GhostRing's 98 Build/Etc. Thread

[GhostRing]

GhostRing's 98 LTD Build/Etc. Thread

1998 Limited
Anthracite Metallic
272K (06/19/25)

CURRENT CONFIG

Drivetrain
"Blue Wire" E Locker Mod
2WD LO switch
B&M 70264 Trans cooler
Denso wires
Extended Rear Breather Mod
Rear driveshaft zerk delete
Lowpro Rear Diff Plug
Cabinman Full OEM Timing kit 256K 7/22


Suspension
FRONT
Dobinsons IMS Shocks (set to height of Tundra 5100 notch 1)
Tundra TRD coils
OEM CV Reboot Kit w/Stretch Mod
SPC UCA (Caster setting E) Errr...
OEM LBJs + Black Bolts
Whiteline LCA Bushings
Energy Suspension poly steering rack bushings
Durobumps Front Diff Bushings
New OEM steering rack + OTREs (258k)

REAR
Outboarded 4th Gen Dobinsons IMS
OME 890 coils w/oem cones
2" Lowered Daystar Bumpstops
Opt Offroad JJ upper/lower links
Swapped Front Swaybar links
OEM Rubber Swaybar bushings
Whiteline UCA/Panhard Bushings
Eimkeith PCK
Eimkeith LLS

Wheels/Tires
285/75R16 E Yokohama Geolandars
OEM LTD 5 Spoke coated in something black tan
1.25" All Pro Hub-centric wheel spacers

Brakes
TBU Upgrade
13WL calipers
NAPA Rotors
OEM Pads/Shims
Wheeler's Braided Lines F/R

Body
EXTERIOR
WIY Coastal Offroad Front & Rear Bumpers
Smittybilt 10K H20 Winch
99-02 Headlights + Corners
JDM Side Indicators
Welded/lowered Rola roof rack
DIY Relocated washer reservoir
DIY Rock Sliders 1.75"x.120"
Auxbeam 7" Spotties
Auxbeam 3" Foglights
Nilight 2" Reverse pods
Mini lightbar turn signals
"BumperBottles" F/R
Hood Track + Netting
WeatherTech in-channel vents
AVS BugFlector II
Rhino Rack Sinseeker 2.0m awning
Spiker Eng. Hood Struts (Awesome!)

INTERIOR
99+ Center Console
99+ Rear Cargo Mod
Antenna motor "kill switch"
30% Front window tint
Driver side grab handle
Ashtray Uniden
Baofeng UV-5RA radio w/roof antenna
UltraGauge taped to broken windshield
CoverKing NeoSupreme front seat covers
DashCare black dash mat
Russian Door Checks (failing)
East Detailing wheel cover kit (failing)
WeatherTech Front Floor Mats
Super Ghetto Cargo Shelf


________________________________________________________________
After owning a 1st gen for 11 years, and a 2nd gen for 8, it was time to
see what the buzz for a 3rd gen was about...

Day of Purchase

Extra saggy loaded with the spare set of 3 spoke/tires that came with.
Hailing from the PNW, Toyotas certainly command a premium here.
However, the chassis is immaculate. The power antenna works.
The clearcoat is holding. (for now!) The E-Locker rocks.
Few nicks and dings, but I'm sure I'll cause worse...

Installed some 265 Duratracs (C Load) and drove to its new home on the high desert

 

[GhostRing]

I agonized about tire size/rating for some time, but I am happy so far with my decision.
I won't have any new, amazing insight on these tires, but suffice to say I would
confidently recommend them to anyone looking for a good dual purpose tire.

Improving the Rola Rack

Smart, stout little rack. I have a feeling I might eventually outgrow it, but it really does wonders
for expanding the versatility of these smaller SUVs. Just needs to be one piece.


First camping trip

Our two chucklheads seem to be enjoying the views

 

[GhostRing]

So as we all know, the pre-99's leave a bit to be desired in the creature comfort dept.

About the only thing that won't spill in the cup holders.

My take on the most needed mod there is

Wasn't up for drilling holes, so I extended the mounting foot a bit.
Just another excuse to fire up the welder...

Now that my coffee had a safe home, it was time to do something about
the wretched stock suspension and dirty diaper stance.

*flutter*

After many painstaking hours of research and sleepless nights of
"to drop or not to drop", I chose the following components:

FRONT
Bilstein Tundra 5100 5-ways (1st setting)
TRD Coils
OEM LBJs

REAR
Bilstein 5125 w/adapters
OME 890 Coils

1.25" All Pro Wheel Spacers


"Buy Local"

The install went a smooth as anything I could have asked for...
The rust free nature here and no real neglect or abuse made everything
go very easy. Heck, the rear shocks simply unscrewed!

New lift, new life

Pre-lift (hub to LTD flare lip)
DF: 20.5" DR: 20.75" PF: 20.25" PR: 20.25"
Post-lift (~1/4 tank fuel)
DF: 21.5" DR: 23.25" PF: 21.5" PR: 23.25"

Certainly a bit ass-high, but MAN what a difference in ride quality!!
Got the alignment done next day and took it on all the bumpy, jarring,
completely non-confidence-inspiring roads I frequent. A whole new truck!

I kept the front low for now, since lift wan't my primary goal. Need to let
the 890s settle a little and see what they like for weight in the back.
CVs wept a tiny bit, but no diff drop planned. Gonna see how it goes...

Rear brake bracket was bent lower, and I fabbed up a ebrake relocator.
Will give it a little flex session this week to check everything proper.

 

[TCMach]

Beauty of a truck! I love the anthracite color. If you like the rear how it is and want more out of the front you can put those TRDs on the 2nd notch. I ran like that for a long time and its well within the safe zone on CVs.

Clean 2nd gen too! Got any pictures of all three?

 

[downpour11]

Stop it. You're making me want to visit Bend again. (I grew up in Salem). I remember Bend when it was *thiiissss big*!! lol Love it up there. Nice truck and nice pics! :cheers:

 

[txbonds]

Looks good. Love the color.

Here's a better view of the rear storage panel coming your way

 

[hrt4me]

nice!

 

[white_n_slow]

Looks great. Reminds me of my '97 (rip)

 

[GhostRing]

Thanks! Hopefully I can keep this up as a semi-interesting build...
I am planning to fab some sliders and a bumper of some sort in the coming weeks.

[MENTION=56044]downpour11[/MENTION] Here's a pic of my very first vehicle (83 SR5) atop Coyote Butte circa 1993

87 SR5 in a Bernalillo, NM parking lot circa 1995

Near the height of its decrepitude...best vehicle I've ever owned

and the recently sold 94 SR5...honeymoon ended a bit early with this one

(not included is the 2nd gen I bought to essentially replace the drivetrain in the 94.)
All manual transmissions - the 98 is my first auto ever.


All great in their own way and deserve threads of their own, but this is focused on the 98.
This is what my passenger CV boot is doing a bit:

is this going to equalize, get worse, explode?
Would a quick re-strap snug up the breach?
I think it's more dirty in pic than rotted, but it does have almost 200k

 

[556.sig]

Good looking rig, man. I like the lift, simple and clean.

 

[RIDEALL]

Love the stance, I think it's perfect. This is right along the route I'll be going. Just curious, I know not all 97-98 had the inner coil cone bump stops. Does yours have them with those measurements?
Would you mind measuring how centered your rear axle is? It seems 890 are border line for Pan Hard Bar changes, and I've come across different #'s from different sources. But I guess this might be better to do once they have settled.
I would definitely toss some hose clamps on those boots. I know Sonoran Steel recommends it. Fixed up my old Tacoma after my mild 1 1/4" lift.
I used ones that had sort of a raised angled edge thinking it wouldn't dig into boots, but where they sit I don't think it made much difference verses a standard one.
Good luck!!!!

 

[GhostRing]

The measured height does include the coil cones. I debated omitting them, but I will
wait until everything settles in before any adjustments front or rear. This weekend
will see its first good camp loadout. See what they look like on Monday...

I think we found the axle was shifted about 1/4"? and it might look more pronounced
due to the wheel spacers. I know getting the panhard bar to re-line up with the axle mount
was tougher than I expected, so I may fab up a drop or extend/sleeve the panhard.

I'm still keeping an eye on the boot - no perceptible increase in seepage, but a hose clamp
is so cheap, I might as well just throw one on there!

 

[UT Hack]

Damn you and your easy to remove rear shocks!! I had to get a facefull of sparks and rubber smoke cutting them off with a grinder. :flamethrwoer2:

Beautiful color. Always been a fan of Anthracite.

 

[GhostRing]

OK, time for a super interesting update...

No Shamrock Shake for me! B&M 70264 - hopefully not too much cooler
If anyone sees an issue with routing/protection let me know (send line on top)

 

[RIDEALL]

You may already know this, but a good way too speed up the rear coil settling is to take her out and flex the rear end real good a few times. Gotta work em' ;-)
Once again great looking. Mine will have very similar stance shortly.

 

[tre9er]

I'm going to just come out and say this, OP:

I'm sorta in love with your truck. I Love, Love, Love the anthracite color, the black wheels, the 265/75's, rack, lift, locker, 99+ console...and you live in Oregon, somewhere I hope to visit and potentially live one day.

 

[GhostRing]

Thanks very much for the compliment! I sincerely think you should find your way out here
sometime. I grew up in New England and after coming here 20 yrs ago - can't bring myself to leave!

So check this out - I roll into work today and see this:

New girl is on her 3rd(!) 3rd Gen in as many months - keeps finding ones she likes better.
Either I have an admirer, or a new nemesis. At least I can sneak parts off it as mine gets more and more bashed... :tongue1:

 

[RIDEALL]

Curious if those coils have settled in the back yet and what your measurement came out to. Installing this weekend, & the anticipation is killing me;-)

 

[GhostRing]

Curious if those coils have settled in the back yet and what your measurement came out to. Installing this weekend, & the anticipation is killing me;-)

They did, and then they didn't..??
I just went out and checked and the driver was 23.5" hub to flare
and the passenger was 22.25" So something is still up (or down)...I might trim pack it,
but that really doesn't solve the issue. I'm contacting Wheeler's on Monday.

The silver lining is the 890s seem to ride very well regardless.

 

[GhostRing]

Sooooo...kind of a quick, dumb amendment to that previous post.
I was measuring on a deceivingly level parking surface and was getting erroneous numbers.
The ride height in back is fine - slightly biased to driver-high, but basically 23" on both rears

So, [MENTION=82215]RIDEALL[/MENTION] I'm guessing yours will settle well. They ride nice and have impressive flex.