Fightman's Build Thread

[fightman80]

The ball joints can be a daunting task, however, with the right tools, it's not too bad at all. I'd seriously consider doing it yourself man, you'll feel good about the accomplishment, and will save yourself a few dollars in the process.

Just make sure you do your research prior to taking it on... I found a couple of threads on here that went into detail about what tools were needed, and how to do the job.

Good luck!

 

[LittleCaesar]

I actually like the Liberty overall; granted it isn't a 4runner but I have a friend who has the diesel motor in it and the Liberty is still going strong after 150,000 miles.

How is the repair coming?

 

[fightman80]

I actually like the Liberty overall; granted it isn't a 4runner but I have a friend who has the diesel motor in it and the Liberty is still going strong after 150,000 miles.

How is the repair coming?

The estimator/Secretary called me yesterday to tell me that the hatch was coming along. She told me that they were able to just repair the existing hatch, but would have to replace the licence plate trim piece, as the clips had broken in the collision.

I'm still waiting for word on the cost of the EXTRA work I want them to do.... Hoping to hear from them today on that stuff.....

AS for the Liberty... I hate it... not enough cargo space, rear seating is not so hot either, and the darn thing rides like a golf cart! lol!

 

[fightman80]

Well.... they botched the job!

I had a feeling when they called me to say they couldn't keep the
"4Runner" logo where it was... that they would mess up the work!

Where do I start?? First of all... they failed to re-locate the 4Runner logo to where I had it before... (on the hatch, just over the NEW licence plate location).

Previous setup:

What they did:

You can't even see "4Runner" anymore, unless the tire is down...


Second issue....

When they cut the plastic trim piece so that the carrier latch point would be "Molded" into the plastic trim, they cut it crooked!

What they did:

Previous setup:

Third issue... (well multiple here too!)

Runs, Orange Peel, and grooves left in the paint!

Now the pics don't do it justice.... and you only see the issues when the tire is down... but none the less... THESE GUYS ARE SUPPOSED TO BE PROS?? Myself and Lee did the previous work.... and it looked better!

Fourth Issue.... The tire carrier no longer matches up with the latch point, and it's hard to get it to sit properly!

(No pic of this... but the holes don't line up, and are off by an 1/8th of an Inch!)

Now, here is my dillema:

The Shop Manager told me that he would have the hatch buffed, get the Tire Carrier lined up right, try to cut the other side of the plastic trim piece so it's at least cut in a uniform fashion, relocate the 4Runner emblem, and fill the holes in the trim piece, AND!!!!! IF I pay to have the windshield pulled... he'll repair and repaint the windshield frame for free.... and give me a killer deal on pain for the Sport Hood! (only thing is... I have to source the parts for the hood)

I can get all this done... but won't have another Rental to drive while he has mine in the shop.

OR......

Do I call the insurance, have him repair/replace the rear hatch and fix all that crap, get a rental, but NOT get the deal on the windshield and hood???


I'm thinking Option 1.... but kinda pissed that I have to go without a second vehicle while he has mine in the shop....

What would you guys do????

 

[4Running Daily]

Is there any body shop in the world that can paint a 4Runner Evergreen Pearl correctly the first time?

I'd take it back to the shop and say fix this Sh!t work! Replace the license plate mold with another new one, put my dam 4Runner emblem where it should go, and fix my paint!

 

[fightman80]

I've since talked with my Insurance adjuster, who advised me that he would HAVE to let the 1st shop try to fix the mistakes, before he can authorize a different shop to re-do the work. He suggested I let the Shop manager do what he promised, and fix my issues, as well as get the deal out of him. If the shop fubars it again, he would be more than happy to put a note in their file, and have them pay for me to get it done elsewhere, with a Rental Car for my troubles.

I'm going to try this route, and see what happens. Maybe he had an apprentice do the work, and forgot to check quality before calling me to the shop??

In the meantime, I decided to fix what I could, and have my buddy Mike repair the tire carrier so that it will at least latch easily.

Once it was lined up properly again, Mike was asked to weld on some latch points for my trailer safety chains.

I threw one a couple of coats of paint, and voila!

Home sweet home... it's back in place, and working flawlessly again!

 

[BigFishAllDay]

Dang man, sorry to read about the accident. I remember seeing it in your thread awhile back but I haven't had the time to read up on the situation. I've always said that's about the worst thing that can happen to our rigs after we put so much time & care into them. Thankfully yours was minor.

RE the paint, that sucks too. Paint work is one of those things where alot of people/shops do it, but few do it well. The license plate bezel goof up was just a "measure once, cut thrice, oops, cut too much" kinda thing. Looks like they were rushing on that part.

Hang in there man, it will all work out.

 

[fightman80]

Thanks Bigfish! I'm really hoping this does... cause this guy is really getting on my nerves!

He calls me today, to ask if it was ok for him to just take the spare "4Runner" emblem and stick it on the lower driver side, AND leave the other one on the new licence plate trim panel there! WTF??? Like I need 2 "4Runner" emblems on my rear hatch! FML! I told him that I did NOT want that, and that all I want is for it to be the same as before.

I also told the guy that I went ahead and fixed the rear tire carrier so he didn't have to try and figure that out... and he tries to slide more Half-Assed crap on me??!! LOSER!

Anyway, Today I decided to take my new Mother's Power Cone and polish up my slightly faded rims! I had recently posted pics of what they looked like after using Mother's Wheel polish in combination with the Power Ball, but wasn't overly impressed with the Mother's Product.... so went back to the same store I usually go to, and got my Autosol Metal Polish again.

Here's a shot of one of the wheels after using the Mother's Polish on it:

Here's a shot, taken today (several weeks later), after using the Autosol:

NO MILKY RESIDUE! LITTLE TO NO SPOTS!


Autosol is the Greatest Metal Polish on EARTH!

 

[LittleCaesar]

Working 18hr days to finish a project at work before Labor Day. Not fun at all.

I see that you have returned to work then Fightman. The wheels look great. Since I have a dealer account with these guys, I use this for my chrome:
Extreme Shine Metal Aluminum Wheels Polish 16 Oz

 

[fightman80]

Working 18hr days to finish a project at work before Labor Day. Not fun at all.

I see that you have returned to work then Fightman. The wheels look great. Since I have a dealer account with these guys, I use this for my chrome:
Extreme Shine Metal Aluminum Wheels Polish 16 Oz

Hey man! Thanks for checking in! I am back to work, been there since last week, and scheduled for another 44hrs this week. Worked Night Shift last night, and will be doing so again tonight. Then off for a day, and on day shift Friday and Saturday! Gonna end Saturday night with a Good ole' Family Corn Roast, and hang out around the fire, playing some music!

That polish looks like good stuff... but my wheels are Polished Aluminum....not Chrome! People often mistake them for chrome, because I keep them so clean....

The Autosol is also only around $10.00 per tube, and I've been using it since I was a little kid (I used to polish the chrome on my bicycles with it! HA HA HA!)

I called the bodyshop today, he's going to spray the hood for me for $678.00 taxes in! Plus the cost of the hood at approx. $600.00, I'm looking at nearly $400.00 cheaper than originally quoted to do the same work!

I'm gonna order the hood parts from Toyota of Dallas, and they'll be shipped via Snail Mail.... so once they are in, I'll call to book the work, and go from there!

I just hope he makes good on his promises, and fixes me up with a sweet deal, with good quality this time!

 

[LittleCaesar]

I knew that; working on some hard projects at work at 3am with not enough Java at hand doesn't make me too lucid.

Keep us abreast of how it all turns out.

 

[fightman80]

Well, the Hood Scoop is OUT! The parts alone are gonna cost me $700.00, and that's using Toyota of Dallas as a source for all of the parts except the Hood itself (they don't ship hoods... especially to Canada).

I really hate how retailers from the US gouge us here in Canada.... it costs us double to anything around here. :bash:

I'm still getting the shop to fix my windshield rust, along with the rear hatch itself... but gonna have to postpone it, since I'm selling the car, and gonna need the 4Runner to drive everyday, until I buy a 2nd Gen Tacoma.

In the meantime, here's some pics I took with my Cell phone:

And my new office... lol!

It's a 2011 Silverado, fully geared with a Police Spec Light bar, sirens, air horn, and all the First Aid goodies every Advanced Medical 1st Responder would need! (Oxygen Tank, AED, BVM, blood pressure cuff, stethoscope, etc..)

I'll keep you all posted on the progress with the 4Runner!

 

[LittleCaesar]

Sorry to hear that the hood scoop is a no go. I do like the truck, but believed that most Canadian Industries (mining, etc.) preferred Fords.

 

[giguchan]

Hey,
me too... sorry to hear that.... any chance you can use an address in the states and then get it up to you?

If i were back home i'd do it for you.. or would it be held up in customs or something...

 

[fightman80]

Thanks fellas! The company here, utilizes whatever Make puts the cheapest bid for the fleet. Unfortunately, that means that 1 out of 5 of their Silverado's, have been returned at least once a month for engine issues!

The one I pictured above, has been burning oil since they got it, and has gone in for a motor job already... it's a 2011... with less than 35000km on it!

As for shipping the hood parts to Canada, Toyota of Dallas has decent shipping rates. THey just don't ship large items like an entire hood... So I'd have to pick it up in Dallas.....

 

[4runner3gen]

Sick ride man, I have a 2000 4runner 4x4 and just ordered the 3inch OME lift with the front spacers with the 881's/890's and the diff drop. Did you have to do anything else except just install the drop and springs? (such as brake line extension or anything extra like upgraded stearing, etc.)

 

[fightman80]

Sick ride man, I have a 2000 4runner 4x4 and just ordered the 3inch OME lift with the front spacers with the 881's/890's and the diff drop. Did you have to do anything else except just install the drop and springs? (such as brake line extension or anything extra like upgraded stearing, etc.)

Thanks for the compliment man! I didn't install a brake line extension, or anything else extra when doing my lift. However, I later decided to do a panhard bar drop bracket, in order to reset the center of the axle to the center of the truck.

The OME kit is supposed to be a great kit... hope you enjoy it!

 

[4runner3gen]

If I were to do the lift without the pan hard drop the axle will be off center? do you know by how much and would this cause damage or danger for the vehicle?

 

[fightman80]

If I were to do the lift without the pan hard drop the axle will be off center? do you know by how much and would this cause damage or danger for the vehicle?

It does sit off center, but it's minimal. Just simply geometry unfortunately.... but as long as you don't go crazy with the height of your lift (4" or more), there is little to no risk for damage.

Some people have experienced the Zerk Fittings on the driveshaft getting sheared off by the gas tank skid plate, because of the geometry change with bigger lifts... I have not had any such issues.

I simply added the pan hard, for esthetic reasons.... I didn't like the fact that the axle sat further out on the passenger side of the truck.

Hope this helps!

 

[fightman80]

Alright, so small update:

I got the truck back... rear hatch was repaired properly, and the shop took care of the little bit of rust I had around the windshield.

At first, when I arrived to pick up the 4Runner, I wasn't too happy. I found that when they did the blow in (term used when spraying in paint to match old paint), they chose not to go up over the roof, and thus, a paint line was very noticeable. Also, when they removed the windshield to do the repair, and ultimately put it back... the rubber trim piece was all crooked.. FML!

I dealt with the paint shop first, and had them buff out the paint line. It's still noticeable, but only to a trained eye.... I'm pretty picky when it comes to paint and body work.... lol!

The next thing I did, was bring the truck back to the windshield shop, before paying them for any work they did. I had it scheduled for today, and they removed the entire windshield again, and put on another rubber trim piece. It looks alot better.... but still not perfect.... oh well...

I'm not sure if it's just me, or what... but this 4Runner just doesn't seem to like being worked on! lol! Every shop I've brought this thing to, has issues of some sort with it! I've even had my share of turmoils with it, when doing repairs.... the darn truck just doesn't like being tampered with! lol!