tbst improvement and build thread

[fightman80]

I thought I got my LC coils (same ones you have) for cheap at 50 bucks, but 28?! Nice! I've seen them go for $200-300 on Craigslist, just because people know a lot of 3rd gen guys look for them, so I consider the both of us lucky to get both for way under that!

Yes. They guy was told me I had to pay shipping for both at $28 dollars. I was pumped. He sent them out that afternoon.

I got you both beat! I got my 8 wraps for the price of a coffee!

 

[tbst]

Recovery Equipment

I got you both beat! I got my 8 wraps for the price of a coffee!

GOOD FOR YOU, a-hole!

Kidding.

But americanos in Toronto are probably no joke nowadays. I was up there a few years ago and a Coors was like $7.

----
This thread made me order this stuff. Not flaming him either. It was enough to put me over the edge and press buy in my cart.

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/111309-lesson-learned.html

Hopefully it comes in before my trip to GWNF this week. Plan to run some trails.

 

[BrianSD_42]

Nice pics of the trip man!

I am debating if I should jump on a highlift jack for $58 right now Amazon ....

It must be pretty freaking cold there right now for you to need all that wood.

 

[BigFishAllDay]

And finally, that I can't fit in a womens sleeping bag, but the GF can fit in my 0 degree sleeping bag and be warm all through the night.

Good man. You gave her your bag and sucked it up. I've been there myself on several occasions. When you've found a woman who is willing to get out there and brave the elements with you, you've got to take care of her and make her comfortable if you want her to do it again.

When I first met my wife I took her camping @ 8,000 feet in late October to test her mettle. It got down to 5 degrees that night. The cooler froze solid. She told me later that she had gotten up in the middle of the night and gone to the car to run the heater a few times (without waking me), but otherwise she toughed it out.

She's been through all kinds of crazy situations with me since, but I knew from that first camping trip I had a keeper.

Glad to see you got some camping in man! Good read.

 

[Volley]

I thought I got my LC coils (same ones you have) for cheap at 50 bucks, but 28?! Nice! I've seen them go for $200-300 on Craigslist, just because people know a lot of 3rd gen guys look for them, so I consider the both of us lucky to get both for way under that!

Same here at $50. Great job on the $28!

 

[farmerjon]

VERY nice build! My 4Runner has an ARB bumper very similar to yours - can a winch or lights be added to that ARB bumper?

 

[tbst]

Good man. You gave her your bag and sucked it up. I've been there myself on several occasions. When you've found a woman who is willing to get out there and brave the elements with you, you've got to take care of her and make her comfortable if you want her to do it again.

When I first met my wife I took her camping @ 8,000 feet in late October to test her mettle. It got down to 5 degrees that night. The cooler froze solid. She told me later that she had gotten up in the middle of the night and gone to the car to run the heater a few times (without waking me), but otherwise she toughed it out.

She's been through all kinds of crazy situations with me since, but I knew from that first camping trip I had a keeper.

Glad to see you got some camping in man! Good read.

Thanks for the kind words and good advice. We are going out again this weekend to the George Washington National Forest. Her new 0 degree sleeping bag just came in.

Same here at $50. Great job on the $28!

Thanks! Catching a deal once in awhile is nice.

VERY nice build! My 4Runner has an ARB bumper very similar to yours - can a winch or lights be added to that ARB bumper?

Yes, I have a winch added. It is a Smittybilt XRC8, runs about $270 on sale. BigFishAllDay and a ton of other people are running them. He has a good write up on clocking it if you need the help. I have some pictures but have been lazy putting up write ups recently.

As far as the lights, there are TONS of lights that will work. However, the lights that ARB pushes are the IPF 968 lights.

Here is some information from TTORA on them. I think I am going to go this route when I pull the trigger on them.

TTORA - IPF 968 Driving/Fog Lamps - Faq

 

[tbst]

 

[RunninInGA]

Such a teaser pic. Getting them ready or are they in yet and you're with holding photos?

 

[tbst]

Such a teaser pic. Getting them ready or are they in yet and you're with holding photos?

Got the coils today from USPS. Guy sent them and said "send me whatever you want" money wise. How much that is, I don't know. Gonna shoot him $100 I think, as that's a number we threw around three months ago when he was originally gonna send them. He was busy and didn't get them out until now.

Wanted to the the Tundra parts apart to make sure I had what I needed and see how scary using the spring compressor are. Not scary at all. Maybe it's from working for an energy company and seeing way crazier stuff with way less fail safes.

I am planning on doing a whole write up, a step by step of sorts so we have a go to for people who need lift information.

 

[Dezert4Runner]

I don't know why people get so wierded out with spring compressors. I've used the ones you have in the pic above & feel safe with them.

 

[BigFishAllDay]

Those spring compressors are perfectly safe. Before I had 4Runners, I used them on my Supra. I always do two things... one, inspect them at the auto parts store before you pay. Make sure you get a nice set with good threads... two... put a pillow over the assembly while you're cranking on it... that way if it lets loose there's something between you and the coil.

Other than that, it's nothing more than a fantastic workout for your arms.

I'm looking forward to seeing some write-up work from you, tbst. I'm sure it'll be top notch.

 

[RunninInGA]

I guess I'm thirding or fourthing the spring compressors. Used them on my Honda, Acura, and several friends cars before without any problems, although I can kinda see the concern from someone not knowing what they're doing and being careless. BFAD's pillow idea is a good one - I've seen people chain them to a heavy table also.

Also looking forward to a detailed write-up with lots of photos as well.

 

[tbst]

I don't know why people get so wierded out with spring compressors. I've used the ones you have in the pic above & feel safe with them.

Yeah, I don't hold the coils with my teeth when I am clamping down on them. Basic safety and common sense goes a long way. There are a few of us with some left, which is why we can do it.

I wonder how long before AutoZone can't rent stuff to people anymore?

Those spring compressors are perfectly safe. Before I had 4Runners, I used them on my Supra. I always do two things... one, inspect them at the auto parts store before you pay. Make sure you get a nice set with good threads... two... put a pillow over the assembly while you're cranking on it... that way if it lets loose there's something between you and the coil.

Other than that, it's nothing more than a fantastic workout for your arms.

I'm looking forward to seeing some write-up work from you, tbst. I'm sure it'll be top notch.

The AutoZone here is brand new, so the set I got is basically brand new. Worked out perfectly. Didn't know they also rent out axle sockets (32mm), picked one up for my civic which failed inspection because apparently the CVs are dry.

My arms are weak sauce. At least my right arm is. :bigok:

I am going to put together a small write up on how to pushing the 5100 bushings in and out and see if I can learn from that. Like I said, and keep reiterating, people don't realize how time consuming it is and how easy it is to skip a picture. You do, obviously.

I guess I'm thirding or fourthing the spring compressors. Used them on my Honda, Acura, and several friends cars before without any problems, although I can kinda see the concern from someone not knowing what they're doing and being careless. BFAD's pillow idea is a good one - I've seen people chain them to a heavy table also.

Also looking forward to a detailed write-up with lots of photos as well.

Even though we disagree on pretty much everything, we aren't MR, which is why we can use a spring compressor.

To be fair, I think if you grew up not around shade tree mechanics, tractors and idiots doing home repairs, you don't have the skill set to compress the springs safely. For those people, it is probably in their best interest to have someone do it rather than have a coil in the heart.

This coming from the guy who installed his calipers upside down. :wtf: It was only a short moment before I realized why they wouldn't bleed. And it was like 25 out.

 

[rickashay]

Have you already pressed out those bushings? I'm looking forward to a write-up on the whole procedure!!

 

[zgensler31]

pmed you about those bilsteins

 

[tbst]

A little video.

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/kFTNBgty7VY" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Putting together the last part of the lift now.

 

[farmerjon]

Rim flares

Hey tbst, your build thread, IIRC, was the first one I read when I first came to T4R.org, I had never read a build thread before, and this one was really interesting! I was intrigued...

I didn't realize it at first, but your T4R is very similar to my '98 SR5... when you bought it, it had those thin metallic rim flares - now looking at later photos, it seems that you've taken them off... I'm not sure if it looks better or the same, I'm leaning towards the former...

How did those come off? Screws somewhere? Did you have to fill in holes on the body?

Nice rig! I really like what you've done with it, like I said, it looks a lot like mine! (especially since we both have Natural White SR5 with ARB)

Oh, and just now saw your reply to the lights and winches on the ARB bumper. a very novice question I realize now, but that was before I had seen any ARBs in person Thanks!

 

[tbst]

Hey tbst, your build thread, IIRC, was the first one I read when I first came to T4R.org, I had never read a build thread before, and this one was really interesting! I was intrigued...

I didn't realize it at first, but your T4R is very similar to my '98 SR5... when you bought it, it had those thin metallic rim flares - now looking at later photos, it seems that you've taken them off... I'm not sure if it looks better or the same, I'm leaning towards the former...

How did those come off? Screws somewhere? Did you have to fill in holes on the body?

Nice rig! I really like what you've done with it, like I said, it looks a lot like mine! (especially since we both have Natural White SR5 with ARB)

Oh, and just now saw your reply to the lights and winches on the ARB bumper. a very novice question I realize now, but that was before I had seen any ARBs in person Thanks!

Yes, I have taken them off. However, I have several reservations that I have to mention before I recommend someone doing it. The first, is if you live in the rust belt or have rust, there maybe some underneath them. I will try and take some pictures for you tomorrow. My second reservation is that taking them off seems to let a lot more rocks beat against the body. However, I have no proof of this.

Taking them off is a 15 minute process. They are actually held in by the screws/bolts that hold in the plastic in the wheel wells. There are NO hole in the body that you have to worry about.

Get a winch already!

 

[farmerjon]

Yes, I have taken them off. However, I have several reservations that I have to mention before I recommend someone doing it. The first, is if you live in the rust belt or have rust, there maybe some underneath them. I will try and take some pictures for you tomorrow. My second reservation is that taking them off seems to let a lot more rocks beat against the body. However, I have no proof of this.

Taking them off is a 15 minute process. They are actually held in by the screws/bolts that hold in the plastic in the wheel wells. There are NO hole in the body that you have to worry about.

Get a winch already!

Makes sense about the rocks getting on the body a bit more with the flares off... as it's another 1/2 of wheel well protection... Thanks for the info, don't worry about pictures, I now have my 'Runner in my possession and I'll take your word for it I think I'll probably leave them on for now...

As for the winch, it's $275, and I'm torn between some gear upgrades and lights! I also need to do the external tranny cooler next! Plus, I don't have the cash at the moment

Thanks for the info on the flares. Been a big help