Building Red October

[Red October]

Nice build! Love the rear hatch LED's. Glad to hear you got the motor back finally. I see you bought a header. Any plans for a high flow cat and new exhaust set-up?

So I have been doing a ton of homework on exhaust for the 2.7. From what I can tell most of the cat back systems out there are 2.25", which is basically stock size. That's fine since going too big will actually hurt performance, simple exhaust theory here, smaller pipe = better exhaust velocity, and that helps build torque (obviously to a point). Any way, most of the systems are only gaining anything by using a better flowing muffler, since that's really the big restriction in the system.

So after thinkin this over for a long while I said to myself, "Well, my exhaust is all fine except the muffler, which is toast. So why replace parts that I don't need to?"

I'm gonna just cut the stock muffler out and run a better one in its place. Simple, cheap and the same end result as a bolt on system.

Heard good things about Dynomax Super Turbo 17747. So I have one coming, should be welding it in next week.

While I'm in there I will inspect my cat for damage, meltdown etc. If I need to I will replace it with a weld in, just to stay inexpensive.

 

[Red October]

Finally finished the construction part of the roof rack today, and got it about half way painted. I'm using Rustoleum bed liner, and brushing it on. Way too much tube for spraying

You can see my Expo trailer project in there too, it's ongoing but I worked on that a little today too.

 

[Red October]

Tried on my roof rack today. Yes, it looks a whole lot like a tower with that tire up there... :wow2:

 

[Red October]

Well today I welded on my new Dynomax Super Turbo 17747. I like it, its very quiet, just a little louder than stock, just enough so that you can tell that its there, but not much more. Along with that I put in 2 shiny new Denso O2 sensors.

Its still no rocket, but that little 2.7 sure seems to be happier, and breathe a bit easier.

 

[gigerunner]

I think this is the best rack I have seen yet! I like the super low profile. Do you run the spare up there 24/7 or just when wheeling? Its probably just an optical illusion but does that rack have an arch ot it front to back? I noticed the front bar is at a down angel.

 

[Red October]

It does curve with the roof. I really wanted it to be low, low profile. I only keep the spare up there when needed, its really pretty heavy and the truck handles quite a bit differently with it on the rack.

 

[gigerunner]

Good to know! I'm looking to build a rack. I am only looking to put up lights on it and hi lift. I don't think I would throw the tire up there unless I really needed the room. I will be keeping up on your thread too keep it up.

 

[Red October]

Not really directly about my 4Runner, but it will probably be included in my adventures. And when it's done I can start armor! Yeah!

My expo trailer project.

It's not done but it's coming along nicely,

 

[Bandit Runner]

Cool. Did you build it from scratch?

 

[Red October]

Cool. Did you build it from scratch?

Yep :biggrin1: Its been tons of fun so far.

I shoulda linked my build thread from ExPo

The Noob Trailer build - Expedition Portal

 

[sggaz]

This is a great story and good work. Keep it coming!

 

[absalom]

Build is looking great so far. You're a patient man waiting on that engine to get rebuilt. When you get tired of waiting, I got a 5VZ/tranny for you that would look great under that hood, oh and I'm local to you. :guitar2:

 

[Red October]

So wifey and I are moving... And that's a good thing! I could go on about the reasons. But I digress, 4Runner stuff, am I right!?!

So we loaded ol Red to the gills, I mean probably 6-700lbs worth of stuff (the wife's stuff :faint: ). I was really pleasantly surprised at how well my suspension setup handled the load. It was about 800 miles, and we encountered some pretty nasty weather on the way, but Red took everything we could throw at her and begged for more:banana:

this is what she looked like all loaded.

 

[Red October]

... Red is still alive....

We survived moving, lol, but just barely. And we have even been wheelin a little in the new environs of Utah

 

[Red October]

A couple pics from a lazy Sunday drive

And Red, poser shot

 

[BrianSD_42]

That trailer looks sweet man.

What are those arches for? I figured it would have a flat top so that you could put a tent on it.

 

[fightman80]

Glad she survived the move.... what's next? Did you end up welding in that muffler?

 

[Red October]

That trailer looks sweet man.

What are those arches for? I figured it would have a flat top so that you could put a tent on it.

The racks are for awning arms that will swing out and cover the back of the trailer where the galley area is, and carry a couple kayaks, or a canoe. The top of the trailer is long enough for a tent to fit between them. It still needs a ton of work, and i haven't been able to do much on it since moving :nono:

Glad she survived the move.... what's next? Did you end up welding in that muffler?

Thanks man! I did get that muffler all put on, and I really like it, its got a low grumble, not too loud, and it flows quite a bit better.

I hope that wheel trim worked out for you, and you got your rig all fixed up after that LBJ incident


Right now I am trying to figure out armor for Red. She needs all of it, but I don't know what to do first. I want sliders and skids, and a rear swing away bumper, and a winch bumper.... but wifey is less than happy about how much that will cost...

 

[MattJakobs]

The rack and trailer look great man, just finished reading through your trailer build. Were these learn to weld projects or did you have previous experience?

 

[Red October]

The rack and trailer look great man, just finished reading through your trailer build. Were these learn to weld projects or did you have previous experience?

Thanks man! They have both been a lot of fun to build. These are just "stay sharp" projects, I can be a decent welder when I'm practiced up. I just really enjoy building stuff.