Bandit Runner's Build Thread

[Bandit Runner]

Finally posting a few pics from a week long camping trip in late July. Did a little wheeling, but nothing too serious.

A little flexing:

Posing:

A weeks worth of mud:

And some miscellaneous camping pics.

All packed up:

Kids caught a few nice size sunfish:

My daughter kayaking:

Me floating around in the lake on my noodles:

My parents came up to visit for a day on their bikes:

Tired dog:

 

[Asaspades93]

that picture of floating with the noddles reminds me of my dad hahah, I guess its a dad thing. Looks like a nice trip though

 

[Bandit Runner]

Don't think I've ever seen this mod before on here.... Painted steering wheel Toyota symbol. All my other Toyota symbols are painted green, so I figured the one on the steering wheel should match.

Hand painted it with a brush. It takes a steady hand! I'm getting too old and shakey, so it didn't turn out quite perfect. But not too bad.

 

[robb1887]

Yup just went through all 34 pages (some were repeats, but I didn't wanna miss anything). Sooo worth it.

I wish I was living in an area that I could justify all this... coastal flats are boring.

 

[Bandit Runner]

Yup just went through all 34 pages (some were repeats, but I didn't wanna miss anything). Sooo worth it.

I wish I was living in an area that I could justify all this... coastal flats are boring.

Thanks for reading. I really appreciate it.

 

[Bandit Runner]

Haven't had much time to work on the 4Runner lately. I have lots of ideas and resources, just no time.

I have been slowly working on designing a gas tank skidplate. Nothing special - pretty similar to the ones that other members have made. I started by removing the OEM skid. It was literally filled with mud, sticks & leaves.

I took a bunch of measurements and looked at other designs. Here's the basic CAD design I came up with. I'm sure it will need some minor changes yet.

Then I started to build a prototype to verify the design. Made out of some scrap 3/16" plywood and a lot of hot melt glue. About half done:

Done except for mounting points:

That's it for now.

 

[D Farms]

When I see your cad work...

 

[Bandit Runner]

So my tailpipe rusted through just behind the muffler, and was laying on the cross-member for the last month or so. It made a heck of a rattling noise - Pretty embarrassing! Well this past Saturday I finally got around to taking it to the local muffler shop to have it repaired.

When I pulled my truck into the shop, all the techs were checking it out, looking at the lights, snorkel, etc. They put it on the lift and started working on it, while I sat in the waiting room watching them through a giant window. When he got done, the tech drove it off the lift. Then I noticed that all my aftermarket lights were being turned on and off repeatedly.

The tech came in and handed me the keys. He said, "Those lights are really cool! I saw all those light switches on your dash, and couldn't help myself. I just had to push them."

I responded, "That's alright, I do the same thing sometimes, and my son plays the switches like a piano keyboard."

 

[ElectroFishin]

Just blew off a couple hours of thesis writing to read the whole thread, definitely worth it! Awesome mods, subscribed to see what else you come up with.

 

[JBurt]

I wish I had a penny for every hour of thesis writing I blew off...

Nice work Bandit. Non rusted exhausts are the way to go.

 

[Bandit Runner]

Just blew off a couple hours of thesis writing to read the whole thread, definitely worth it! Awesome mods, subscribed to see what else you come up with.

Thanks! I'm glad I could provide you with an entertaining break from your thesis. Now get back to work!

 

[Bandit Runner]

I finally got a chance to test fit the gas tank skid prototype. It actually fit pretty good. I cut some slots in it so I could see how much clearance there was at the bottom corners. There was quite a bit, in fact, too much.

I decided to tighten up the fit a little by increasing the size of the bottom chamfer. I also was able to cut more off the passenger side rear corner, to help prevent driveshaft contact. The rounded corners of the gas tank are difficult to work around, but I think I got the skid as close as possible, while using flat pieces.

Here is the updated CAD model:

I should be ready to start cutting steel now.

 

[Bandit Runner]

Got the first few pieces cut out for the gas tank skid. Bottom and main passenger side pieces. I even got them tacked together.

The boards are just to help get the spacing between the skid and gas tank correct, until I get the mounts made.

 

[Kyle Reese]

On to 2010. I decided I wanted to learn to weld. So how better to learn, than by building a custom front bumper.


Amazing how you made that bumper

 

[Bandit Runner]

On to 2010. I decided I wanted to learn to weld. So how better to learn, than by building a custom front bumper.


Amazing how you made that bumper

Thanks man!

 

[Bandit Runner]

Made some progress on the gas tank skidplate today. Added the front plate and several small plates to shape the area near the drive shaft. It came out really close to the gas tank, with only about 3/16" gap between skid and tank. Nice and tight! Its just tacked together yet at this point.

I put it on and off the truck about 20 times to check clearances:

There are no mounting features yet, so I was using the jack to hold it in place. Worked really well.

 

[Bandit Runner]

I washed the truck today. Took a few pics with some fall colors in the background:

 

[Rock_Rat]

I washed the truck today. Took a few pics with some fall colors in the background:

She cleans up really nice.

 

[Bandit Runner]

More gas tank skid plate progress. I got all the pieces tacked together for the main shape of the skid. Now I just need to weld all the seams inside and outside.

I tacked some scrap pieces across the top to help eliminate the sides from warping inward from all the welding. We'll see if it works.

Here's a shot of the paper patterns for all the parts:

After I get all the seams welded, I will start working on the mounts.

 

[Bandit Runner]

I made some gas tank skid plate progress. Over the last few days, I was able to get all the seams (both inside and outside) welded up.

Outside edges ground smooth:

Then I made some progress on the mounts and got these pieces tacked on: