TonyB66's Ownership -> Build Thread (2000 Limited)

[thenightman]

I love the thoroughness of this thread. I will be Interested to read your impressions of the 650# coils on the kings. I just bought kings with 600# coils and I'm a little worried they will be super stiff. Front bumper and winch are in the future, but not soon. I like that you vertically mark your bolts for quick visual checks. Since you are so thorough though, I feel I must point out that fasteners can stretch, and thusly be weakened, but still have the paint marks aligned. Anyway, great thread and build.

 

[TonyB66]

I love the thoroughness of this thread. I will be Interested to read your impressions of the 650# coils on the kings. I just bought kings with 600# coils and I'm a little worried they will be super stiff. Front bumper and winch are in the future, but not soon. I like that you vertically mark your bolts for quick visual checks. Since you are so thorough though, I feel I must point out that fasteners can stretch, and thusly be weakened, but still have the paint marks aligned. Anyway, great thread and build.

Keith and/or Jenny - Thanks for the thoughtful words and feedback. This has been mostly a maintenance and refresh thread, as opposed to "build" per se, but hopefully there will be more of the later soon...

Yes, I put those marks vertical, the best I can at least. It makes for quick visual checks. Also, and maybe not seen in some of the photos, I also often put a reference mark on stationary surfaces. Doing so already helped me on the 4Runner as I quickly identified a rear arm, I think upper, that had loosened after a bushing install. I will remain anal in this respect and continue with this precautionary approach on the more "critical" fasteners.

Indeed, bolts stretch alright, by design. The distance between the bolt head and nut is being shortened, imparting energy or work to the bolt, and it stretches, ideally only within specs, as measured on our torque wrenches.

I see that you too (and two) are in the Bay Area. Any change you'll be able to make the party at Tim's place next month?

 

[TonyB66]

Minus the instrument panel, I thought I had converted all interior lights to LEDs. I found one that I had not previously - the sun visor vanity light. I imagine my wife will notice, at some point...

Exterior lighting is all LED, minus the headlights...

Rear Kings should be here by late next week.

In communications with Roy at Savage now regarding a multi-order:

Hybrid Front Winch Bumper
Hybrid Rear Bumper
Swingout Arm with Tire Carrier and License Plate Holder

Noticed that my driver side rear speaker it not working. Damn. Not sure where to start troubleshooting-wise...

 

[thenightman]

Keith and/or Jenny - Thanks for the thoughtful words and feedback. This has been mostly a maintenance and refresh thread, as opposed to "build" per se, but hopefully there will be more of the later soon...

Yes, I put those marks vertical, the best I can at least. It makes for quick visual checks. Also, and maybe not seen in some of the photos, I also often put a reference mark on stationary surfaces. Doing so already helped me on the 4Runner as I quickly identified a rear arm, I think upper, that had loosened after a bushing install. I will remain anal in this respect and continue with this precautionary approach on the more "critical" fasteners.

Indeed, bolts stretch alright, by design. The distance between the bolt head and nut is being shortened, imparting energy or work to the bolt, and it stretches, ideally only within specs, as measured on our torque wrenches.

I see that you too (and two) are in the Bay Area. Any change you'll be able to make the party at Tim's place next month?

Jenny (my wife) will be working, but I will definitely be there. I had a great time last time, great people, cool rigs, and incredible food! See you there!

 

[TonyB66]

Jenny (my wife) will be working, but I will definitely be there. I had a great time last time, great people, cool rigs, and incredible food! See you there!

Good to hear Keith! A bulb has your name on it, so-to-speak...

Well, I made a rather large purchase today with Roy at Savage, the aforementioned:

Hybrid Front Winch Bumper
Hybrid Rear Bumper and
Swingout Arm with Tire Carrier and License Plate Holder

Since his new sliders won't be available until late November at the soonest, I'm leaning toward sliders from Stubbs. Really curious what Roy's sliders will look like though...

With a pallet of bare metal coming soon, I picked-up a few cans of these this evening...

I'll get a couple bottles of rubbing alcohol too to remove oil and residue first...

 

[TonyB66]

As stated earlier, I have a couple spots with rust that I wanted to address. In the rear, the shock mounts:

About 3 minutes of wire bushing, one being on a cordless drill, then 30 minutes of Rustoleum Rust Dissolver gel working (photo provided earlier), I now have this:

Happy with the results and that the rust was seemingly quite minor. I will clean with pure white vinegar or rubbing alcohol tomorrow, something that will leave minimal to no residue, then hit those spots with Corrsoeal. I did the other side as well...

And, while doing this the UPS guy showed-up (Kings for the rear):

 

[TonyB66]

Not much to update...

The pressure washer with some Simple Green:

Corroseal to follow pretty soon...

Anyone know what these threaded holes are for, on the driver side frame, about 6-8" behind the panhard bar?

Finally ripped this guy out:

Cleaned-up that cavity and drilled a new hole for the sun/moonroof drain tube so that it is better positioned, allowing for improved storage space in that location, as seen in another thread: http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/53208-storage-compartment-mod.html

I have extra butyl material that I used for the speaker install, that I will strategically place on this outer wall so there will be some separation from the contents in this storage area. I also have some extra rubberized undercoating that I will apply also...

 

[BrianSD_42]

OMG .... how long will we have to wait to find out if I was totally wrong about the King 650 coils. I'm genuinely curious man!

 

[TonyB66]

OMG .... how long will we have to wait to find out if I was totally wrong about the King 650 coils. I'm genuinely curious man!

Hey Brian. My apologies if I didn't state it clearly earlier, but I was convinced by at least a few people and threads here to wait until I get more weight on my rig.... that with 650s, it would ride like crap.

Roy at Savage took my order last week for front and rear bumpers. They should ship by early to mid November. I might get his new sliders too, and I'll get a sneak peek in about two weeks. If I don't get those, it will be Stubbs. So, after I get that added mass in place, then the Kings, front and rear will follow...

Until then, while I wait, I'll be doing little stuff like this. Once I finish-up with some rust removal, including some in the front next, the RCI skids will go on after that.

 

[BrianSD_42]

I can see people would say that but I'll pass on to you that when I called King about 6 months ago their tech support told me that the 650s with bare minimal turns and the 600s with a moderate amount of turns (eg more thread showing) with the same car weight would actually ride very similar.

But I definitely agree that if you are planning to add more weight (eg bumper winch skids etc) in the future then it would make the most sense to complete that before installing the front suspension. Especially since you will need to get it aligned each time you adjust them.

 

[TonyB66]

Indeed Brian.

With all of the recent work too (inner and outer tie rods and bushings), technically, I should get an alignment now. It feels just fine though and knowing that quite a bit more is to come, I want to saddle everything up so as to avoid multiple alignments. Heck, new wheels and tires are in the plans too...

 

[TonyB66]

Pretty high up on the simple but good mods list, for me at least, is the rear storage one. I showed the factory box removed a few posts back...

I did a conference call for work in the back of the 4Runner so I could finish it up. Drain hose secured with some silicone...

Drain hose relocated...

Left-over butyl material came in handy...

Goes back or forward quite a bit. It total, about 3 feet...

3M metal HVAC tape started, with some more to go, but I got called for homework support...

Very satisfied with what seems to be at least a doubling of the space. What I had in there before is not even seen as it's stashed behind the interior paneling, leaving much for space for other items. A highly recommended mod...

I got the Corroseal on those shock mounts and a couple other areas in the rear. Will paint tomorrow or soon....

I started to remove the factory gas tank skid so I can begin preparing it for paint and on a whim, stopped and decided to order Lil' Skip's gas tank skid.

 

[octanejunkie]

Looks like you're making good progress. Did you pull trigger on sliders yet?

I need to do that storage compartment mod

 

[TonyB66]

Looks like you're making good progress. Did you pull trigger on sliders yet?

I need to do that storage compartment mod

Mike good to see you around. A different place without you...

Progress, slow and somewhat steady. Still working on the house, smaller items mostly. Closet rods and shelving the past week or so, today included...

Sliders of choice, not known at this moment. I'll get a sneak peak at Savage's new sliders in early November. Roy wants something different, distinctive and that's what he has done apparently. He's pretty jazzed about them, mostly because of the 3/16" steel, but also design-wise, things he's incorporated from feedback he's been provided over the years. He's taking a design risk, which he knows. I like that he's doing a temporary bolt-on so the customer can get them positioned just right at home, do prep, any trimming of fender flares, then drive to the welding shop of choice. So, I'm waiting to see what he has Mike. He's making front and rear bumpers for me over the next two weeks, so they would all come together...

If for whatever reason his new sliders don't appeal to me, I will get Stubbs for sure. Heck, even if appealing, I might pass and get the Stubbs sliders.

My to do list over the Fall and Winter:

- Finish-up with underbody rust removal, prep and paint. Not all that much, but I'd like to do so before slapping-on skids...

- Skids! I have the RCIs from a GB earlier in the year. Lil' Skip's fuel tank one should be here next week

- Front and rear bumpers (Savage). Already have plenty of alcohol to rub-down all of this steel, including for the gas tank skid, etching primer and flat black paint...

- Sliders (Savage or Stubbs)

- Front Kings with SPC UCAs, Rear Kings with 891s. All have been sitting in the garage for a while, as Brian reminds ...

- And new wheels and tires. I want hub-centric. Our bore is 106mm, so I read. If there is a list or thread of aftermkt hub-centric wheels, please, someone direct me. I have found no such discussion. As of now, I'm aware of FN's Konig Countersteer Offroad 16x8 and SCS's F5 16x8. While I'm pretty convinced that I'll be fine with 33s (285/75-16s), I am researching 17s, just in case I decide to go with larger tires in the future. Are there any 17" wheels with our 106mm bore? Tire-wise, leaning toward the KO2s. Interestingly, it seems that they don't offer a C load KO2 285/75-16, but do for the same rolling diameter 17 (285/70-17). With what I'll be doing, at least the next few years, I imagine the E-rated will just be added weight...

- Finally, an alignment. Tahoe trip not until early April, so plenty of time...

On that storage mod, yup, do it. About 20-30 minute to get it out. Another 30-60 minutes to re-locate the drain hose, clean and line the exterior wall... As I start to pack it, I'll share here.

Happy Friday everyone.

 

[Jake2828]

THOSE SEATS!!!! I'm guessing seat covers for most of its life!! Entire runner looks AMAZING

 

[TonyB66]

THOSE SEATS!!!! I'm guessing seat covers for most of its life!! Entire runner looks AMAZING

Thanks Geno.

A little more rust than what I'd like on CA 3rd gen, but not all that bad... It's otherwise pretty clean. I saw others in worse condition, but a couple better for sure. The 6+ month search was exhausting for me but mostly the family, and I needed something for a Tahoe trip last year, so this was the one...

The seats, as you might have noticed, replaced with aftermarket ones. Not a fan of leather or power.

 

[TonyB66]

Putting my utility trailer to use...

Not sure if there is a market for these or not, but I'll probably post on CL at some point...

As I tend to do with most replaced items, I'll do a weight delta between this, minus the rocks, and the Lil' Skip's skid.

 

[Unner]

Putting my utility trailer to use...

Not sure if there is a market for these or not, but I'll probably post on CL at some point...

As I tend to do with most replaced items, I'll do a weight delta between this, minus the rocks, and the Lil' Skip's skid.

It's looking good!

Throw that skid plate on ebay. I sold my stock gas tank one for $120 plus $45 shipping a couple years ago. I also sold my two stock engine skid plates for $150 plus $35 shipping. Guys up in the rust belt like to pay a premium for parts like this from a rust free southern truck.

 

[TonyB66]

It's looking good!

Throw that skid plate on ebay. I sold my stock gas tank one for $120 plus $45 shipping a couple years ago. I also sold my two stock engine skid plates for $150 plus $35 shipping. Guys up in the rust belt like to pay a premium for parts like this from a rust free southern truck.

Unner, thanks for chiming-in.

I did sell the other factory skids actually, on Craigslist. I'll get this up for sale locally. I'd prefer to not hassle with shipping...

On the aforementioned weights, a couple that I had noted. I'll get the factory fuel tank skid weighed this weekend...

stock skids (2) - 17 lbs, actually about 19 when adding the transfer case shield.
stock running boards - 30 lbs

Speaking of which, I just got an email from UPS that Lil' Skip's skid will arrive next Thu, the 25th.

 

[TonyB66]

I made some time to start filling that new-found storage space. I'd say that it is about 2/3 full now, as can be seen here (there is nothing to the left).

Here are the contents out. The yellow item is a 10 liter volume dry/waterproof bag. My camping axe is missing from our move, but I was happy to see that they sell the same one. The gloves (MaxiFlex), four pairs, have become my favorites in many application where dexterity is valued. The two microfiber towels are each 2x4 feet in size. They are very absorbent and dry super fast. The black case is portable shovel. Never used this one, but it looks pretty good for such an item...

The contents of the black duffel bag is for load-securing...

The paracord is 5/16", two 25-footers, and two 10-footers, each of the four with carabiners secured with figure eight knots. The four cam lock tighteners (Nite Ize CamJam XT) are really cool. I stumbled across them at The Home Depot. After liking it so much, I bought more on Amazon...

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Nite-Ize-3-8-in-Aluminum-CamJam-XT-Rope-Tightener-NCJLA-01-R3/206442738

I'll fill-up the rest of the space over time...