theesotericone's Trails and BS Thread

[theesotericone]

I have a '97 and a '99 console sitting in the garage (don't ask) - I'd be happy to take some photos or measurements for you. The '99 e-brake handle is indeed shifted and angled slightly to the passenger side. I don't think the '99 console sits any further back though.

I gotta ask. Do you have the e-brake handle for the 99? Wanna sell the 99? To a guy who may really need it in a few weeks? Speaking of such things. Are you still hitting up junkyards? I need a 96-98 V6 chain drive t-case and both drive shafts. If you happen to see any and want to pick them let me know. I'd be happy to compensate you for your time. Normally I wouldn't ask something like that of someone I don't know but you seem like a good dude and the nearest salvage yard is 2+ hours from me. lol

I just pulled a number on my 97 console. If you could pull the same number on the 99 with the trim installed that would be really helpful. I hooked the bottom part of the console and pulled to the edge of where the trim comes down. On my 97 it's roughly 7". Here's a photo of the measurement I used. And yes, I know I need to clean the truck. lol

 

[4Runner4Leon]

OK, here is apples to apples - it looks like the '99 starts ramping up at about 10":



Here are '97 and '99 side by side (sorry for poor focus):



But it sort of depends which side of the console is of concern - the driver side (where the cupholders are) starts ramping up at 10", but the passenger side (where the e-brake is) starts ramping up at 7". So it depends which side you are concerned with:



Unfortunately I don't have a '99 e-brake handle, though I'd be happy to grab one for you if I come across one at a yard. As far as transfer cases and driveshafts, I can keep an eye out, but they go fast on 4WD's. And no problem asking, I'm always happy to help out a forum pal.

 

[theesotericone]

But it sort of depends which side of the console is of concern - the driver side (where the cupholders are) starts ramping up at 10", but the passenger side (where the e-brake is) starts ramping up at 7". So it depends which side you are concerned with:

Unfortunately I don't have a '99 e-brake handle, though I'd be happy to grab one for you if I come across one at a yard. As far as transfer cases and driveshafts, I can keep an eye out, but they go fast on 4WD's. And no problem asking, I'm always happy to help out a forum pal.

The drivers side is more of where the clearance is needed so this is gonna work out perfect. Thank you for taking the time to do that. It will buy me about 3" of much needed space looking at your photo's.

If you don't mind keeping your eyes peeled for those other items I would really appreciate it. I'll shoot you a PM shortly.
[MENTION=135317]rkntoy[/MENTION]

Dude, I owe you one. If you ever get to Cali I'll do whatever trail you want to run whenever you want to run it. How cool would it be to have 2 dual cased 3rd gens out wheeling together? Thanks again for the 99 center console info.

 

[rkntoy]

[MENTION=135317]rkntoy[/MENTION]

Dude, I owe you one. If you ever get to Cali I'll do whatever trail you want to run whenever you want to run it. How cool would it be to have 2 dual cased 3rd gens out wheeling together? Thanks again for the 99 center console info.

I have a spare 99+ center and could probably snag a 99+ e-brake handle Wednesday from the U-Pull-It if you want.

I see your other parts needed too. Let me know what I can grab you.

 

[theesotericone]

I have a spare 99+ center and could probably snag a 99+ e-brake handle Wednesday from the U-Pull-It if you want.

I see your other parts needed too. Let me know what I can grab you.

Thanks man. If you want to get rid of the spare console I'd be happy to buy it from you. If you can find the e-brake at the yard that would be great. I'd also take the 99+ center console mounting bracket if you happen to find one. I could drill out the 97 and re-use it but having the correct bracket might be better. If you find them please let me know.
[MENTION=198376]4Runner4Leon[/MENTION] also has a spare 99 console. He's hitting a junkyard on Friday. He's also offered to find the e-brake handle. If you find one first please just post here so we don't have to play the PM game between 3 people. lol

As far as the t-case and shafts go I'll end up just picking them up more local to me. Reno's not to far away and there's a few other guys I need to call to and try and source them.

Thank you both for the help and the ideas.

 

[4Runner4Leon]

I could drill out the 97 and re-use it but having the correct bracket might be better. If you find them please let me know.

I'd get the '99 rear mounting bracket, it makes for a totally bolt-in installation. You probably know this, but '99-00 consoles used a different bracket than '01-02 consoles, so make sure you get the bracket to match the console (i.e. not all "99+" consoles are the same )

If you find one first please just post here so we don't have to play the PM game between 3 people. lol

Yes, good idea, unless you want to go with dual e-brake handles to match your dual transfer cases . You also might want to get the matching mounting tub for the e-brake handle, to angle the handle in the right direction. It still requires some notching of the opening in the driveshaft tunnel, at least it did in my case.

As far as the t-case and shafts go I'll end up just picking them up more local to me. Reno's not to far away and there's a few other guys I need to call to and try and source them.

That makes sense, I wasn't sure you'd want to make the 5 hr trip to my area, nor did I relish the idea of shipping them. Reno sounds much more practical.

 

[octanejunkie]

I'd get the '99 rear mounting bracket, it makes for a totally bolt-in installation. You probably know this, but '99-00 consoles used a different bracket than '01-02 consoles, so make sure you get the bracket to match the console (i.e. not all "99+" consoles are the same )



Yes, good idea, unless you want to go with dual e-brake handles to match your dual transfer cases . You also might want to get the matching mounting tub for the e-brake handle, to angle the handle in the right direction. It still requires some notching of the opening in the driveshaft tunnel, at least it did in my case.



That makes sense, I wasn't sure you'd want to make the 5 hr trip to my area, nor did I relish the idea of shipping them. Reno sounds much more practical.

I'm going to Lone Pine on Saturday, just sayin

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[theesotericone]

I'm going to Lone Pine on Saturday, just sayin

I was thinking that but for something like a console shipping would work just fine. If you happen to have a t-case and driveshafts handy though I'd rethink that. lol

I appreciate the offer.

 

[rkntoy]

Got a 2000 center console and e-brake lever.

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[ivopivo]

Got a 2000 center console and e-brake lever.

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If esoteric doesn't need it I'm interested, just PM me if still available. Thanks

 

[theesotericone]

Got a 2000 center console and e-brake lever.

You are awesome. Thanks man. I'll shoot you a PM to arrange purchase and shipping.

I also just got off the phone with Eric from Yotamasters. My crawl box is done. Now I just need to find a chain drive case and driveshafts.

I also got a hold of Front Range Offroad today and they have the twin sticks for the rear case in stock. So I'll order those up.

Now I just need to find a black market doctor so I can sell a kidney to help offset everything. lol

 

[Rockdawg84]

I think that doing the twin stick is a good option. I do think that you could probably bend the triple stick out of the way with the Automatic shifter. As for the body lift, instead just make a cut in the floor and then build a simple hat that would seal everything up and be hidden under the console. I think the advantage of the triple stick is the packaging that looks super clean. Get a 99+ center console and you add cup holders that actually work. I've only got a .5" body lift so you wont need a lot of room. Just a thought.

 

[theesotericone]

I think that doing the twin stick is a good option. I do think that you could probably bend the triple stick out of the way with the Automatic shifter. As for the body lift, instead just make a cut in the floor and then build a simple hat that would seal everything up and be hidden under the console. I think the advantage of the triple stick is the packaging that looks super clean. Get a 99+ center console and you add cup holders that actually work. I've only got a .5" body lift so you wont need a lot of room. Just a thought.

I think I might actually like the seperate sticks better for my needs. I'm still not sure and I have some time to decide. If I go Rad Triples I will cut the tunnel from the top side and just re-weld it later. Either way the 99 console and e-brake handle are going in.

In other vehicle related news, my 2002 Jetta TDI broke the timing belt today. They are a zero clearance engine so I bent some valves for sure. The machine shop work for the head and the valve train plus the belt will be north of $2000 to fix. Picture me banging my head into a wall and you get a pretty good idea of how I feel right now.

The belt was literally 38 miles past it's recommended change interval. I was gonna do it sometime in the next month. Plus I just dropped a tiny little bit of coin on the rig. Funny how life works out that way sometimes. lol

 

[phattyduck]

The belt was literally 38 miles past it's recommended change interval. I was gonna do it sometime in the next month. Plus I just dropped a tiny little bit of coin on the rig. Funny how life works out that way sometimes. lol

My brother-in-law's old 1.8T GTI mk4 broke its timing *before* the change interval (~65k miles, 80k interval). I think it was 15 or 16 bent valves out of the 20... Might be the only time the extended warranty worked out for someone. We did the second one at 120k miles to be safe.

Good luck with getting it fixed!

-Charlie

 

[theesotericone]

Come on break in period!

You ain't kidding. I'm about 370 miles into it so far. I commute to work on the highway up a very long steep grade everyday so I can't take my rig. I've just been putting on 20-30 miles a day after work. I really want this to be over so I can change the fluids then hit some trails. I'm hoping to have that done by Saturday AM.
[MENTION=116387]Unner[/MENTION]

I have the first tank MPG with the new gears. Keep in mind it's only one tank, I have been treating the truck like grandpa, and there's no wheeling on this tank. With that said, mileage went up. lol

Old 4.10 mileage adjusted average: 15.7 MPG
New 5.29 mileage adjusted average: 16.8 MPG

A lot of that has to do with the fact my rig can know hold OD where it couldn't before. That has actually lowered my RPM's on most roads I travel.

 

[theesotericone]

Jetta update and PSA:

I just got a look at the Jetta timing belt. It actually looks really good. The lower idler pulley on the other hand was blown apart. That's what caused the timing to skip.

Cylinder 2 has just the faintest outline of where it contacted the valves. Cylinder 3 has multiple contact points. The lower end of the motor is fine though. The heads will go out tomorrow and have all valves replaced.

My wife bought this rig before we got serious. The PO had changed the timing belt at 120,000 miles. Well, I guess that asshat was either cheap or had a really shitty shop do the work. Both the destroyed lower idler and the upper idler where original. WTF? Why? If I had that guys number he'd be getting a very stern talking to right now.

So here's the PSA people:

If your doing a timing belt job change EVERYTHING.

 

[theesotericone]

I have been busy racking up the miles after work.

After work I got busy draining some diffs.

Then I got busy filling some diffs.

With that done I finally was able to see how the new gear set performed on a long steep grade.

A few pages back there's a screen shot of Torque Pro with me pulling that grade. The stock gears had to drop into second and hold 4975 RPM's to hold 67 MPH. That was frikkin insane so I usually just putted along at 50 MPH. It sucked. I got passed by a Westy once. Not cool man, not cool.

With the new gears I hit the highway and set cruise at 70 MPH. Speed adjusted that's my normal 75 MPH speed. Once I hit the base of the grade it was the moment of truth. I was actually a little apprehensive. It would suck to do all that work and still have a rig that couldn't pull long steep hills at highway speed.

I'm super happy with the results. My rig dropped into 3rd and held 70 MPH. It was running about 3800 RPM's. I can live with that. About half way up I stepped on the gas. It was actually able to accelerate. Not fast but it picked up to 75 MPH then I let cruise take over.

Now to go find that Westy.

 

[Road Bull]

Yuuusssss...

Glad to see you hit the break-in milestone! That's pretty cool that the gears got you back into proportional power and torque again. I bet THAT's a good feeling. Now I can't wait to see you point your rig towards some difficult trails to see how your lockers treat you. I'd be chomping at the bit to try them out.

 

[theesotericone]

Yuuusssss...

Glad to see you hit the break-in milestone! That's pretty cool that the gears got you back into proportional power and torque again. I bet THAT's a good feeling. Now I can't wait to see you point your rig towards some difficult trails to see how your lockers treat you. I'd be chomping at the bit to try them out.

The 5.29/33.3" tire combo really put me back to stock performance. Considering all the armor and mods on my rig that's a great feeling. It's so good I think I'm going to stay with the 295/70/17 tire size for daily driving ans 95% of wheeling. It's about perfect for where I live and where I drive.

As far as the lockers go they might get tested a little bit this weekend. The wife and I are all packed up and headed to the southern Sierras to do it bit of climbing. I'm sure I'll find a few buggy roads to check out while I'm in there.

Have a good weekend guys.

 

[Wedgy]

I got passed by a Westy once. Not cool man, not cool.

.

That's funny !
I had a '68 & one time going up the Sherwin grade to ski Mammoth we came along side another bus loaded with 6 kids. I think we were side by side in 2nd gear for 3 miles with everybody rowing like we were in a canoe.

Sorry about the timing belt.