boy/4Runner%20Mods/IMG_4696_zps9e8ac4b4.jpg (http://s829.photobucket.com/user/Yota-Boy/media/4Runner%20Mods/IMG_4696_zps9e8ac4b4.jpg.html)
http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz219/Yota-Boy/4Runner%20Mods/IMG_4698_zps0de3409a.jpg (http://s829.photobucket.com/user/Yota-Boy/media/4Runner%20Mods/IMG_4698_zps0de3409a.jpg.html)

It was a PITA to get them apart, so much dirt and aluminum corrosion and rust built up but its apart...
http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz219/Yota-Boy/4Runner%20Mods/IMG_4701_zpsd9f315c6.jpg (http://s829.photobucket.com/user/Yota-Boy/media/4Runner%20Mods/IMG_4701_zpsd9f315c6.jpg.html)
http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz219/Yota-Boy/4Runner%20Mods/IMG_4702_zps4480477b.jpg (http://s829.photobucket.com/user/Yota-Boy/media/4Runner%20Mods/IMG_4702_zps4480477b.jpg.html)
http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz219/Yota-Boy/4Runner%20Mods/IMG_4707_zps4e8f02aa.jpg (http://s829.photobucket.com/user/Yota-Boy/media/4Runner%20Mods/IMG_4707_zps4e8f02aa.jpg.html)
http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz219/Yota-Boy/4Runner%20Mods/IMG_4709_zps6306f4ab.jpg (http://s829.photobucket.com/user/Yota-Boy/media/4Runner%20Mods/IMG_4709_zps6306f4ab.jpg.html)
http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz219/Yota-Boy/4Runner%20Mods/IMG_4711_zpsdb67f9b1.jpg (http://s829.photobucket.com/user/Yota-Boy/media/4Runner%20Mods/IMG_4711_zpsdb67f9b1.jpg.html)

The springs are good but rusted, they for now will not be going back in but I do have replacements (heavier springs) to go in, I do plan on however getting these blasted and powder-coated and put back in eventually (They just flex soo good!):
http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz219/Yota-Boy/4Runner%20Mods/IMG_4725_zpsc14663c0.jpg (http://s829.photobucket.com/user/Yota-Boy/media/4Runner%20Mods/IMG_4725_zpsc14663c0.jpg.html)
http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz219/Yota-Boy/4Runner%20Mods/IMG_4726_zps540ae33c.jpg (http://s829.photobucket.com/user/Yota-Boy/media/4Runner%20Mods/IMG_4726_zps540ae33c.jpg.html)

So those shock body's were a little beat so I decided to coat them and make them look some what presentable and keep the corrosion down a bit:
http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz219/Yota-Boy/4Runner%20Mods/IMG_4713_zps7f18b128.jpg (http://s829.photobucket.com/user/Yota-Boy/media/4Runner%20Mods/IMG_4713_zps7f18b128.jpg.html)
http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz219/Yota-Boy/4Runner%20Mods/IMG_4716_zpsf1501988.jpg (http://s829.photobucket.com/user/Yota-Boy/media/4Runner%20Mods/IMG_4716_zpsf1501988.jpg.html)
http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz219/Yota-Boy/4Runner%20Mods/IMG_4714_zps0380211c.jpg (http://s829.photobucket.com/user/Yota-Boy/media/4Runner%20Mods/IMG_4714_zps0380211c.jpg.html)
http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz219/Yota-Boy/4Runner%20Mods/IMG_4719_zps615bc1e6.jpg (http://s829.photobucket.com/user/Yota-Boy/media/4Runner%20Mods/IMG_4719_zps615bc1e6.jpg.html)

Almost done:
http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz219/Yota-Boy/4Runner%20Mods/IMG_4747_zpsf6f3a1b0.jpg (http://s829.photobucket.com/user/Yota-Boy/media/4Runner%20Mods/IMG_4747_zpsf6f3a1b0.jpg.html)
http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz219/Yota-Boy/4Runner%20Mods/IMG_4749_zps5a7fc705.jpg (http://s829.photobucket.com/user/Yota-Boy/media/4Runner%20Mods/IMG_4749_zps5a7fc705.jpg.html)
http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz219/Yota-Boy/4Runner%20Mods/IMG_4751_zpsf960e526.jpg (http://s829.photobucket.com/user/Yota-Boy/media/4Runner%20Mods/IMG_4751_zpsf960e526.jpg.html)
http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz219/Yota-Boy/4Runner%20Mods/IMG_4755_zps763a2a70.jpg (http://s829.photobucket.com/user/Yota-Boy/media/4Runner%20Mods/IMG_4755_zps763a2a70.jpg.html)

This is the paint I used on the shock bodies:
http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz219/Yota-Boy/4Runner%20Mods/IMG_4720_zps77041a61.jpg (http://s829.photobucket.com/user/Yota-Boy/media/4Runner%20Mods/IMG_4720_zps77041a61.jpg.html)

This on the mounting brackets:
http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz219/Yota-Boy/4Runner%20Mods/IMG_4722_zps9ddbb1b4.jpg (http://s829.photobucket.com/user/Yota-Boy/media/4Runner%20Mods/IMG_4722_zps9ddbb1b4.jpg.html)

Skeptical of how well this works, we shall see tomorrow morning, if its not that great, I will throw some rustoleum on them.

Seanz0rz

08-15-2013, 07:20 PM

Lookin' good! I need to pay mine some love soon!

YotaFun

08-18-2013, 12:31 PM

So to continue off the last post, this is how the mounts looked after 24 hours:
http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz219/Yota-Boy/4Runner%20Mods/IMG_4757_zps85e1a41d.jpg (http://s829.photobucket.com/user/Yota-Boy/media/4Runner%20Mods/IMG_4757_zps85e1a41d.jpg.html)
http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz219/Yota-Boy/4Runner%20Mods/IMG_4759_zps2e4d87be.jpg (http://s829.photobucket.com/user/Yota-Boy/media/4Runner%20Mods/IMG_4759_zps2e4d87be.jpg.html)

So I painted them with two coats of this:
http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz219/Yota-Boy/4Runner%20Mods/IMG_4764_zps7c296589.jpg (http://s829.photobucket.com/user/Yota-Boy/media/4Runner%20Mods/IMG_4764_zps7c296589.jpg.html)
http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz219/Yota-Boy/4Runner%20Mods/IMG_4761_zps6f63837b.jpg (http://s829.photobucket.com/user/Yota-Boy/media/4Runner%20Mods/IMG_4761_zps6f63837b.jpg.html)
http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz219/Yota-Boy/4Runner%20Mods/IMG_4792_zps7a438026.jpg (http://s829.photobucket.com/user/Yota-Boy/media/4Runner%20Mods/IMG_4792_zps7a438026.jpg.html)

Then it was time for assembly, through my process of reassembling everything underneath, this is the grease I have been using:
http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz219/Yota-Boy/4Runner%20Mods/IMG_4776_zps300ac9c2.jpg (http://s829.photobucket.com/user/Yota-Boy/media/4Runner%20Mods/IMG_4776_zps300ac9c2.jpg.html)
I will try to get a better pic of it (still looking for my camera charger...)

http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz219/Yota-Boy/4Runner%20Mods/IMG_4778_zps76fe87ad.jpg (http://s829.photobucket.com/user/Yota-Boy/media/4Runner%20Mods/IMG_4778_zps76fe87ad.jpg.html)
After threading the lock nuts it filled the threads nicely with the grease and made them very easy to turn FINALLY (taking them apart really was no picnic....)

Here are the new springs:
http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz219/Yota-Boy/4Runner%20Mods/IMG_4782_zps6ac705c3.jpg (http://s829.photobucket.com/user/Yota-Boy/media/4Runner%20Mods/IMG_4782_zps6ac705c3.jpg.html)

New bushings and the springs in, note they are at the no lift setting right now, the reason being is I can only compress them so much with the wall mount compressor, too tight and I can't get it out, but with the adjustment and lock nut spinning freely, doing it on the truck should be no problem:
http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz219/Yota-Boy/4Runner%20Mods/IMG_4787_zps9c6e0263.jpg (http://s829.photobucket.com/user/Yota-Boy/media/4Runner%20Mods/IMG_4787_zps9c6e0263.jpg.html)
http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz219/Yota-Boy/4Runner%20Mods/IMG_4790_zpsc85b30e8.jpg (http://s829.photobucket.com/user/Yota-Boy/media/4Runner%20Mods/IMG_4790_zpsc85b30e8.jpg.html)

And with the mounts:
http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz219/Yota-Boy/4Runner%20Mods/IMG_4796_zpse4f3c5cf.jpg (http://s829.photobucket.com/user/Yota-Boy/media/4Runner%20Mods/IMG_4796_zpse4f3c5cf.jpg.html)

YotaFun

08-18-2013, 12:58 PM

So that project is done off to the next one, which is my rear lower links that I got with my lift a LONG time ago.
When I bought my kit, Sonoran Steel was offering DOM lower links with Rubicon Express superflex joints.
I have nothing but praise for these links off road, they worked great, help the rear flex amazingly, and never bent!

However after almost 100k mile of road with my carelessness and lack of maint (never lubed) I wanted to take them off, apart and replace what is necessary. Living in the rust belt always proves to make the simplest task nearly impossible.

To start off this adventure, when going to remove the arms, one came off the truck with out a hitch, the other on the other hand was a different story...
1 BOLT was stuck in the joint itself and it was the frame side...
I don't have pics of on the truck but what I ended up doing is cutting the head side in an x and chisel the head pieces off and sawsall the other side and pried both sides back to release the link:
Then I was able to get the joint apart and tried to get the bolt out by heating it, well I ruined the joint in the process:
http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz219/Yota-Boy/4Runner%20Mods/IMG_4798_zps86970515.jpg (http://s829.photobucket.com/user/Yota-Boy/media/4Runner%20Mods/IMG_4798_zps86970515.jpg.html)
http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz219/Yota-Boy/4Runner%20Mods/IMG_4738_zps26fa99ea.jpg (http://s829.photobucket.com/user/Yota-Boy/media/4Runner%20Mods/IMG_4738_zps26fa99ea.jpg.html)
http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz219/Yota-Boy/4Runner%20Mods/IMG_4740_zps962ba544.jpg (http://s829.photobucket.com/user/Yota-Boy/media/4Runner%20Mods/IMG_4740_zps962ba544.jpg.html)
http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz219/Yota-Boy/4Runner%20Mods/IMG_4742_zps57e72749.jpg (http://s829.photobucket.com/user/Yota-Boy/media/4Runner%20Mods/IMG_4742_zps57e72749.jpg.html)
http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz219/Yota-Boy/4Runner%20Mods/IMG_4743_zps8e56cb2d.jpg (http://s829.photobucket.com/user/Yota-Boy/media/4Runner%20Mods/IMG_4743_zps8e56cb2d.jpg.html)
http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz219/Yota-Boy/4Runner%20Mods/IMG_4746_zpsd4a29376.jpg (http://s829.photobucket.com/user/Yota-Boy/media/4Runner%20Mods/IMG_4746_zpsd4a29376.jpg.html)
http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz219/Yota-Boy/4Runner%20Mods/IMG_4736_zps71051c96.jpg (http://s829.photobucket.com/user/Yota-Boy/media/4Runner%20Mods/IMG_4736_zps71051c96.jpg.html)

Well, I figured at least one would need to be rebuilt, which turned out was going to be a little harder then I thought since Rubicon Express has gone out of business, but I did find a replacement so I thought before I set in my order to see how many I would need since the kits are about $35 a pop...

Well of course, trying to get the rest apart proved to be futile....
The little allen lock bolt was the first hurdle to get out, I tried drilling on out and well I will probably have to retap and find a different size allen bolt to put in. I stopped at just on since the other two on the other link were too frozen.
Then I tired to get the lock nut off and its not even budging, even with a little heat, I will be trying more heat later since I have already ruined the harden plastic races on that joint, but if this seems to be the case for all 4 joints, I might consider making new ones....

troyboy162

08-18-2013, 05:53 PM

not bad for that kind of miles on them! if your shocks are any indication you'll have them all cleaned up for another 100k miles :)

YotaFun

08-19-2013, 05:46 AM

We shall see what happens, If I can get the apart I will rebuild them (at this point I am expecting to do all 4).
I wish I could get the powder coated again but Jeremy doesn't do that anymore so I think I am just going to get them blasted and paint them on my own.

They are soaking in penetrating lube so we shall see, I'll be happy if I do get another 100k out of them, I'll just be happy to have that flex! lol

troyboy162

08-19-2013, 05:28 PM

you wheel that sucker!, spray em the same color as everything else underneath so that over spray is encouraged lol. :)

CJM

08-19-2013, 06:39 PM

Could powdercoat them yourself, harbor freight gun, some better powder and a electric oven or large toaster oven from craigslist. Heck paintbooth at work might work (if you got one).

4x4mike

08-19-2013, 06:59 PM

Heck paintbooth at work might work (if you got one).

It appears he has a 4Runner paint booth.

http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz219/Yota-Boy/4Runner%20Mods/IMG_4747_zpsf6f3a1b0.jpg (http://s829.photobucket.com/user/Yota-Boy/media/4Runner%20Mods/IMG_4747_zpsf6f3a1b0.jpg.html)

DHC6twinotter

08-19-2013, 07:10 PM

Looks great, Avy!

It appears he has a 4Runner paint booth.

LOL

YotaFun

08-20-2013, 07:10 AM

you wheel that sucker!, spray em the same color as everything else underneath so that over spray is encouraged lol. :)

Never thought of that, but damn I love the red soo much lol!!!

Could powdercoat them yourself, harbor freight gun, some better powder and a electric oven or large toaster oven from craigslist. Heck paintbooth at work might work (if you got one).

Yeah our oven barely does turkey (we got a deep fryer for that lol) I'll just paint them with caliper pain that I can use to retouch them later, I'd still like to get them blasted...

It appears he has a 4Runner paint booth.

Lol Mike, The white one I used when I sprayed them, and then I hung them on my roll bar in Tess overnight lol!!!
They both came in handy thats for sure!

Looks great, Avy!

Thanks Dan!

CJM

08-20-2013, 03:11 PM

Caliper paint should work pretty good :)

Seanz0rz

08-20-2013, 03:52 PM

Looks great!

YotaFun

08-20-2013, 06:52 PM

Thanks Sean!
One of these days I might be asking you to make one of them awesome overhead control board!

YotaFun

08-23-2013, 04:31 PM

So the saga continues....
I have been given a dead line to get my vehicles out of the work parking lot except for the one I drive so work has been pushed forward on getting the 4Runner done...

I had a rear locker with 4.30 gears in the old truck so I wanted that back which required moving the axle over...
http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz219/Yota-Boy/4Runner%20Mods/IMG_4826_zps3c05cbf0.jpg (http://s829.photobucket.com/user/Yota-Boy/media/4Runner%20Mods/IMG_4826_zps3c05cbf0.jpg.html)
I have done my fair share of swaps but I think its just starting to get ridiculous now...

While I was in the process of doing this I figured I would install new shocks, since I am sure the nut on the LC coils was not gonna budge off my old frame:
http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz219/Yota-Boy/4Runner%20Mods/IMG_4827_zps347941ff.jpg (http://s829.photobucket.com/user/Yota-Boy/media/4Runner%20Mods/IMG_4827_zps347941ff.jpg.html)
http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz219/Yota-Boy/4Runner%20Mods/IMG_4828_zpsc84a0f48.jpg (http://s829.photobucket.com/user/Yota-Boy/media/4Runner%20Mods/IMG_4828_zpsc84a0f48.jpg.html)

They were the cheapest Monroe off of Rock auto, I remember them in my buddies truck and we liked the way they rode, however the stud side of the shock is a good bit smaller compared to the Toyota Tokico Shocks, and there is no front shield by the eye (not like it was special but the added bonus of know it was there was nice).
I will eventually go back to the Tokico's but for now I will ride these till they blow...

The stock ones were done, def the original with 280k on them:
http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz219/Yota-Boy/4Runner%20Mods/IMG_4837_zps551bc407.jpg (http://s829.photobucket.com/user/Yota-Boy/media/4Runner%20Mods/IMG_4837_zps551bc407.jpg.html)

Tada:
http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz219/Yota-Boy/4Runner%20Mods/IMG_4829_zps98fde2f0.jpg (http://s829.photobucket.com/user/Yota-Boy/media/4Runner%20Mods/IMG_4829_zps98fde2f0.jpg.html)
http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz219/Yota-Boy/4Runner%20Mods/IMG_4830_zpsfef96eea.jpg (http://s829.photobucket.com/user/Yota-Boy/media/4Runner%20Mods/IMG_4830_zpsfef96eea.jpg.html)

Doing this alone was the hardest thing I have ever done, lift up and down getting it just right to get the links in, ugh it was a pain but I need these things gone by the end of the month -_-

Its good to see Tess the way I always knew her to be, stock she just was never a happy camper

As for final measurements, this is the before, you have to remember she was sagging a good bit in the rear from the worn springs:
http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz219/Yota-Boy/4Runner%20Mods/IMG_4823_zps310cc180.jpg (http://s829.photobucket.com/user/Yota-Boy/media/4Runner%20Mods/IMG_4823_zps310cc180.jpg.html)
http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz219/Yota-Boy/4Runner%20Mods/IMG_4834_zpsc0ee6e40.jpg (http://s829.photobucket.com/user/Yota-Boy/media/4Runner%20Mods/IMG_4834_zpsc0ee6e40.jpg.html)

Seanz0rz

08-23-2013, 04:37 PM

When I had my axle completely out, I found it was much easier to remove and reinstall with the tires off. I did mine with a few jackstands and a jack.

YotaFun

08-23-2013, 04:53 PM

Next was to get the front done, which has brought about another whole mess of issues thanks to that glorious thing that I just can't escape in my area.... rust....

First of all the new frame coming apart, and getting everything out, not a lot of pics since again it was just me:
http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz219/Yota-Boy/4Runner%20Mods/IMG_4848_zps8dbc2481.jpg (http://s829.photobucket.com/user/Yota-Boy/media/4Runner%20Mods/IMG_4848_zps8dbc2481.jpg.html)

There is a lot of stuff missing there....

http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz219/Yota-Boy/4Runner%20Mods/IMG_4849_zps56bc6432.jpg (http://s829.photobucket.com/user/Yota-Boy/media/4Runner%20Mods/IMG_4849_zps56bc6432.jpg.html)
Coils in, I adjusted the preload a bit before putting it in the truck, I figured if it was too high lowering it would be easier then raising it.

That is all I have for front install kits.
I got the diff moved over sans diff drop due to the fact the spacer is stuck to the bolt and the threads got stripped (I think I can retrace them and save them but the nuts are definitely done and I will have to replace them)....

Also missing from the front end is my all-pro upper control arms -_-....
The bolt that goes through the arms and the shock tower is frozen to the bushing sleeves...
This is due to me being all gun-ho with the air gun when I first installed them, mushroomed the bolt into the sleeve a little, plus some rust just spells disaster...

Called up All-pro to get new sleeve, I tell you those guys there are great gents, and good sense of humor, especially if they can deal with a nut like me lol!

Ordered new a-arm bolts due to the fact I would rather have new ones in there while I am at it, and also some shock to lower arm bolts and nuts (I just had what I could find thrown in since when I was doing it I was running back and forth between the two truck and loosing my mind)

But she is lifted.... again....
http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz219/Yota-Boy/4Runner%20Mods/IMG_4854_zps0335ca94.jpg (http://s829.photobucket.com/user/Yota-Boy/media/4Runner%20Mods/IMG_4854_zps0335ca94.jpg.html)
http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz219/Yota-Boy/4Runner%20Mods/IMG_4855_zpsc4c0f9e0.jpg (http://s829.photobucket.com/user/Yota-Boy/media/4Runner%20Mods/IMG_4855_zpsc4c0f9e0.jpg.html)

She is high on the passenger side, I will have to crank her down a bit, I will do that once I get the upper arms swapped over, but oh what a feeling to sit in her and feel up high again!

I'll have the before and after measurements after the arms are in and its aligned

YotaFun

08-23-2013, 04:55 PM

When I had my axle completely out, I found it was much easier to remove and reinstall with the tires off. I did mine with a few jackstands and a jack.

Sean it made it a lot easier for me in this case to keep the tires on since I could roll one axle to the one truck and the one to the other, I had them lined up good but getting the bolts through the links proved to be a pain especially since there was some tension on them still...

YotaFun

01-31-2014, 02:21 PM

With the 4Runner lifted again, and me having a few bad weeks, I really wanted to get out in the woods for a bit...
I don't have much pictures of the days events I was riding solo in my truck (still with a group though)

The begging of the trail is easy and then there is an 'S' turn before the real tough stuff, still has some intricately placed rocks.
Well I picked a bad line and this was the outcome:
http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz219/Yota-Boy/IMG_4976_zpsc868e9f6.jpg (http://s829.photobucket.com/user/Yota-Boy/media/IMG_4976_zpsc868e9f6.jpg.html)

That is the tire shoved into the body.....

This is what was the result of my damages:
http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz219/Yota-Boy/IMG_4978_zpscec02ef1.jpg (http://s829.photobucket.com/user/Yota-Boy/media/IMG_4978_zpscec02ef1.jpg.html)
http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz219/Yota-Boy/IMG_4982_zpse94fffea.jpg (http://s829.photobucket.com/user/Yota-Boy/media/IMG_4982_zpse94fffea.jpg.html)
http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz219/Yota-Boy/IMG_4984_zps486ce12e.jpg (http://s829.photobucket.com/user/Yota-Boy/media/IMG_4984_zps486ce12e.jpg.html)

YotaFun

01-31-2014, 02:23 PM

More pictures of the carnage:
http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz219/Yota-Boy/IMG_5047_zps5cb579e3.jpg (http://s829.photobucket.com/user/Yota-Boy/media/IMG_5047_zps5cb579e3.jpg.html)
http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz219/Yota-Boy/IMG_5049_zpsd400b544.jpg (http://s829.photobucket.com/user/Yota-Boy/media/IMG_5049_zpsd400b544.jpg.html)
http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz219/Yota-Boy/IMG_5043_zpsaec72eae.jpg (http://s829.photobucket.com/user/Yota-Boy/media/IMG_5043_zpsaec72eae.jpg.html)

How its suppose to look:
http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz219/Yota-Boy/IMG_5051_zpsec8407f0.jpg (http://s829.photobucket.com/user/Yota-Boy/media/IMG_5051_zpsec8407f0.jpg.html)

This is a bad pic but dirty hands make it hard to take good pics, that is where the bottom of the shock is split:
http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz219/Yota-Boy/IMG_5040_zps98bb49ae.jpg (http://s829.photobucket.com/user/Yota-Boy/media/IMG_5040_zps98bb49ae.jpg.html)
When I removed the shock the bottom came right off:
http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz219/Yota-Boy/IMG_5176_zps678b04da.jpg (http://s829.photobucket.com/user/Yota-Boy/media/IMG_5176_zps678b04da.jpg.html)

Bent Shock and broken link (broke as I was trying to get it off the trailer -_-:
http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz219/Yota-Boy/IMG_5055_zps36fdf54e.jpg (http://s829.photobucket.com/user/Yota-Boy/media/IMG_5055_zps36fdf54e.jpg.html)

Axles out:
http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz219/Yota-Boy/IMG_5174_zpsabddc793.jpg (http://s829.photobucket.com/user/Yota-Boy/media/IMG_5174_zpsabddc793.jpg.html)

So is the diff:
http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz219/Yota-Boy/IMG_5175_zps631761d2.jpg (http://s829.photobucket.com/user/Yota-Boy/media/IMG_5175_zps631761d2.jpg.html)
http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz219/Yota-Boy/IMG_5184_zps4ff6cb84.jpg (http://s829.photobucket.com/user/Yota-Boy/media/IMG_5184_zps4ff6cb84.jpg.html)
http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz219/Yota-Boy/IMG_5182_zps2c82cc09.jpg (http://s829.photobucket.com/user/Yota-Boy/media/IMG_5182_zps2c82cc09.jpg.html)
http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz219/Yota-Boy/IMG_5186_zps0bb83158.jpg (http://s829.photobucket.com/user/Yota-Boy/media/IMG_5186_zps0bb83158.jpg.html)
http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz219/Yota-Boy/IMG_5185_zps24247da9.jpg (http://s829.photobucket.com/user/Yota-Boy/media/IMG_5185_zps24247da9.jpg.html)
http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz219/Yota-Boy/IMG_5187_zps1b88f59e.jpg (http://s829.photobucket.com/user/Yota-Boy/media/IMG_5187_zps1b88f59e.jpg.html)
http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz219/Yota-Boy/IMG_5189_zps3b1a5e77.jpg (http://s829.photobucket.com/user/Yota-Boy/media/IMG_5189_zps3b1a5e77.jpg.html)
http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz219/Yota-Boy/IMG_5195_zpsc06d11ed.jpg (http://s829.photobucket.com/user/Yota-Boy/media/IMG_5195_zpsc06d11ed.jpg.html)
http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz219/Yota-Boy/IMG_5191_zps2752e74a.jpg (http://s829.photobucket.com/user/Yota-Boy/media/IMG_5191_zps2752e74a.jpg.html)

I am sleeving the upper control arms to beef them up and putting new bushings in, while yes I could have made adjustable ones, I really have no need as of right now, I don't plan to lift the rear any higher and the current geometry of the set up works well when I don't break it.
So this is what I did:
http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz219/Yota-Boy/IMG_5206_zpsb1aa254e.jpg (http://s829.photobucket.com/user/Yota-Boy/media/IMG_5206_zpsb1aa254e.jpg.html)
http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz219/Yota-Boy/IMG_5219_zps8dbd278b.jpg (http://s829.photobucket.com/user/Yota-Boy/media/IMG_5219_zps8dbd278b.jpg.html)
http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz219/Yota-Boy/IMG_5217_zps0544ca70.jpg (http://s829.photobucket.com/user/Yota-Boy/media/IMG_5217_zps0544ca70.jpg.html)
http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz219/Yota-Boy/IMG_5221_zpseb88d461.jpg (http://s829.photobucket.com/user/Yota-Boy/media/IMG_5221_zpseb88d461.jpg.html)

Boom:
http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz219/Yota-Boy/IMG_5209_zpsc9ced73c.jpg (http://s829.photobucket.com/user/Yota-Boy/media/IMG_5209_zpsc9ced73c.jpg.html)
http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz219/Yota-Boy/IMG_5210_zps08395114.jpg (http://s829.photobucket.com/user/Yota-Boy/media/IMG_5210_zps08395114.jpg.html)

Comparison:
http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz219/Yota-Boy/IMG_5212_zpsbee3f699.jpg (http://s829.photobucket.com/user/Yota-Boy/media/IMG_5212_zpsbee3f699.jpg.html)

Done:
http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz219/Yota-Boy/IMG_5226_zps1e3d0ffa.jpg (http://s829.photobucket.com/user/Yota-Boy/media/IMG_5226_zps1e3d0ffa.jpg.html)

YotaFun

01-31-2014, 02:25 PM

With the upper links out of the way it was time to see what to do with the lowers,
Since rebuilding my old Rubicon Express links from Sonoran Steel was proving to be a major pain in the ass I decided to make my own, cutting off the end of the links and doing something my way:

http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz219/Yota-Boy/IMG_5237_zps1b5a24bd.jpg (http://s829.photobucket.com/user/Yota-Boy/media/IMG_5237_zps1b5a24bd.jpg.html)
http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz219/Yota-Boy/IMG_5239_zps668b5c78.jpg (http://s829.photobucket.com/user/Yota-Boy/media/IMG_5239_zps668b5c78.jpg.html)
http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz219/Yota-Boy/IMG_5241_zpsfe2a7cd4.jpg (http://s829.photobucket.com/user/Yota-Boy/media/IMG_5241_zpsfe2a7cd4.jpg.html)

What I am doing for one end is welding on the frame side is weld the stock link end to that side:
http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz219/Yota-Boy/IMG_5257_zpsea1cf276.jpg (http://s829.photobucket.com/user/Yota-Boy/media/IMG_5257_zpsea1cf276.jpg.html)

On the other end I am going to do as so:
http://www.ballisticfabrication.com/Forged-Chromoly-20-Ballistic-Joint_p_1966.html

Its pretty amazing how flimsy the stock links are:
http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz219/Yota-Boy/IMG_5259_zps467e74ee.jpg (http://s829.photobucket.com/user/Yota-Boy/media/IMG_5259_zps467e74ee.jpg.html)

YotaFun

01-31-2014, 02:26 PM

So I sourced a rear axle for $50 from a local u-pull, it was a little rusted, cleaned it up and painted it, and put a little truss in:
It is even, just the way this picture was taken make it look otherwise:
http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz219/Yota-Boy/IMG_5415_zps0f7d99fd.jpg (http://s829.photobucket.com/user/Yota-Boy/media/IMG_5415_zps0f7d99fd.jpg.html)
http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz219/Yota-Boy/IMG_5419_zpsbd28300c.jpg (http://s829.photobucket.com/user/Yota-Boy/media/IMG_5419_zpsbd28300c.jpg.html)
http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz219/Yota-Boy/IMG_5420_zpsa7aed046.jpg (http://s829.photobucket.com/user/Yota-Boy/media/IMG_5420_zpsa7aed046.jpg.html)
http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz219/Yota-Boy/IMG_5417_zps1d6d2787.jpg (http://s829.photobucket.com/user/Yota-Boy/media/IMG_5417_zps1d6d2787.jpg.html)

Finally got the parts from ballistics and the bushing off amazon:
http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz219/Yota-Boy/IMG_5351_zps2c4cc49b.jpg (http://s829.photobucket.com/user/Yota-Boy/media/IMG_5351_zps2c4cc49b.jpg.html)
I forgot to take pics of the bushings for the links but here is the link to the amazon page that has them:
Lower:
http://www.amazon.com/Febest-Bushing-Lateral-Control-48720-35040/dp/B00C6MYBAA
Upper:
http://www.amazon.com/Febest-Bushing-Lateral-Control-48702-35050/dp/B00C6MVPH2

New Links:
Upper:
http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz219/Yota-Boy/IMG_5398_zps86d81787.jpg (http://s829.photobucket.com/user/Yota-Boy/media/IMG_5398_zps86d81787.jpg.html)
http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz219/Yota-Boy/IMG_5400_zpsb82d7fa7.jpg (http://s829.photobucket.com/user/Yota-Boy/media/IMG_5400_zpsb82d7fa7.jpg.html)
Lowers:
http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz219/Yota-Boy/8888641c-16d3-42a0-82f2-b94efeec06cd_zps20eb682a.jpg (http://s829.photobucket.com/user/Yota-Boy/media/8888641c-16d3-42a0-82f2-b94efeec06cd_zps20eb682a.jpg.html)
http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz219/Yota-Boy/IMG_5402_zps3a538b2e.jpg (http://s829.photobucket.com/user/Yota-Boy/media/IMG_5402_zps3a538b2e.jpg.html)

Now just have to clean them up a little, paint the housing and links with a good final coat and that part of the project will be done.

I have to now install the diff and all the brake lines and e-brake lines.
Order some shocks and re-install the rear and she will be rolling again.

I will be going back to just being open in the rear again till I can afford to regear to 4.88s.
Since I only have a 4.10 ope diff, I will have to switch the front back to 4.10 as well, a lot of work yes but I unfortunately do not have a time line as to when the funds will be available for the 4.88 and I would rather be open open and have 4wd then no truck at all.

YotaFun

01-31-2014, 02:28 PM

http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz219/Yota-Boy/Progress1_zps1be6bed2.jpg (http://s829.photobucket.com/user/Yota-Boy/media/Progress1_zps1be6bed2.jpg.html)

You have no idea how hard it was to do this job with only the factory bottle jack, with changing jobs and the holidays there was really no money to get a proper floor jack -_-

In that picture I was still waiting on shocks to get in the mail as well as get axle seals cause the ones I had sucked and would not go in right, pretty much note for the future its Toyota seals or its Toyota seals, everything else has a coating of some sort on the outer edge that prevent it from going it right as such:
http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz219/Yota-Boy/shitseal_zps3d85c7c9.jpg (http://s829.photobucket.com/user/Yota-Boy/media/shitseal_zps3d85c7c9.jpg.html)

But once that was sorted out:
http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz219/Yota-Boy/Progress2_zpsc6a44f5b.jpg (http://s829.photobucket.com/user/Yota-Boy/media/Progress2_zpsc6a44f5b.jpg.html)

No seal in that pic I know but they are installed because:
http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz219/Yota-Boy/sherolls_zpsb7e334f9.jpg (http://s829.photobucket.com/user/Yota-Boy/media/sherolls_zpsb7e334f9.jpg.html)

She is up and running finally!
She needed a few things though before I could take her down the road safety:
Brakes bled
All bolts tighten (actually have to go back and back them off then torque them since I just went good and tight and that was my mistake first time around...)
Oil change (I ran half a can of seafoam in the oil since prior to this she hadn't run since september)
Charge the battery (was stone cold dead but I was able to bring it back to life)
Test Drive it.

First initial test drive found the only two problems that needed to be resolved.
The issues came from and ass end that liked to pitch itself one way on acceleration and another on braking, making this a very scary rid especially if you had to panic brake.
This was a result of one of the links being a half a turn out of adjustment and the other, the bolts I used on the ballistics end-link side was too small. Half a turn and new bolts later and she is driving around beautifully.

Hopefully soon enough I'll have 4WD and the build can start to continue as normal -_-

YotaFun

01-31-2014, 02:34 PM

Doing a front diff on your own on a cold garage floor is now easy task but the motivation of 6"+ of snow lights a fire under your butt to get it done!

Not many pics but:
http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz219/Yota-Boy/IMG_5501_zps4cf8e4ef.jpg (http://s829.photobucket.com/user/Yota-Boy/media/IMG_5501_zps4cf8e4ef.jpg.html)
http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz219/Yota-Boy/IMG_5502_zpscbf300bc.jpg (http://s829.photobucket.com/user/Yota-Boy/media/IMG_5502_zpscbf300bc.jpg.html)

This light makes a 4 Wheeler very happy:
http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz219/Yota-Boy/IMG_5505_zpsd2862abc.jpg (http://s829.photobucket.com/user/Yota-Boy/media/IMG_5505_zpsd2862abc.jpg.html)

YotaFun

05-15-2018, 10:46 PM

I haven't updated much on the build and honestly all I have done is changed my gear ratio to 4.88 and added a roof basket.

However it comes with a heavy heart, and a lot of sleepless night trying to make a decision and I am sad to say that this build has come to an end and Tess will be a 4Runner I cannot save....

There is more body rust then I thought and the structural integrity is compromised on the driver side, the rocker is almost 100% gone and the inner rocker is on its way out and not attached to anything that has remained. The passenger side rocker in the rear is gone and the inside floor side resembles the driver. Also due to the numerous windshield replacements in her life time (5...) the top or the windshield sheet metal has rusted away to the point that when it rains, it rains inside the truck as well -_-
Take all of this and add an engine that needs head gaskets, it is just time.

I swore when I first got this truck that I would do whatever I could to make sure I keep it, but have grown up and matured and realized that some things aren't meant to last forever. I am sure with some astronomical amount of money that I don't have I could save it, but I don't have that.

I have been blessed with 12 and a half years and 163k miles of memories with her. Thanks to Tess I have met some amazing people and she has helped shaped me into the person I am today. She will live on with some parts being transferred over to my 2000 4Runner Annabelle so memories can continue to be made.

On to the pictures:
On my Google Drive: https://drive.google.com/open?id=13fKixfZOXDh24cY0_-fqiGXYjdotXZLC
Drivers Side Rocker and Quarter Panel:
http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz219/Yota-Boy/Rusted/20180514_195531_zpskou9l4nr.jpg (http://s829.photobucket.com/user/Yota-Boy/media/Rusted/20180514_195531_zpskou9l4nr.jpg.html)

http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz219/Yota-Boy/Rusted/20180515_103445_zpspqlhl0m2.jpg (http://s829.photobucket.com/user/Yota-Boy/media/Rusted/20180515_103445_zpspqlhl0m2.jpg.html)

http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz219/Yota-Boy/Rusted/20180515_103322_zpstefgny48.jpg (http://s829.photobucket.com/user/Yota-Boy/media/Rusted/20180515_103322_zpstefgny48.jpg.html)

http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz219/Yota-Boy/Rusted/20180515_103332_zpsywwmipit.jpg (http://s829.photobucket.com/user/Yota-Boy/media/Rusted/20180515_103332_zpsywwmipit.jpg.html)

http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz219/Yota-Boy/Rusted/20180515_103334_zpsd6ww2lkw.jpg (http://s829.photobucket.com/user/Yota-Boy/media/Rusted/20180515_103334_zpsd6ww2lkw.jpg.html)

http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz219/Yota-Boy/Rusted/20180515_103403_zpsmj3sl6ua.jpg (http://s829.photobucket.com/user/Yota-Boy/media/Rusted/20180515_103403_zpsmj3sl6ua.jpg.html)

http://i829.photobucket.com/albums/zz219/Yota-Boy/Rusted/20180514_195610_zpsivucefjn.jpg (http://s829.photobucket.com/user/Yota-Boy/media/Rusted/20180514_195610_zpsivucefjn.jpg.html)

As far as the part out, I will be transferring what I want to Annabelle and then taking the truck apart as much as I can (try to stock up on spare nuts and bolts) and then cut up the body and scrap it, and maybe sell the frame ;-)

I have had a few guys ask me how much I want for the whole truck, but if I can't have it whole I really don't want to see someone else driving it around, yes a little selfish but it would be hard for me to swallow seeing.

Kryptoroxx

05-16-2018, 10:36 AM

Oh no!

Stamped and snailmailed from a secret location

4x4mike

05-17-2018, 07:24 AM

Man that sucks, I'm sorry. At least you got a lot of life out of her and you've got a plan. Parting out can make you some money especially since some parts are getting harder to find. I'm sure a few of the smaller higher ticket items will go fast on eBay or the like.

Seanz0rz

05-20-2018, 06:53 AM

I was thinking about this over the weekend. Really sucks but I am proud of you calling it quits when you should. I put alot of work into mine and I am still not sure it was really worth it. That being said, I ama keeping it for as long as I can to get my money worth.

Any interest in another vehicle? I love my 100 and the 4th gens are all cheap enough now to wheel.

YotaFun

05-20-2018, 02:57 PM

Thanks for the support gents. It really sucks and I probably should have called it back when I found the hole in the frame, but I still got a ton of knowledge from doing that swap. The build would always start and stall and honestly the most I got was a lift and some armor and gears, hopefully with Annabelle I can get the full build done.

I have had interest in other vehicles for some time now, just not the funds. My last trip out to the trails I was a passenger and ended up jumping from truck to truck to help out where needed and I got behind the seat of an 80 series and while in that was surprised at how well it rode on the trails. It's a bummer they are so under powered. I have not driven a 100 series off road, I have on road and I enjoyed it, however I did not enjoy working on it lol! I like the 4th gen but I don't love the 4th gen. I looks great lifted and modified but there is still something with them that doesn't quite jive with me. They still bring a smile to my face when I start them lol. I really like the GX470 they are like a nice mix between a LC and a 4runner, but around here they are either super rusty underneath or super expensive.

I will stick with Annabelle for now. A friend of mine has a super clean 00' with 322k that runs drives and looks super clean underneath, even working on the timing belt the other week was super easy no rusted bolts. He really wants to be in an 80 or 100 series. If I can find him a decent one I might work out a deal for his 4runner lol.

I haven't focused to much on the plan yet, I have to knock out some maintenance on the 00' and a few honey do list items around the house, but I would like to be done switching everything over before winter.