MattAK's Build Thread - On a Student Budget

[MattAK]

Running the antenna wire from the driver side to the pax side. I ziptied it to the frame for now.

In the lower pic, (this might be a dumb question what are those 2 metal lines up against the fire wall or w.e its called on the passenger side. there 2 silver metal lines and then go into rubber hoses.
I'm asking because my 99 4runner limited literally doesn't have them connected to anything. they just stop, there not even plugged . this is how i bought it and I've yet to figure out what they run to

I actually have no idea. I'll try and find out for you.

 

[MattAK]

Exploring around the Pony Express Trail

Went for a little drive today. Been a busy/stressful couple of weeks and going out to just drive and explore helps me relax. Drove out west of Utah Lake to the Pony Express Trail Byway. Lots of little trails to explore out there. Still muddy out there, and it was a pain to wash off, but totally worth the afternoon. I was by myself, so prepare for all poser shots.

 

[MattAK]

ScanGauge!

Got a new toy today.

Note: That avg is only after a couple of miles in town.

 

[MattAK]

So Close

FedEx dropped off something today.

Have the coil isolators, just waiting for Wheeler's to ship the 5100's and OME 906's. Stoked!

 

[MattAK]

Moar Stuff!

UPS and FedEx dropped off more stuff!!

Front 5100s (thank you Summit Racing for actually having them in stock!), new OEM LBJs courtesy of Camelback, Diamond NR-770HB 2m/70cm HAM antenna, Comet LD-5M antenna mount, DC charger for my current handheld HAM radio.

I love today.

Still waiting for Wheeler's to get in the rear 5100s and OME 906s. Two weeks can't pass by fast enough!

 

[Gerdo]

Looks like a nice build.

 

[MattAK]

Looks like a nice build.

Thanks! It's coming along. Now that I'm working more and taking fewer classes there's more money to spend on toys. :biggrin2:

 

[MattAK]

Switching HAM

I switched my HAM radio antenna mounts today. The old one was digging into the paint and had worn through the cord. It was just a crappy design.

Right where the cable goes into the gap between the fender and the hood vibrations from the last year had worn through the cord right there.

So I replaced it with the Comet LD-5M. I like that it has a narrower cable at the mount so it fits easier through smaller gaps.

I started by disassembling the PL-259 connector on the end of the cable so I could shove it through the firewall with the wire harness, rather than going under the car like my old one. It was surprisingly easy to do and a lot cleaner install.

Engine side:

Under the dash:

Then just ran it under the carpet behind the pedals, through the console and out next to the driver's seat.
I use a Yaesu Vertex VX-150 handheld with a speaker-mic so I don't have anything permanently mounted in the truck.

New antenna installed. I tested it and it works great! So much happier with this.

 

[MattAK]

So I started on my lift install and LBJ replacement. :becky:

Front: Tundra TRD Y/Y Y/B
Rear: OME 906 w/10mm trim packers

Bilstein 5100's all around and new OEM LBJs.

Started off all raring to go. Plan was to get at least one LBJ replaced tonight, hopefully both, and get both of the front struts off. Saturday morning a shop is going to assemble the new struts for me and I'll put them on, finish the LBJs and do the rear suspension.

'Bout to start. Got the Braves@Cardinals playing on the radio, letting some extra deep creep work it's way into the nuts for a minute.

The pile of parts.

Then I ran into the tie rod end on the driver's side. Stupid thing is rusted in there SOLID. Took me 45 minutes just to work the cotter pin out. Castle nut came off no problem. Then it's time to try and get the stupid thing to break loose from the LBJ.

I tried hitting it. No good. Tried hitting it again harder. No go. Tried a suggestion I saw on here to hit the side of the housing a few times, thread the castle nut on so it's flush with the end of the rod, then hit that. Still no go and managed to bend the castle nut.

OK, so now I'll try this nifty tie rod end puller I rented. Hmm, won't go around the LBJ housing. Let's try it at an angle, it might still work. OK, that didn't work. Let's try the bigger pitman arm puller I also rented. Dang, too big, won't go on either. Well, let's try threading the castle nut on and using the smaller one to push on it at an angle. *Crank Crank Crank* Uh oh, I think I'm bending the castle part of the castle nut. Let's back it off. Hmm can't get socket on the nut anymore. Time for bigger impact socket and impact hammer. Yay the castle nut came back off, but now it's so bent that it's good for nothing. :frusty:

I was trying to save the TRE to save some $$ but I decided to try the pickle fork and see if that worked. Now I need a new TRE and it's still not coming loose from the LBJ. I decided to leave it for the night and try and find a different TRE puller tomorrow. The one I got wasn't quite big enough. Or I need to find a blowtorch. And I also need new end link bushings, mine look pretty sad.

Compared to fighting that TRE for over an hour the front struts came off rather easily. Yay! So at least I got that done tonight. Now I need to find new TRE's tomorrow.

 

[MattAK]

Finished the front today, all thanks to smkd13.

Some TLC with a BFH got the TRE off of the left side. Swapped the LBJ on that side and after much fun with a bottle jack got the strut on that side. I bought some TREs to replace mine but I couldn't get the left one to separate from the inner TRE. PB Blaster, heat, another BFH, still nothing. I like to think that I'm a little handier than the average person but I was defeated today. I was going to leave it but smkd13 offered to come see what he could do. He got here an in an hour and a half we had the entire front done. He was a total boss at swapping all this out, so mad props to him.

Even with just the 2" lift on the front I think the runner looks so much better, like it should have come from the factory. I'm looking forward to tackling the rear this week (not looking forward to the upper shock nuts).

This was when I was giving up for the night.

This is after smkd13 came over and showed it who was boss.

 

[TheArkMaster]

Ya, Ben has basically built my runner. Or half of it anyways.

 

[MattAK]

Well I got the rear lift put on today. Because it's my DD, I needed it to be done asap so I had a local shop do the rear. They were very reasonable and I'm happy with it. The ride is SOOOO MUCH BETTER than my old suspension was. So far I'm super happy with my choice of lift. I'm also glad I decided to get some 10mm trim packers at the last minute. I don't know if the 906's would have matched the front TRDs without them. For the wheeling I normally do this should be perfect. arty:

 

[MattAK]

Took a trip to Alaska in June with the fam. Three 4Runners and 10 people for two weeks.

Not quite packed to the gunnels.

Welcome to Alberta

Vulcan, AB

Love me some TimHo's

I worked in Alaska for 4 summers as a tour bus driver. Ran into a bus that I have driven before in Carcross, BC.

One of like 500 bears we saw on the trip

Welcome to Alaska

All three trucks

Whittier, AK

Mt. Denali

#nofilter

Beavers were here.

7155 miles. 16 days.

 

[Unner]

Amazing trip man, one day I will drive through Canada to Alaska. It's something I really want to do. No better vehicle to do it in than a 4Runner either.

 

[MattAK]

Amazing trip man, one day I will drive through Canada to Alaska. It's something I really want to do. No better vehicle to do it in than a 4Runner either.

It's a gorgeous trip. This was my 5th time making the drive, never in the same vehicle twice. Once in a van, once in my Celica, once in a Mazda 3, once in my Lexus IS300, and this time in the 4Runner. The 4Runner was nice but I'll admit the Lexus was the most fun to actually drive. :zoom:

 

[snivilous]

That's awesome man! [MENTION=81047]farmerjon[/MENTION] and I were just talking about a trip like that, once I graduate my folks and I are planning to convoy up to the Arctic circle for a few weeks. Where are you in Utah too?

 

[MattAK]

That's awesome man! [MENTION=81047]farmerjon[/MENTION] and I were just talking about a trip like that, once I graduate my folks and I are planning to convoy up to the Arctic circle for a few weeks. Where are you in Utah too?

I spent 4 summers in Alaska and never went to the Arctic Circle! We wanted to do it this trip but ran out of time. I hope you do the trip, it's a blast!
I live in Utah County. I read through some of your build thread (can't believe I've never read it before) and saw that you were at USU. Still there? How can they blow out BSU one week then get smoked by SDSU the next?

 

[mrsingh]

It's a gorgeous trip. This was my 5th time making the drive, never in the same vehicle twice. Once in a van, once in my Celica, once in a Mazda 3, once in my Lexus IS300, and this time in the 4Runner. The 4Runner was nice but I'll admit the Lexus was the most fun to actually drive. :zoom:

Wow that is a drive I want to try sometime, hope your drive through Alberta wasn't too bad!

Cannot imagine making that trip in my IS300, lowered on coilovers - it would not be too comfortable! How did the 4Runner handle it overall?

 

[MattAK]

Wow that is a drive I want to try sometime, hope your drive through Alberta wasn't too bad!

Cannot imagine making that trip in my IS300, lowered on coilovers - it would not be too comfortable! How did the 4Runner handle it overall?

Drive through Alberta was fine! We even managed not to get lost going through Calgary. :biggrin1:

My IS300 was completely stock so it wasn't bad, even with a ton of weight in the back. I did bottom it out on a frost heave north of Whitehorse (YT is horrid at maintaining their part of the highway) but other than that it was a blast. I set the cruise on 80mph and just flew up, down, and around the road. This is the only pic of it I have from that trip sadly.

The 4Runner handled the road/trip like a champ but it was slower going than the Lexus. 4Runner was definitely roomier and held a ton more stuff inside. No mechanical issues other than one headlight going out in Whitehorse on the way back.

 

[mrsingh]

Nice IS!

Here is an old pic of mine, it is currently parked for winter.