Cartzo's 87 4Runner Homemade Long-Travel Build
- Thread starter Cartzo
- Start date
Cartzo
New member
Damn dude! Good info! I was about to get out and disconnect the battery, but I'm glad the bump fixed it. Well great, just more stuff I don't want to spend my money on.
Cartzo
New member
I haven't updated in a while. Been super busy lately. I've gone wheeling quite a bit with [MENTION=92884]snivilous[/MENTION]. I went mudding with him and the USU club last weekend and it was awesome. My alternator didn't enjoy the mud though. It ended up dying so I got a new one and everything seems fine. I still need to throw a charge on the battery I think because starting is a little slow. Other than that the runner is holding up good. I'm going to order some BJ spacers soon to level the front. It's going to be a while before I can LT and I'm sick of having the ass in the air. I'm also wanting to upgrade my tires to Goodyear MTR's w/kevlar. A jeeper buddy of mine has them and they are BEASTS. So plan is..
BJ spacers
Tube doors
Bikini top
MTR's
Then it will be good for the summer. Hopefully over next winter I will be able to LT. We'll see if plans change.
BJ spacers
Tube doors
Bikini top
MTR's
Then it will be good for the summer. Hopefully over next winter I will be able to LT. We'll see if plans change.
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Cartzo
New member
BJ spacers arrived! I ordered them Saturday night and they arrived Monday afternoon... I am super impressed with the quality and promptness of 4crawler. Will definitely be ordering from them in the future and would recommend them to anyone. I was planning on waiting to install them on the weekend, but they were so beautiful I just couldn't wait. Called up [MENTION=92884]snivilous[/MENTION] and threw them in. I relaxed the T-bars almost all of the way down so the ride height is about the same as it was, but the ride itself is soooo much more smooth. Insanely smooth compared to before. I think I'm going to crank the T-bars a little bit to level the front completely with the back. The Stink-Bug is no more! My shocks are limiting my down travel though. I won't be surprised if they fail soon from over extending. Until that happens, I'll drive it as is. It still drives really straight which is surprising. I think I'm going to take it in for an alignment anyways just to be safe. I'll post some before and after pics tomorrow.
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Cartzo
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Ok so it's been a bit longer than a day.. But here are some pics!
I few weeks ago I got 3 fix-it tickets for no bumper, no mud-flaps, and tire width violation. So I decided it was time to get the bumper on. I pulled a late night at work and got it on. I still have a lot to do, but I just put it on to get my tickets signed off. When I welded the mounts they warped pretty bad so it's not sitting where it should. I'm gonna take it back off to finish it up then have it sandblasted and work and most likely powder coated unless it's too expensive.
I also ordered a bikini top for Killer Toy Tops. They had a good deal going that I couldn't pass up. I'm thinking I'm gonna order a 40" LED bar for my roof also which will help trail visibility a ton at night.
I few weeks ago I got 3 fix-it tickets for no bumper, no mud-flaps, and tire width violation. So I decided it was time to get the bumper on. I pulled a late night at work and got it on. I still have a lot to do, but I just put it on to get my tickets signed off. When I welded the mounts they warped pretty bad so it's not sitting where it should. I'm gonna take it back off to finish it up then have it sandblasted and work and most likely powder coated unless it's too expensive.
I also ordered a bikini top for Killer Toy Tops. They had a good deal going that I couldn't pass up. I'm thinking I'm gonna order a 40" LED bar for my roof also which will help trail visibility a ton at night.
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Cartzo
New member
I got the LED bar mounted up. It is awesome. [MENTION=92884]snivilous[/MENTION] helped me out and it went pretty quick. The wiring was a little tedious but the switches look great. The stock cut out for cruise control was a little too wide for a super clean install though. I think I'm gonna get some thin rubber to go around the outside to cover up the sides and make it look better. The mounts look better than I expected them too. Still need to paint them. The tube arrived and I can't wait for it to warm up and throw them on. My KTT bikini top is on it's way too 
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Pisa 8687
New member
I got the LED bar mounted up. It is awesome. [MENTION=92884]snivilous[/MENTION] helped me out and it went pretty quick. The wiring was a little tedious but the switches look great. The stock cut out for cruise control was a little too wide for a super clean install though. I think I'm gonna get some thin rubber to go around the outside to cover up the sides and make it look better. The mounts look better than I expected them too. Still need to paint them. The tube arrived and I can't wait for it to warm up and throw them on. My KTT bikini top is on it's way too
Did you drill into the cab or use the rain gutter. Do you have better pics of the mounts.
Cartzo
New member
I drilled through the roof the put a rubber grommet in and silicone around it. I'll get you some closer pics of the mounts tomorrow
Cartzo
New member
Here are some close ups [MENTION=96235]Pisa 8687[/MENTION] of the mounts. I didn't want to mess with bending mounts yet so I just tapped them straight into the roof the took a long bolt and bolted it in. I just used black PVC pipe to cover up the bolt. It's fine for now until I feel like making nicer ones
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Pisa 8687
New member
Thanks for the pics gives me more ideas for a big led bar on my roof.
Cartzo
New member
Thanks man
I'm gonna pull them soon and revalve. I just got a couple sets of .010 shims so now it's time to tune them in.
Cartzo
New member
So tons has happened in the last few weeks and I'm super busy with work and finals and everything so I'll probably leave out some stuff but whatever.
First off I have gone on some pretty crazy wheeling trips with [MENTION=92884]snivilous[/MENTION] that you can read in his 2001 3rd Gen build thread.
I got my KTT bikini top installed and it's awesome. I took my bumper back off to finish it up and re-align it. I cut some slits in the side for an exhaust vent. Should be on this week if my tranny doesn't blow up.
Why would my tranny blow up? I ordered a new bushing and seat from marlincrawler to fix some of the slop in the shifter. Instead of just pulling off the boot and taking out the 4 10mm bolts that hold the shifter in, I undid the 6 12mm bolts that hold the top assembly on. (wasn't following directions I was just learning as I went) So when the assembly is pulled there is a thick rubber seal with 6 washers in the holes where the bolts go. I didn't realize that they were really loose and didn't pay attention when I pulled the rubber seal out. When I went to put it back in, I saw that one of the washers was gone. I couldn't find it anywhere. I was hoping it wasn't there to begin with or fell out somewhere else, but now I am afraid it fell into the tranny. I got a magnet and fished around inside a bit and got nothing. I figured if it had fallen in I would have gotten it with the magnet. So I just got a different washer and put it back together. When I went to put the seat in, I realized it was the wrong one. They sent me a white one instead of a red. I put the old seat back in and put it together. Took it out for a drive and about 10 minutes in either the transmission or engine started to make a horrible noise. Sounded like grinding with an occasional squeak. If I slowly give it gas, neutral or in gear, it will make the noise but sometimes it will be fine. Obviously I assume the washer really did fall in the tranny and that is whats making the noise. That is the only thing I messed with. I'm going to refrain from driving it as much as I can till the right seat comes and I'll pull it apart and look at it again. I don't think it will do much good though. I really don't want to have to pull the whole tranny apart and search.... Any advice would be awesome. I have already looked on KSL for any w56's..
First off I have gone on some pretty crazy wheeling trips with [MENTION=92884]snivilous[/MENTION] that you can read in his 2001 3rd Gen build thread.
I got my KTT bikini top installed and it's awesome. I took my bumper back off to finish it up and re-align it. I cut some slits in the side for an exhaust vent. Should be on this week if my tranny doesn't blow up.
Why would my tranny blow up? I ordered a new bushing and seat from marlincrawler to fix some of the slop in the shifter. Instead of just pulling off the boot and taking out the 4 10mm bolts that hold the shifter in, I undid the 6 12mm bolts that hold the top assembly on. (wasn't following directions I was just learning as I went) So when the assembly is pulled there is a thick rubber seal with 6 washers in the holes where the bolts go. I didn't realize that they were really loose and didn't pay attention when I pulled the rubber seal out. When I went to put it back in, I saw that one of the washers was gone. I couldn't find it anywhere. I was hoping it wasn't there to begin with or fell out somewhere else, but now I am afraid it fell into the tranny. I got a magnet and fished around inside a bit and got nothing. I figured if it had fallen in I would have gotten it with the magnet. So I just got a different washer and put it back together. When I went to put the seat in, I realized it was the wrong one. They sent me a white one instead of a red. I put the old seat back in and put it together. Took it out for a drive and about 10 minutes in either the transmission or engine started to make a horrible noise. Sounded like grinding with an occasional squeak. If I slowly give it gas, neutral or in gear, it will make the noise but sometimes it will be fine. Obviously I assume the washer really did fall in the tranny and that is whats making the noise. That is the only thing I messed with. I'm going to refrain from driving it as much as I can till the right seat comes and I'll pull it apart and look at it again. I don't think it will do much good though. I really don't want to have to pull the whole tranny apart and search.... Any advice would be awesome. I have already looked on KSL for any w56's..
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Cartzo
New member
That's funny! Yeah I'm gonna pull it all apart and see what's inside and if it messed up my gears at all. I'm gonna do my rear main seal while it's out.
Cartzo
New member
It's been a busy few weeks. I got the bumper mounted up and welded and I'm super happy with it. It's not perfect but it looks much better than the rusted out piece of junk that was on it before. I got it sandblasted, primed, and painted at my work which was awesome. It's nice durable automotive paint and I'm glad I didn't have to worry about doing it myself. Painting is a hassle sometimes.
I used scrap metal that was around the shop so this bumper literally didn't cost me a dime. All it costed me was time.
I used scrap metal that was around the shop so this bumper literally didn't cost me a dime. All it costed me was time.
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