A.Wilson013's Build Thread

[A.Wilson013]

I think a rack with a rotopax mounts and a spare tire carrier would be more functional (for me). Any thoughts much appreciated.

Do you mean a roof rack with all that stuff...? My only thought is that you're adding a whole lot of weight to the roof. About as much as my roof top tent. The handling difference when I take that tent off is HUGE. It feels like I am driving a car. lol

[MENTION=63487]A.Wilson013[/MENTION] I completely forgot about getting you measurements. Do you still need them?

No thanks.

Do you have any more details on replacing the bushings with bearings? That's one of the few (minor) complaints I have about the swingout on my CBI bumper is the force it takes to open with the weight of a spare tire, jerry can, and Hi-Lift.

You'd have to contact CBI for all of that... Their new design for the spindle is what replaced the bushings with bearings, not my ingenuity (or lack there of).

 

[soonenough]

You'd have to contact CBI for all of that... Their new design for the spindle is what replaced the bushings with bearings, not my ingenuity (or lack there of).

Ahh gotcha, sorry I misunderstood, I thought you were saying you had replaced the bushings with bearings yourself. I'll have to contact them and see if it can be retrofitted.

 

[BigBluePile]

Good to see you today, rig looks great! Love the awning. That silver 3rd gen that was with you was OK I guess......

 

[robb1887]

So was going back through your build, and got to page 34 before giving up.

Rig is awesome as stated by many already but somewhere in the page 20 area you had the Transgo valve body kit, but never saw mention of it getting installed?

Are you still running the stock trans with the 2.2 pulley etc? Or did you get it installed and forget to mention it?

 

[WRWhit93]

Love this rig! Awesome work Alex

 

[Grey-Thunder]

Nice Build! Very clean 4runner! :thumb3:

 

[A.Wilson013]

So was going back through your build, and got to page 34 before giving up.

Rig is awesome as stated by many already but somewhere in the page 20 area you had the Transgo valve body kit, but never saw mention of it getting installed?

Are you still running the stock trans with the 2.2 pulley etc? Or did you get it installed and forget to mention it?

It's actually still sitting on the shelf in my garage. One day I'll work up the courage...

I am still on the stock trans with the 2.2 pulley, yes.

Love this rig! Awesome work Alex

Nice Build! Very clean 4runner! :thumb3:

Thanks guys, I really appreciate it!

 

[98WhiteT4R]

Well I got my matching spare painted/mounted yesterday. Today in preparation for my upcoming journey I made a trip to Mule Expedition Outfitters and picked up a Jack (TJM Ox), 2.6gal Jerry can, Jerry can holder, and Trasharoo.

Still finishing up the install on the jerry can holder, but it's in place, and I am pretty happy.

DSC_0019 by awilson013, on Flickr

I know you have a new CBI bumper now but I had a quick question about your old one. Do you remember what bolts, washers etc. you used to mount the jerry can holder from Mule Expedition Outfitters?

 

[A.Wilson013]

I know you have a new CBI bumper now but I had a quick question about your old one. Do you remember what bolts, washers etc. you used to mount the jerry can holder from Mule Expedition Outfitters?

Man... They were nothing special, I remember that. I just went to the hardware store and got 4 nuts, bolts, washers, and lock washers that looked like they'd fit.

 

[98WhiteT4R]

Man... They were nothing special, I remember that. I just went to the hardware store and got 4 nuts, bolts, washers, and lock washers that looked like they'd fit.

Thats what I figured, just wanted to make sure you didn't have to use anything strange. Thank ya Sir

 

[s20004runner]

I got this idea in my head the other day that I wanted to finally address my swaybar end-links. I had been hesitant for a couple of reasons- Price, and the thought that it wouldn't make that big of a difference.

But anyway, I decided to do some research here on the forum and found a great write-up that would give me a set of longer end-links for about $35... At this point any mod under $500 is worth checking out, in my opinion.

Here's the write-up I used... http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/97769-built-new-swaybar-endlinks-my-runner.html.. The only thing I did different was that I followed some advice I saw (I think from [MENTION=98153]MStudt[/MENTION]) that said not to use bushings on either end of the swaybar. I checked out his that he sells and it looked like he just had a nut on either side (not really the case, but close enough... I think), so I followed suit.

Here's a link to the links... layball: Amazon.com: Energy Suspension 9.8149G End Link Set: Automotive

Outcome: Freaking awesome. I was previously using my front links that are probably original and I thought they were fine... I was wrong. The difference in handling was SO drastic that I had my wife take it for a drive to make sure I wasn't losing my mind.

Comparison shot... OEM 3rd Gen FRONT link vs The new ones. The new ones are almost EXACTLY 1/2" longer than the 3rd gen FRONT links from mounting point to mounting point, not overall. I don't know/care what the difference was overall =)

Frame side...

Sway-bar side...

How are the rear links holding up?

Do you ever have any issues w/ the sway bar hitting the elocker motor?

 

[A.Wilson013]

How are the rear links holding up?

Do you ever have any issues w/ the sway bar hitting the elocker motor?

Good as new. The only thing I did to them was put a lock nut on the eye bolt. Nearly lost both of the other bolts.

And no, I have never hit my locker motor.

 

[A.Wilson013]

Small Tuneup

Since Thanksgiving or so my 4Runner has been being kinda moody on cold mornings. It'll always fire right up, but just ran like crap for 20 seconds or so.

This past week it was to the point where it was doing it every time I started it, and I THOUGHT I was seeing some white smoke out of the tail pipe. Thursday it threw a P0300 (random misfire) so I was planning for the worst (head gasket) and decided to do a compression test after checking the oil and coolant, which both looked perfect.

The first thing I noticed when I popped the hood was this... a hole in one of my wires.

Next, I pulled the first plug and found this... All of the plugs on the passenger side were in this condition or worse.

Then I pulled one from the driver side and was met with this beauty...

SO I put everything together, hopped on Amazon Prime, and ordered up some new Denso IK22s for what seems like the 100th time. I swear I am changing these things twice a year.

[MENTION=82154]GSPRunner[/MENTION] hooked me up with some lightly used OEM wires, so I made out like a bandit on this little tune up. So far so good, hasn't had any issues since.

Here's a nice comparison shot.

Also purchased some new LBJs and the whiteline LCA bushings. In a perfect world I'll get all this stuff installed before heading to Whistler Friday evening. (May be pushing it since the bushing are not even here yet.)

 

[s20004runner]

Since Thanksgiving or so my 4Runner has been being kinda moody on cold mornings. It'll always fire right up, but just ran like crap for 20 seconds or so.

This past week it was to the point where it was doing it every time I started it, and I THOUGHT I was seeing some white smoke out of the tail pipe. Thursday it threw a P0300 (random misfire) so I was planning for the worst (head gasket) and decided to do a compression test after checking the oil and coolant, which both looked perfect.

The first thing I noticed when I popped the hood was this... a hole in one of my wires.


Next, I pulled the first plug and found this... All of the plugs on the passenger side were in this condition or worse.

Then I pulled one from the driver side and was met with this beauty...

SO I put everything together, hopped on Amazon Prime, and ordered up some new Denso IK22s for what seems like the 100th time. I swear I am changing these things twice a year.

[MENTION=82154]GSPRunner[/MENTION] hooked me up with some lightly used OEM wires, so I made out like a bandit on this little tune up. So far so good, hasn't had any issues since.

Here's a nice comparison shot.

Also purchased some new LBJs I'd like to get in before heading to Whistler friday evening. Going to get some LCA bushings as well.

how many miles on them? Do you think it's because of the supercharger?

BTW, I don't know how sway bar vary through generations, but it was hitting the motor shields so couldn't install it. Bummer too, cause I was hoping to experience the difference it made.

 

[A.Wilson013]

how many miles on them? Do you think it's because of the supercharger?

BTW, I don't know how sway bar vary through generations, but it was hitting the motor shields so couldn't install it. Bummer too, cause I was hoping to experience the difference it made.

Those plugs had around 15k on them. I don't think it's so much the supercharger as it is the plugs... I have read all over that they're great plugs, but just don't last very long. And at $7.83 each, they're pretty spendy.

I don't remember EXACTLY what was going on, but I remember my friend was not able to put a sway bar on his 98 limited because it was hitting the elocker. I think it was a newer sway bar.

Do you not run a swaybar at all? I cannot imagine... (in before someone says they run no sway bars and cannot tell a difference, etc. You're lying to yourself.)

 

[D Farms]

Those plugs had around 15k on them. I don't think it's so much the supercharger as it is the plugs... I have read all over that they're great plugs, but just don't last very long. And at $7.83 each, they're pretty spendy.

I don't remember EXACTLY what was going on, but I remember my friend was not able to put a sway bar on his 98 limited because it was hitting the elocker. I think it was a newer sway bar.

Do you not run a swaybar at all? I cannot imagine... (in before someone says they run no sway bars and cannot tell a difference, etc. You're lying to yourself.)

I when people cant tell the difference its because they must have very stiff springs and a wide stance and stiff springs. i didnt run a rear for a while because i didnt have longer links and also didnt really mind the extra sway. when i went to 315s and wheel spacers the body roll feeling was reduced, then i got some softer shocks and it was about the same as before. the main thing i like about running it is, it makes the truck oversteer a bit more, and also makes the front flex more offroad. awd understeers a lot compared to 4wd at speed anyways.

 

[no heros]

First post - this is a great looking truck. Good attention to detail, and excellent overall vision. Keep it up!

 

[BigBluePile]

Seafoam

 

[SnowLizard]

simple, clean, smart... KIS$ absolutely applied here.

I like it all. awesome job!

 

[A.Wilson013]

[MENTION=82154]GSPRunner[/MENTION] agreed to watch ours dogs, so my wife and I went up to the great white north (Whistler, BC) to do some camping and snowboarding.

Headed up after she got off work Friday, got searched at the border, and got to our camp site around 11PM. Tent was all set up, heater turned on, and in bed by 12AM. I had never set the tent up in the snow, in the dark, with a solid sheet of ice on the ground so it took quite some time.

The first night was pretty rough because for some reason the heater turned off in the middle of the night which made it pretty cold and tough to sleep... The next night I turned the heater up to high and was extra cautious to be sure everything was sealed up right so no drafts hit it and it was GLORIOUS. I woke up at about 5am and actually had to unzip the sleeping bag and let my upper body out as I was sweating. The temp outside was about 25 degrees. Victory. When the alarm went of my wife didn't want to get out of bed since it was so nice and toasty. And she was probably hung over. She was definitely hung over.

Here's a picture of our little camp site... The place we stayed at was pretty cool. Had a cafe where we ate breakfast both days, and a shuttle to and from the lifts every morning and afternoon.

DSC_0143 by Alex Wilson, on Flickr