Sniv's Custom Long Travel Build

[MTD]

Been there, it sucks to learn this lesson the hard way! Add a tire repair kit to your list. I've had luck repairing gashed sidewalls by jamming lots and lots of plugs in there.

These were the Walmart Goodyears you were running? I've been talking shit on those tires since they came out, good to hear I was right.

For their price you were pretty much guaranteed to be right

 

[TheArkMaster]

So since it's summer and shit, does that mean you might actually come wheeling with the rest of us?

 

[snivilous]

So since it's summer and shit, does that mean you might actually come wheeling with the rest of us?

YES! Plan is to move back to UT and in with [MENTION=89531]Cartzo[/MENTION] mid June, and I will probably roll through SLC to visit my XJ bro and wheel 5 mile or something with him, and/or anyone else.

 

[KidVermicious]

YES! Plan is to move back to UT and in with [MENTION=89531]Cartzo[/MENTION] mid June, and I will probably roll through SLC to visit my XJ bro and wheel 5 mile or something with him, and/or anyone else.

About fecking time. Give us a holler when you know an exact date, we could probably set up a Mineral Basin trip for you and Cartzo while you're down here.

 

[snivilous]

158,500 miles

Replaced the air filter and cleaned the intake assembly, I'm going to use some PVC to route the intake tubing into the fender and then back into the engine bay so water and mud have to get past two 90 degree bends, maybe add the old K&N on the end. This WAS my air filter, the other side was surprisingly clean:

As said, I had starter issues driving here. Pulled it, looked it over and hit it with 12V and seemed fine. Lubed it up and cleaned the contacts and is working fine:

Replaced the PCV for the first time too, the original seemed stuck since I shook it and the ball didn't rattle for awhile. Went down the mountain and washed the beast. I am leaking oil again, my dad is suspicious it was the PCV over pressuring the crank and causing oil to leak out since obviously I leaked 2 quarts over spring break and then it fixed itself until a week ago. We'll see if that fixes it... Luckily this picture isn't great quality since 11 minutes of brushing and power washing still left tons of stains:

I ordered a new blinker, corner light, and headlight. Thinking of ordering LEDs for the interior and need to order a new drivers mirror.

The power steering is almost totally gone, and one of the bearings is making a ton of noise. Not sure if a rebuild kit replaces the bearings or I need to buy a new unit all together. If anyone has any info on that let me know, time to start researching!

Thanks for reading! Hope the weathers nice, supposed to snow 1-2 feet tonight :smow:

 

[JBurt]

do you need just the glass or the whole mirror? I have an extra one lying around.

 

[snivilous]

do you need just the glass or the whole mirror? I have an extra one lying around.

I need the whole mirror :/

 

[smallfry]

If you need a new steering rack Safari LTD is supposed to have good racks.

Safari LTD - Your Local Toyota Parts & Service Center

 

[snivilous]

Got the new lights in.

You can see where the winch hook blew through:

New one was $35 off ebay, full assembly including bulb. Plugged right in!

I think my tranny cooler did, or is, leaking a bit from the bottom...not sure how or why since the hose clamp is tight :shrug: Probably not worth my time since the fluid level is fine

Also, got the new corner light in on the drivers side. Stupid corner lights have a single screw on top into the headlight housing and a little nub that pops into the inner fender, if you lean on the fiberglass at all the nub comes out. Not an issue since I have a new corner light with the top screw working, but sucks it's not secured more...

And then my blinker on the passenger side, replaced that, light works, plugs work, etc. but for some reason the wires going to the plug aren't getting power... Not sure what to do, I'll cut the heat shrink stuff back further and see if there is a cut somewhere otherwise I'm gonna have to go through all the wiring to find the issue. All the other blinkers work fine, so it's not a fuse. Any thoughts are more than welcome!

Here's a parting shot of the FJ40 that I drove into town for the first time today. Dad is installing power steering into it now. Most bad ass feeling vehicle I've ever driven, or ridden in for that matter.

 

[snivilous]

Update:

Since I had everything tore down to install the new lights, I went ahead and slimmed down my bumper since it was pretty bulky and killing my approach angle. Originally the lower lip was level with the very front cross member (if you can call it that). I trimmed off over 25% of the bumper, which ended up that I trimmed it all the way up to the winch's fair lead.

That picture is with the bumper loosely sitting there, not bolted up, no D rings, lights, etc. obviously. This resulted in me having to cut up the winch mounting sections so they wouldn't show below the bumpers lower profile, cut off the front cross member thing completely, and trim some other stuff.

I also reinforced the bumper with some tubing and angle iron. Should be considerably stiffer now. The weight right now is at 46lbs, with everything else on it'll probably be a bit over 50lbs.

The approach angle is limited by the radiator, which I'm gonna see if I can shift it up. Needless to say I need a new bash plate, which will probably be made out of a 4x3 foot piece of 3/16" and tie into the bumper/winch plate (which all the front hardware integrates with). The new bash plate will be a lot stronger than my previous one with reinforcements around the radiator.

I also ordered a new blinker and headlight for the ones I didn't replace, since they are dusty and stuff so all the lights will look new. Gonna probably buy a few more things to finish the cosmetic work, and then probably order the uniballs from Poly since everything is 10% off. LT is coming soon

 

[snivilous]

So I wanted to see how high the water on the road to Hessie trailhead was since its been raining so much...

And then when I got home I found a bunch of packages! :bounce:

These bad boys were $28 for a pair on eBay, they'll be used as back up lights since that's the one direction I'm missing and the side LED bars don't quite cut it for seeing trees behind me when night wheeling...

And then I got three more switches from OTRATTW! Same as my other three with blue/blue LEDs. I have yet to order rock lights or a bumper LED bar since I haven't deposited my birthday money, but I think that will cover lighting! I know it seems excessive, these plus my left/right/roof LEDs but I think they all have their place...maybe not the rock lights too much but they're cheap! I'm gonna get a 30" single row LED for the bumper, same as my side LEDs but I want it in amber and so far no luck unless I go with a Baja or Rigid which I don't want to do.

I bought a six switch holder, and three covers to fill up the three position one next to my left knee. I am going to have six switches on the center console in front of the shifter and want six on the roof. One set for lights and one for traction controls (center diff, front diff, rear diff, trac off, compressor, something else?), I just need to figure out which should go where. I'm thinking light controls on the roof since that's easier access and then I can't accidentally bump them, and if I have the traction controls on the center console the 6th switch could be a master power switch so they can't be activated if I drop something on them... not sure yet.

Also got a new headlight and blinker in to replace my old ones and match my other new ones! Thanks for reading and have a good weekend!

 

[snivilous]

Saturday-Monday I took the girlfriend camping and to a jet ski meet in south east Colorado. The runner did fine, albeit I forgot how slow it feels on power with a trailer. The trailer actually seemed to help reduce the amount of body sway and oscillations from the busted coilover, probably from the tongue weight taking some of the force off the front.

I also found out that a double mattress fits perfectly in the 4Runner :naughty:

So I just moved my offroading and normal repair gear to ontop of the trailers storage box. Worked out really nicely actually, full 6 foot bed in the back, two jet skis, and then a couple cubic feet of storage on the trailer

We took I-70 to Limon and then south to Lake Henry, which is about 45 minutes east of Pueblo. It was also nice to camp in something besides a tent when there was a steady 30mph wind probably the first night.

First time meeting up with some jet ski bros too, gotta love bro sports :banana: Everyone was super chill. The ski with the header graphics is one of ours, my main ski isn't in the picture but is pretty boss, nitrous injecton, customized hull, engine mods, the full 9 yards :naughty:

We then spent the night in the national forest north west of Colorado Springs to get away from the heat and bugs, and it was a nice scenic and short drive back Monday. Stopped in Boulder for lunch and to drop the lady off. Round trip was probably around 400-500 miles.

 

[snivilous]

And then yesterday when I got home from work my partial Satoshi from [MENTION=77530]RunninInGA[/MENTION] arrived

So I called the woman up again to go wheeling since I had to test my grille out :cheer2:

Went to Rollinsville and then west to Mammoth Gulch.

Really like the grille and the removal of the chrome, just need to get a 4Runner emblem to throw on the front!

It's nice to have trails and views like this in my backyard

Also got to test my approach angle, which has a much appreciated increase :biggrin1:

Found some little ruts to flex out in, I'm not big on flex but the 4Runner was impressive!

I even disconnected my sway bar for the first time in awhile, I didn't realize how much it increase my flex vs the extended links! My flex is actually limited by the sway bar running into my lower axle links when disconnected...

And then a leaving shot Thanks for reading!

 

[RunninInGA]

And then yesterday when I got home from work my partial Satoshi from [MENTION=77530]RunninInGA[/MENTION] arrived

That's awesome man! Got there a day early too! :reddance:

 

[Fishwerks]

I like the slimmed down bumper, looks good!

 

[snivilous]

Got the back up lights wired in yesterday. They fit perfectly under the stock roof rack cross members. Here they are, $28 for a pair of two shipped: http://www.ebay.com/itm/23119895283...iewitem=&sspagename=ADME:L:OU:US:1120&vxp=mtr

They're nothing super impressive, after all they cost $28! But they make a HUGE difference over just the reverse lights--not like I need to see a mile behind me. They have a bit of a cut off from the roof, but they light up everything behind me fine and if I need to blind a tail gater they will still hit a low sitting car!

 

[shootmymime]

you have successfully wasted 2 hours of my time and gave me a head ach. If i fail this dynamics test this weekend i blame you!

So im still waiting for you and ben to come up to idaho and run around in the sand dunes with me!

Or we can head south to my place in brianhead ut, (in the mountain from ceder city.)

 

[snivilous]

you have successfully wasted 2 hours of my time and gave me a head ach. If i fail this dynamics test this weekend i blame you!

So im still waiting for you and ben to come up to idaho and run around in the sand dunes with me!

Or we can head south to my place in brianhead ut, (in the mountain from ceder city.)

Don't worry, I failed Dynamics last semester so you won't be alone in failing your test

And I'm totally game to head up for a weekend and play in the sand! Let me get my suspension built in a few weeks here, and maybe get my big tires and then I'll be set :thumb: Do you pass through Utah often?

 

[shootmymime]

Don't worry, I failed Dynamics last semester so you won't be alone in failing your test

And I'm totally game to head up for a weekend and play in the sand! Let me get my suspension built in a few weeks here, and maybe get my big tires and then I'll be set :thumb: Do you pass through Utah often?

so i was supposed to have dinner ready by 4 for my wife when she comes home for her hour brake. well.... dinner is pulled pork barbecue. well.... because i was reading your build i didnt get dinner started. (3 hours late) i wonder how well barbecue sauce is good at covering up mistakes?????


side note. i went to the dunes on my bike a few weeks ago and it was a blast. some seriously huge piles of crap there! stuff my tricked out 426 couldnt make it up.

i make it down there sometimes. im planning a run to meet my mom there in august.

 

[snivilous]

so i was supposed to have dinner ready by 4 for my wife when she comes home for her hour brake. well.... dinner is pulled pork barbecue. well.... because i was reading your build i didnt get dinner started. (3 hours late) i wonder how well barbecue sauce is good at covering up mistakes?????


side note. i went to the dunes on my bike a few weeks ago and it was a blast. some seriously huge piles of crap there! stuff my tricked out 426 couldnt make it up.

i make it down there sometimes. im planning a run to meet my mom there in august.

Hahaha that's awesome! I'm surprised you actually read through it! I slowed down posting in it since when I'm in Utah I wheel so much I figured anyone watching it would get bored until the fabricating and more impressive stuff started to make an appearance.

I've never wheeled in sand before, aside from driving around to go jet skiing at Pismo and the sand dune on Poison Spider in Moab, which those don't count as significant. I'll definitely have to come up sometime! And anytime you're in Utah give me a holler and I'll meet you somewhere and we could hit some trails if you have time.