NYC-Runner Build Thread

[Nyc-Runner]

Definitely hit me up after the event so I can take a look at the photos. Very interested. Do you shoot in JPG or RAW?

ETA: Thanks for the feedback on the rims. Am ordering today. Will try them on their own before I order Spidertrax. My M/Ts have more offset, so will be interesting to see the difference.

Will do.. I shoot in Jpg. I just use my wifes nikon d40x dslr. I need to learn a little more about Photography. In the mean time this camera does great and take awesome pics!

Awesome your going to love them, i can't wait to see them mounted up! What color did you get ? What size tire you running? My 285s fit perfect. I thought about running them with the spidertrax just for a more aggressive stance but they sit pretty good just by themselves. You running spidertrax now?

 

[jediwebdude]

Will do.. I shoot in Jpg. I just use my wifes nikon d40x dslr. I need to learn a little more about Photography. In the mean time this camera does great and take awesome pics!

The Nikon should allow you to select "RAW + JPG." RAW images are uncompressed and thus easier to edit afterward.

What color did you get ? What size tire you running? My 285s fit perfect. I thought about running them with the spidertrax just for a more aggressive stance but they sit pretty good just by themselves. You running spidertrax now?

Matte black. 285/70 17 Hankook M/Ts. I had Spidertrax 3 years ago on older rims. When I went with Mickey Thompson Classics, the offset/backspace were such that I didn't need Spidertrax. I noticed the offset/backspace on the FN Five Star is slightly less than my MTs, so I may do Spidertrax. Will wait to see how it all looks.

FN Five Star black rims are on backorder, so will be a few weeks before I get them.

 

[Nyc-Runner]

The Nikon should allow you to select "RAW + JPG." RAW images are uncompressed and thus easier to edit afterward.



Matte black. 285/70 17 Hankook M/Ts. I had Spidertrax 3 years ago on older rims. When I went with Mickey Thompson Classics, the offset/backspace were such that I didn't need Spidertrax. I noticed the offset/backspace on the FN Five Star is slightly less than my MTs, so I may do Spidertrax. Will wait to see how it all looks.

FN Five Star black rims are on backorder, so will be a few weeks before I get them.

Ok good to know, i'll have to mess around with it.

Nice good choice! Same size tires i'm running. I'll be interested to see how they look with the spidertrax, I'm sure i'm going to like the way it looks and want to run them again too haha. It looks like that they will give you a pretty similar stance to what you have now, which looks pretty similar to what i have.

Yeah those wheels a very popular especially in the new 17'' size, i got lucky a couple months ago when i broke one of mine that he actually had a couple in stock.

 

[Nyc-Runner]

Finally had some good weather this past weekend and got some much needed maintenance done which mainly included painting.

I removed my skids for re painting, undercoated the frame and rear axle with POR-15, touched up the rock rash on my wheels, re painted my sliders and painted and installed my new RCI rear diff skid. Very happy with the fit and finish, it's solid!

 

[Nyc-Runner]

I've been planning on doing cargo drawers for some time now but I didn't want to go with the traditional wood box set up which usually ends up being pretty heavy even before you have them filled up with recovery gear and tools etc. Now that I'm building my truck more towards a expedition style I'm starting to be a little more weight conscious here and there where I can be!

The plan:

With weight savings in mind my buddy came up with the idea to have a aluminum box frame welded up that will ensure both weight saving and strength for the drawer system. We plane on using 1/4" or 1/2" birch ply for the drawers because of its strength and doesn't weight a ton. I already gave him the drawers slides which where mounted to tabs that he welded onto the frame. Other than that we won't need any other wood on the bottom, sides or top because it will bit sitting under my existing factory cargo shelf. I will run a small strip on the top towards the rear hatch so I can mount my Highlift jack on top of it.

I'm very excited because the frame is now done but unfortunately my friend who is helping build these is now going to be out of town for the next couple of weeks so now after seeing a beautiful pic of the welded frame I'll have to wait a little longer.Hopefully I'll have them finished up before the FJNE run Im attending next month. Anyways here's a quick teaser pic of the frame all welded up.

 

[jediwebdude]

I like where this is going. Look forward to seeing the end result.

There was a company at SEMA selling lightweight drawer systems...making them from aircraft aluminum, but the pricing was steep.

 

[Nyc-Runner]

I like where this is going. Look forward to seeing the end result.

There was a company at SEMA selling lightweight drawer systems...making them from aircraft aluminum, but the pricing was steep.

Yes i am excited to get this finished up so i can finally have some organization back there. I also plan on making a folding sleeping platform.

Well i'm sure this won't be as pretty as the one at SEMA but it'll be light,strong and functional! The frame cost me $200 to have his buddy weld it up for me. All said and done with the drawer slides,handle latches, wood and other materials i estimate it will be around $400 not to bad.

 

[HHIRunner]

Yes i am excited to get this finished up so i can finally have some organization back there. I also plan on making a folding sleeping platform.

Well i'm sure this won't be as pretty as the one at SEMA but it'll be light,strong and functional! The frame cost me $200 to have his buddy weld it up for me. All said and done with the drawer slides,handle latches, wood and other materials i estimate it will be around $400 not to bad.

I may have to follow your lead on that.

 

[Nyc-Runner]

I may have to follow your lead on that.

It should be a great set up! I'll have a nice write up when i'm done with all the measurements and materials used. I used a lot of the materials like the drawer slides and paddle latches from the FJ cruiser cargo drawer write up here:Rear Cargo Drawer Build - Toyota FJ Cruiser Forum
Which is a great cargo drawer system but a couple of my buddies have it and it weighs a TON!

 

[Nyc-Runner]

Got a couple more things done today. Re painted my front bumper, finally dremeled out a snapped off license plate screw and mounted up my front plate, finished re painting my skids and put on these bad ass new decals!

 

[NateMob]

Never realized how awesome your grille looked until just now. Great looking truck man, keep up with the good solid mods and upgrades.

Nathan

 

[Nyc-Runner]

Never realized how awesome your grille looked until just now. Great looking truck man, keep up with the good solid mods and upgrades.

Nathan

Thanks man. That was always one of my favorite mods, changed the whole look of the front end!

 

[Nyc-Runner]

Ended up replacing my driver side LCA today because i had a bad lower ball joint. My original plan was to press out and in new ball joints and bushings for both sides but then i ran into the issue of the front cam bolt sleeve being completely seized to the old inner bushing sleeve on the driver side .We tried everything under the sun to get it separated and out Vice,Hammer,Press, Torch wasn't happening! So luckily someone had two new LCA's locally and we were able to get them but then i also needed to get the cam bolt sleeve from the dealer but of course they only had one so going to have to wait to do the passenger until i get the other sleeve. Cause oh guess what that front cam bolt sleeve is seized up to on the passenger side :wtf: Northeast problems!

I also now have my ABS, VCS and one other light on and blinking on the dash. I'm not sure why because i didn't touch the brakes or disconnect anything? I could of accidentally hit or pulled the brake line or sensor ,i've spoken to a few people about it and have a couple ideas on what it might be but i also know that a lot of people have had issues with these lights and sensors have been known to act funny for numerous different reasons in the past so hopefully i'll get it sorted out sooner than later.

Many people told me not to mess around with the ball joints and bushing and just buy the complete LCA and be done with it and of course now i am wishing i had done so! At the same time i don't mind wrenching on my truck and learning (wish it wasn't the hard way this time) But anyways even if i would of done so i would have still run into this issue with the Cam bolt sleeve regardless as you need to re use those even in the new LCA's. So those who are attempting to do their LCA's and live in the northeast or anywhere along the salt belt keep this in mind and pick up some new cam bolt sleeves that way at least you have them just in case!

Here's a couple pics ( not the greatest,spent most of the time doing this:frusty

Oh and a big shot out to [MENTION=47269]Darklight[/MENTION] who helped me a lot via phone and text and he also has two very helpful and informative write up's on doing both of these BJ's and bushings Successfully on T120 which is what initially researched to do this.

 

[Darklight]

No problemo man. Wish it would have worked out for you with the new bushings and all. Can't really tell if something's going to seize on you until you're in there. At least you will have replacement ones now.

Bobby

 

[Nyc-Runner]

No problemo man. Wish it would have worked out for you with the new bushings and all. Can't really tell if something's going to seize on you until you're in there. At least you will have replacement ones now.

Bobby

Kind of used to it by now being up in the northeast. Since i've a had the truck so for i had one of the original skid plate bolts rusted and snapped as well as both sides of the bump stop bolts and now these. Pretty much any where that s always exposed to constant water and salt from the winter. Yes that's why i stopped saying how long things were going to take before i did them because it would always take like twice as long haha. But i'm happy i got it done and everything's good now. Also i re torqued the bolts this morning to 100 ft lbs and no more popping or metal clunk sound :thumb:

 

[Nyc-Runner]

Got the rear cargo area a little organized today in preparation for the cargo drawers which I hope to by finishing up next weekend. I had this old Rocksford fosgate shallow mount 12" sub and 500 watt amp lying around from my old truck so I figured I'd wire them up for a little extra bass. I made a little brace to hold the box from moving around. All in all it sounds good and it doesn't take up a tone of space!

 

[vfgyhh]

Yeah it's my favorite combo if your gonna run stock wheels.

 

[Nyc-Runner]

Yeah it's my favorite combo if your gonna run stock wheels.

???

 

[Nyc-Runner]

Made some good progress on the cargo drawers today. We got both of the drawers done and now their glued and setting. All we have to do now is add the wood to the fronts of the drawers and put in the Latches in and a strip along the top and paint. All together I estimate them to weigh about 40lbs total. Some pics of the progress.

 

[Twenman4]

First off I just want to start with the fact that your build is looking amazing. Definitely a sweet rig and I must admit I am jealous of it. I was wondering how you like your addicted offroad bumper? I am looking at different options for front bumpers and addicted is definitely one I am considering. Any thoughts on it? Would you recommend it to someone else? Cant wait to see what you do with your rig in the future!