BrianSD_42 Photo Journal Build Maintenance Thread

[BrianSD_42]

did you do the install yourself, or did you have someone do it?

I installed them with the help of Trevor aka DirtyFingers here on the forum. He lives real close and offered to help. It took us about 3-4 hours.

You should get at least 1 friend to help. The hardest part is getting the steering spacer in (which you definitely need for even 1" of BL) and quick adjustment of the transmission shifter.

How will you lift it up? You need a BIG floor jack and multiple 6x4 blocks and even that is a bit unsafe. Be very careful. I used several "oh sh$t" jack stands to protect myself. Don't get under the truck if you are using a floor jack with something (like wood) to increase the jack's range.

The BL and body mounts are a bit weird because they look like a different size then the ones you are taking out. That is completely normal. The end result will be the same + 1" more.

 

[jstim]

I installed them with the help of Trevor aka DirtyFingers here on the forum. He lives real close and offered to help. It took us about 3-4 hours.

You should get at least 1 friend to help. The hardest part is getting the steering spacer in (which you definitely need for even 1" of BL) and quick adjustment of the transmission shifter.

How will you lift it up? You need a BIG floor jack and multiple 6x4 blocks and even that is a bit unsafe. Be very careful. I used several "oh sh$t" jack stands to protect myself. Don't get under the truck if you are using a floor jack with something (like wood) to increase the jack's range.

The BL and body mounts are a bit weird because they look like a different size then the ones you are taking out. That is completely normal. The end result will be the same + 1" more.

You got an inch of lift just from the body mounts? I'm going to try to take it on post to the auto hobby shop and use a lift. That's what I'm thinking at least.

 

[BrianSD_42]

Actually I bought new mounts and 1" BL blocks. Did both at once. The poly body mounts were more expensive.

 

[jstim]

Actually I bought new mounts and 1" BL blocks. Did both at once. The poly body mounts were more expensive.

Too bad you can't make a quick trip to NC....LOL I could use a hand getting this together. I did the same as you, and after looking at your rig more and more, I am contemplating a ARB bumper instead of one of the others.

Yeah, the BL was half as much as the body mounts.

 

[k1ng82]

I have been getting absolutely nothing done since finding this forum and spending WAY too much money from all the great ideas!!!

Amazing photos and even better 4runner! Holy Moly!

 

[ShooterMcGavin]

Thanks for showing off all your great work. It looks excellent! Definitely helps me with some of my plans.

 

[BrianSD_42]

Imageshack seems to crapped out and suffered some data loss so some of my pictures aren't showing up. I'll fix that soon.

Here are some pics I posted a while back but not in my build thread.

Testing out my new (to me) Nikon DX 10-24 mm lens.


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:bat:

 

[1985taylor1925]

ugly truck

 

[MattJakobs]

ugly truck

But good pictures!

 

[willbgood]

Brilliant

Absolutely great thread and links. Thank you for this, and thank you for your service!

 

[BrianSD_42]

Officially finished my #2 How To thread for doing a projector retrofit.



BrianSD_42 's Morimoto Mini D2S 3.0 Panorama Halo Retrofit DIY ***Complete Guide***

---> http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-g...s-3-0-panorama-halo-retrofit-diy-journey.html

:bat:

 

[BrianSD_42]

Absolutely great thread and links. Thank you for this, and thank you for your service!

[MENTION=130476]willbgood[/MENTION]

Thank you for the compliment! Glad to hear the thread has been helpful.

 

[BrianSD_42]

Officially finished my #2 How To thread for doing a projector retrofit.

Just FYI - these were sold for the asking price of $650. They constituted about $450 in parts and took over a weekend to make so I think the price was fair.

I won't be making any of these in the near future because it takes way too much time and I've got a lot of other stuff to focus on.

 

[BrianSD_42]

December 2015 Update


BrianSD_42’s Nov. 2015 Death Valley Trip (& Breakdown) Report

Some of you might have already seen this in my Death Valley specific thread but I thought it would be good to put these in my build thread as well.

Recently went to death valley with a close friend and a bigger group from the 3rd gen section.


How the trip turned out ....

* Friday - Drive to Death Valley, camp at Emigrant Camp

* Saturday - Drive to Rhyolite Ghost Town, then to Phrymm Canyon then to Titus Canyon, then to Cottonwood Canyon

* Sunday - Leave camp at Cottonwood, break down @ 8am, stuck in Death Valley until 5am Monday.



About my breakdown …

My drivers side Knuckle / Hub broke where it meets the upper ball joint. The Toyota part failed. I’m not sure what happened. It could have been stress fractures, metal fatigue, hitting a rock that was too large etc. It just happened.

Cottonwood Canyon was never a nice place to go but with the recent floods it really was a nightmare.

I was traveling with my friend Rob in the silver Tacoma and we had HAM radios so when my failure happened I was able to ride out with him.

We go back onto the road and drove to StovePipe Wells, used the local internet to book a Uhaul trailer dolly in Beatty, NV about 30 mins away. Got to Beatty, NV and it turns out the trailer place was closed on Sundays - no exceptions. The dolly’s were right there but no go. Can’t steal things of course. Called Uhaul found another dolly 150 miles away. Went there, got it, came back. Filled up in town at Beatty, NV. Headed back to Cottonwood. Got at the trail entrance near StovePipe wells at 4pm. Started the trail, it was very slow going. You can see that the Uhaul is extremely close to the ground, probably 3.5” at most in ground clearance.

The Uhaul rental was $150. I did call for local tow service but I was told the early quote was $2,000 for 8 hours.

I had to walk the path to make sure we didn’t get a flat on the dolly, it was about 7+ hours to go in and get the truck out. We must made it out of the canyon at 2:30am. Walking in the dark, clearing rocks, stacking rocks, etc.

Current status - truck is at the shop awaiting new Spindle & wheel bearing install.

Cottenwood Canyon in Death Valley - WTF I hope to never meet you again.



Now for the pics! (Nikon D7000 w/ Nikon 10-24 Lens & some from my cellphone)


I really like this picture for some reason ....


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Breakdown


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:girl:



General Trip Pics


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[BrianSD_42]

Death Valley Pictures Part II


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[BrianSD_42]

Death Valley Pictures - Part III


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[willbgood]

Death Valley Pictures - Part III




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More clear evidence that wheeling has been in our blood as long as we have had the wheel...

Great story and photos, as well...

 

[jman11788]

I may have missed it somewhere but did you go back to 265's?

 

[BrianSD_42]

I may have missed it somewhere but did you go back to 265's?

After my spindle broke leaving me left for dead in the desert (ok not really -- thanks to my friend -- never travel alone) I was considering just going back to 265 (31.5s) but I changed my mind because I've got the 1" BL as well as the lift and I worry it will look like I have small wheels.

It is a fact that with bigger tires such as my 33s which weigh 59 lbs each you are more likely to break stuff than with 31.5s All Terrains in class C which can be found weighing around 45 lbs each. The added weight contributes to the chance of breaking things.

I haven't even gotten my truck back yet so worrying about the tires would be hugely preliminary right now.

 

[Unner]

After my spindle broke leaving me left for dead in the desert (ok not really -- thanks to my friend -- never travel alone) I was considering just going back to 265 (31.5s) but I changed my mind because I've got the 1" BL as well as the lift and I worry it will look like I have small wheels.

It is a fact that with bigger tires such as my 33s which weigh 59 lbs each you are more likely to break stuff than with 31.5s All Terrains in class C which can be found weighing around 45 lbs each. The added weight contributes to the chance of breaking things.

I haven't even gotten my truck back yet so worrying about the tires would be hugely preliminary right now.

I think your break was more of an unlucky incident, I've never seen that before. You could always try a 255 size tire. That would put less strain on everything.