Rise of the Silver Pheonix: a build thread

[theizzardking]

supplied by JustDifferentials

Suspension
front:
radflow adjustable coil-overs custom valved
2.5" body
RADFLO

Rear:
LC 8.25 wraps
billstien 5125

Accessories
ARB front bumper
write-up
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/78268-arb-bumper-installation-3rd-gen-t4rs-step-step.html

mile marker winch with xrc8 solenoid remotely mounted, in cab switch, and 8k master pull synthetic line.
masterpull
mile marker
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
OTHER ADDITIONS from various suppliers.

Lighting
(on ARB)
Hella 500FF with OEM switch in stock location
HELLA 500FF
basic write up
my write up
explination of 4 prong switch back



WHITSON METAL WORKS full length roof rack w/ drop in
WHITSON METAL WORKS
(4) 4"HID Custom accessories lights aka kragen's
kragen buy thread




Suspension and Tires
ES bushings through out
part numbers w/info
GoodYear duratrac's 285's

og thread

16x8 Vision 375 Warrior Wheels
dealer

tundra 231 brakes with brembo slotted rotors and ceramic pads
write up1
the meat of it

write up2

Stereo and Comms
Taco Whip Modification
write up
write up 2
CB setup
Cobra 75WXST 40-Channel CB Radio
FireStik K-8A 18 foot single antenna coax cable
FireStik K-1A Push-n-Twist quick disconnect
Firestik SS-3H Heavy Duty Stainless Steel Antenna Spring
FireStik 5 feet II TUNABLE TIP
writeup
writeup2

ham radio license with Kenwood thf6a tri-band HT
reviews
information soruce
differnce between ham and CB
practice ham test

Dual battery set-up
2x Super start extreme 4xextj
custom 1/2" 6064 alum battery bracket with alum hold downs
blue sea 6 Circuit ST Blade Fuse Block
blu sea add a battery kit (to be installed)
30 amp solenoid (currently installed)
write up 1
write up 2
write up 3

cargo box w/ sleeping platform




avs rain guards
supplier

custom rear floor mats=hack job~cut old front mats to fit like weather techs
preped,painted & installed my hidden hitch
front tint to match the rear factory

Maintenance:
complete fluid change
INFO

Lower ball joints
write up
write up 2

Inner tie rods & outer Tie Rods
write up

NKG/DENSO plugs & Wires
WRITE-UP



______


installed but updating thread

timing belt
water pump
air filter
alignment
dent removal
Buff and polish
custom rear floor mats=hack job~cut old front mats to fit like weather techs
preped,painted & installed my hidden hitch
front tint to match the rear factory

_________________

So as you guys may or may not know my previous truck was crushed by a tree :

<embed src="http://www.ebaumsworld.com/player.swf" allowScriptAccess="always" flashvars="id1=82661775" wmode="opaque" width="567" height="345" allowfullscreen="true" />
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-g...ngs-top-gear-special-trying-kill-4runner.html

i was then forced to go out and buy another one within a couple of days, i managed to find an identical truck in every way from the previous one regarding options and trim level, in fact both trucks are Canadian imports and had the same mileage when they came to me 178k or so.

here's some crappy cell phone pics i took when i brought it home

i had it about 3 days before i got to work on it since i had to sell the old truck on so i needed to swap the parts across as fast as possible as well as bring some maintenance issues up to par, With the help of my brother in law @ JTs Parts & Accessories, Justdifferentials.com i got a killer deal on the goods and got it quick so was able to get over the loss of the other truck pretty quickly, in the end the only thing that really annoyed me was just the amount of labour this whole thing took...i'm just glad i already knew a bunch of the litte tricks this time around so the cussing and swearing was at a unusual low, which i'm sure the wife and neighbors appreciated.
here's my list as she sits


i've been trying to enjoy the truck as much as possible this summer while still getting work done, i took it to the overland rally in plain,wa and had a good time and have been taking it on camping trips over the passes every other weekend, the truck pulls well and seems to be holding her oil, still not 100% on this truck yet but am starting to have faith.

yesterday i picked up the whitson full length roof rack with sunroof drop from powder coat which i decided to have the full nine done on and also went with a black hammer coat . my over all impressions of the rack are very good and for what's on the market and what im into this one for it is a very good price to value ratio, all hardware was included and ready to go and was a simple a very easy install, i managed to get the rack up there all by myself and bolt it down with very little issues.

my only recommendation is to re-install the rail end caps before you put the rack on the truck but put the slide mounts in first!!!
as there's no clearance to fit your hand in between the rack and the roof and once the caps are on you can't get the mounts in there,
I'd also suggest using a ratcheting wrench and sliding the rack all the way to one end to get the nuts on. you could also try reinstalling the net tie downs just in case if you need them for some odd and strange reason, also do not forget to put some sealant or silicone in the screw holes before putting those torx bits back in, lol...
here's what it looks like with the rack on and as she sits as this second.

might be some fitment issues , this is a 4" hid light, halogen and LED tend to be more lo-pro same with hid if the ballast is not integrated, it's going to be close but it should work, as it fits but getting a wrench on it may not be ideal.if i had the money i would be going with 2x 10" led light bars and cut the wind faring match or if i had thought about it square lights, but these hid's were on sale local and the cheapest i had seen but still rated well...($80 a piece)

i like the rack alot and am excited to load it up on the next trip out and actually be able to use my rear view mirror once again!:lookout: so thanks a ton whitson for the great work,fast shipping and excellent price , it changed the whole look of the truck imo and i'm liking it!

 

[theizzardking]

this weekend i'm doing the TBU and will get some pics of the radflows installed as well , here's my dog checking out the set-up:

i will be adding more pics this weekend and will possibly be going back to the 5 stars depending if the tundra brakes clear the ganster baller rims or not.


i also still have to install the solenoid for my winch but gotta make a custom bracket and extend some lines, bulkhead fitting and wiring for roof lights,wind faring,dual battery, fix sleeping platform (hinged section destroyed by tree), Headunit microphone as im going to get a ticket sooner or later, but waiting to pull the head line only once for the roof lights...sooo much money and time, lol :toilet:


i will be doing gears and sway bars as my next big things sometime around christmas, i'm really happy to be back in a 4runner and to be given a second chance with what i know is a great truck, ther personality is a bit different but feels strangely the same, lol, i'm loving it.


thoughts and opinions welcome guys, would love to hear from you.:guitar2:

 

[BrianSD_42]

Glad to see you are sort of up and running. Good luck with the build.

 

[theizzardking]

Glad to see you are sort of up and running. Good luck with the build.

thanks man, it's been hard balancing life and the build, planning a wedding right now on top of all of this is tough, i'm just glad to have a proper garage so i can still get some work done during the winter!

 

[Whitson Metalworks]

Sweet looking ride! In my endless search for the perfect led light bar, I've come accross trailworthyfab.com a few times. They sell cheap light bars he put through the wringer himself and they have a lot of good reviews from various forums. I just wish I could see light output in person. Trail Worthy Fab :: LED Light Bars

 

[GladeRunner]

The new rack looks awesome. As do the lights you put on. All your hard work (and time) shows.

IMO, I like the five stars.

 

[PitbullRescuer]

Never knew that smashed one was yours. I think you should've kept it, Toyota should've used that thing in a commercial to show how tough these things are. Did you sell it to Death Cougar?

New one looks clean. Good luck with it. What's the story on the VW Bus?

 

[4-Ripcord]

About time you made this thread!

Looking great so far, must have been a fun 3 days to get all that work done.

 

[farmerjon]

WHOO HOO! Glad to see this thread and you back in a 4Runner! Been waiting for this thread for a long time...

The new truck looks awesome and I agree, Whitson did a great job with the rack, I love how it seems to hug the roof and is lower profile, I like that. I want one someday!

Again, glad you're back in full force!

Also interested in the story behind the VW bus...

 

[Duhockey]

Nice to see your new rig taking shape!

you know you could've gone with a tube bumper this time! :shrug:


LOL :

 

[khann]

thats a cool rig.

So as you guys may or may not know my previous truck was crushed by a tree :

I feel this one will be more lucky than previous (wide world known - http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/119062-why-3gen-best-car-ever.html )

my only recommendation is to re-install the rail end caps before you put the rack on the truck but put the slide mounts in first!!!

Could You put more details of mount of this rack (front holes etc) where does HID lights cable goes through?

 

[IanB]

Looks great, that's a sharp rack! Takes a while before you feel like your back at the point where you started, I know the feeling as well.

 

[theizzardking]

Never knew that smashed one was yours. I think you should've kept it, Toyota should've used that thing in a commercial to show how tough these things are. Did you sell it to Death Cougar?

New one looks clean. Good luck with it. What's the story on the VW Bus?

i sold it to a friend of death cougars, originally i thought i was selling it to him but turned out to be a friend of a friend sort of thing...i would have kept it myself if i could have done it justice or if toyota seemed to show interest but i sent the story to the top 2 marketing directors @ toyota usa and didn't hear jack back and needed to get back on the road asap, so i had to do what i had to do.....that said, the guy i sold it too is keeping it on the road and has put some time into it, here's how it sat about 2~3 weeks ago, he's in the process of getting a tacoma back clip with slider and plans on welding that in asap.

if i had the equipment, time and money to do such things i probably would but alas i have none of those readily available, lol.....

i have a build thread for the bus on the samba google it if you like
motor
1600cc dp full flowed, balanced,engle vz-14 cam,solid rocker arms,pict 34dual carbs, 55 amp alt.,external oil filter, dual springs,CHT,oilpressure,oil temp, and a few other things i forget
the rest
dual batteries 2000watt inverter
propane heat and stove, cook set with sink
fully insulated with pergo flooring and interior siding
various guages and 8 speaker sound system with 1500 watt amp

 

[theizzardking]

Looks great, that's a sharp rack! Takes a while before you feel like your back at the point where you started, I know the feeling as well.

dude it's painful!!!! lol, and i haven't even got to teh ball joints,cv's or TRE's, yet either...all of that maintenance work is going to be the killer, it's kind of fun doing teh things that make it looks cool, but the things to make it run well just kind of suck to do 2~3 times because your trucks get smashed, haha....

i get kind of depressed when i think of all of the work i had done on the old truck between 180k and 260k that i now have to do all over again, haha, oh well such is life, and like i said, it's nice to have learned from previous mistakes!:snacker:

 

[theizzardking]

Nice to see your new rig taking shape!

you know you could've gone with a tube bumper this time! :shrug:


LOL :

haha, is that still hanging over me? haha j/k

yeah the old arb was fine so just took the insurance money and ran, that's what got me the radflo's and winch....that said we both know i'm a plate guy ;-) :hatsoffyour funny dude, that really cracked me up)

 

[theizzardking]

thats a cool rig.
I feel this one will be more lucky than previous (wide world known - http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/119062-why-3gen-best-car-ever.html )

Could You put more details of mount of this rack (front holes etc) where does HID lights cable goes through?

i'm still currently figuring out a wiring scheme and routing method , the lights in the pics aren't even mounted just placed for a mock up, i may use these 4" ones on the bumper and get some light bars for the rack, not sure yet, that said, i do plan on getting a proper bulk head fitting and installing that in the roof and running the wiring down the pillar and into place, i'll probably just zip tie the cables to the underside of the rack in a cable tray and run them tot eh bulk head fitting..

..i'm drilling the holes for the lights tomorrow, i'l have help then so i can get proper pics for a rack install thread, which is what i plan to do. :thumb3: i'm also in the process of upgrading some of the hardware on the roof rack so a wrench isn't required to remove the drop in bit or adjust the front height of the rack, also if you have a sunroof you need to position the rack a certain way so the drop in cross bar doesn't come into contact with the pop-up airfoil things when you open the sunroof....like i said, i'll take some pics tomorrow for you guys as that's a pretty crappy explanation and it's hard to visualize it without the pics.
so yeah , i'll update sunday or monday. :hello:

let me know if i can help with anything else i have done or suggestions are welcome as well.:thanks:

 

[Hepar]

haha, is that still hanging over me? haha j/k

yeah the old arb was fine so just took the insurance money and ran, that's what got me the radflo's and winch....that said we both know i'm a plate guy ;-) :hatsoffyour funny dude, that really cracked me up)

Plate guy? I had no idea. I feel so cheap not knowing this about you.

Good to see the new build. Looking forward to seeing it in person.

 

[khann]

like i said, i'll take some pics tomorrow

Cool

 

[theizzardking]

Cool

so the brake install ate up most of my time today and from looking around and what i need to do in regards to wiring the lights up, i'm putting them off for a few weeks until i can get the fittings i need and get a few other things i got planning together...

i'm trying to find a good 4 wire weatherproof plug/bulk head fitting that i can wire into the roof rack lights so i can disconnect them at a whim to remove the rack and also keep water out and prevents rusting, i know what i need but am having a hard time finding a good one with the right bits.

the tundra 231mm break upgrade went flawless and they cleared my rims no issues, so i guess the 5-stars will stay in the garage a bit longer, which is good now i can save up some cash and get them powder coated and call it good....

so yeah no issues the whole thing took about an hour and half with breaks, haha and got some pics of the radflo's as well

i also recently got my ham radio cert, tech class, pm me if you want to exchange call signs,

this is the radio i was given , a decent little unit, only 5watts but has wideband receive works on 144, 200 and 440 and has given me some pretty good results when i'm deep in the woods, i've been able to make qso's everywhere i've been so far and works well for going from the truck to the woods and back again, also has the ability to route through my truck radio and out to a repeater from there, which is exactly what i wanted....

info
Kenwood TH-F6A Amateur Radio HT THF6

so yep that was my day, i also drilled the holes and mounted the lights but nothing further than that right now either....again let me know if there's anything you wanted pics of or info just let me know!!

 

[Whitson Metalworks]

Brakes look bada$$! For wiring the lights, have you considered internal? Drill some holes and weatherproof with grommets and maybe some rtv, one pigtail near the sweet connector you'll inevitably find and one up front. Wouldn't be too bad fishing the wires.