Dirtbike250x's Build Thread

[dirtbike250x]

You're close to me.... Marlton/Cherry Hill/ Haddonfield area.... 99 4runner expedition outfitted

Ah sweet, that is pretty close. I roam that area every once in awhile. Post up a picture of your truck so I can look out for you.

 

[4RunnerKyle]

Ah sweet, that is pretty close. I roam that area every once in awhile. Post up a picture of your truck so I can look out for you.

 

[dirtbike250x]

It's time to start another project on the truck. A little while back the panhard bar started making some noise from a little bit of play in the bushing. I attempted to tighten the bolt up and it was a temporary fix. Instead of spending the money to buy a fancy adjustable bar, I decided to get some building parts from ruffstuffspecialities and fab up my own bar.

What I used was : 1.5x.120 DOM tubing for the main tube, 1.25x.120 DOM to sleeve inside the main bar on either end to better adapt to the custom width poly bushings on either end. And just some scrap 3/8" angle steel to make the gusset. Simple design and a practice run when it comes time to make stronger lower links.

Once it is all welded up painted and installed I'll post more pictures.
But for now here are a few...

 

[dirtbike250x]

Some Updated Welded shots





My Temporary Panhard Bar



And an Installed Pic.




So far the bar works well, I was able to fully flex the truck and it runs through its full range of motion. Now I can move onto the lower links now that I have some experience on something to learn from.

In other news, a new member was added to the Toyota Family recently, probably the most special Toyota (at-least to me) Pictures to come...

 

[dirtbike250x]

Pictures as promised....

The new addition to the Toyota fleet is here! Picked up this 74 FJ40 in an estate sale. The previous owner was a Toyota enthusatist as well and kept good care of the mechanical functioning of the truck with a 2F engine swap with a 4 speed and Toyota mini truck power steering upgrade. Let the new project begin. :driving:

 

[4Running Daily]

Wow, I'm jealous.

 

[Slow_T4R]

That is Badass man. Good find.

 

[dirtbike250x]

Thanks guys. Who knows what it will turn into, from a restoration to a wheeler. I have no set plan, just happy to have my dream vehicle. :bravo:

 

[dirtbike250x]

The mods have been slow on the 4Runner for two reason; it's no fun working in the driveway when it is freezing outside and the newest project has gone under the knife taking up the garage space.

However, I noticed on another thread a forum member did a paint fill on the 4WD shift knob I thought it was a good idea and I gave it a try.



It is just white nail polish. I'm sorry I do not remember who originally posted the idea to give credit to.



And just for fun a photo of the other Toyota...I'll try not to turn this into a 40 build thread...

 

[dirtbike250x]

While the mods have slowed in the Runner due to "Project: Rotten Orange" (the fj40 build). That doesn't mean the truck isn't being used. Most recently it has been the "Expedition vehicle" being used to simply go explore the out doors.

With a little bit of Hiking and Biking and Camping have been the updates for this build thread.

 

[rfs324]

Moved onto the Tacoma whip antenna mod.

Pulled this ugly thing out
View attachment 79312


And replaced it with this. Reception is much better and looks so much better than the old antenna
View attachment 79313

Hey DirtBike, do you know the part number or year for this Taco antenna? About to do this upgrade on my 3rd gen, and this is the best looking Taco i've seen.
Thanks!

 

[zcruiser]

Hey DirtBike, do you know the part number or year for this Taco antenna? About to do this upgrade on my 3rd gen, and this is the best looking Taco i've seen.
Thanks!

Here's an archived thread on replacing the motorized antenna mast with the Tacomo mast. Looks like a lot of work...
https://web.archive.org/web/20060219044403/http://www.4runners.org/articles/whip/

 

[rfs324]

Here's an archived thread on replacing the motorized antenna mast with the Tacomo mast. Looks like a lot of work...
https://web.archive.org/web/20060219044403/http://www.4runners.org/articles/whip/

great thanks man. Gonna try this out this weekend. Gotta pull out the head unity anyway to replace the worn speakers.

 

[dirtbike250x]

great thanks man. Gonna try this out this weekend. Gotta pull out the head unity anyway to replace the worn speakers.

Yes the thread posted above is the same write-up I used to do this mod. I wouldn't say it is an easy one but certainly not hard either. For me routing the antenna wire was the toughest part, using some thin wire works or a metal coat hanger is nice to fish the wire behind the dash.

One of the better mods I have done. When on the trail just unscrew the antenna and have no chance of it getting hung up!

Any other questions just let me know!

 

[dirtbike250x]

Did some back yard crawling in the Runner today. Corolla was a "totaled" right off after an accident. It was just a quick time to play on it after work, with some more time soon, we'll see what kind of corolla crawling the truck is capable of...

 

[Yotaoffroad27]

Great looking 4runner. I'm amazed how little rust your 4runner has after living its whole life in NJ.... Awesome.

 

[chjghj]

I couldn't wait for the first snow fall after the new tires, I couldn't have been happier with the difference. But I didn't have much to compare to, since the first year had the very wore street tires with 90k on them.

 

[dirtbike250x]

Great looking 4runner. I'm amazed how little rust your 4runner has after living its whole life in NJ.... Awesome.

Thank you! It takes some up keep, but the truck is staying pretty solid over the years.

 

[MrPiBB]

Nice truck and nice build thread! Like the idea of keeping in the family.

 

[dirtbike250x]

Nice truck and nice build thread! Like the idea of keeping in the family.

Thanks man! Sorry Havent been to active on this board recently..


More updates to come though!