MattJakobs Build Thread-2001 Stellar Blue Pearl

[MattJakobs]

Sort of a maintenance post...

I was trying to clean out my engine bay a bit since it was coated in sand and dried up salt water from the pictures shown above dating back to January. I had done an extensive under carriage cleaning already but not yet under the hood. So I decided why not today, it was nice out... Admittedly, I was a little heavy on the hose which I believe caused my Starter Relay and my 120A Alt. box fuse to blow.
The Starter Relay was easy, mostly just a pull and plug a new in. I ran up to AutoZone and had them pull up a part number for a Duralast one and all was good there.
Now for the 120A box fuse, I couldn't find anything on here really explaining it so I took some pictures documenting to help anyone else who comes across this dilemma.
As a lead up, there are four clips holding the top of the fuse box in place that need to be pushed in to lift the panel holding the fuses into place out of the actual box.

What initially caused me to do this. This is after hitting it with an air compressor for about 20 minutes.
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Here's the whole fuse box with the 120A fuse missing.
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They are bolt in fuses so you can see here where I had to unbolt the front side to get one of the prongs out. 8mm.
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They are marked to get proper torquing.
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Front side unbolted.
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And on to the back side. It is the bolt located on the left, a real pain to get to with all the wires in the way. 10mm.
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What went in its place.
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One thing to take note of is that the bolts are different sizes, the front side being 8mm and back side being 10mm.
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After both of these were replaced, she started right back up.

 

[MattJakobs]

Finally got around to installing my Icon coilovers today. I didn't take many pictures of the process as I was pretty greasy the whole time but I got a couple of finished pictures. Will get to uploading them later tonight.

Didn't have enough time to install my Sonoran Steel adjustable pan hard bar but will hopefully get to that this weekend and then it'll be time for an alignment.

 

[MattJakobs]

And pictures.
Got a hilift
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And passenger side just to prove they're in.
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Only one real hiccup, this happened when I was torquing the top bolts in. I took it to a head shop and they were able to drill and tap by the time I had finished my passenger side install.
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With this done, I have plans to completely finish my front suspension this summer which include:
CVJ Axles
OEM LCAs
LCA Total Chaos Bushings
Icon UCAs
Total Chaos Weld-on Spindle Gussets
New Diff. Drop
(Maybe) Sonoran Steel Limit Strap Kit
(Maybe) 10" Limit Straps

 

[MattJakobs]

Installed my Sonoran Steel adjustable panhard bar today. A lot easier that I thought, in and out in 10 minutes. Alignment hopefully tomorrow. Heading to Wilmington, NC this Thursday and may be taking this thing. First road trip since the Icons have been installed, can't wait to see how they do.

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[MattJakobs]

Alignment done. Opted for lifetime alignments so hopefully that'll save a few pennies down the road.

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I'm also taking her down to Wilmington, NC tomorrow to visit some friends. Hoping there's a little bump in the water and we and we make out okay. Will upload pictures along the way.

 

[Unner]

Looks good! Figured you could get more caster than that up front. What are your hub-fender measurements?

Lifetime alignments are the best. Mine has paid for itself 10 times over.

 

[MattJakobs]

Looks good! Figured you could get more caster than that up front. What are your hub-fender measurements?

Lifetime alignments are the best. Mine has paid for itself 10 times over.

I don't know why it's taken me this long to get one. It should pay for itself this summer since I plan on doing UCAs and getting some of CVJ's axles.
I haven't done hub-fender measurements since the Icons, just ground to fender since that was a lot easier to measure when trying to set the pre-load. As of now, my passenger side is at about 38 1/4" and driver side at about 38 1/2". I figure it'll drop that 1/4" when I get in. Tomorrow will be the first real time I get to feel how they ride so looking forward to that.
Any chance you'll be up near Wilmington this weekend? Sort of made a last minute trip to head down there for St. Patrick's Dayimp: (Only using the 'pimp' one for the holiday)

 

[GrassFed]

Awesome pictures, thanks for taking the time for the writeups and pics. I'm working on a surf and fish mobile myself over here on the west coast. Real cool to see another guy that surfs on the forum. Thought there'd be a lot more given the nature of the 4runner. If you're ever out here oncthe west coast southern California feel free to give me a holler to grab some waves.

 

[soupkitchen]

nice build man! Love that color.

 

[MattJakobs]

Awesome pictures, thanks for taking the time for the writeups and pics. I'm working on a surf and fish mobile myself over here on the west coast. Real cool to see another guy that surfs on the forum. Thought there'd be a lot more given the nature of the 4runner. If you're ever out here oncthe west coast southern California feel free to give me a holler to grab some waves.

Thanks, any plans for yours as far as making it more 'beach friendly'? Mines becoming more and more the surf rig for all my friends so I'm going to try and have some fun with mods this summer.
There's a few other guys on here that surf but not many at all. I know [MENTION=113035]BoarderDave[/MENTION] does and he stops by here pretty often. I'll still continue to upload miscellaneous surf pictures though for the little crowd here is. Hopefully I'll be able to snag some from this coming weekend.

nice build man! Love that color.

Thanks man

 

[BoarderDave]

Thanks, any plans for yours as far as making it more 'beach friendly'? Mines becoming more and more the surf rig for all my friends so I'm going to try and have some fun with mods this summer.
There's a few other guys on here that surf but not many at all. I know [MENTION=113035]BoarderDave[/MENTION] does and he stops by here pretty often. I'll still continue to upload miscellaneous surf pictures though for the little crowd here is. Hopefully I'll be able to snag some from this coming weekend.

Yes.. please keep the surf pics comin as well as the updates to your awesome 4Runner.. :yo:
:surfer:

 

[MattJakobs]

Yes.. please keep the surf pics comin as well as the updates to your awesome 4Runner.. :yo:
:surfer:

I'll be adding some photos tomorrow when we get back. Have gotten to do some light, not too technical wheeling. Brought my camera but forgot my laptop. No surfing yet as it's been pretty small but thinking we're going to paddle out just to be in a 3/2 again with clear water. If there's any good shots, will upload those as well.

 

[MattJakobs]

Home from the weekend. Drove just under 700 miles round trip which includes the miscellaneous driving done while visiting. Averages about 14.8 MPGs one the way down doing bout 78 MPH. The speed limit posted was 70 MPH and was eager to get down there so I didn't mind killing my MPG. Slowed down and enjoyed the ride home a little more and my MPGs were closer to that 18 mark.
Down from the street of my friends, there was a little park that was driving-friendly so I got to have a little fun there. There was a little lake with fairly clear water so I set my hammock up next to it and watched some bass among other things.
My new Icons felt great off-road compared to my old spacer lift set up. The on-road characteristics were much nicer as well. Now for a bit of a picture dump. I still am waiting for surf photos but none of them will likely be worth uploading as the waves were small, it was just nice to get out in some warmer water with some buddies.
Most of the driving consisted of this. There were some sand pits, dried up mud pits, and root sections though.
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[MattJakobs]

Finally took some hub to fender measurements as well as the preload I'm running on my coilovers.

DF: 23 5/8"
PF: 23 1/8"
DR: 25"
PR: 24 1/2"

Preload
Driver: 2 1/4"
Passenger: 1 7/8"

Also was able to give a much needed wash. I didn't have to wax but will at a later date as I'm due for one after this winter.
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I also chopped on my muffler, here's a before.
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After, I'm going to go back under there and clean up the cut. My mom asked me to go to lunch halfway through and opted to do that.
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[Unner]

I don't know why it's taken me this long to get one. It should pay for itself this summer since I plan on doing UCAs and getting some of CVJ's axles.
I haven't done hub-fender measurements since the Icons, just ground to fender since that was a lot easier to measure when trying to set the pre-load. As of now, my passenger side is at about 38 1/4" and driver side at about 38 1/2". I figure it'll drop that 1/4" when I get in. Tomorrow will be the first real time I get to feel how they ride so looking forward to that.
Any chance you'll be up near Wilmington this weekend? Sort of made a last minute trip to head down there for St. Patrick's Dayimp: (Only using the 'pimp' one for the holiday)

Sorry I never saw this... I wouldn't have been able to make it anyway, but thanks for asking.

 

[MattJakobs]

Sorry I never saw this... I wouldn't have been able to make it anyway, but thanks for asking.

No worries man, it was sort of a last minute decision for us but I figured I'd at least shoot you an invite.
How long are you in SC for? I might be making a few trips down near there this and wouldn't mind doing a little wheeling and checking out your 4Runner.

 

[MattJakobs]

Payment sent on RAT Products full skids. Can't wait to get those in. Planned on painting them the same color as my bumper and flares. All I need left for armor is sliders and a new rear bumper.

 

[Unner]

No worries man, it was sort of a last minute decision for us but I figured I'd at least shoot you an invite.
How long are you in SC for? I might be making a few trips down near there this and wouldn't mind doing a little wheeling and checking out your 4Runner.

Shot you a PM.

Payment sent on RAT Products full skids. Can't wait to get those in. Planned on painting them the same color as my bumper and flares. All I need left for armor is sliders and a new rear bumper.

Very nice!

 

[dmag310]

I need to paint my new bumper to match my cladding. How many cans did it take you to do yours? It came out real nice

 

[MattJakobs]

I need to paint my new bumper to match my cladding. How many cans did it take you to do yours? It came out real nice

Thanks man, what color are you planned on doing it? I think I used about three cans of a Rustoleum rattle can. I've only had to touch it up once and that's because my hilift was leaning on it and slid off.

I also got my full skids in from RAT Products as well as some used PIAA 510s I picked up from the classifieds. I plan on putting the PIAAs in my bumper and using them as a fog. Ran to Home Depot last night and picked up 4 cans of the pain I used on the bumper and flares so hopefully I can get those done in a timely manor. Planned on taking a road trip up to Farmville, VA not this weekend but next so I'd like to have the lights and skids in by then.

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