Joelzy's 96 5SPD(daily) & 5VZ block-up rebuild

[Joelzy]

Figure out extra help *now* for the twins. Mother, Mother-in-law, day/night nanny, friends, whatever you can swing... Our twins are almost 9 months now, and it was a HUGE challenge for the first few months. We did everything ourselves with the first, but that just isn't possible with two. Is the first(s) for both of you?

-Charlie

:Cry: yeah these are our first and probably only. We built a house with a legit basement so my in-laws could live there and while it has its annoying moments, i think it will be a godsend once the babies are born. We're thinking of a nanny as well just for some relief for the wife while the rest of us are at work.

 

[phattyduck]

:Cry: yeah these are our first and probably only. We built a house with a legit basement so my in-laws could live there and while it has its annoying moments, i think it will be a godsend once the babies are born. We're thinking of a nanny as well just for some relief for the wife while the rest of us are at work.

You'll have a steeper learning curve starting with two immediately, but at some point, you'll get efficient at it. Having a toddler to take care of at the same time is/was a challenge but at least we knew how to take care of a baby already. We already had/have a nanny and got a night nanny (errrr... newborn care specialist) for the first ~4 months (just past when my wife went back to work). Breastfeeding is a huge challenge but is do-able if your wife commits 100% to it - but then you need to step up to do everything else you can. Survive the first 2-4 weeks, then work on figuring out a schedule that works for the babies and the parents - and know that it will keep changing. Wake the second baby when the first wakes (generally) and put them both down when the first one gets tired to keep them on the same schedule or you will never get a break/sleep. Follow the babywise eat-play-sleep routine once they are able to stay awake for more than just feeding - a full night's rest (or even just one wake up) will be the best thing ever after a few months of 1-2 hours at a time.

And now, back to your regularly scheduled 4Runner forum!

-Charlie

 

[Joelzy]

Joelzy's 96 5SPD(daily) & 5VZ block-up rebuild

You'll have a steeper learning curve starting with two immediately, but at some point, you'll get efficient at it. Having a toddler to take care of at the same time is/was a challenge but at least we knew how to take care of a baby already. We already had/have a nanny and got a night nanny (errrr... newborn care specialist) for the first ~4 months (just past when my wife went back to work). Breastfeeding is a huge challenge but is do-able if your wife commits 100% to it - but then you need to step up to do everything else you can. Survive the first 2-4 weeks, then work on figuring out a schedule that works for the babies and the parents - and know that it will keep changing. Wake the second baby when the first wakes (generally) and put them both down when the first one gets tired to keep them on the same schedule or you will never get a break/sleep. Follow the babywise eat-play-sleep routine once they are able to stay awake for more than just feeding - a full night's rest (or even just one wake up) will be the best thing ever after a few months of 1-2 hours at a time.



And now, back to your regularly scheduled 4Runner forum!



-Charlie

Appreciate the tips man! We know we're in for quite a ride so anything helps. :help:

Finally did the deck plate mod on my new airbox with no missing mount or cracked underside

Also stabilized the drawer when pulled out, just a couple of wood scraps and it has zero side to side movement

Another couple from moab eventhough this thread is buried with no real updates yet

 

[Joelzy]

Started my swingout as ill have a lot of time at home for a bit. Just hoping i have enough metal and argon.
Kind of planning it out as i go but so far it looks like i’ll be able to keep the plastic step and just notch the bumper for these components

For strength im using the 3.5” square tube, notched to sit on top of the frame but will also be attached to the skid bar i already built and bolted to the frame where the hitch usually bolts up.

Its offset to the driver side for my hinge.

This is how the hinge will be welded up, ill notch the piece for the hinge case to mount up as tight as possible before welding.

Also planning to add some gussets for extra strength

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[Joelzy]

Joelzy's 96 5SPD(daily) & 5VZ block-up rebuild

Got started tacking it all together

Plastic needs a trim

Might shorten the mount a tad but dont have a ton of room

Also opened up the beam for bolt access

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[Joelzy]

Joelzy's 96 5SPD(daily) & 5VZ block-up rebuild

Welp, rethought it after talking to a local guy and decided to angle the arm outward and just trim the bumper side as well.

It was going to clear as it was but the hinge was going to sit away from the bumper more than i’d like. This way its closer and still clears the hatch.

Also drilled the swing arm for the upper pin

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Update: Despite having a bent guide bit on my holesaw i got the swingarm drilled straight for the upper pin. Put it on for shiggles and its just right.

Pulled the whole shebang off to add the hitch.

Opened up my access hole a little more as well

 

[Joelzy]

Joelzy's 96 5SPD(daily) & 5VZ block-up rebuild

OE bumper trimmed to fit hiding all that junk aside from the hinge.

Also got the hidden hitch receiver fitted and cut a hole in the bumper for it.

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[phattyduck]

Leave plenty of room between the OEM bumper bits and all the frame mounted parts you are fabricating. Do you have poly rear body mounts? Even with those, there will be more movement that you might expect when flexing offroad.

-Charlie

 

[Joelzy]

Joelzy's 96 5SPD(daily) & 5VZ block-up rebuild

Leave plenty of room between the OEM bumper bits and all the frame mounted parts you are fabricating. Do you have poly rear body mounts? Even with those, there will be more movement that you might expect when flexing offroad.

-Charlie

Thanks Charlie!
I figured i’ll have to open the gaps a tad more for that reason. Havent finished modifying the bumper mounts yet either(need a lot of clearancing) so its currently floating on the sides and some little braces i made. Thought about using a little rubber seal around the cut but maybe i should leave it open and wider?

I ran out of square tube unfortunately, so its either wait until i can get some more or use this.

Kind of surprised i got it lined up as well as i did considering the scraps looked like this and they were at the wrong parts of the turn

Thoughts anyone who may still be reading?


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[Greyhome]

I can't speak to design from a functional standpoint, but I dig the square base/round tube combo. Looks a little smoother than the sometimes over-tactical looks of all square tubing.

 

[Joelzy]

I can't speak to design from a functional standpoint, but I dig the square base/round tube combo. Looks a little smoother than the sometimes over-tactical looks of all square tubing.

thanks Greyhome, im gonna run with it and if it sucks i'll cut it down and start over. Planning on extra gussets and bracing wherever i can manage for plenty of strength and thinking that i want the bottom of the spare sitting on plate that would be welded to the base arm for less hanging weight. just really hoping i dont run out of metal and argon right before finishing it.

 

[infamousRNR]

Dang dude! [MENTION=221666]Joelzy[/MENTION] this is epic! I love the integration into the stock bumper. I have always been a fan of keeping the OEM look. great job #healthymods

 

[phattyduck]

thanks Greyhome, im gonna run with it and if it sucks i'll cut it down and start over. Planning on extra gussets and bracing wherever i can manage for plenty of strength and thinking that i want the bottom of the spare sitting on plate that would be welded to the base arm for less hanging weight. just really hoping i dont run out of metal and argon right before finishing it.

If you do that, you'll need to slot the holes for the lug nuts/bolts for different/changing tire sizes. Also, keep that tire inflated...

Good idea though, as it will triangulate the swingout a bit so the weight isn't cantilevered up so high.

-Charlie

 

[Joelzy]

Dang dude! [MENTION=221666]Joelzy[/MENTION] this is epic! I love the integration into the stock bumper. I have always been a fan of keeping the OEM look. great job #healthymods

Thank you Sean! appreciate that coming from a healthymodder :thumb: Started with not wanting to pay more for a bumper than i did for the whole truck but now i do like the OE look and being that i have an OE upper front it just made sense.

If you do that, you'll need to slot the holes for the lug nuts/bolts for different/changing tire sizes. Also, keep that tire inflated...

Yeah i was already trying to figure out the best way to slot the holes while keeping it from wiggling loose.

Good idea though, as it will triangulate the swingout a bit so the weight isn't cantilevered up so high.

-Charlie

:thumb: thanks, glad i got a little confirmation on that idea, most of them are way up there hanging, seemed like a good idea to keep as much weight as possible close to the mounts

 

[fourfive]

I ran out of square tube unfortunately, so its either wait until i can get some more or use this.

[/QUOTE]

Looks great. Very nice tying the swingout into the factory bumper. The round tube actually looks like it belongs. Was your initial plan to do the same thing using the square tube or different design?

I've considered doing something similar as an option for carrying a full size spare.

 

[Joelzy]

Joelzy's 96 5SPD(daily) & 5VZ block-up rebuild

Looks great. Very nice tying the swingout into the factory bumper. The round tube actually looks like it belongs. Was your initial plan to do the same thing using the square tube or different design?

I've considered doing something similar as an option for carrying a full size spare.

well thank you, the original intention was to use the same square tubing throughout but shortly before our trip to moab i built a bar to protect the underside of the bumper and another guy needed a part built so i used up all my square aside from the lower swingout.

i had all this scrap round tube laying around from years ago(roll cage/tube bumper scraps) that i used to extend my rock sliders and surprisingly had the right amount to build the piece you see out of 2 bent ones.

Metal supermarket remnants is closed currently and i just figured, what the hell, i'll give it a shot and if it sucks at the end i'll cut it down and start over with some tube i have to pay for.

Ended up moving the uprights a couple inches to the center so that with the spare mounted the whole taillight is visible.

Also got the mount for the latch on via a hole in the bumper. Built so it will help support the weight but i didnt want a big hole in the bumper for it so im going to bolt the catch to this mount via a nut welded into the end of the mount.

Tig torch has a crack in it which i think is partially to blame for my welds being ugly and uneven but should still be stout as hell

 

[norcalassassin]

Diggin the ingenuity man! Nice work.

 

[Joelzy]

Diggin the ingenuity man! Nice work.

Thank you sir, slowly but surely
Hoping to get it most of the way done this weekend but we’ll see.

Only thing ive worked on this week is 3D designing and printing a new key fob for the stupid am alarm on the truck. It was in bad shape and saw some parts cleaner that melted the plastic on the back so it needed to be replaced. One day i’ll rip that system out and put something else in but i havent decided to dive into that yet.

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[Joelzy]

Joelzy's 96 5SPD(daily) & 5VZ block-up rebuild

Had a hell of a time with the hinge this weekend. Despite my attempts to be careful with the heat while welding the hinge, it still warped a tad. Just enough to keep the bearing races from fitting.(no pics because i went to a bad place until i got it sorted)
Ended up having to dremmel the cylinder a tad, then freeze the races and heat up the cylinder then knock them in. Not great but they are in now and not coming out ever again.

Because of the cylinder coming out of round a tad from heat i decided to add another support to it via a makeshift strap i bent up in the vice.
Came out surprisingly ok and contours the hinge cylinder well.

Pic of the back of the hitch

Overall not a great day but ended alright being that i got both races in and was able to tighten the pin down in the hinge all the way.
Broke more tools than usual and split both thumbs open as well as an index finger but dammit that part is done.

Not bolted up but fitted. All the parts no one will see are about wrapped up aside from notching the center bumper mounts to fit with this in place.
Been using up supplies i have instead of going to the store and found some wrinkle coat lying around which is perfect for hiding how ugly these welds ended up being. Also used the new 3d printer my wife got me to make caps for the hinge cylinder until i finish the swingarm.

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[mesooohoppy]

are you welding in long strings/beads? what we do with our mig on parts we think will warp is basically lay one bead at a time if we dont have any jig or fixture to keep from warping. has worked well for us in the past.