I found "The One", 2001 Sport Ed. TRD SC'd

[fightman80]

Looking good man! Can't wait to see what's next!

 

[SliderNH]

BigFish, You have made an outstanding truck. Thats a lot of hard work put into making a capable and reliable 4runner. I admire the cleanliness of your work. That sort of attention to detail is what makes your modifications worth-while. "If your gonna do it, do it right."-- You certainly got that one figured out!

 

[quicksilvr]

Dude, this is so....

 

[Dirtco]

I've come to the conclusion that it's better for me to wait until the CBI is installed before I put the axle under the truck. That way I can determine how much it sags my LC coils. I picked up a set of 1.5" rear spacers from trailhead98. I'm going to measure the sag from the CBI, then cut the spacers down to the exact same height, then put them in on top of the LC coils to maintain my current height.

I had my uncle (who weighs 190lbs) stand on my two hitch and it sagged the rear end about an inch. The CBI should only add 70-80lbs, so I'm thinking I won't need much on the spacer.

I think the spring rate of the rear LC coils might be too low for the weight of the bumper and spare tire. I've noticed that just the gear I carry in the cargo area is too much for the rear coils, and it's noticeably softer than the front suspension. The front suspension feels great, but the rear suspension is excessively soft and bottoms out all the time. I really need to step up to a heavier spring rate rear spring, or add air bags. Just something to think about...

Other than that; Great work, and you will love the rear locker!

 

[BigFishAllDay]

Dude!! I'm so excited for you! You're almost done. Oh man, that wiring looks like a pain, especially up by the driver's kick panel, space is super tight in there. You like your IPF's, eh? Which model/size are they if you don't mind me asking?

Good luck on the rest of the install btw. Love all the videos too, be sure to take another when it's all finished

The IPFs are model # 968CSG, and I purchased them from Toytec. The wiring for the elocker was time consuming to figure out, but not technically difficult to put together... it was mainly just a crapload of soldering. I'll definitely take some more video when it's done.

Its starting to get exciting now!

The 3rd and the axle look great. But its beyond me how you have the patience to wait for the CBI to install this elocker..

I really want it under the truck, preferably yesterday. BUT, if I put it in now, then install the CBI, then I've got to unbutton the rear suspension again to address any sag. I figure I'll just put it all back together in one shot.

I don't like doing things twice. Time is money, Rip!

Looking good man! Can't wait to see what's next!

Thanks for reading man.

BigFish, You have made an outstanding truck. Thats a lot of hard work put into making a capable and reliable 4runner. I admire the cleanliness of your work. That sort of attention to detail is what makes your modifications worth-while. "If your gonna do it, do it right."-- You certainly got that one figured out!

Thanks Slider. It has definitely been alot of work. At this point, I value the truck more for the amount of time I have in it than the amount of money I have in it. Thanks for taking time out of your day to read through the thread.

Dude, this is so....

OH YEAH. It's Dynomite!

I think the spring rate of the rear LC coils might be too low for the weight of the bumper and spare tire. I've noticed that just the gear I carry in the cargo area is too much for the rear coils, and it's noticeably softer than the front suspension. The front suspension feels great, but the rear suspension is excessively soft and bottoms out all the time. I really need to step up to a heavier spring rate rear spring, or add air bags. Just something to think about...

Other than that; Great work, and you will love the rear locker!

You might be on to something. The spacers are my "Rear Suspension Sag Fix: Plan Revision 1". I bought them for $20 so I figure if I change my mind I can put them right back out there for sale and get that money back. I don't like the idea of using a spacer on this truck, but I picked them up to keep my options open.

I've considered new coils, and I'm 99% sure that if I go that route I'll end up w/OME 861's. Brian2Sun has those under his rig and he's got a CBI out back. He seems to like that setup quite a bit. I know a few other guys have run them too, including Gerdo, Steeze, and others.

The 861's are a 220lb./in. coil from the research I've done. What I haven't been able to find is a definitive answer on what the spring rate is for the LC coils that SS sells with their 1.2 lift. Any ideas?

I always thought they were closer to 170-180lb./in. but I'm not sure if that's correct.

 

[Hepar]

Man, I must commend you on your patience. I'd definitely have a hard time not getting right into the swap, but I agree with your choice to wait until after the CBI is installed.

 

[BigFishAllDay]

Well, with the encouragement from you guys to get on with it, I may not be able to wait. We'll see how the availability of time works out over the next week or so.

I'm off for some fishing, shooting, and camping tomorrow. The '97 is sitting in the driveway with the boat hitched, full of gear, with a full tank.

And thanks to Dirtco, I've got to decide if I want to pull the trigger on some OME 861's.

If it ain't one thing, it's another. But tomorrow, there is only one thing...

Fishing. Simple, easy fishing. :reddance:

 

[brian2sun]

I've considered new coils, and I'm 99% sure that if I go that route I'll end up w/OME 861's. Brian2Sun has those under his rig and he's got a CBI out back. He seems to like that setup quite a bit. I know a few other guys have run them too, including Gerdo, Steeze, and others.

The 861's are a 220lb./in. coil from the research I've done. What I haven't been able to find is a definitive answer on what the spring rate is for the LC coils that SS sells with their 1.2 lift. Any ideas?

I always thought they were closer to 170-180lb./in. but I'm not sure if that's correct.

Well, with the encouragement from you guys to get on with it, I may not be able to wait. We'll see how the availability of time works out over the next week or so.

I'm off for some fishing, shooting, and camping tomorrow. The '97 is sitting in the driveway with the boat hitched, full of gear, with a full tank.

And thanks to Dirtco, I've got to decide if I want to pull the trigger on some OME 861's.

If it ain't one thing, it's another. But tomorrow, there is only one thing...

Fishing. Simple, easy fishing. :reddance:

I've come to the conclusion that 861s are thee coils to use if you have a rear bumper/tire carrier and carry lots of gear. Mine settled down from ~5" to ~4" of lift after a couple months and haven't gone down any more since, despite flexing them out on the trails a lot. And BTW, the 861s flex very nice if you have the weight to compress them.

Driffters LC coils (8.something wraps) sagged a lot with his gear and homemade bumper (lighter than a CBI) and no tire carrier. He went with 851s and likes them. I think they sit a little taller than my 861s.. probably because (I think) they have a larger diameter coil. Same spring rate though.

For now, the spacers will get you by. They aren't so bad on the rear, at least they don't preload the coils like in-strut spacers.

Hey, and congrats on the CBI! I like mine a lot, I'm sure you will too!

 

[LittleCaesar]

Fishing, aw, just jealous here at work. Tight lines to ya BFAD!

 

[BrianSD_42]

BFAD,

Did you ever install the Highland Splash Guards 11051?

I saw the pictures still in the packaging but don't see them installed anywhere in the thread?

Thanks


-Brian

 

[4-Ripcord]

Oh man, that reminds me. Still have to put mine on too!

 

[ALBPM]

Brian beat me to asking about the splash guards for the front wheels.

I still have to remove my running boards. I just bought a folding step stool so I can get my 83 year old Mom and the In-laws in the Runner when we take them out. That will be a comedy of errors the first time loading them in without the running boards...:lmao:

Hopefully, I will get the sliders next month from the group buy.

 

[josh.bunch]

FWIW I have Outdoor Logics rat bumper and tire carrier with 891's and I really like the way it rides. Prior to the OL bumper the rode was horrible. Once the bumper was on, the ride was much smoother. I've got plans drawn up for cargo drawers, if that sags the rear I'll add some 10mm trim packers bc them are only $10 each. Just a though I had that might save you money.

 

[BigFishAllDay]

I've come to the conclusion that 861s are thee coils to use if you have a rear bumper/tire carrier and carry lots of gear. Mine settled down from ~5" to ~4" of lift after a couple months and haven't gone down any more since, despite flexing them out on the trails a lot. And BTW, the 861s flex very nice if you have the weight to compress them.

Hey, and congrats on the CBI! I like mine a lot, I'm sure you will too!

Thanks for the advice Brian. I've been studying your build and your posts on the 861's for the last week or so and the first hand experience you provide has been valuable to me in deciding which way to go.

Fishing, aw, just jealous here at work. Tight lines to ya BFAD!

Thanks LC. It was tight lines indeed. Between two of us, we boated just shy of 60 Tiger Muskies in 2 days of fishing. It was incredible. No monsters, but the biggest one was pushing 35 inches.

FWIW I have Outdoor Logics rat bumper and tire carrier with 891's and I really like the way it rides. Prior to the OL bumper the rode was horrible. Once the bumper was on, the ride was much smoother. I've got plans drawn up for cargo drawers, if that sags the rear I'll add some 10mm trim packers bc them are only $10 each. Just a though I had that might save you money.

I've considered the 891's but they are just too low for me. I like the raked stance, and I'd like to retain some rake even when loaded down with gear.

Plus, If I'm going to drop the coin for 891's I figure I might as well go w/861's and get the height I'm looking for. Thanks for the suggestion Josh.

BFAD,

Did you ever install the Highland Splash Guards 11051?

I saw the pictures still in the packaging but don't see them installed anywhere in the thread?

Oh man, that reminds me. Still have to put mine on too!

Brian beat me to asking about the splash guards for the front wheels.

I still have to remove my running boards. I just bought a folding step stool so I can get my 83 year old Mom and the In-laws in the Runner when we take them out. That will be a comedy of errors the first time loading them in without the running boards...:lmao:

Hopefully, I will get the sliders next month from the group buy.

Since you guys mentioned it. No... I had not installed them.... until today.

I had completely forgotten about them, but I was in the garage today taking pictures of some parts for sale and thanks to your reminder, I decided to go ahead and install them.

I was on the fence as to whether or not I wanted to put them on at all because I was worried that the tires would rub on them and just tear them off. After I spent some time looking at things today, I think I've figured a way to cut them so that the tires won't rub on them when they're stuffed.

If they don't work out, I think I can live with the 3 small screw holes per side that I put in my fender flares.

First cuts... These cuts allowed the flaps to better meet the contours of the fender flare and pinch weld.

Second cuts... These cuts removed the section of the flaps that would ordinarily cover the pinch weld within the wheel well.

Third cuts... These cuts removed additional material where clearance was the tightest to ensure the tire does not rub the flaps.

Clearance...

Fit and finish...

Installed...

Compared to a factory design... and a good idea of the amount of tire coverage.

Just for reference, these are the flaps I used...

 

[fightman80]

Nice dude! I should look into these... as I can't even fit my mud flaps without them rubbing on my 285's!

 

[SCRunner12]

Have you thought about the Toytec Superflex coils? They are new and not yet released, but supposed to give 4". Steeze is running them so he might have some comments about them and whether they will work with that much weight.

 

[BigFishAllDay]

Nice dude! I should look into these... as I can't even fit my mud flaps without them rubbing on my 285's!

If I remember right, they were about $20. I figure if they don't work out, it won't be a big loss.

Have you thought about the Toytec Superflex coils? They are new and not yet released, but supposed to give 4". Steeze is running them so he might have some comments about them and whether they will work with that much weight.

I've thought about them, yes. BUT... there's zero information available on those coils. Steeze might have some info on them, but I remember seeing his post when he installed and he's been running them for what? A week?

The selling point for me w/the 861's is that there are a LOT of people running them who are very satisfied w/their performance. That list of people includes Brian2sun who is running basically an identical rear bumper/weight setup as I will be... and he loves his.

I guess if Toytec ever gets off their bums and releases some specs on those coils, I could make an informed decision.

 

[BigFishAllDay]

I had a couple hours this afternoon, so I got the 3rd member installed into the 4Runner housing and prepped the assembly for install...

First things first, I used a couple cans of brake cleaner to do a thorough final cleaning of the inside of the axle tube... then I re-installed the oil baffles into the axle housing...

Next, I cleaned up the mating surfaces and laid down a bead of Permatex Ultra Black Hi-Temp RTV Silicone Gasket Maker.

Then I dropped the 3rd member into the new housing... I made sure to lock the 3rd member first, otherwise it would not have fit into the housing. (btw, the grey stripe on the RH side of the housing in the pic below resulted from brake cleaner getting on the rubberized undercoating... I guess the two don't mix)

The bead of RTV I laid down was the perfect amount, if I don't say so myself...

After I dropped in the 3rd, I tightened the nuts down to about 10 ft./lbs to set the mating surfaces together. I gave the RTV a little more than an hour to set up, then came back and torqued the nuts down to 25 ft./lbs. The FSM calls for 54 ft./lbs. for non elocked 3rds, and 18ft./lbs. for elocked 3rds. I kind of split the difference with the 25 ft./lbs. because I was re-using the old hardware. I'm sure it will be fine.

Next up, I installed one of everybody's favorite seal on each end of the housing.

Finally, I covered the ends of the axle tube to keep dirt from getting in until I can put it under the truck, and put a fresh coat of black paint on it to cover up the white stripe that the brake cleaner left behind.

Literally, all that is left is to swap the rear axles at this point. I spoke w/CBI on Monday and they are waiting on one of their suppliers to send a part for the swing away... the bumper should ship next Monday, 4/9. It will all come together very soon.

 

[LittleCaesar]

Brake cleaner is some tough stuff; it is my second go to after acetone.

Can't wait to see it mounted.

Any fish pics? I'd be happy to catch 60 in a month, or heck, even a season. Twenty years ago, no problem.

 

[BigFishAllDay]

Fish Pics? But of course!

(I meant to post some for you the other night, but I updated the thread from work and realized I hadn't uploaded any of the pics from the trip)

This is a medium sized Tiger...

Another medium...

Medium-Large...

A couple small fries on the double...

And some Brown Trout from the last month or so...