Dirtco's 1999 4Runner Build

[Dirtco]

That actually looks pretty good. I was a little concerned when I saw you cutting the fenders and such, but I think you did a good job! Do you have any pictures from farther back so we can see what it all looks like together?

I was little concerned too, but once it starts coming back together it's not so bad!

I have cut the fenders out of my last three rigs (from mild to extreme) so I had a good idea what I was getting myself into. I'll see what I can do for pictures, my garage isn't very big and it's hard to get a good side picture.

Edit: I looked through a couple more pictures and this is the best I have.

 

[Dirtco]

I used sharpie on a truck previously for marking lines and then ended up cutting less than expected leaving the line on the paint still. Super easy fix, i took a dry erase marker and colored over the sharpie (not just tracing but actually coloring over it back and forth) and then wiped the dry erase off, it took the sharpie lines off with it. No remnants left over whatsoever. Since then I have done it multiple times on other trucks with the same results, however I have never let is sit for a long period of time, few hours at most. Just something else you could try that was very easy and worked great.

Its probably the solvent in the dry erase marker which I believe is alcohol. I would just use rubbing alcohol to take the sharpie off. It won't hurt the car paint and I can't see it doing anything to the bed liner.

Thanks guys! ( [MENTION=111147]Okiyota[/MENTION] )The Sharpie has been on there for a couple weeks, but I'll still give it a try. Going forward I think I'm going to use Vis-a-Vis markers for on-paint tracing, they just wash off with water. ( [MENTION=95134]Loubaru[/MENTION] ) I was waiting for the bed liner to dry and cure before introducing anything that could smudge or smear it, good call on the rubbing alcohol.

 

[cdrewferd]

That looks great. Can't wait to see the whole thing done. Going to be a totally different look that's for sure.

 

[BrianSD_42]

Like he said above, Sharpie ink can be removed by writing over it repeatedly with (a new) DRY-ERASE marker. Sounds crazy but it works in seconds and is 100% non-abrasive.

Still love this build thread!

 

[Kryptoroxx]

Looks great!! Always find great work on your truck and innovative thinking. Can't wait to see more wheeling pics !!

 

[derpiful]

Been watching this for a while now, and I can't wait until it's done! Really excited to see how this will look in the end. Nice work so far!

 

[Park]

Hurry UP!!:flame:

I love this truck

 

[MattJakobs]

When you log on to T4R during the super bowl because you're more interested in seeing your build then the game.

 

[rickashay]

How is this truck so clean? Your frame looks like you could eat off it. Your welds are perfect. Your "modded" rear quarters that look factory. The fully built crawler that could win best of show..... this thing is too legit, it makes me happy.

My brother is probably picking up a 3rd Gen in a couple weeks. I'm going to have to be frequenting around here more again to help him build it up and refering this build in particular for all the crazy attention to detail.

 

[Dirtco]

Like he said above, Sharpie ink can be removed by writing over it repeatedly with (a new) DRY-ERASE marker. Sounds crazy but it works in seconds and is 100% non-abrasive.

Still love this build thread!

Good to know. I just used rubbing alcohol; I didn’t have any dry erase markers lying around. The rubbing alcohol worked fine and didn’t affect the bed liner.

Glad your still following the build Brian!

 

[Dirtco]

That looks great. Can't wait to see the whole thing done. Going to be a totally different look that's for sure.

Looks great!! Always find great work on your truck and innovative thinking. Can't wait to see more wheeling pics !!

Been watching this for a while now, and I can't wait until it's done! Really excited to see how this will look in the end. Nice work so far!

Hurry UP!!:flame:

I love this truck

Thanks guys! I’m really looking forward to seeing how it will look once it’s all done too! I’m dying to take the thing out wheeling, but I still have a ton of work and only so much time I can work on it. I’m just trying to focus on one thing at a time, it will be worth it once it’s all done!

 

[Dirtco]

How is this truck so clean? Your frame looks like you could eat off it. Your welds are perfect. Your "modded" rear quarters that look factory. The fully built crawler that could win best of show..... this thing is too legit, it makes me happy.

My brother is probably picking up a 3rd Gen in a couple weeks. I'm going to have to be frequenting around here more again to help him build it up and refering this build in particular for all the crazy attention to detail.

Your too nice Addison, thanks for all the kind words!!! I guess I might be a little OCD when it comes to my vehicles.

I hope your brother finds the perfect candidate. Is he going to build it to go wheeling with you and your dad, or just a mild daily driver?

 

[Dirtco]

I really needed to get a tire mounted so I could check for firewall clearance. The nice thing about beadlocks is you can do it at home, as long as you can find a way to break the inside bead. Here is what I came up with, the Tacoma and a heavy wall piece of steel tubing.





And here is the first tire, ready to go! I still need to balance it, but I’ll take them all to work and balance them at the same time. Also, while it was apart I polished the inside face of the wheel.

 

[Dirtco]

Cutting through the firewall and into the passenger compartment can be a daunting task (all the more reason to jump in and get it over with). I know [MENTION=63060]rickashay[/MENTION] can relate to me!

Here is what I was starting with; I did a small trim job on it when I first built the 4Runner to clear the 35’s, but they still rubbed a little (especially once I got rid of the sway bar).



Round 1







I thought that was going to be enough, but when stuffed at full lock it rubbed pretty hard. This is the kind of job you only want to do once, so out came the cutting wheel again…

Round 2



Here is the view from the inside; the tire is rubbing on the left side of the opening.



Round 3





Yep, that’s a pretty big hole in the floor!

 

[Dirtco]

Most people just weld in a piece of sheet metal to cover the hole, but with this large of an opening I wanted more structure. I started by contouring and welding 1/4” round rod around the edge of the opening.





Then I added some sheet metal and 1/8” plate

 

[Dirtco]

Almost done





Inside

 

[4Running Daily]

That's amazing! Looks fantastic!

 

[JBurt]

Wow. That looks great.

Do you think clearance will change at all with your LT down the road?

 

[Rockdawg84]

you make my hammer job really look like a hammer job. Nicely done. :clap2:

 

[Jedrattle]

Looks great! 37's ?

That's my current plan. I'd like to drive someone's truck with it installed first though... Supposedly it's not the greatest on the street.

It's great but not so great all at the same time. The biggest problem is lack of a front sway. The body roll is crazy at times but I drive super aggressively. I once beat a raptor going up hwy 18. :bounce: He didn't know the road and I did. Lol. But what's great about it on the road, is not slowing down for much. The flex off road is great! Like it should be from the factory