mjotrainbrain's Build Thread

[mjotrainbrain]

Well, here begins another epic journey! The last one spanned nearly three years and was only ended by rust. This time I'm determined for it to be different: rust is priority #1! Beyond that I'm not really sure what my plans for this rig are yet, but I'm sure it's going to be a lot of fun. Here's a pic of my last rig:

 

[mjotrainbrain]

Oh, I completely forgot to talk about the new vehicle! :doh: Pics will come, but for now here's the breakdown:

2003 SR5 V8
Silver paint (kinda poor shape due to PO letting rear brakes go too low and throwing metal all over the place)
Tow package
174k miles
One owner before me
American Racing wheels
Interior needs some deeper cleaning (just wiped and vacuumed so far, gotta de-stain the carpets)
Needs a good bit of work with POR15 on the frame, but it's still very solid

Going to transfer my CB over, then I'm not sure what I'll modify first. Definitely going to the junkyard soon, as mine is missing a few bits and they happen to have a silver 2003 SR5 right now!

 

[mjotrainbrain]

Been doing some work. It's been over 90 degrees every day (that's pretty darn hot for Michigan), so every job kinda sucks! Haven't done anything particularly impressive, but makes a big difference in how the vehicle is to drive every day. I'm itching to get it in the dirt and start doing offroad mods, but I gotta restrain myself and get it all fixed up first. Here's what I've done:

• Begun doing POR15 work on the chassis
• AC drain line relocation
• New headlights and glove box light - standard replacement
• All other interior lights and license plate lights - LED replacement
• Lots and lots of polish to fix the neglect from the previous owner (explained further below)
• Gresed driveshafts and ball joints
• HCF delete (no difference noticed, but I like to remove extra junk)
• Cabin air filter
• Restocked first aid kit
• Got a few of the many bits and pieces I need from the junkyard
• Ordered a CBI passenger side antenna mount
• Loads more little stuff

So as I said, nothing really significant, but it all adds up to make the vehicle much more enjoyable to drive and live with. As far as the polishing...the previous owner let the brakes run way to low at some point, so there's metal flakes stuck in the paint all over the back half of the vehicle, in door jambs, etc. It's all rusted, and frankly, it looks awful. It's a lot of work, but I'm slowly getting it polished out and looking fantastic again. Spent all day sweating and getting some of it done. Can't wait for it to look good. And NO I'm not a mallcrawler that minds scratches! But as anybody who actually uses their rig knows, scratches from careless use and offroading battle scars look a lot different; you can tell just looking at it. And of course the rusty brake-flake things...yeah, that just doesn't look good at all. Oh, and excuse my rambling...I tend to do that! Also, I'm gonna record a lot of "pointless" stuff here. I regret not writing down more about my last build, so I'm gonna be really detailed here.

 

[mjotrainbrain]

Been a month, time to update. Got some more done. Also have plans for some bigger jobs, but I'll get to that in a sec. First what I've done:

• CLEAN CB radio install (will make YouTube video on my setup)
• Undercoating on rear of frame to prep for OEM Class IV hitch
• Installed OEM Class IV hitch that I got from the junkyard
• "New" fog light from junk yard
• Started to replace caliper slide pins and springs
• :bravo: Got several center console latches from the junkyard :bravo: (So nice to have that staying shut!)
• Continued working on polishing the poor paint
• New bulb in cupholders (such a neat little feature)
• Un-dented and cleaned up the roll-out cargo cover
• Got OEM skidplates from the junkyard (mine were missing)

And I'm sure much more, but I won't bore you too much...
Newest issue is a steering wheel vibration that comes and goes, but when it comes it's pretty bad. Usually only around 55+, hoping it's just a strange wheel balance issue. Also having a slight pull to the right that wasn't there before. I also need to do the timing belt/water pump, change all the fluids, and continue undercoating so I can get on to the fun stuff. Rust that I have to deal with seriously is right at the edge of the rockers by the back wheels, under the plastic trim by the doors (not sure how much I'll find under there, we'll find out), and the only rot I've found - a hole in the lower radiator support. Once all this is sorted out, it'll be time for some OME springs and Bilstein shocks, can't wait. Oh, and I took it offroading for the first time! Really light stuff, but fun regardless. Really like how solid a frame feels vs unibody. Ok, enough boring ramble! Pictures:

 

[Leggs1110]

I got a gen 5.. trd off road.. did a 3" lift, bigger tire different wheel, decal in the back windows, blacked out the emblems and front where it was silver.

What do you think?

 

[mjotrainbrain]

I got a gen 5.. trd off road.. did a 3" lift, bigger tire different wheel, decal in the back windows, blacked out the emblems and front where it was silver.

What do you think?

Looks good, might have been nice if you'd started your own thread, or maybe even posted in the correct forum though, lol...

 

[AuSeeker]

I got a gen 5.. trd off road.. did a 3" lift, bigger tire different wheel, decal in the back windows, blacked out the emblems and front where it was silver.

What do you think?

I think you're posting in the wrong forum section, this is the 4th Gen section!!

You're also hi-jacking Matthew's build topic!!!

 

[mjotrainbrain]

Continuing to do lots of little stuff, as well as some bigger stuff. The biggest thing is I've found a few spots on the frame that are rotted. I still believe that it is safe to drive thankfully. In a year or so, once we know what Toyota is going to (or not going to do) regarding frame replacement I'll decide what the next big move is. In the meantime I'm going to try to keep mods somewhat mild, but I'm certainly not going to stop improving this vehicle. Here's what I've done in the last month:

• Blue LED's for shifter and cupholder (More to come, looks sweet!)
• New front calipers and pads
• LCA's without seized bushings/cam bolts from the junkyard
• Bilstein 5100's set at the 1.75" setting (pics tomorrow once assembly is complete)
• Paracord grab handle (one down so far, working on perfecting the design before I do more, picture tomorrow)
• Old bolts drilled out of crossmembers and holes tapped so I can install front skidplate, still have to do the drilling and tapping for the diff skid
• Timing belt/water pump/etc.

I believe that's all that I've done since last update. As I said, pictures coming tomorrow. As a word of advice for anybody who has to cut their LCA cams due to seizing, I found the $25 Harbor Freight recip saw to work fine, however it is TOTALLY NOT WORTH cheaping out on the blades. I wasted DAYS until I decided to give the Diablo blades a shot...seriously, just do it. I used the Carbide tipped 8TPI and couldn't have been happier. Well worth the $15. If only I'd bought that to begin with...

 

[mjotrainbrain]

It's been a super long time since the last update. I also said I'd supply some pictures...yeah, that didn't happen did it? :loco: Maybe I'll do better on that in the future, maybe not, we'll see! Anyways, it snowed for the first time the other day and of course the city decided to throw salt down immediately. :smow: I took this as my hint that I needed to get my rear in gear on a lot of stuff! Since the last update:

• Skidplates installed, cleaned up, painted
• Alignment
• More offroading (lost a bead on one trail, fun times)
• Fluid Film on entire chassis

Honestly there's been quite a bit more, but I just can't remember; this is what I get for making updates so irregularly! So far, between offroading and snowy roads, I have been extremely impressed with the 4Runner's traction-aiding technology. It was able to gently climb obstacles that I would have had to smash an a simpler rig through; very impressive! Of course I don't always appreciated technology trying to be helpful, so I have also done a traction-control-off mod based upon a thread here. In my opinion it is the best way to disable traction control, and is a very clean and easy mod. I plan to do a video how-to on my YouTube channel soon, as I know I learn best from videos rather than forum threads.

As far as my chassis, the plan is to get one from down south and swap it next summer. It'll be a massive job, but I think it will be very worth it. The current frame has more rot than I had previously realized, so it's really not worth the money I'd have to throw at it to have it repaired. While I'm doing that job I'll do as much other work as I can to pretty much completely restore the underside of the truck; can't wait!

I have a few photos on my laptop, so I'll dump those in the next post.

 

[mjotrainbrain]

 

[meltdowner]

Oh no, that front rust doesn't look so good.

 

[mjotrainbrain]

Oh no, that front rust doesn't look so good.

No, not good at all; no solid places to attach a tow strap on the front. Other side may do decent when doubled up with an Apex recovery point though. That part of the frame isn't structural though and it doesn't concern me. The rust by the rear link mount isn't concerning yet, but if it continues to spread it will be; I'll keep a close eye on it. The rust on the frame rail itself where it's growing up that weld is concerning and I'll keep a close eye on it; it may need some steel added to stitch it together, hopefully not though. Only has to make it one more winter, fingers crossed.