Ill4runner Build!

[tyr0981]

oky doky, the B&M "super cooler" is installed! i attached an R1 Engine cooling fan to the back of it also (whoever recommended that, i thank you!) i was going to pull the transmission pan and clean up the filter also, but the cooler was such a pain in the ass that i called it quits, for fear of being too pissed off and screwing that up somehow.....

So the bottom part of my radiator shroud wasn't bolted to the radiator anymore, the plastic loop looks like it just broke on the end, so a giant washer is holding it in place now, hopefully that addresses the heating up when i was 'Snow Bogging' i'll have to put it to the test soon

any off road trips in the Portland / Vancouver area planned?

:clap2:

 

[tyr0981]

Deck-mod and ECT button / Rear Window button lights replaced!

Is it just me or does the deck mod make the throttle response seam allot faster?

i'll take a picture when the sun goes down so my perdy white lights can be seen

:cheers:

 

[tyr0981]

Next is the A/C button then maybe clean up the Dust and Dirt that I've been neglecting....

:loco:

 

[tyr0981]

So the mysterious oil leak, was a cracked valve cover (Left side on the very back top bolt) so i couldn't see it leaking from there under the intake manifold.... 130$ later from Rockauto.com i have a shiny new Valve Cover that's not leaking.

:roadkill:

Next non-repair project is a roof rack. I've been prowling the build threads and asking lots of questions (thanks to those that answered my nagging) and this weekend is the start of the build!! :

Perfect 45 degree angle!

and i tac-welded together a 'proof of concept' today:

The biggest challenge has been keeping everything at the proper angles, and vertical supports the correct length and tube notches equally deep (i'm just using an angle grinder). So the learning curve continues.... will have to disassemble this pictured test assembly to start welding the actual pieces soon! now beer-thirty & Kalbi marinated Steak!!

Or maybe some 10 Year old Bourbon....

 

[tyr0981]

An Afternoon of welding... my oh my lots of touch up work is needed....

Not going to do a full length rack because i don't think i need that much capacity... well i hope i don't at this point. Anybody want to try and sell me on needing a full length rack in the last minutes?

:artist:

 

[Bandit Runner]

An Afternoon of welding... my oh my lots of touch up work is needed....

Not going to do a full length rack because i don't think i need that much capacity... well i hope i don't at this point. Anybody want to try and sell me on needing a full length rack in the last minutes?

:artist:

Ah, that takes me back. Lots of fun, isn't it? Looking good so far.

One of the reasons I went with a full length rack is that I wanted to put lights on the front of it, and I didn't want the lights behind the sunroof.

 

[tyr0981]

Ah, that takes me back. Lots of fun, isn't it? Looking good so far.

One of the reasons I went with a full length rack is that I wanted to put lights on the front of it, and I didn't want the lights behind the sunroof.

I can see how lights behind the sunroof would be annoying, the glare alone is reason enough. i'm going to put 2 lights on each side of the rack, facing at angles, back will be angled back and front angled forward, they are the "Tuff LED's" 27 watt's a piece, square, from Amazon, this is a picture of 1 light on: (borrowed image from the interweb)

Plenty of light for the sides and back i think, and i'll have 6 total, 2 on each side and 2 on the back, i already have 2 spot lights up front, with the FXR Projectors it gives the front A TON of light, so far i haven't needed more than that up front.

 

[tyr0981]

Bottom section Nearly ALL WELDED! just need to wire, measure, cut, weld the top. Progress! :juggle: And then start on the roof attachment, going to copy Soco's Mount

 

[tyr0981]

Well after a wiring cluster-f**k, i pulled all the wires out, and continued assembly and will save the wiring until just before i'm ready for primer & paint, hopefully it'll go smoothly then because i won't be able to see what i'm doing at that stage of the assembly. I attached the top rails today! probably be awhile before i work on this again, need to find / fix a mysterious oil leak....
:toilet:

picture of today's progress:

 

[tyr0981]

Well when it's too cold to paint outside / in the garage, into the dinning room!

Wiring was a *****! but got it done, all the lights are in hand, will be wired and installed as soon as paint is is done.

 

[Dirtyfingers]

Damn I don't know if I had a wife, let alone wife would let me do this-.- wish I had a badass girl haha. Looks good man keep the updates coming! :usa2:

 

[tyr0981]

Imageshack is crap.....

 

[tyr0981]

well it's been too cold for the silicon to dry, so i dragged it back into the house, directions say it could take up to 10 days depending on conditions......

so i installed the CB Radio, interior pictures to follow, more work to be done, i decided on a rear bumper mount so hopefully i can fit into parking garages still, only about ~8" above my roof-line now.

Drill holes through bumper piece & under plate (Plate added for better rigidity)

and Voila:

Mounted:

 

[tyr0981]

ROOF RACK! INSTALLED!!!!

Took around 5 hours because i couldn't turn the nuts on the bolts since they where so close to the Frame tubes.

and the last of the switches plugged in, All the lights are are controlled by the master switch (the Red light switch on the Left), also connected the CB Radio:

The CB radio is attached to the Accessory power plugs, so it'll turn on & off with the ignition:

Haven't wirred the lights on the rack yet, going to wait for a clear stretch of weather in case drilling the hole in my nice weather proof roof has complications..... interior and roof are ready to go though!

:bowl:

 

[tyr0981]

No love / hate at all?.... I know I need to smooth out the Dremel cut of the console, and maybe round lights instead of square would have looked a little better.... but I was sure somebody would say something....

:hippie: :llama:

 

[1blink]

I like the switch panel, that came out nicely. The lines on the roof rack are growing on me slowly, but they just seem to flow oddly.

 

[tyr0981]

I like the switch panel, that came out nicely. The lines on the roof rack are growing on me slowly, but they just seem to flow oddly.

Yeah the tubes are a bit thick for it's relatively short length, but i thought bigger was better / stronger.... and the square lights in an angular body...

:snacker: :beer:

 

[tyr0981]

Haven't updated in forever....

Lighting:

Projectors Low Beam (rain on the windsheild, sorry)

High Beams:

Headlights + Spot lights:

passenger side Roof lights:

Back-up roof lights:

All the roof lights on:

Alien Spaceship landing!:

 

[tyr0981]

Spent some money on protection finally! and engine monitoring!.... now to dissemble my fan and lower dash to see what's up with my lack of cold air.....

 

[derpiful]

So.... many.... lights! I love them!
The side lights are great too, would be pretty helpful I think.
Those rock sliders are going to look sweet. Nice!