In an effort to document everything I've done in the past weeks, Ill edit this post and put more than 2 pictures on it.
Got some addicted off road sliders for Christmas. They are the only Sliders with rock bump outs that, in my opinion, do not look like an afterthought. Here they are welded up, I don't dare do real welding yet, so i left this to the pros. Hint: don't not paint these things when you can put them up on a sawhorse. You heard it here first.
Painting: Note to future rock slider owners. Acetone wipe down is a must, Self etching Primer is a must, allowing the top coat to cure is a must. Painting these on the truck was a giant gaping hole in my plan!
Notice how the plastic doesn't try to lay on the wet paint of the left side of the picture. The truck pretty much just protects itself from over spray at this stage. A quick 30 minute project turned into a study in sandpaper and curing time relative to humidity.
Got new Bumper in the mail. A gift to me for selling my Rhino.
Goodbye Fluffy, you will be missed.
On to the good stuff.
Here is a picture of the bumper installed on another t4r guys rig.
Was it Black? No. Should it be? Yes. Did i find the coolest bumper in history? I believe so. IT WAS HEAVY!
Beat up chromy removed. Its for sale if you need a dented rear bumper
Whatever that plastic thing is on the bottom of the driver rear panel under the old bumper was shot. I have seen that thing on every build on here, still dont know what it does. Its is called a Pressure Vent. It can be found here.
http://tps.toyotaofdallas.com/parts/1997/TOYOTA/4RUNNER/LIMITED/?siteid=214074&vehicleid=1272596&diagram=8414485 My great engineering mind figures that it vents pressure of some sort.
I sanded and painted the underside of bumper area. I am a big Rustoleum fan, and I read that POR does not last in UV light exposure. Also found some pretty shoddy patch work under here, so much for the never been in an accident story from the hippy i bought it from. I guess doing the right thing and telling the truth dont go hand in hand with peace and love. Forward!
Hot dam these things look sick with no bumper. Can you see my air leveling bags?!?!? Not hooked up as I chopped the bump stops off way too low. Going to let the springs settle before I attempt to size the pucks in the kit to make up for my "aww $h!) you gotta be flipping kidding me!"
FINALLY installed. The love tap on the left rear of the truck must have shifted the body. I spent about an hour before mounting it up with a tape measure and found the body was 1/4" offset to the left. I built a wooden jig to hold the bumper up, used winch straps to cinch it to the body and a steel rod, (you tie down cargo on a semi flat bed with) to jimmy the bolt holes together. I BARELY got the threads on the bolts biting. I was angry but it was not directed at my 4runner, it was directed at the a fore mentioned Hippy.
In this pick i had not stripped and sanded off the swing arm. I also had this sad idea that three base colors could somehow work along stock body lines. Turns out I was wrong.
Side boob.
Note the 891's hold up well. Sag is long gone. Silver flares making me recoil in disgust but i still dont know if white is the solution. Too much going on externally.
Better here below but I wish I had a Hilux Surf rear door with the side license plate light and holder. Cant wait to get my first ticket from big brother.
Stripped and painted the rear arm. It should be noted that the guy who had this before me, had a RIDICULOUSLY good paint man work on it. I have never before seen such a nice paint job save motorcylcle tanks and fenders, super thin filler with at least 2 or three coats of sand-able primer, then a few coats of color and flake; and to top it off about 3 coats of clear. I could literally hit the clear with a 4" metal brush running full out with my grinder and couldn't make a dent in the color for a full second. My wife says I spent 2 days stripping the thing, so divide that by exaggeration and carry the "your always late to dinner" and i think i have about 6 solid hours in stripping this thing.
Finally got some pictures i took with my potato phone of the new swing away tire carrier. I want to move the 4runner emblem to the 99-02 side (left side) of the lift gate. But I am pleased with the carrier overall. No noise, decent fit, Now just need to add the back up lights. I love this truck!
I Snagged the rim off a guy on here, sand blasted and painted it. The cap is from an old Toyota 3 spoke i had and repainted it to match. I went to Marshall's for hobby paint, yet retained my manhood.
After staring at it for a week I think its time to recolor the fender flares to white. Ive been debating for a while, but I think its time. I really want to pull them off and do it right but I have yet to find a single thread depicting removal of limited flares and not destroying them. Any links would be appreciated.
