SPUNK build thread

[Spunk]

Got enough hollers to justify a build thread.

Spunk is a '99 SR5 with 270K miles, all in the family.

A really high level list of some mods up to this point. Pictures, links and descriptions soon to follow.
-Engine Bay transmission cooler bypass
-Engine Bay Cold Air Intake
-Engine Bay Silicon Vacuum Lines
-Engine Bay Optima Yellow Top (Highly recommend it)

-Front TC UCA's
-Front Shrocksorks (welded mounts to frame)
-Front Sway A Way coilovers, modified for dual rate.
-Front swaybar jkdisconnects
-Front swaybar poly bushings (dont recommend)
-Front Tundra brake mod
-Front Fender cut and pound
-Front grill-to-light mod
-Front LED bar to bumper mount
-Front Amber LED
-Front Sides LED under pods
-Front Light Housings

-Rear 2nd gen 4Runner front Swaybarlinks
-Rear swaybar adjustable mounts
-Rear long travel/coiver conversion, dual rate
-Rear Fender cut and pound
-Rear Radflo, adjustable dampening
-Rear cabin bucket
-Rear Shrockworks (original prototype)
-Rear 1st gen 4Runner rollbar
-Rear LED facing lights
-Rear light housings

-Frame sliders, Shrockworks (welded to frame)
-Cabin CB Radio overhead and antenna
-Cabin switch cluster overhead
-Cabin Tapedeck to MP3 conversion
-Cabin mid row seat delete w/Landcruiser seat
-295/75R16 w/ offset wheels
-Roof liscence plate mount.
-Roof WM rack w/ Texas Flag

 

[Spunk]

Front Long Travel is underway

Fenderectomy is in progress!

Long travel TC +3.5", it legitimately travels 13"! There's alot of wheel-well pounding to do, but the outside fenders have been cut and will be detailed later.

Coilovers are currently in the works.

For the power supplies I had access to, FCAW was better than SMAW for the welding of the reinforcing brackets, both on Spindles and the frame.

 

[raKnizek]

There are so many things I could comment on here, but I just want to say that is the coolest paint scheme I have seen on a 4Runner.

 

[Bijan]

S i c k !

 

[Road Bull]

Woe!! Big update! I too, really dig your paint scheme, and remember talking to you about it in the past. It looks like classic Toyota and screams that it has seen some cool off road adventures and is ready for more.

I can't wait to see some updates on your progress and how you like it.

 

[4-Ripcord]

Damn that's cool. I'd like to see more of the rear coilover mounting if you have any more pics of it.

 

[Spunk]

Rear coilover setup.

Damn that's cool. I'd like to see more of the rear coilover mounting if you have any more pics of it.

Sure can, and here they are!

Thanks guys! It's about time I redo that paintjob.

 

[alanflies]

This may become one of my favorite build threads...

Fearless and inventive.

Fellow Texan.

Also digging the old school "Iron Man" graphics.

 

[Chim]

That rear shock tower turned out super clean, good work!

 

[trailbikerider]

That rear suspension setup is f****** cool.

 

[Dezert4Runner]

That rear setup is awesome. I would love to run a hoop through the cargo for some c/o's but my cargo area is just too valuable for me to ever do it. Gotta be nice not worrying about rear springs falling out at full droop! What are you using for rear bump stop spacers? 1"x4" 3/16 gauge rectangular tubing?

I see that your front c/o's are dual rate. I thought only 10" and longer can run dual rate setups and that the 3.5" over kits for our rigs usually run an 8" c/o when using stock upper mounting buckets. What are the spring rates on those and also the rear c/o spring rates?

Cool build! :thumb3:

 

[BrianSD_42]

When I first clicked into this thread I saw your opening pic and thought pretty cool 4Runner and it already looks relatively built. As I scrolled down, turns out I don't know jack and you had barely even -gotten started- from those first pics.

Looks like a pretty interesting build. Subscribed!

 

[Elesage]

Great built, great truck and what a paint job just a WOW truck.....
Will fallow your built tread...

 

[Spunk]

That rear setup is awesome. I would love to run a hoop through the cargo for some c/o's but my cargo area is just too valuable for me to ever do it. Gotta be nice not worrying about rear springs falling out at full droop! What are you using for rear bump stop spacers? 1"x4" 3/16 gauge rectangular tubing?

I see that your front c/o's are dual rate. I thought only 10" and longer can run dual rate setups and that the 3.5" over kits for our rigs usually run an 8" c/o when using stock upper mounting buckets. What are the spring rates on those and also the rear c/o spring rates?

Cool build! :thumb3:

Thanks, Dezert! :cheers:

The rear bump spacers are merely 1"x4" plywood. That is what I had laying around at the time, and they've worked surprisingly well.

You are right, 10" shocks are typically the shortest length dual-rates are used on--the process to install a dual rate on anything smaller is a small feat of presswork and patience.

The front coilovers use 600 lb springs, 8" long each. That results in a nice and compliant 300lb/in spring rate until a single spring takes over the remaining travel, back at 600lb/in. From my passengers' feedback, it drives like butter and spills no drinks on the trails.

Rear coilovers use 200 lb/in coils, 12" or 13" long each, and they result in 100lb/in and 200 lb/in spring rates at differing points of suspension travel. Like the front, they do great for the bumps and whoops.

The overall setup does wonderfully for crawling, hammer-time, and on-road. I am calculating the spring stack for the upcoming front coilovers.

 

[Spunk]

Alrighty! The work in progress progresses!

Harvey did flood the garage, but the rig survived. :guitar2:

Coilovers are in, but springs are still in-process. I slapped some old springs in for the time being, so I can get the rig out of the garage. After talking to some of the pro's, I will probably go single-rate for the front long travel. I am awaiting some feedback before ordering them.

In the meantime. I am designing a uniball lower balljoint for the long travel setup. Big nod to [MENTION=135551]Z-4runner[/MENTION] and his thread here. He showed it could be done, and I am making my own version of the idea.

More to follow!

 

[meRockboost]

Pics are great! This is an awesome build! Got any videos?

 

[Spunk]

Pics are great! This is an awesome build! Got any videos?

Thanks man! I hope to make vids soon.


I have already taken it on an off camber trail, and it was bonkers (sadly no photos in action). May the Boom Shakalaka begin!

After long discussions with the pro's and research, I finally went with a 550 lb, single coil for the front coilovers. After my experience with the softer king dual rate setup (the blue kit), I considered a single rate to be a better fit.

 

[Road Bull]

I dig the new, more squared front fender wheel cuts. It has a nice first gen throwback feel. Nice work. Look forward to seeing some videos.opcorn:

 

[Spunk]

I am planning a beach run sometime last this month--video time then!

In the meantime, here is a little flex shot.

Some take-aways from the RTI test:
- The 550 lb coils are a bit heavy to allow full suspension travel in the front (for the RTI test and slow speed stuff)
- The rear needs more fender and bumper cutting. :hungry: The tires rub against the rear bumper pretty roughly with the new TC rear links, but the links did a great job.
- I cut a zerk on the rear drive shaft....again. More gas-tank pounding to continue.

550 lb springs were definitely too heavy for slow speed, crawl-like flexing--the right side had about 4" left of uptravel leftover. That is where the previous dual-rate suspension in the front tended to shine. However, my goal is to enter this rig into the sportsman classes in the Baja 500. If I go to full compression with the upcoming beach run, then it'll be safe to say I should wait on buying differing springs until I get a better handle on the remaining mods needed for the race.

Photo courtesy of Duggy's Garage.

My orange paint has faded to yellow. Time to recoat.

 

[ladywolf]

Holy damn!!! That is FANTASTIC!!!!:thumb::thumb::thumb: