Adventures of 4RnR Grl (and build)

[4RnR Grl]

This weekend I was able to get to Jesse's to pick up the new (to me) Schrockworks bumper. It is a beast! It barely fit in the back of my truck. It is currently parked on my garage floor until my lift is installed. I fear what could happen if I tried to mount it with the stock shocks and springs. I can say that hauling the bumper, engine skid and a set of sliders for Antman made the truck very heavy. I'm sure the 21 MPG will soon be a distant memory. Here's a crappy pic. I'll get it cleaned up and touch up the rust spots before it goes on. More updates in a couple of weeks.

 

[4RnR Grl]

Almost forgot... as I pulled in my garage yesterday, I looked up and pulled back out.... FedEx man delivered!

 

[mckensel]

How is the PD holding up on the wheels? Considering doing this myself.

 

[4RnR Grl]

How is the PD holding up on the wheels? Considering doing this myself.

Well... I did the dip and took it off road a couple weeks later. The stock SR5 wheels (and tires) are not designed well to use off road... meaning the wheel edge is close to the sidewall of the tire. There's nothing to protect them (tire sidewall). I have a few wheel dings, so did some PD repairs. Overall it has held up well, and if you don't plan on getting into many tough trails (with rocks jutting out, etc) you should be fine. I think [MENTION=65614]Antman[/MENTION] had his dipped for 2 years without any problems.

Definitely take your time and get into all the nooks and crannies of the wheel. I also used the clear dip (glossifier) to prevent any fading. It really doesn't make it that glossy.

I was just checking out my other areas of PD last night as well. I have had to do a couple repairs on my rear bumper and front bumper. Rear emblem is fine. Anything in the front will get hit by road grime/bugs so eventually a hole may wear through. For repairs I just cleaned/dried the area really well, sprayed some dip onto some cardboard and used a small brush to touch up the areas.

Hopefully in the next month or so, I will have my Schrockworks bumper on, so I won't be touching up PD anymore in the front.

 

[4RnR Grl]

I've been busy the last couple of days. The engine skid that I got had some deep scratches, a bit of rust and a stuck bolt in the access panel. I decided to not completely strip down the entire thing, but to get the rust out, sand, prime and paint.

I did get all the rust out of the gouges, I know it doesn't look great... but no one will really see it. It'll be scratched again in no time.

I work on a military installation and if I had a buck for every time someone thought the truck was my husband's.... so... I painted my shackles purple.

Tomorrow I plan to finish up the skid and start on the bumper. Only a few rubbed/rusty spots need touched up... then I'll figure out what I'll do for lights. The Hella lights had several broken tabs and the screws were completely rusted. I cut them all off and spoke with Mark at Schrockworks who is sending me a complete hardware kit. I'm currently looking at LED lights, so we'll see.

Yes my lift is still on the garage floor. [emoji20] I have a 1400 mile trip planned next week so it'll go on after that point.

 

[4RnR Grl]

New project today. I purchased the devil horns emblem from Diaz Fabrication a while back. I nearly forgot that it was coming because of the processing time. The emblem showed up yesterday while I was painting.

I decided with the new bumper the emblem might get a little lost, so I wanted to bring it out away from the grill. I needed a mount. Fortunately I had saved my stock grill... or what was left of it, after I cut it off to install my Grillcraft. So I pulled it apart.

I cut out the emblem mount and separated it from the honeycomb.

I dremeled the edges down and smoothed it out with sandpaper.

Drilled some holes, found some hardware, test fitted and painted the washers flat black since they would be seen behind the emblem.

Waited for the washers to dry then installed. I'm not sure I'm completely sold on it yet as far as the location and color, but maybe it will grow on me.

In the meantime I touched up the bumper.

 

[Lexusbstrdchild]

You're going to be a very busy lady for awhile! All came at once it looks like, I always like getting those kind of packages. The wife...well not so much.

 

[4RnR Grl]

Ok decided I did not like the mount for the emblem. The paint I used for the shackles was also not cooperating. Calling up East Coast Powder Coat in the morning to get them matched. Try and try again.....

Back to this for now....

 

[Devilchrono]

Cool build so far, can't wait to see more.

Is that an Evo I spy in the driveway next to your 4Runner though?

 

[4RnR Grl]

Cool build so far, can't wait to see more.

Is that an Evo I spy in the driveway next to your 4Runner though?

Yes that's my husband's EVO. [emoji6]

 

[Devilchrono]

Yes that's my husband's EVO. [emoji6]

Lol, thought those lines looked familiar. Anything done to the EVO?

And sorry if I missed it, but what are the overall plans for the 4Runner?

 

[4RnR Grl]

Lol, thought those lines looked familiar. Anything done to the EVO?

And sorry if I missed it, but what are the overall plans for the 4Runner?

Plans for my 4Runner are in my sig. I think the EVO is a stage 2... I'm not sure. He's dumped a bunch of $$ into it. I think his goal is to Rally race. At some point after both are paid off we'll probably get something reasonable to drive to work and take on road trips. Lol.

 

[Devilchrono]

Plans for my 4Runner are in my sig. I think the EVO is a stage 2... I'm not sure. He's dumped a bunch of $$ into it. I think his goal is to Rally race. At some point after both are paid off we'll probably get something reasonable to drive to work and take on road trips. Lol.

Ah, fair enough then, lol. Both are fun projects to work on too I'm sure.

And I understand about possibly needing something reasonable as well as toys

 

[Ron4RNevada]

Since I have a '13 SR5 I'm watching your evolution with much interest. Keep up the good work.

 

[4RnR Grl]

Dropped off my shackles and emblem at East Coast Powder Coat this morning. Super nice guy and he'll have them turned around in a week to ten days. Woot![emoji1]

 

[4RnR Grl]

Ok... garage is cleaned out and ready. I'm starting the front end teardown tomorrow so I can make sure I get the wiring right for my lights. I picked up some led lights and resistors to replace the broken Hella lights.

Suspension is Wednesday, followed closely by tires. More soon....

 

[Bevo]

What the heck is going on through that doorway? Looks like some sort of crazy room where you film fake moon landings or something.

 

[Freyer]

Nice build...In for the progress updates!

 

[Antman]

What the heck is going on through that doorway? Looks like some sort of crazy room where you film fake moon landings or something.

That's just a by-product of bad picture taking skillz...

I happen to be THE Forum Authority on this.

PM me for tips/questions...

 

[4RnR Grl]

What the heck is going on through that doorway? Looks like some sort of crazy room where you film fake moon landings or something.

That is our wooded backyard. But I like the idea of fake moon landings. Maybe I can somehow incorcorporate 4Runners landing on the moon.