Pearl's mod/build LT rear/DK +3.5 LT/Custom Baja Bumper/Thorley Headers/Manual T-case

[4RunnerAquasport]

Pearl took a ride to the weld shop yesterday. Thank you Anthony Silva at Apex Fabrication!! Thank You Timbo at Timbo's Customs for doing the prelim work on the Cam gussets. Now to tear it back down and paint.

 

[4RunnerAquasport]

Needing to prep all the suspension and frame metal for paint, but I can't find the motivation in this Fla heat.
So I have some Centric 5th gen calipers going on the front and they need to be painted. Here is an idea I came up with to mask the pistons. 4 standard size rattle can tops, with 2 cut at about 3/4" and some cardboard wedged between them. It might work.....

 

[4RunnerAquasport]

Dorman hubs-smaller knurl opening-STOCK DIAMETER KNURL WON'T WORK

Ordered Matrix studs (#610-463, M12x1.50 14.2 mm knurl, 55 mm length) to work with my wheel spacers and figured out that Dorman hubs are only 13.3 mm diameter knurl opening.


OLD STUD 13.6 MM



MATRIX STUD 14.2 MM



Cross referenced a new stud for ford products Dorman #610-376, hopefully it will fit.


This was quite the brain teaser for a few minutes because Dorman doesn't list the knurl diameter for this hub. So I really scoured the web for an answer, even considered drilling, thought better of that and went back to Dormans site and looked through all the sizes they offer. PIA!!! Lost a half a day researching this crap.

 

[4RunnerAquasport]

Dorman hubs-smaller knurl opening

Well my cross referenced stud (Dorman #610-376) worked out pretty well. The knurl diameter seems to be right and the length is perfect for the 1.25" spacers. Ordered the All Pro "Extended Thread" lug nuts. Hopefully the outer diameter will work with these spacers. If not I think the Acorns have enough thread to work sufficiently.

 

[4RunnerAquasport]

Got her back up and running. Still have a lot of shakedown and test drives to do. The 315s are rubbing the secondary res before full lock both sides. I think I can get rid of some of that by moving the brackets a little inboard. 5th gen calipers seem to be working good. I got the new pads and rotors bedded in today as well.
AND my sliders came in today so I put them on this evening. Pearls lookin a little tougher now.

 

[4RunnerAquasport]

Had a pretty bad "creaking" sound from drivers side. It's not Halloween yet, so no creaking allowed! Upon investigation it was the hoop making contact with inner fender well. Trying to address that today.

Here is where the secondary res is getting contact from the BFGs on both drivers and pass side. Hence the packing foam and tie wraps until I get it sorted out. R&D work is on the back burner for now, going back to work so no time off until the end of Sept.

 

[4RunnerAquasport]

Total Chaos-Alignment is good to go!

Just got back from Firestone-Merritt Island, Fl. My alignment tech for a couple decades now, Steve Locklin earned his $20 tip, and dialed her in perfectly. He has done lifted trucks now since the 70s, even owns a lifted vintage mid 60s Ford, and has been doing my 5th gen for years now. Gave me as much Caster as he could to help clear the reservoirs in the back of the fender well. I forgot to tell my welder to tuck the res brackets inboard as far as he could. So they will be relocated in the near future as I think there is a 1/4 to 1/2" more clearance to be had. Alignment tech said the TC Cam Tab Gussets worked really well and I was only 3/16 toed out on my eyeball adjustment lol.
Pearl be Drivin Great!

 

[blackoutt]

Whoa an alignment tech that knows what they're doing! :jaw: looking good!

 

[4RunnerAquasport]

Whoa an alignment tech that knows what they're doing! :jaw: looking good!

Thanks!! That's why I give him the $20 tip lol. I used to take my lifted Fords and Chevys to him back in the 90s at Tire Kingdom when he worked there. This Firestone won't cover the Lifetime on the full TC set up because there is nothing factory left on it. I really don't blame them tho, it would be a slippery slope with customers that don't have a clue. They will do Lifetime for me on the 5th gen with just the TC uppers. I need to talk to him about a training a protege so when he retires I won't be searching for another guy lol.

 

[4RunnerAquasport]

Pearl gets a Nip/Tuck

RB BL 1" w new OEM BM Bushings.

 

[yotaguy674]

Is anyone else not seeing any pictures?

 

[Primetime4370]

Is anyone else not seeing any pictures?

Yeah, I've noticed a lot of broken picture links today.

 

[4RunnerAquasport]

Pearl sitting tall and proud this morning after the BL. Now she needs a Pre Runner/Baja tube bumper.

 

[4RunnerAquasport]

"Pearl's" New Year Shuffle

Maybe, kinda sorta, possibly getting this suspension stuff figured out. Looks like I need more "up".

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/dnxLS8xmLbc" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[4RunnerAquasport]

Rear Suspension Test #2

Removed the Super Bumps mounting bracket and bolted them right to Metal Tech extension blocks. Gained about an 1.25" up travel. A lot less like a Pogo Stick now. [MENTION=87687]LTDSC[/MENTION] Thanks for the Tip Sam!

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/n0Nh3PJnJeg" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[4RunnerAquasport]

TC Dual Front Suspension Test

System is working really well! Travel is taking the tire up into the inner fender well so I might need a 1/2" or so bump stop extension lol. [MENTION=236676]TOTAL CHAOS[/MENTION] The amount of travel for stock length is amazing!! Thanks for the Great Products!!

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/wG25bl4Nc1A" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[4RunnerAquasport]

A little speed in the choppy stuff
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/DLEeyYNgdpg" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[4RunnerAquasport]

Noticed my trans temps getting up over 200* when pushing hard through the thick sand. After sitting, Trans would cool back down in about 10 minutes.
But, there are times when you get in a position where it's really hot and there isn't much air moving across the cooler, and your not able to park and let it cool off. One example in this Florida heat is bumper to bumper traffic after exiting an interstate will usually result in sustained temps over 200*, especially with the A/C running. Trans brake will actually raise temps a little as your exiting down the ramp.
So I installed a little helper (Spal 4" pusher fan-3A draw and 124 cfm) on the factory cooler. I might go bigger cooler and fan one day but I figured this was cheap insurance in the mean time. I decided not to mess with an auto/temp switch so I can control it if I ever have alternator issues on the trail. Used an aftermarket push switch off amazon that fits in an empty spot on the left side bank of dash switches.


Used galvanized plumbing/hanger strap from Home Depot.

 

[4RunnerAquasport]

Having a bumper fabbed up soon, so the cover got deleted. Cheap LED marker lights for signals and 1/4" mesh for protection.

 

[montijo505]

Super jealous of your suspension lol, good work. I’ll be following!


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