**The RickRunner Build**

rickashay said:
I think it was the stage 2... I did get the spring isolators. I was reading that the price of the kit is quite high but it's due to the high cost of those OEM spring cones. Might be able to pull a pair of them from a junkyard 4Runner and save a few bucks. I just wanted to get it all in one easy sweep, so the Stage 2 worked well.

Bummer on the diff! All that work to have to pull it out again. Gunna do a front ARB? What gear ration are you going to go with? I think ECGS can't be beat, heard nothing but good reviews from them.
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No, no ARB for me. The cost is too high considering I needed a front locker exactly 0 times in the 4Runner.

I am thinking 4.56 for the gears. It'll be a little overkill, but as I add weight I think the drivetrain will thank me.
 
Oh no Addison, I see a scratch on the rear bumper, looks like you better sell it and start over! :D

Just joking! Nice pile of parts, I'm really looking forward to seeing this thing out on the trail!
 
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A.Wilson013 said:
No, no ARB for me. The cost is too high considering I needed a front locker exactly 0 times in the 4Runner.

I am thinking 4.56 for the gears. It'll be a little overkill, but as I add weight I think the drivetrain will thank me.
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You go first ;) I have been thinking the same, but time will tell once I get all the weight on.

FWIW I had 4.56's in the Tundra with 35's and really like it. I should note that I spend more time driving on the highway than most though and I wanted something that would also drive without over-revving on the highway. It wasn't a mod directed for sheer crawl factor. The 4Runner has smaller tires, and more power, but I feel like it's going to be heavier. 4.56's should fit the bill well I think.

Dirtco said:
Oh no Addison, I see a scratch on the rear bumper, looks like you better sell it and start over! :D

Just joking! Nice pile of parts, I'm really looking forward to seeing this thing out on the trail!
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Lol Yah that scratch has been driving me nuts. I'll just have to get a fancy rear bumper to fix it..... and then sell it next year ;)

Thinking of Moab in September/early October.... meet up?
 
Our house has a similar setup. We got a 03 4x4 V8 and a 96 with rear e locker. I prefer the look of the flares on the 03-05 over the 06-up.

Not sure why Toyota put the 5speed in the 03/04 4runner and 100s but not the tundra .
 
Love the thought and quality put into this build! I check this one along with a few others daily for pic updates.

Anxious to see you cram those huge LS430s in there too...granted you've got more room on the Pre-06 reflectors but still a tight fit I imagine. I just finished retro-ing a set of AP1s and love it. Should've done it years ago.

Curious to see how you like 4.56 gearing as well. I'd like to regear mine too at some point but had a new, factory pumpkin put in last year and doubt I'll get back in there anytime soon. Although I'd love to get that quickness back and have room for Dirty Fives down the road.
 
Progress has been slow again. Life keeps getting in the way and we have too many projects ongoing with Tamarack (a good thing) that take priority. Still though, I plan on wrenching hard after I get home from the Dominican mid-April. I want this thing buttoned up before the May long weekend!

UPDATE

Almost ready for re-assembly. My good buddy Nick coming in clutch for me as usual. Total Chaos spindle gussets and cam tab gussets are now in. Some weld porn for you all.


_DSC9992.jpg by Addison Rickaby, on Flickr


_DSC9989.jpg by Addison Rickaby, on Flickr


_DSC9993.jpg by Addison Rickaby, on Flickr

Additional Notes:

- spindles were preheated before welding on the gussets
- Cam tabs only welded on two sides on purpose; factory metal is quite thin and too much heat can actually be detrimental. Total Chaos recommends only welding two sides.
 
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rickashay said:
- spindles were preheated before welding on the gussets (proper way to do this when welding onto the OE cast spindles)
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How did you go about preheating the spindles??

I keep checking this thread when you post updates, hoping to see some glory shots of this thing all put together with four tires on the ground. Hurry up, my good man.
 
BigFishAllDay said:
How did you go about preheating the spindles??



I keep checking this thread when you post updates, hoping to see some glory shots of this thing all put together with four tires on the ground. Hurry up, my good man.
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The spindles are forged, not cast. So preheating isn't necessary at all.
 
4Running Daily said:
The spindles are forged, not cast. So preheating isn't necessary at all.
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Schooling me here Connor... you are correct. Reading into forging vs. casting process now, pretty interesting actually. My comment edited for correctness. Thanks!

I still don't think it's a bad idea given the thickness of the "host" material vs. the gusset. It makes the cooling process more even reducing the chances of shrinking stresses as it cools. But you're the (mechanical?) engineer around here!
 
rickashay said:
Schooling me here Connor... you are correct. Reading into forging vs. casting process now, pretty interesting actually. My comment edited for correctness. Thanks!

I still don't think it's a bad idea given the thickness of the "host" material vs. the gusset. It makes the cooling process more even reducing the chances of shrinking stresses as it cools. But you're the (mechanical?) engineer around here!
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Welding to cast isn't really a good time, we're lucky they're forged. My stupid F150 is cast. But yes I agree, preheating isn't necessarily a bad thing. Correct again, finishing up my 3rd year of undergrad for ME
 
saw one of your posts in [MENTION=67615]Dirtco[/MENTION] thread and decided to check out your thread, very nice job, tastefully done so far
 
Dropzone said:
saw one of your posts in [MENTION=67615]Dirtco[/MENTION] thread and decided to check out your thread, very nice job, tastefully done so far
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Thanks for dropping in! Your 2nd Gen looks pretty killer too!

SDmtnbkr said:
....I'm just here for the wheels! Moar Please!!
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Don't you worry, lots of photos on the horizon.

UPDATE

Been a busy weekend. I must have clocked 24 hours in the garage in the last 3 days. My wife and I decided to downsize our fleet of cars to just 2 after we just picked up a clean 99' 4Runner for her. I listed the 2 cars we wanted to sell, expecting they would take a few weeks. Low and behold I sold both cars 2 days after listing them. This is me scrambling to have a vehicle for Monday morning...


_DSC0044.jpg by Addison Rickaby, on Flickr

I am still un-successful though with a lot to wrap up. Need to get the MT rear coils in, torque up the rear links, and adjust these rear sway bar discos. Throw the factory wheels on it and get it sent off for an alignment. Gunna get the truck rolling on the factory wheels before I undertake all the trimming required to fit the Coopers/Beadlocks. Luckily I helped my good buddy buy a 08' GX470 this weekend and he offered me the use of his old car until I get mine back on the ground. Stay tuned for a new blog post with all the details in the next week or so.
 
UPDATE

Truck is back on the ground and driving. Factory wheels for now until I can do the required trimming this weekend. Went for an alignment yesterday and was having trouble getting maximum caster out of the front. Not sure why, anyone have any ideas? I was at the shop during the alignment (my buddy's shop) and the bolts were maxing out with only 3.5 caster. I would have left it there but then I wasn't getting the camber values I wanted so we pulled the castor back to 3 degree to get my camber even on both sides. Would definitely like to get it up to 4-4.5 degrees to help fit the big tires though. Not sure what the problem is there or if thats possible with the 120 platform. I recall getting 4.5 degree in my Tundra with the TC arms.

Other Notes:
- I think my rear coils are installed on the wrong side as I am sitting about 1/2" higher on the passenger side.
- Front bumper dropped off at paint
- Need "plugs" for the rear lower control arm grease zerks. I installed the grease nipples down so they are easier to access (not sure how you could actually get at them if they were installed upwards) but this means they are definitely in harms way. Gunna pull the zerks and put them in for a grear at every oil change interval.
- Need to crank front coilovers up higher, especially to compensate for winch and front bumper. Rear still needs to settle.
- Skid plates are being made and I just saw a couple teaser photos. We are working with a new Fab company and sliders/full aluminum skids are on the production floor for the 4th gen. RickRunner and Bruce (my brother's 00' Tacoma - Build Thread) will be sporting them shortly.

Blog post & pics to come.
 
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