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MandAtaco (Manda4Runner-?) Build Thread
I never had a full on build thread on my truck and always regretted it. Hopefully I can keep up on it with the Runner so I'll have a reference for everything, and be able to help someone else down the road.
07-27-17 NOTE: So photobucket sucks the big one and changed their hosting, I'm not paying a fortune to host pictures so I'm in the process of switching everything over the FLICKER. For now you can click on the missing picture and at least open it up in photobuckets page. I'll hopefully have everything migrated over in the next 10 years. Current Pics: https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3917/...e620d231_c.jpg https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4310/...63188b16_c.jpg https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4315/...01fb878f_c.jpg Suspension Mods: -Donahoe (Icon) extended travel front coilovers -Camburg upper control arms -OME 861 Rear Springs -Toytec Panhard drop bracket, Reinforced to the frame -Custom rear sway bar links, longer built from Energy Suspension links -OEM Toyota LC80 rear shocks, frame drilled out to fit the larger centering washer -.5" PhatPats Body Lift Drive Train Mods: -Yukon 4.56 gears -ARB Front Locker -Toytec Diff Drop Current Body/Bumper/Armor -ARB front bumper -8" HID KC Lights -9000# Smittybuilt winch -Custom rear bumper with Swing out -Custom low profile rack 3/4" round tube -CBI ditch light brackets with LED flood lights Engine/Trans Mods: -Hilux Snorkel -Airaid intake tube -Walker catalytic converter -Magnaflow 18" muffler with custom rear dump -Tru-Cool 4589 Trans Cooler (radiator bypassed) Current Interior Mods: -Scanguage II with X-guage to monitor trans temps -LED dome lighting -JVC Stereo -WeatherTech Front Floor Mat's in Black -CalTrend front seat covers -Bunch of OTRATTW rocker switches Wheel's/Tires/Brakes -Braided Brake lines from Wheelers Off-road front and rear -Tundra 231 Brake upgrade with Duralast stuff -BFGoodrich A/T KO2's in 285/75R16 on stock Limited 5 spoke rims -Spidertrax 1.25" wheel spacers -Matching spare Camping/Expo/Comfortable Living -Xantra 1000W inverter (Built into rear storage box) -Puma Compressor (Built into rear storage box) with 1/2 gallon tank underneath -6.5' Smittybuilt awning -Custom rear storage box with table -IndelB 51 Fridge -CVT Mt. Shasta RTT Back story: My wife and I bought a 01 Tacoma back in 05 and I proceed to build it up over the course of the 9+ years we owned it, eventually ending up with a truck that I felt could do a little bit of everything. We ran the Rubicon, Moab, Big Bear, and a bunch of other places in it, all while daily driving it. It was a bad little truck! https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4326/...e9bbfdc5_c.jpg The ONLY problem with this truck, was the lack of seating for my now kids. I tried to get 2 cars seats in the taco, but it was neither going to be comfortable, or safe IMO, so the search was on for a 3rd Gen 4Runner. I started looking for something specific, a 99-00 with 3.4L and a rear locker. I knew if I could find this combination i could save myself a chunk of change by swapping a lot of the parts from my truck onto the Runner. Besides that I knew there was no way I would get my money out of those parts when I sold the truck. I found what I wanted up in Southern Utah. Took the trailer up and brought it home. https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4303/...c5305e6d_c.jpg 2000 Limited, 3.4L, Automatic, Rear locker, 191K miles, power everything, 5 spoke limited Rims, basically everything I wanted! https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4315/...076e2dd4_c.jpg Frame was mostly rust free (just some surface stuff here and there), everything was just dirty. The previous owner had it for 5 years and by his own account, just drove the thing and had the oil changed. https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4307/...bbc2fbd9_c.jpg https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4321/...57ffc008_c.jpg |
I got it home pulled it in the garage and started working on it, I literally only did a mile long test drive before I tore it apart! There was some stuff I needed to swap before I sold the truck, and I wanted to get the major tune up stuff done too while I had another truck to drive. First up was to swap the rear third and front diff. I had 4.56 gears and a front ARB locker in the Taco. They got pulled and swapped for the 4.30 gears that came in the Runner.
http://i789.photobucket.com/albums/y...w.jpg~original http://i789.photobucket.com/albums/y...z.jpg~original The rear was a direct swap, the front I had to swap the actuator's out as the taco was electronic controlled, and the Runner is Vacuum controlled. http://i789.photobucket.com/albums/y...k.jpg~original I also went ahead and installed some new axle seals in the back (they weren't leaking) and installed a set of ADD shafts I had rebuilt a while back as trail spares. They were Green label shafts from a Taco. I had them and knew that the ones on the Runner would probably just start leaking the minute the lift went on anyway. Some of the other stuff I kept, to give you an idea of where this build is going: -8" HID KC lights -Hot water shower heat exchanger -2 Meter Radio -Donahoe (Icon) front Coilovers -Camburg upper Control Arms -Puma Compressor for locker control and OBA -and of course this guy..... It'll get fully gone through and installed sometime down the road. Marlin 4.7 "Taco Box". http://i789.photobucket.com/albums/y...g.jpg~original |
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I am curious if you have more info on this shower thing...? That'd sure be nice to have on long trips. |
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Sorry I don't have better pics, but here it is in my taco. http://i789.photobucket.com/albums/y...d.jpg~original http://i789.photobucket.com/albums/y...q.jpg~original <div style="position:relative;height:0;padding-bottom:56.25%"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/LKmkqenpE5o?ecver=2" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" style="position:absolute;width:100%;height:100%;le ft:0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div> |
Once I got all the diffs swapped over, I started working on the tune up stuff. The P/O said he'd never done the timing belt, he had bought it at 130K miles, and had no idea what had been done before that. One way or another I figured it was due. When I pulled the timing belt cover off, this is what it looked like....
http://i789.photobucket.com/albums/y...2.jpg~original Pretty sure it was probably never done. I've done a few of these at around 90k to 100k and none of them looked like that! http://i789.photobucket.com/albums/y...1.jpg~original Just some other pics showing the age and use of the parts out of the motor. It wouldn't surprise me if most of this stuff was original. http://i789.photobucket.com/albums/y...8.jpg~original http://i789.photobucket.com/albums/y...6.jpg~original http://i789.photobucket.com/albums/y...k.jpg~original Valve cover gaskets were leaking, they were pretty dried out and would pretty much stand up on their own! http://i789.photobucket.com/albums/y...r.jpg~original Motor was clean inside though, very good sign that at least the oil changes were done regularly. http://i789.photobucket.com/albums/y...m.jpg~original I don't have any pics but I cleaned up the engine bay as I went, looks a lot cleaner under the hood now. I also added my Airaid intake tube that I took off my Tacoma, and replaced some of the vacuum lines that were cracked. |
Good looking truck and I'm really excited to see its progress!
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Got a couple things done last weekend while I was waiting for the last of my suspension to come in. First was CBI ditch light brackets (super nice product) and some LED Flood lights I picked up from a local friend. I also painted the cowl with some trim paint while I had it off, it was pretty faded out.
http://i789.photobucket.com/albums/y...l.jpg~original http://i789.photobucket.com/albums/y...g.jpg~original I also finished up a roof rack I was working on. Its a low profile, full length deal built from 3/4" .065 tube. I painted it orange thinking it will offset some of the black on this truck (more black is coming), but honestly I don't think I like it. I'll probably pull it this weekend if I get time and paint it black too. Opinions welcome! http://i789.photobucket.com/albums/y...i.jpg~original http://i789.photobucket.com/albums/y...a.jpg~original http://i789.photobucket.com/albums/y...6.jpg~original http://i789.photobucket.com/albums/y...r.jpg~original |
I finally got all my suspension parts, rebuilt, cleaned and/or shipped in! So the Suspension goes on starting tomorrow. I've got an appointment Monday for an alignment and tires.
-Extended travel Donahoe's (Icon) -Camburg arms with new uni-balls and bushings -New OEM lower ball joints -New style rack guide -New steering shaft bellows -Energy suspension poly rack bushings -OME 891 rear springs -Bilstein rear shocks -Toytec drop bracket that I have plans to reinforce (trying to keep drive shaft/fuel tank issues to a minimum) -I'm also planning on building an adjustable pan hard bar http://i789.photobucket.com/albums/y...v.jpg~original Weekend should be fun! |
where are you at in vegas? i make quite a few tips down there because my wifes family is there.
they are around owens and lamb. |
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I'm down South, Buffalo between 215 and Blue Diamond. My folks live up N, Craig and Allen area. |
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sweet! if we line things up i might be able to hand deliver and help install it on a customer!! that would be sick! |
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I could just drag @MandAtaco up to IF with me one day too :wink2: |
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Nice truck! I like the roof rack, but I think black would look better. I think more black on these trucks in black looks great. I've got a black one as well and will hopefully be getting a Whitson rack since I cant make one myself and be painting it black.
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It was a busy last weekend/week! I got all the suspension on, but not without some issues. My Runner didn't spend a lot of time back east, but enough that some of the hardware was rusted/frozen. What a PAIN, I don't envy you guys in the rust belt AT ALL!
The upper arms, coilovers, rack guide, and rack bushings, and lower ball joints went on without a hitch. When I went to pull the tie rods off, I couldn't get the lock nuts loose, they were frozen solid. I tried heating them and soaking them in PB Blaster, and finally put them in a vise with a pipe wrench. Eventually had to cut them off hoping to save the tie rod itself. Unfortunately all the torquing I did messed up the treads on the tie rod itself. Luckily a good friend of mine had a set of OEM ones laying around, so I grabbed them from him and installed them on my truck. http://i789.photobucket.com/albums/y...a.jpg~original When I went to loosen up the lower control arms, I noticed that the front adjuster on the passenger side wouldn't move. Again, soak, heat, torque to no avail. I ended up having to cut it out with a saw. Took 4 blades, man those adjusters are hard! http://i789.photobucket.com/albums/y...3.jpg~original http://i789.photobucket.com/albums/y...q.jpg~original Here's were I screwed myself, for the sake of ease and speed, I went and purchased a new LCA made by Dorman. Long story short, everytime I would hit the brakes, The truck would go left and the steering wheel would go right. You can read the entire chain of events here: TRUCK PULLING WHEN BRAKING. And the video I took of the arm: <iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/NTq-YMegMjU?list=UU81TBXimREN3G42xo3ioQsQ" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> I ended up pressing in a new Toyota Bushing in my old arm and everything worked perfectly! http://i789.photobucket.com/albums/y...m.jpg~original A little Prunner action while I flipped her around to do the rear: http://i789.photobucket.com/albums/y...i.jpg~original The rear was pretty straight forward. I removed the sway bar end links and the ebrake cable to allow the rear axle to drop way down. The 891's went in and out without any hassle. The shocks were a pain to unbolt and bolt in of course. I also built a bracket to move the ebrake cable up, and slid the ABS wires in there holders to get more room when the axle drops out. http://i789.photobucket.com/albums/y...v.jpg~original http://i789.photobucket.com/albums/y...o.jpg~original http://i789.photobucket.com/albums/y...n.jpg~original All done! http://i789.photobucket.com/albums/y...r.jpg~original |
Between the rack bushings being toast and the rack guide being loose, I had some major play in my steering.
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/obsLpYWgT9s" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> I installed the updated rack guide, and poly rack bushings. It made a HUGE difference in the tightness of my rack, much better steering feel now! http://i789.photobucket.com/albums/y...f.jpg~original I also installed a couple new rack bellows to keep the dirt out. Hopefully with some updated ATF I can keep this rack solid for a while longer. |
I hadn't planned on doing this quite so soon, but Tundra 231 brake upgrade is done too. I ordered everything for a 2005 V8 4x4 Tundra. Super easy upgrade to do! Everything you need to know is in the T4R STICKY.
http://i789.photobucket.com/albums/y...z.jpg~original Beefy! http://i789.photobucket.com/albums/y...t.jpg~original http://i789.photobucket.com/albums/y...j.jpg~original |
Finally for this round of mods, Got my new tires installed, and the front end aligned. BFGoodrich A/T KO2, in 285/75R16. These tires are nice!
http://i789.photobucket.com/albums/y...q.jpg~original http://i789.photobucket.com/albums/y...5.jpg~original Painted the rack black too, I like it better than the orange for sure. |
Picked up a 167 snorkel on ebay for $130 bucks. I've ran an ARB unit on a 96 in the past and it was nice, but for the money you spend on this set up, I'm super impressed!
Measure twice and cut once! http://i789.photobucket.com/albums/y...e.jpg~original Point of no return! http://i789.photobucket.com/albums/y...7.jpg~original http://i789.photobucket.com/albums/y...s.jpg~original Remember to mark your template and find out where the mounting holes need to be, the 167 snorkel sits a bit differnt on a 3rd gen 4Runner. http://i789.photobucket.com/albums/y...k.jpg~original Bolt it on, hook up the intermediate tube to the factory airbox and your set. My air intake temps have been within a few degrees of outside air temp, a true "cool air intake". This is going to be sweet running around the dirt roads of Nevada. http://i789.photobucket.com/albums/y...d.jpg~original Check out THIS THREAD for a great write up on step by step installation instructions. |
Finally got to get some dirt underneath her this weekend too. Took the boys out for a one nighter up in the mountains.
Very weird not camping out of my old Tacoma though.... I had it set up perfectly for my needs! Still have a long way to go to get this one where I want it! http://i789.photobucket.com/albums/y...l.jpg~original http://i789.photobucket.com/albums/y...z.jpg~original |
So its happened to my twice now, I get home and smell hot brakes from the rear. At first I thought it was just the new shoes seating in. After checking both times though, I noticed the drivers rear drum was tight. Temp gun confirmed my issue. I had to go through the backing plate to loosen it up enough to get it off both times.
Driver... http://i789.photobucket.com/albums/y...z.jpg~original Passenger... http://i789.photobucket.com/albums/y...j.jpg~original I adjusted the drums again yesterday, along with the bell cranks (per FSM) and ebrake handle. I noticed the e-brake cable had to much tension on it, not allowing the bell cranks to seat against the back of the drums. Hoping that was my issue. We shall see. |
Got the bulk of my electrical done last weekend, still have some stuff to add in for the rear area. In my Taco I just kinda poked stuff through were ever I could find space, decided to do it a bit cleaner this time and ordered up a Daystar Products bulkhead grommet. Way cleaner for running stuff! I also ditched the factory battery terminals that were pretty much eaten up for some military style connectors.
http://i789.photobucket.com/albums/y...w.jpg~original http://i789.photobucket.com/albums/y...h.jpg~original I purchased a Blue Sea 6 fuse distro box and couldn't find a place that I was totally happy about mounting it too. Wanted something easy to access. So I built a shelf that sits above the factory relay/fuse block to mount it and a mini ANL fuse holder too. It's not idea, cause I cant easily access the factory box, but two bolts and I can swing it out over the fender to get in there. For the amount of time you need in the factory box, I think It'll work. http://i789.photobucket.com/albums/y...n.jpg~original Before I bolted it in for the last time, I went ahead and did the full time 12V outlet mod. Short piece of wire across the terminals where the relay normally sits and your done! I do this to all my rigs so when the truck is off my GPS and phone will still have power. It's just more convenient. http://i789.photobucket.com/albums/y...j.jpg~original http://i789.photobucket.com/albums/y...h.jpg~original For switches I went to OTRATTW and picked some up to get me going. I mounted the air compressor and front locker switch in the left hand side of the dash next to the steering wheel. all I had to do to get them to fit was open up the factory hole width just a little with a file. Very nice fit. I mounted the other two I got in the overhead sun glass/garage door opener cubby. It was wasted space to me, and gave me enough real estate for 5 switches. http://i789.photobucket.com/albums/y...0.jpg~original http://i789.photobucket.com/albums/y...e.jpg~original http://i789.photobucket.com/albums/y...4.jpg~original 2Meter and the the deck was swapped right over from my Taco. Just needed wired in. http://i789.photobucket.com/albums/y...y.jpg~original Now that most of the players for the front of the truck are in, I can start wiring. |
The truck's looking good. Where did you get those Tundra calipers that were already coated black? How quality does the coating seem? Thanks!
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There actually just AutoZone Duralast brand calipers. I hit them with some caliper paint before I installed them so they wouldn't rust. Paint seems to be holding up OK.
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Alright. That's what I'm thinking I'll do to. Just paint the calipers for the extra protection. Thanks for the response!
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Wiring wasn't to bad, but I enjoy it. I planned out all my circuits running up to the switches and made me a harness. I wrapped everything with lacing chord and then ran it all at once. Makes for nice under dash electrical runs too.
http://i789.photobucket.com/albums/y...q.jpg~original http://i789.photobucket.com/albums/y...5.jpg~original http://i789.photobucket.com/albums/y...w.jpg~original http://i789.photobucket.com/albums/y...a.jpg~original For the 2 meter, I dropped the headliner and run the coax back to rear hatch through a grommet. I made up a quick bracket and welded it to the back of my rack. Reception seems good here. http://i789.photobucket.com/albums/y...r.jpg~original http://i789.photobucket.com/albums/y...7.jpg~original Because the built in speaker is buried in the dash for my 2 meter, I added an external speaker. It really didn't fit anywhere so I took it apart and tucked it in the back of the cubby by the 12V outlets. I then popped out the screen and cut it down to cover to fit in the cubby and cover/protect the speaker. Makes for a out of the way install that still sounds decent for a cheap speaker. http://i789.photobucket.com/albums/y...s.jpg~original I added a switch inline for the drivers side door light/door alarm push button. This way when I'm in camp I can "open" the switch, kill the door alarm and listen to some music! I did this in the taco and used it all the time! When the switch is "on", everything works totally factory. http://i789.photobucket.com/albums/y...6.jpg~original This is what it currently looks like under the hood. Right now everything is just zip tied as I'm still running stuff. When I get closer to being done with all the electrical, I'll wire wrap everything and split loom it to keep it protected. This will work for now though. http://i789.photobucket.com/albums/y...m.jpg~original |
Been working on this guy the last couple weekends... Should have the main part final welded tomorrow!
http://i789.photobucket.com/albums/y...z.jpg~original http://i789.photobucket.com/albums/y...7.jpg~original |
Bumper is done, mostly. LOL. I need to add a dual fuel can holder but I'm stoked how it turned out. We did about 200 miles this weekend over rocks, washboards, etc, and she held up great.
http://i789.photobucket.com/albums/y...3.jpg~original http://i789.photobucket.com/albums/y...k.jpg~original http://i789.photobucket.com/albums/y...g.jpg~original http://i789.photobucket.com/albums/y...7.jpg~original http://i789.photobucket.com/albums/y...b.jpg~original One thing I did learn this weekend though, is that the OME 891's are NOT going to cut it. I've got a set of LC 861's on the way now. |
Dang, you've been busy with this rig! Keep up the good work.
Regarding the OME 891's, are the sagging under load? I have ran the 891's for years now with constant hundreds of lbs of load. No complaints here. I've see a lot of people complain about the sag but I guess I got a lucky pair that actually work the way they should. I'm beginning to think they may have changed something around with those springs. Hell, I bought mine back in late 2009. |
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This issue kept happening to me as well. We ended up just removing the ability for the rear drum to auto-adjust itself. The way it was explained to me is sometimes the adjusters get so worn out and old they start to auto adjust themselves even if you didn't have them to0 tight. They are so old they will over adjust. That is how it was explained to me but I"m not a mechanic. |
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I don't know if they changed them or what, but I'm deff going to need something heavier. Hopefully the 861's will give me a little bit of rake with my bumper, so that I'll have some play to load up with gear, or hook my pop-up to it. Quote:
Thanks for the compliments guys. |
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so my question. Why does my driver side touch the backing plate yet my passenger is a bit away with the cable connecting them tight. It's almost like my cable connecting the two is not long enough. I need to get down there and look at them again. |
@MandAtaco
Hey when you build your adjustable pan hard bar what type of heims are you going to use.. I want to do the same thing with a spare pan hard bar I have but don't know how to go about buying the right adjustable heims and size heim. Sweet taco and 4Runner too. She is coming along quickly! |
Nice swing out bumper. Can you tell me the metal thickness used and what you used to cut the plate? Any areas that were gusseted? Where did you source the swing out parts?
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We need a
"Let's see your T4R wheelies" thread! I say we allow both power-wheelies (like this one) and clutching it up. Best idea EVAH!! Discuss. |
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