MandAtaco (Manda4Runner-?) Build Thread

[MandAtaco]

Between the rack bushings being toast and the rack guide being loose, I had some major play in my steering.

I installed the updated rack guide, and poly rack bushings. It made a HUGE difference in the tightness of my rack, much better steering feel now!


I also installed a couple new rack bellows to keep the dirt out. Hopefully with some updated ATF I can keep this rack solid for a while longer.

 

[MandAtaco]

I hadn't planned on doing this quite so soon, but Tundra 231 brake upgrade is done too. I ordered everything for a 2005 V8 4x4 Tundra. Super easy upgrade to do! Everything you need to know is in the T4R STICKY.



Beefy!

 

[MandAtaco]

Finally for this round of mods, Got my new tires installed, and the front end aligned. BFGoodrich A/T KO2, in 285/75R16. These tires are nice!





Painted the rack black too, I like it better than the orange for sure.

 

[MandAtaco]

Picked up a 167 snorkel on ebay for $130 bucks. I've ran an ARB unit on a 96 in the past and it was nice, but for the money you spend on this set up, I'm super impressed!

Measure twice and cut once!


Point of no return!




Remember to mark your template and find out where the mounting holes need to be, the 167 snorkel sits a bit differnt on a 3rd gen 4Runner.


Bolt it on, hook up the intermediate tube to the factory airbox and your set. My air intake temps have been within a few degrees of outside air temp, a true "cool air intake". This is going to be sweet running around the dirt roads of Nevada.


Check out THIS THREAD for a great write up on step by step installation instructions.

 

[MandAtaco]

Finally got to get some dirt underneath her this weekend too. Took the boys out for a one nighter up in the mountains.

Very weird not camping out of my old Tacoma though.... I had it set up perfectly for my needs! Still have a long way to go to get this one where I want it!

 

[MandAtaco]

So its happened to my twice now, I get home and smell hot brakes from the rear. At first I thought it was just the new shoes seating in. After checking both times though, I noticed the drivers rear drum was tight. Temp gun confirmed my issue. I had to go through the backing plate to loosen it up enough to get it off both times.

Driver...


Passenger...


I adjusted the drums again yesterday, along with the bell cranks (per FSM) and ebrake handle. I noticed the e-brake cable had to much tension on it, not allowing the bell cranks to seat against the back of the drums. Hoping that was my issue. We shall see.

 

[MandAtaco]

Got the bulk of my electrical done last weekend, still have some stuff to add in for the rear area. In my Taco I just kinda poked stuff through were ever I could find space, decided to do it a bit cleaner this time and ordered up a Daystar Products bulkhead grommet. Way cleaner for running stuff! I also ditched the factory battery terminals that were pretty much eaten up for some military style connectors.



I purchased a Blue Sea 6 fuse distro box and couldn't find a place that I was totally happy about mounting it too. Wanted something easy to access. So I built a shelf that sits above the factory relay/fuse block to mount it and a mini ANL fuse holder too. It's not idea, cause I cant easily access the factory box, but two bolts and I can swing it out over the fender to get in there. For the amount of time you need in the factory box, I think It'll work.


Before I bolted it in for the last time, I went ahead and did the full time 12V outlet mod. Short piece of wire across the terminals where the relay normally sits and your done! I do this to all my rigs so when the truck is off my GPS and phone will still have power. It's just more convenient.



For switches I went to OTRATTW and picked some up to get me going. I mounted the air compressor and front locker switch in the left hand side of the dash next to the steering wheel. all I had to do to get them to fit was open up the factory hole width just a little with a file. Very nice fit. I mounted the other two I got in the overhead sun glass/garage door opener cubby. It was wasted space to me, and gave me enough real estate for 5 switches.




2Meter and the the deck was swapped right over from my Taco. Just needed wired in.


Now that most of the players for the front of the truck are in, I can start wiring.

 

[Unner]

The truck's looking good. Where did you get those Tundra calipers that were already coated black? How quality does the coating seem? Thanks!

 

[MandAtaco]

There actually just AutoZone Duralast brand calipers. I hit them with some caliper paint before I installed them so they wouldn't rust. Paint seems to be holding up OK.

 

[Unner]

Alright. That's what I'm thinking I'll do to. Just paint the calipers for the extra protection. Thanks for the response!

 

[MandAtaco]

Wiring wasn't to bad, but I enjoy it. I planned out all my circuits running up to the switches and made me a harness. I wrapped everything with lacing chord and then ran it all at once. Makes for nice under dash electrical runs too.







For the 2 meter, I dropped the headliner and run the coax back to rear hatch through a grommet. I made up a quick bracket and welded it to the back of my rack. Reception seems good here.




Because the built in speaker is buried in the dash for my 2 meter, I added an external speaker. It really didn't fit anywhere so I took it apart and tucked it in the back of the cubby by the 12V outlets. I then popped out the screen and cut it down to cover to fit in the cubby and cover/protect the speaker. Makes for a out of the way install that still sounds decent for a cheap speaker.


I added a switch inline for the drivers side door light/door alarm push button. This way when I'm in camp I can "open" the switch, kill the door alarm and listen to some music! I did this in the taco and used it all the time! When the switch is "on", everything works totally factory.


This is what it currently looks like under the hood. Right now everything is just zip tied as I'm still running stuff. When I get closer to being done with all the electrical, I'll wire wrap everything and split loom it to keep it protected. This will work for now though.

 

[MandAtaco]

Been working on this guy the last couple weekends... Should have the main part final welded tomorrow!

 

[MandAtaco]

Bumper is done, mostly. LOL. I need to add a dual fuel can holder but I'm stoked how it turned out. We did about 200 miles this weekend over rocks, washboards, etc, and she held up great.











One thing I did learn this weekend though, is that the OME 891's are NOT going to cut it. I've got a set of LC 861's on the way now.

 

[JWaldz]

Dang, you've been busy with this rig! Keep up the good work.

Regarding the OME 891's, are the sagging under load? I have ran the 891's for years now with constant hundreds of lbs of load. No complaints here. I've see a lot of people complain about the sag but I guess I got a lucky pair that actually work the way they should. I'm beginning to think they may have changed something around with those springs. Hell, I bought mine back in late 2009.

 

[BrianSD_42]

After checking both times though, I noticed the drivers rear drum was tight. Temp gun confirmed my issue. I had to go through the backing plate to loosen it up enough to get it off both times

Sweet thread!

This issue kept happening to me as well. We ended up just removing the ability for the rear drum to auto-adjust itself. The way it was explained to me is sometimes the adjusters get so worn out and old they start to auto adjust themselves even if you didn't have them to0 tight. They are so old they will over adjust. That is how it was explained to me but I"m not a mechanic.

 

[MandAtaco]

Dang, you've been busy with this rig! Keep up the good work.

Regarding the OME 891's, are the sagging under load? I have ran the 891's for years now with constant hundreds of lbs of load. No complaints here. I've see a lot of people complain about the sag but I guess I got a lucky pair that actually work the way they should. I'm beginning to think they may have changed something around with those springs. Hell, I bought mine back in late 2009.

My buddy has had 891's on his truck for several years too and said the same thing you said. I expected a rake when I put these on initially with no load, but didn't have any. They sat pretty even with the front, and I really don't have the front cranked up that high. As soon as I put the bumper and swing out on, the Runner went nose high. This last weekend I had 4 people and all our gear for a weekend in it and it dropped way out, the rear lower control arms were flat with the ground.

I don't know if they changed them or what, but I'm deff going to need something heavier. Hopefully the 861's will give me a little bit of rake with my bumper, so that I'll have some play to load up with gear, or hook my pop-up to it.

Sweet thread!

This issue kept happening to me as well. We ended up just removing the ability for the rear drum to auto-adjust itself. The way it was explained to me is sometimes the adjusters get so worn out and old they start to auto adjust themselves even if you didn't have them to0 tight. They are so old they will over adjust. That is how it was explained to me but I"m not a mechanic.

So far, after I adjusted the E-brake at the drums and at the pull handle, they haven't tightned up on me. If it does it again, I may look into just pulling the auto adjusters out. It's convient to have, but if they don't work..... There was definitly an issue, pre adjustment. The whole cable system had tension on it even when released. The pull arms never actually rested on the back of the drums. Hopefully that was my issue.

Thanks for the compliments guys.

 

[shootmymime]

. The whole cable system had tension on it even when released. The pull arms never actually rested on the back of the drums. Hopefully that was my issue.



Thanks for the compliments guys.

so my question. Why does my driver side touch the backing plate yet my passenger is a bit away with the cable connecting them tight. It's almost like my cable connecting the two is not long enough. I need to get down there and look at them again.

 

[infamousRNR]

[MENTION=96608]MandAtaco[/MENTION]

Hey when you build your adjustable pan hard bar what type of heims are you going to use.. I want to do the same thing with a spare pan hard bar I have but don't know how to go about buying the right adjustable heims and size heim.

Sweet taco and 4Runner too. She is coming along quickly!

 

[Dezert4Runner]

Nice swing out bumper. Can you tell me the metal thickness used and what you used to cut the plate? Any areas that were gusseted? Where did you source the swing out parts?

 

[scrapper]

We need a
"Let's see your T4R wheelies" thread!

I say we allow both power-wheelies (like this one) and clutching it up.
Best idea EVAH!!
Discuss.