Road Bull's 2002 SR5 Changeling Build.

[Road Bull]

Here we go again. It feels like 2015 all over again. LOL.

Some backstory for those of you just tuning in. My old 2002 SR5 rolled 11/30/2019. The body died, but *most* of the parts lived. Now they have a second chance on the new build. Road Bull's 2002 SR-5 timeline.

The Changeling is a 2002 SR5 in millennium silver, just like the old rig. The only difference in the actual rig itself is this one doesn't have a sunroof. It was sitting at 204,949 miles

 

[spartacus]

Glad you are back. truck looks good. Assuming you are going to swap out the front and rear axles from the old rig and the 35's.

 

[Road Bull]

This build will, for the most part, be pretty much like my last build with a couple of tweaks here and there.

This go around I swapped out my King 600# coils for some 650# coils. I am hoping to drop the front down from where it was on my last build. I had way too much preload on the 600s. I also just finished painting the newly Total Chaos gusseted spindles. I have new Koyo bearings, hubs, and seals set to get pressed in tomorrow.

I added a Toytec 1"BL this go around. Ordered Fat Pat's, had some issues got no response, so Toytec it was. I am leaving the gap in the front. I like it. I ordered and received a new 4X Innovations rear lower bumper for 1"BL. Got it mounted yesterday.

I also added an eimkeith PCK and have some new Rokmen Trail Series lower links for the rear.

So my friends have been awesome in helping me strip the old rig and get the new one off on the right foot. Oh! It was T-R-I-C-Y getting a rig without a rear axle or any front suspension, wheels, or tires into a position where it can be pulled up onto a flatbed and tow it away. The solution is a couple 1000 lbs dollies and 4x6 wood beams. *Sketchy Town* but it worked.

 

[Road Bull]

Glad you are back. truck looks good. Assuming you are going to swap out the front and rear axles from the old rig and the 35's.

That's the idea man. And thanks. I was tempted to try my luck with a Tacoma of some sort, but... Those things are more expensive than our 3rd gens, and... I already had a build that I could swap. A new platform would mean starting over from scratch.

I can't wait to get it all sorted. It was super depressing having to walk past my tarped rig everyday. Hopefully do the big swap in the next few weeks as time and schedule allows.

 

[theesotericone]

That's the idea man. And thanks. I was tempted to try my luck with a Tacoma of some sort, but... Those things are more expensive than our 3rd gens, and... I already had a build that I could swap. A new platform would mean starting over from scratch.

I can't wait to get it all sorted. It was super depressing having to walk past my tarped rig everyday. Hopefully do the big swap in the next few weeks as time and schedule allows.

Glad to see you got this in the works. Out with the old and in with the new as they say. You should have the new rig running by wheeling season. Then you should head down to Cali this summer and I'll get you on some trails. Ever hear of the Rubicon? lol

 

[spartacus]

That's the idea man. And thanks. I was tempted to try my luck with a Tacoma of some sort, but... Those things are more expensive than our 3rd gens, and... I already had a build that I could swap. A new platform would mean starting over from scratch.

I can't wait to get it all sorted. It was super depressing having to walk past my tarped rig everyday. Hopefully do the big swap in the next few weeks as time and schedule allows.

You made the right decision. Good progress since your truck is your daily driver.

 

[Road Bull]

I've been trying to chip away at all the various items that need to come together to... Get it together...

I wire wheeled the sliders a bit, knocked off some rust, primed, then used some black Rust-Oleum bedliner to refinish. I managed just one coat before the weather turned and got back to raining.

I got my Odyssey 34R-PC1500T warrantied.

I got my gusseted spindles reassembled impact with new bearings seals and new hubs.

Also got some new front Taco braided steel brake lines from Wheelers Offroad, as well as some new OEM brake pads and shims for my TBU from Camelback Toyota.

Shooting for for trying to get it all back together this weekend.

Here's a pic of downtown Seattle with my runner practicing social distancing. I had essential training yesterday, and this place is a ghost town.

 

[Road Bull]

Also, I found out Stubbs Welding was no longer in business during my receipt round-up for insurance. I got an email from Richard letting me know that he closed down May 22, 2019. He still went the extra mile and found a receipt hard copy for me.

Richard had a great design for his sliders. He was kind and generous with his time and knowledge. As a business, he embodied all the positive traits that I look for when choosing somewhere to spend my money and invest in my vehicle.

Thanks Richard! I am happy that your sliders will live on and see more adventures on my new rig.

 

[fourfive]

Good to see you make your way through your new 4runner. I agree with what you said about Richard and his sliders. I basically copied his design & customized it for for my needs. He was very helpful in giving me tips along the way & providing measurements when I was having mine made.

 

[Road Bull]

Moving right along.

Well, I am getting there. Most the old parts that survived, and a few new ones are on. I still need to get the sliders welded back on as well as getting another tub job done. I'd like to get another Sherpa roof rack mounted.

I also changed the stance of the lift a bit. It looks a bit aggressive with nothing in the vehicle, but will be better overall when I am loaded up. This doesn't make working under it any easier (oil changes /skid plates), but I should actually get some front end flex now. My old preload situation was far too much and the front end felt like it was on stilts being so stiff. Uphill articulation sucked.

Upgrades / changes:

*Rokmen Trail Series Lower Links
*Total Chaos Spindle Gussets
*Tundra brake hardline delete>> Tacoma SS brake lines
*Toytec 1" BL
*4X Innovations rear lower bumper for 1" BL
*650# King springs to run less preload up front
*Eimkeith PCK (love this thing)
*New SPC upper ball joints
*New Toyota lower ball joints
*New Toyota OTRs
*New Napa ITRs
*New Tokico rear LC shocks (black)
*New rear sway bar lings

*Timing belt done
*Valve cover seal
*PCV valve
*Denso plugs and wires
*Swapped LCAs (they had recent Whiteline bushings refresh)

 

[Road Bull]

Some updates

It’s been a while.

Finally got sliders back on with the help of my friend Tuan Vu and his amazing welding skills. Still... still need to figure the tub job out again.

TBH I am somewhat resentful of this build for some reason. Maybe that flop took the wind out of my sails. I dunno. lol. Part of me wants to drop back down to 33’s to solve the tubbing issue.

 

[T4topher]

It’s been a while.

Finally got sliders back on with the help of my friend Tuan Vu and his amazing welding skills. Still... still need to figure the tub job out again.

TBH I am somewhat resentful of this build for some reason. Maybe that flop took the wind out of my sails. I dunno. lol. Part of me wants to drop back down to 33’s to solve the tubbing issue.

I’ll trade my 33’s for your 35s

 

[spartacus]

Completely normal to feel like you are. Once you hit the trails wheeling it will be all good.

 

[theesotericone]

It’s been a while.

Finally got sliders back on with the help of my friend Tuan Vu and his amazing welding skills. Still... still need to figure the tub job out again.

TBH I am somewhat resentful of this build for some reason. Maybe that flop took the wind out of my sails. I dunno. lol. Part of me wants to drop back down to 33’s to solve the tubbing issue.

You resentful because it's a lot of work to build a rig and you are having to do it twice. Tubbing is the hardest part of it so of course your second guessing whether to stick with 35's.

I was on real 33's(295/70/17) for about a year. With what and how I wheel they simply weren't the tire for me. I was able to do some hard trails with them but 35's would make it so much easier. So I stepped it up. When I kill these 35's I'll be going up to 38's. It will be a metric shit ton of work to do it right. For me that work is worth it to have the extra clearance and ability to more easily roll over big obstacles.

Sit down with a few beers and ask yourself how hard you want to push the wheeling. If you don't have plans to run things that are considered stupid in IFS rigs 33's will be fine. If you want to join the body and brain damaged guys better get out the grinder and welder. lol

 

[Road Bull]

Here are some requested pics of the Tundra Brake Upgrade hardline-delete pics.

*OMG the default pic orientation is trash.

These are the ones from Wheeler's I went with.

FRONT BRAKE LINE SET FOR 1995-2004 TACOMA 4X4 AND PRERUNNER (TF BLINE-07, RED OR BLACK)

SKU: BLINE-07X

Color
Red
1 $72.50

 

[Unner]

Man, that sucks to see what happened to your old 2002. I've been away from the forums for awhile but have been catching up on some of my favorite builds and couldn't believe it when I saw "dead" in your signature next to the old 2002.

Good luck with the new one, it looks like a clean place to start. Definitely sucks that you are having to basically do another build after getting the last one just about perfect.

I'll be watching, if I were closer I'd come help turn some wrenches.

 

[OpenYota]

Reviving an old thread for sure...
Just want to say I've read through your original and current build thread at least twice now and it's my favorite I've seen.

Glad you got the new rig up & running and hope to see more trip updates or mods done in the future!

 

[beansRuns]

I just bought a millennium silver 01 SR5 and came across this post while doing research on the SCS F5s, already combed through it several times. Sad to see the original is gone and the revival thread has died off. Looks like Road Bull still owns it, I’d love to see how it looks today.