Murph's Build and Off Road Thread

Several months ago my dome light had a broken switch, so I tried to solder a jumper wire in that would allow the door function to work at all times. I mistakenly attached the wire to the wrong leads and created a short. When the light was plugged in to test it, I immediately smelled an electrical burn. I bought another dome light and installed it, but it wouldn't work right. It would come on with the switch (ON position), but not when the driver and rear passenger doors were open (DOOR postion). Oddly enough, it did come on with the front passenger door open. After a lot of research & taking the interior apart trying to find what I thought would be a burnt wire, I determined that the burning smell came from a fried ribbon on the main PCB in the combination meter (instrument cluster). It's amazing how many of the T4R's electrical circuits run through that one board.



I bought a used PCB soon after and swapped it in. Unbeknownst to me, the odometer data was stored in a tiny chip on that board. My truck with 167k miles then showed over 204k. So, I promptly put the bad PCB back in while I researched how to go about fixing the odometer problem.

Long story short... I finally swapped the chip from the original & bad circuit board to the new-used circuit board. I used a hot air/soldering iron rework station to lift and reinstall the tiny smd chip.





 
I'm not a fan of mods that are purely cosmetic and don't provide an off road or performance benefit. I'll make exception with this one.

 
I couldn't decide if I wanted to keep or resell the scoop hood. After I installed it today, my decision was made. I'm sold on it.



 
Thanks, [MENTION=110088]SilverRidgeRunner1[/MENTION]. You've seen it on the Tennessee 4Runners facebook page I presume. It will be at the 25th annual GSMTR at Windrock next month.
 
For some reason I thought you had recently swapped in a locked axle. I need to get you to give me some pointers on that frame refinishing job you did.

I installed an Aussie locker that eats up tires on the road haha!

I am getting an e-locker this summer though! Depending on if my dad will let me, I'll be building a beater 3rd gen with my old axle in it!

For the frame, just get some sandpaper (medium grit), sand everything, and clean with acetone or denatured alcohol, and paint heavily with some flat black rustoleum.
 
Lookin' good!

If you find another e locker axle somewhere in your area let me know. I'm not too far. I'm looking for one for myself. If I find a 4.10 axle out of a 4Runner that would be great, but if not I've got a locker housing out of a 4Runner so a 4.10 pumpkin out of a Taco would work too.

Hopefully I'll be able to join the 01 locked crowd soon!
 
[MENTION=116387]Unner[/MENTION] As you know, they are hard to come by. I need to go pull the front diff out of the 99 that the rear axle came out of. I don't want to regear the rear (or my front). That setup would give me 4.30 gears. I'd be pleased with that.
 
Truck looks great. That color is killer. I want that fj badge as well

Thanks, Alex. I bought the FJ badge new. There may be a part number referenced somewhere in this build thread.

Edit: I didn't reference the part number. I just checked.
 
Last edited:
I'm starting to get things ready for the 25th annual GSMTR. Less than 2 weeks before we head that way.

I installed my Expedition Portal Trasharoo on the tailgate. I need to reinstall skids, pack the camping gear and fix a few odds and ends on the 4Runner.

Trasharoo
 
If you find another e locker axle somewhere in your area let me know. I'm not too far. I'm looking for one for myself. If I find a 4.10 axle out of a 4Runner that would be great,

Check KnoxAuto in Knoxville, TN. I just purchased a 4.10 E-locked rear from a 1997. I know he can get a 4.10 locked from a 1998 and 2000. I would have got the 2000 but it was in a roll over accident, so not sure of the condition of the rear end.
 

Members online

Forum statistics

Threads
278,310
Messages
3,554,079
Members
248,016
Latest member
Advally Service

Trending content

Back
Top