txbonds 97 4runner limited project

[4RunnerChaos]

i used my big floor jack and a few 2x4's that spanned the width of the bumper, kinda tippy but easy to hold steady with one hand and jack up/down with the other.

I was thinking of that same idea when he was using the tires. I was staring at my phone wondering "why isn't he using that pretty new jack of his???" :lol:

But wow what a build man. I can't wait til I have the funds to restore a 4runner I think it would be nifty to have two of them to mess with. I keep seeing this sound deadener stuff. It makes me want to rip my truck apart and do it.! Lol but I think if I pull all the carpets etc out, i might bed line it all over the sound deadener. Easier to wash out and more durravle than the carpets!

But yeah hope to see this build completed when I get back from basic training. Leaving in 3 days for basic and AIT.

 

[txbonds]

I was thinking of that same idea when he was using the tires. I was staring at my phone wondering "why isn't he using that pretty new jack of his???" :lol:

But wow what a build man. I can't wait til I have the funds to restore a 4runner I think it would be nifty to have two of them to mess with. I keep seeing this sound deadener stuff. It makes me want to rip my truck apart and do it.! Lol but I think if I pull all the carpets etc out, i might bed line it all over the sound deadener. Easier to wash out and more durravle than the carpets!

But yeah hope to see this build completed when I get back from basic training. Leaving in 3 days for basic and AIT.

Thanks man. I started to use the jack but not tall enough. Didn't think about 2x4s until we were using tires as a resting point. Doh! LOL



Ill go ahead and say it. "Thank you for serving!" I am the first in a line of family that didn't have to serve and I say that loosely because my Dad and Grandfather were both drafted. One WWII and one Vietnam. I respect anyone that serves and hold them in high regard because I know what my Grandfather and his generation did for this country. I wish you well during training and stay safe brother!




And, it would be a cold day in h e l l before my Grandfather would have ever bought a Japanese anything after fighting them in the South Pacific. Whole new world though.

 

[txbonds]

Rigged up a platform of sorts so I could slide bumper back enough to grind some material out of the fender flare.

Not pretty but worked pretty well to take some pressure off the fender flares and not too visible once bumper is in place. Couldn't remove as much as I wanted as you can see the material is really thin and I already went through in the center.

Hard to see but the tube fits into the relief now rather than pressing on the fender as much.

Drivers side turned out pretty good.

Passenger side needs a little more removed from front side of tube area.

Keep in mind these are close up pictures and once you step back it really isn't even visible.

 

[alaskaflyer]

Great Build!

 

[txbonds]

Great Build!

Thanks man. Wish I had more hours in a day and more energy to get this done faster.



Just ordered a set of toyota upper and lower ball joints in anticipation of doing my front lift soon. As far as I can tell the ball joints have never been replaced in 187k miles according to all the service receipts I have with the truck.

Not sure if it is a big deal or not but I decided to wait on the tie rods due to cost even though I see a lot of people change them at same time as ball joints. Anyone think its necessary to do all at same time?

 

[NateMob]

Get some new bolts for the lower ball joints as well, toyota sells them separately. Rear bumper looks awesome, I like the quarter panel protection.

 

[txbonds]

Get some new bolts for the lower ball joints as well, toyota sells them separately. Rear bumper looks awesome, I like the quarter panel protection.

Thanks bro. You get our front sorted out yet?

Any idea where I can order them online? Didn't see them listed on toyota parts barn where I ordered the ball joints but I see the napa ones come with them. I went OEM though.

 

[txbonds]

Got clearance around the front tube using a drum sander. I realize its not as pretty as if the bars had been a little better placed to fit the side spacing of the flares and Obviously this is only my opinion here but I think it turned out pretty nice all things considered. I'll touch base with CBI on it tomorrow.

And bumper back in place

And plenty of clearance now at the front of the bars

And still sealed inside the wheel well and flare

 

[txbonds]

And to cap off the weekend, I nearly finished up the rear bumper install. Just need to get the tag light and tag relocation done, and the hight lift bolts on.

The rear is starting to look the business.



The bumper holes were drilled and the extra 8 mounting bolts were installed. CBI includes these nifty bolt sticks that allow you to install a bolt way up in the frame. You can see them here.

Here is the rear swing that holds all the gadgets.

Here is the hinge which is basically a large piece of steel with a hub lined with two large brass tubes.

And a glimpse at the final product.

 

[Xetabur]

I'm loving this build. That color is awesome!!

 

[NateMob]

Thanks bro. You get our front sorted out yet?

Any idea where I can order them online? Didn't see them listed on toyota parts barn where I ordered the ball joints but I see the napa ones come with them. I went OEM though.

Oh yeah, she is good to go. I dont foresee you having any issues, by chance there are, I know Nathan and his group will handle it.:nod:


I just got mine from the local dealer, seems like the OEM ones would come with them ya know, mine sure didn't. Bumper looks sharp, did you request the bottom tube be bent at an earlier and sharper angle?

 

[txbonds]

Oh yeah, she is good to go. I dont foresee you having any issues, by chance there are, I know Nathan and his group will handle it.:nod:


I just got mine from the local dealer, seems like the OEM ones would come with them ya know, mine sure didn't. Bumper looks sharp, did you request the bottom tube be bent at an earlier and sharper angle?

Not sure. I didn't request anything specific with regards to the lower bumper tube. Only mods I asked for were the side hoops and antenna mount tab.

 

[txbonds]

Okay so tell me this isn't crazy.

I ordered some upper and lower ball joints and just got word that due to some sort of supply issue they are not able to send me just the ball joints and instead they are sending me complete new knuckle assemblies and only charging me for the cost of the ball joints.

I'm not holding my breath until the actual order shows up but provided I actually get new knuckles what all else should I change out while swapping them in and how hard of a job is this? I'm actually thinking it makes it easier if I don't have to remove the old upper ball joint but maybe I'm missing something.

Thanks.

 

[jason in tn]

You will have to do the wheel bearings and seals, that's not to bad a job if you have the tools to do so.

 

[smkd13]

Okay so tell me this isn't crazy.

I ordered some upper and lower ball joints and just got word that due to some sort of supply issue they are not able to send me just the ball joints and instead they are sending me complete new knuckle assemblies and only charging me for the cost of the ball joints.

I'm not holding my breath until the actual order shows up but provided I actually get new knuckles what all else should I change out while swapping them in and how hard of a job is this? I'm actually thinking it makes it easier if I don't have to remove the old upper ball joint but maybe I'm missing something.

Thanks.

That is an awesome turn of events bro hope the bearings are include with those if they are you pretty much hit gold

 

[txbonds]

That is an awesome turn of events bro hope the bearings are include with those if they are you pretty much hit gold

Got notification of shipping showing the below. Not sure about the bearings/bushings though.


4320235071 front suspension, suspension components, upper ball joint/knuckle assy 4WD Left $34.18
4320135081 front suspension, suspension components, upper ball joint/knuckle assy 4WD Right $34.18

 

[smkd13]

Got notification of shipping showing the below. Not sure about the bearings/bushings though.


4320235071 front suspension, suspension components, upper ball joint/knuckle assy 4WD Left $34.18
4320135081 front suspension, suspension components, upper ball joint/knuckle assy 4WD Right $34.18

Well if all else fail then you could take the new ones and order some Total Chaos gussets for them and beef them up and plus it isnt that expensive to have bearing swapped over. Have you any plans to run a set of aftermarket UCAs?

 

[txbonds]

Well if all else fail then you could take the new ones and order some Total Chaos gussets for them and beef them up and plus it isnt that expensive to have bearing swapped over. Have you any plans to run a set of aftermarket UCAs?

No plans for aftermarket unless I have some sort of alignment issue with stock.


I'm undecided if I want to put them in now or not. Might just do the LBJ when I do the lift and keep collecting parts to do everything else in a second phase which would include inner/outer tie rods, the knuckle with seals and bushings and UBJ, and new steering rack bushings. That would give me almost a completely new front end except the bushings on UCA/LCA and on the swaybar and connectors.


I'm also thinking about doing a rear axle seal replace, sway bar connect replace and rear control arm upgrade when I do all of the above so that all the running gear and suspension is in like new shape.

We will see how far I get with that stuff though as I'm trying to just focus on getting it back to drivable condition right now. LOL

 

[txbonds]

Is this an audio build or a truck build? Who cares! That Yota is bad ass!!!!

After cleaning the roof rails, put a layer of flat black krylon rust tough paint on them. Getting them ready to reattach to the roof as these are what the roof rack attaches to.

You can see the missing paint on the aluminum rails

(This my official paint table. My wife wants to paint it brown so I'm just getting some primer coats on it. LOL)

Hard to see much but here is painted version drying/curing

Got the amp mounted back up now that rear wall is sound deadened

And started sound deadening the front half of the truck floor pan

And for kicks I took a picture of the rear swing. If you look at the far right you can see how much the new suspension has dropped. I'd estimate the swing sat about a half inch or more above the table when installed.

 

[txbonds]

Got UBJ, LBJ and knuckles from toyota parts barn today as part of my project to refresh front end when the lift goes on

Progress for tonight included sound deadener on the front passenger side. So far, I've used just shy of 72 sq ft of stinger roadkill pro on the roof, floor and rear sides. I've not gotten to the doors so ill have to order more deadener for them.

And I started fitting the new carpet on the wheel wells

You can see the color is a little more tan or camel colored than OEM but still blends pretty well

After a little trimming

As you can see I have more trimming to do

But this is how much I managed to get trimmed before calling it a night.