98 SR5 - The "Dirt Duster" build

[rickashay]

man your rig looks great! crossing that rut seems was close but turned out awesome. I only have 31s so I wonder if I would have made it.

Thanks! You probably could have made it seeing as you have a locker. I was within an inch of catching the stock front bumper before my driver's started to come out of the hole. Assuming the ARB has a better approach angle, you'd be fine!

Are these consecutive shots? I'm assuming so, and sitting here in my chair admiring the power of a locked rear.

Yah, they are consecutive. In the last photo you can see my rear is just off the ground. An inch further and I was teetering on 2 wheels: both wheels in the air were spinning. Locker button was then pushed, and I crawled right out! Damn I love my e-locker! lol

 

[BigFishAllDay]

Nice!

I showed my wife and I told her, "See, right there, I'd be stuck and have to winch out."

She says: "In your old one, right?"

I reply: "No, in the new one. I'd be stuck."

She has a factory locker on her 2000, and when I told her she'd walk right through that while my '01 would have to winch out, she got a little kick out of it.

 

[rickashay]

Nice!

I showed my wife and I told her, "See, right there, I'd be stuck and have to winch out."

She says: "In your old one, right?"

I reply: "No, in the new one. I'd be stuck."

She has a factory locker on her 2000, and when I told her she'd walk right through that while my '01 would have to winch out, she got a little kick out of it.

Hahaha Glad I could make your wife enjoy the moment of 4Runner superiority over your other 4runner. Maybe now, she'll buy you a locker for yours!?!? Im going to have to try these reverse psycho tactics.

 

[BigFishAllDay]

Hahaha Glad I could help you out by making your wife realize that a locker is now needed on your already amazing runner....

Needed more every day my friend, believe me. She's willing to let me yank the axle out of her '00 and swap it with the axle on my '01 but my '01 has 4.10's and of course hers has 4.30's.

Since a regear would be in order anyway, I've got my eyes on ECGS for a swap front & rear. Maybe a tru-trac up front?

I'm not sure. I've got my '87 Supra for sale right now and it should net $2k or so... just the right amount to redo F/R w/some extra traction and gears.

 

[rickashay]

Needed more every day my friend, believe me. She's willing to let me yank the axle out of her '00 and swap it with the axle on my '01 but my '01 has 4.10's and of course hers has 4.30's.

Since a regear would be in order anyway, I've got my eyes on ECGS for a swap front & rear. Maybe a tru-trac up front?

I'm not sure. I've got my '87 Supra for sale right now and it should net $2k or so... just the right amount to redo F/R w/some extra traction and gears.

hahah NICE! Im interested. Ill be watching your build now more than I already do! LSD up front is where I think I want to go as well.....

 

[rickashay]

I have been asked several times by a few members to post more details on my rear screen and my rear hatch LED's.

FINALLY, here are some photos:

The LED's are pretty self explanatory but you can see here exactly how I have them installed.

20111002-IMG_0468 by Headlight Hookup, on Flickr

The rear screen:
I need to re-work the sticky velcro that is on the weather stripping. The sticky side doesnt stick very well to the weather stripping and therefore rips off when you try to remove the screen. I tried to Gorilla Glue it in place but that doesnt really work either. Next time I'm at the parts store Im going to pick up some weather seal glue, and that should do the trick.

You can see my velcro is sewn to the screen mesh material:

20111002-IMG_0470 by Headlight Hookup, on Flickr

The screen cut-out:

20111002-IMG_0471 by Headlight Hookup, on Flickr

You can see how the velcro just runs along the weather stripping for the rear window:

20111002-IMG_0472 by Headlight Hookup, on Flickr

 

[rickashay]

I saw this on BigFish's thread originally. I had been planning on remedying the rubbage in the rear on the mud flap bolts for a while, but seeing it on his thread inspired me to actually get it done. I found these nice countersunk stainless allen bolts at the local bolt/nut store. I wish I had photos before and after but this is actually going to make a HUGE difference offroad, no more terrible sounds and me scared of ripping my tire lugs off on the old square bolt heads.

the bolt:

IMG_0480 by RickaShay24, on Flickr

Flush mounted mud flaps:

IMG_0478 by RickaShay24, on Flickr


IMG_0474 by RickaShay24, on Flickr

 

[blcktpgsr]

Good stuff, I gotta do this on mine as well as I recently just found out that the middle bolt on the driver's side mudflap is already gone.

 

[rickashay]

Some updates. Unfortunately, haven't been wheeling in a while... Like a month! Been way too busy with school and work, but I have find some time between the lines to get some work done on the truck and prep it for winter.

I needed to get rid of all my "rocky mountain pin striping," so I waxed the truck and it came out looking pretty good. I was actually surprised how much came out with a little elbow grease! Still some marks but I can live with it knowing the amount of bushwhacking this truck sees. It's funny, most people don't believe that I "offroad", they think my truck is too clean. lol

mmmmm:

20111014-IMG_0493 by RickaShay24, on Flickr

Spot the mod:

20111017-IMG_0512 by RickaShay24, on Flickr


20111015-IMG_0499 by RickaShay24, on Flickr

FINALLY got my Tundra 199's installed. New pads, rotors and Crown stainless brake lines front and rear. And if anyone wants to know if the Tacoma Banjo brake lines work on the Tundra's, they do. Just need Tacoma banjo bolts. Im loving the extra stopping power. Only bad thing is they dont clear my LC80 wheels. I had to get a spacer machined to clear them. It is less than a quarter inch in thickness and I may be able to run it without extending the wheel studs but more on that in the spring when I swap ther wheels back over.

Poser:

20111015-IMG_0500 by RickaShay24, on Flickr

 

[City_Rider]

Classy as always - Hallmark Autobody shined mine up nice too!

I went and hugged it... probably another week plus before I get it back but still, it's looking better!

Hopefully I can join in for winter wheeling or even a snowboard / ski trip this winter!

 

[rickashay]

I was able to get my new suspension picked up from the US and installed this past week.

My old setup:
OME 881 (without top-out spacers), OME comfort shocks/OME 890 with the "comfort" rear shocks
Hub-to-wheelwell measurements:
F:21.5"
R:23"

My new setup:
New TRD Tundra coils, Bilstein Tundra 5100's/LC 8 wraps, Tundra Bilstein 5100's
I set the Tundra coils on the 2nd notch -> hoping to get about 2.5-2.75" of lift.
Hub-to-wheelwell measurements:
F:23"
R:25"


20111022-IMG_0519 by Headlight Hookup, on Flickr

Here are my CV angles (with Toytech diff. drop) after the fronts were installed:

20111022-IMG_0522 by Headlight Hookup, on Flickr

Here are the 8 Wraps:

20111022-IMG_0521 by Headlight Hookup, on Flickr

BEFORE Stance (OME):


20110920-IMG_0268-2 by RickaShay24, on Flickr

AFTER Stance (Tundra/LC):

20111028-IMG_0524 by Headlight Hookup, on Flickr

YES, the truck is pretty raked but it doesn't look as bad in person. I know that the LC coils take a few weeks to settle and should sit about .5" lower after some use. Right now, the truck has ~1.5" of rake and I'm hoping it will have just over 1" after it all settles. Either way, the rake will be eliminated when the truck is loaded up and used for it's intended purpose: wheeling!

I actually have yet to install the Bilstein rear shocks as the Tundra ones come with a 1/2" eye shock bushing, we need 3/4" for the 4Runner. I installed some OME 60027 shocks I had lying around for the time being, but the shocks will not affect the height of the lift.... I have new bushings in the mail and the Bilstein rear shocks will be installed next week hopefully.

Once I get the rear Bilsteins installed and wheel with the truck I am going to start a thread and talk about the differences between the two setups. My initial impressions (even with the STIFF OME 60027 rear shocks) are the ride is definitely more plush, especially the back! Which is really why I ditched the OME in the first place. Some people like the ride of the OME, but I was not too fond of it.

 

[Smog-guy707]

man i loove those rims

 

[fattirerider]

I am very interested to hear your comparison of the 890's to LC's.

I find my 890's to stiff for the washboard roads I encounter frequently. I'm thinking some 7 wrap LC coils might be a bit softer and help me and my 4runner stay on the road.

 

[kruegs]

Looks great man... sad to see you leave the OME club, as you were part of my inspiration for my lift. LOL. Might have to follow in your footsteps at some point.

 

[kruegs]

Hey, just curious... looks like you might have done a little rust mitigation work? In those last shots of your front suspension setup, it sure looks clean and fresh with the UCA's etc. Just curious if you did anything specific?

 

[rickashay]

Thanks guys! I didnt get out to the mountains this weekend but next Sunday it looks like I should be heading out to text the suspension offroad. Im still waiting on my shock bushings so, still running OME 60027 rear shocks. Still the ride of the LC's are softer than the 890's despite the hella stiff OME shocks.

Hey, just curious... looks like you might have done a little rust mitigation work? In those last shots of your front suspension setup, it sure looks clean and fresh with the UCA's etc. Just curious if you did anything specific?

Yah I did. My truck is definitely not rotten underneath but it's starting to get rust on the welds etc. Every time I work underneath the truck I pull my grinder out and clean up the minor rust etc. that I can access and use a rust primer and two coats of paint. I will be getting my truck undercoated with the "1st gen. Tacoma frame recall undercoating" in the next few months to try and eliminate further rust.... damn Canadian winters!

 

[rickashay]

I've got a couple updates coming... I'm so excited about them I can't even wait to post this until they are actually in my possession! haha

Budbuilt - IFS and Belly Skid! (Christmas come early)
Lotus Development - lower control arm mount skids
Projector Retrofit- The new TRS EvoX-R projectors (I just have to try them!), Philips 85122+ bulbs, Gatling V2 shrouds, New Morimoto 3Five ballasts

I just hope I get some warm weather so I can pull my headlights out and start the retrofit. Aiming headlights and running wiring harnesses sucks in the bitter cold winter

Stay tuned....

 

[BigFishAllDay]

TUNED!

Congrats on the purchases! I'm curious to see how much those skids will cause your new suspension to sag up front. I've been considering going to budbuilts for a LONG time, but I can't go any higher in the front and I'm not sure how much they'll sag the TRD Tundras... Please take some some before and after measurements of the suspension height if you wouldn't mind.

With your skills, I bet the projector retrofit is going to be the nicest one on the forum.

 

[sleepswithagun]

Wanna sell your old suspension? PM me and let me know. btw, your runner is lookin better and better. keep up the work!

 

[rickashay]

TUNED!

Congrats on the purchases! I'm curious to see how much those skids will cause your new suspension to sag up front. I've been considering going to budbuilts for a LONG time, but I can't go any higher in the front and I'm not sure how much they'll sag the TRD Tundras... Please take some some before and after measurements of the suspension height if you wouldn't mind.

With your skills, I bet the projector retrofit is going to be the nicest one on the forum.

Thanks BigFish! I will get you some measurements for sure! I am hoping they don't sag much...

LOL that's a bold statement, I am not sure I can live up to! There are some pretty wicked retrofits on here as of late. GottabeTRD, Bandit Runner, and 4runits to name a few are all pretty wicked. Infact, I was thinking of doing the exact same thing 4runit did with the LED DRL's for a while. I like to keep things pretty simple and clean aesthetically. To be honest angel eyes and LED's arent normally my style, but I need to do something to catch people's eyes while I drive around, sort of for my own promotional purposes. All I can say at this point is that I WONT be blacking out my headlights...

Anyways, the reason I came to my thread to post was to again, link Freeze's video, and to post some of my photos from that same trail run. No shots have emerged yet of the Duster, but here's my take on the trip:


20111113-IMG_0587 by RickaShay24, on Flickr

Freeze, in action...

20111113-IMG_0589 by RickaShay24, on Flickr


20111113-IMG_0597 by RickaShay24, on Flickr


20111113-IMG_0600 by RickaShay24, on Flickr

IFS flexin' to the max!

20111113-IMG_0602 by RickaShay24, on Flickr


20111113-IMG_0606 by RickaShay24, on Flickr


20111113-IMG_0613 by RickaShay24, on Flickr


20111113-IMG_0617 by RickaShay24, on Flickr


20111113-IMG_0629 by RickaShay24, on Flickr


20111113-IMG_0635 by RickaShay24, on Flickr


20111113-IMG_0640 by RickaShay24, on Flickr

and the video again:
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