Abomination Part Deuce

[SV_Dude]

So, after three months of hell in what the Army calls TRADOC, I am home and back to work on the 4runner. I bought it with a lot of good stuff already done to it:
1995 4runner
Chevy 350 swap using Howell's ECU and wiring kit and Advanced Adapters bell housing and clutch
3" body lift (for engine clearance)
TG Front SAS with 4" springs
TG rear classis lift with 4" springs
Detroit rear locker and Lockrite front locker
35" tires
ARB Front bumper and (forgot the brand) rock sliders.

A pew pics of how she sits now and a few more pics from a wheeling trip in December 2012:

What do you do to a 4runner that is already pretty well built? DUH!! Build it more and make it your own.

First thing was to clean up the engine bay a little bit. [MENTION=78031]BucknutBob[/MENTION] did an awesome job with the engine swap but I wanted to get all of the foactory Toyota stuff out of the engine bay that didn't need to be there. I started working on the passenger side fender well. I'll go through more of it this weekend but I got the majority of it out.

Here it is before:

And after:

Like I said, bob did good work on the engine swap so all I needed to do was run a switched power wire to a couple wires for the fan relay and the engine and then an ignition wire to the starter relay.

Here's all the stuff that came out of just the passenger side:

While I was gone, I ordered some toys for the toy:
37" MTR's

And a handful of lighting from Treklights and Gator's group buy:

I'll probably get the tires and lights on this weekend.

Future plans:
3" front and rear springs OR remove a leaf to lower it a bit.
Build new engine mounts and a transmission cross member to lower the drive train 3" to take off the body lift
Tube front and rear bumpers
Cut up body for tire clearance
Roll cage
DIY Bead locks
Rattle can paint job
There's probably more as we all know that these projects never end!

 

[4Running Daily]

Sub'd, this is going to be good.

 

[BucknutBob]

Needless to say, I'm definitely subscribed! By the way, those are All-Pro Offroad sliders. Can't wait to see what you do to the beast! Oh yeah--welcome home.

 

[SV_Dude]

Thanks bob, I was thinking All Pro but wasn't sure. The sliders saved the side of the 4runner in December while wheeling in the snow. I was trying to make it up a part of a trail but the 4runner just slid down into a huge rock over and over. I made it up but the sliders earned their keep that day.

I also have plans for the t-case e-brake. I may run dual cases at the same time too but not certain on that yet.

 

[KidVermicious]

Sweet! Looking forward to the next evolution.

 

[Footofgod]

The sliders saved the side of the 4runner in December while wheeling in the snow. I was trying to make it up a part of a trail but the 4runner just slid down into a huge rock over and over.

Yup, the sliders did their job well. I was in the passenger seat and that rock got awfully close to my face each time we slid.

SV- If you get some time off this week, we need to go metal shopping. I have a welder lined up, but he only has a month before TRADOC claims him.

 

[SV_Dude]

First things first, check clearances to make sure I have the room to lower the drive train. I hooked up the cherry picker to the front right wheel and put it in the air till the back right started to come off the ground. I still had about 10 inches of room between the oil pan and the axle. That means I'll be able to drop the drive train a few inches and the suspension an inch or so and still have plenty of room.

 

[SV_Dude]

At some point over the next week I'll get the engine, tranny and transfer case outta there along with the front bumper. I'll start grinding on the frame for the engine and transmission cross member mounts to prep it for some new steel!

 

[KidVermicious]

First things first, check clearances to make sure I have the room to lower the drive train. I hooked up the cherry picker to the front right wheel and put it in the air till the back right started to come off the ground. I still had about 10 inches of room between the oil pan and the axle. That means I'll be able to drop the drive train a few inches and the suspension an inch or so and still have plenty of room.

Are you sure that tells you what you want to know? I'd wanna see how much room I had left with the entire front at full bump, not just articulated. You won't have that full 10 inches with both sides compressed...

 

[SV_Dude]

Are you sure that tells you what you want to know? I'd wanna see how much room I had left with the entire front at full bump, not just articulated. You won't have that full 10 inches with both sides compressed...

I would think I will have to do something pretty gnarly to get both sides fully compressed. Even still, I'll have bump stops that will extend a couple inches below the first contact point.

 

[SV_Dude]

I have been talked into keeping the body lift (FOR NOW) and tossing on the 37's.

I'll put the lights on some time this week and get some action shots of the runner at some point this week as well.

 

[BucknutBob]

At least you didn't have to worry if the tires would fit!

 

[SV_Dude]

At least you didn't have to worry if the tires would fit!

It almost looks like this 4runner was meant for the bigger meats!!


Next up I'll cut the fenders if necessary for the 37's to stuff into. I'll also most likely end up with a TG rear bumper modified with a swing out tire carrier and an addicted offroad front bumper along with an xrc8 or xrc10 winch.

 

[Footofgod]

Listening to me is a good thing!!! You got your tires mounted and balanced when you weren't sure anyone would do it for less. Your rig is up and running and pretty much ready to be offroad. Now get over here and help me with the Minnow!!!! We have a top to cut off!

 

[SV_Dude]

Listening to me is a good thing!!! You got your tires mounted and balanced when you weren't sure anyone would do it for less. Your rig is up and running and pretty much ready to be offroad. Now get over here and help me with the Minnow!!!! We have a top to cut off!

Mine isn't exactly ready yet, I have a couple small issues. The pitman arm needs to be adjusted because I cannot turn left very well but I have PLENTY of right turn with more to spare. I also need to fix the exhaust leak and there is also a pinched brake line on the front passenger side caliper that I'll replace. Once those few small things are done I'll be ready to wheel.

We need to document your top very well because there is a slight possibility that we will do the same to mine pending the outcome of yours.

 

[SV_Dude]

I have been pretty busy with work lately and haven't had much free time or energy to work on the 4runner. I finally got off my arse and mounted my front lights. They're not wired up yet and maybe I'll get to that this weekend. Anyways, I figured this thread needed some lovin' so here's some pics!

 

[BucknutBob]

Does this mean you figured out the registration snafu? The new tires look great, by the way!

 

[SV_Dude]

Does this mean you figured out the registration snafu? The new tires look great, by the way!

I haven't gotten the registration figured out yet. I was thinking about a handful of things and am not sure what direction I'm going to go yet. It probably wouldn't be hard for me to find a 2nd gen that was destroyed or one with a blown engine and buy it for next to nothing for the vin plates and title.

I need to do some trimming to make these tires stuff in the fender but I haven't had the time lately. Any free time I have had I have been relaxing. I have today off but I'm too sore to do anything on the 4runner. I did some combative training yesterday and my whole body hurts.

 

[BucknutBob]

Yeah, I would imagine 37's present some problems, even with the height taken care of. Those fiberglass fenders some are making now would help, if you don't mind the look (and the cost, of course). I find the rear panels look a bit weird (Fiberworx, or something like that). I sure hope you figure something out on the title--making changes to personalize is one thing, but it would be a crying shame if you had to tear it all apart. But hey, we do what we gotta do, right?

 

[SV_Dude]

At least if I tore it apart I would still be using all the parts from it for another platform.