txbonds 97 4runner limited project

[Singtoe]

I just finished reading the rest of the thread. You used all new parts. I see that there was no need to tear the old one apart.


Why didn't you re-use your Knuckle. Brake splash shields and ABS ring?

What was the total cost for the manual hub swap?


Hindsight - Did you upgrade to tundra brakes? You could have just bolted on Tundra brake splash shields and not done any cutting?

 

[txbonds]

Great build so far.

I have the same press. But I could not use it to press out the bearing. I had the use a gear puller and push it out.

Thanks. I have your thread bookmarked and almost committed to memory before starting this. I really appreciate your info being available. Don't think I'll be doing a v8 swap any time soon but if so I know where to turn for reference.

Since I went with new parts I only had to press items in so that simplified the process. I picked up a 250 ftlb capable torque wrench at lowes the other day so I'm ready to move on with the process over the next few weeks to get them on the truck.

 

[txbonds]

I just finished reading the rest of the thread. You used all new parts. I see that there was no need to tear the old one apart.


Why didn't you re-use your Knuckle. Brake splash shields and ABS ring?

What was the total cost for the manual hub swap?


Hindsight - Did you upgrade to tundra brakes? You could have just bolted on Tundra brake splash shields and not done any cutting?

I did do tundra brakes but decided to only go to 199's after talking to Steve at Sonoran because the 1997 apparently has a master cylinder that isn't really up to the larger ones like the newer 3rd gens.


I'm not prepared to say what the cost was as I didn't add it all up. I got the new knuckles for free though so that is what prompted the route I took.

Thinking about it more though it was probably $800 to $1000 after all said and done given the free knuckles from Toyota. The same setup used was going to run $600 based on eBay and I couldn't find the parts at junk yard near me. Nice thing is I know quality and condition of parts I'm getting and I hope to be able to sell my original pieces to offset the cost more.

 

[txbonds]

Not much new. Didn't think to take before and after pictures of the holes but I did enlarge the holes with a step drill bit and coated them in paint. Then got the winch bolted down last night. Torqued to 35 ft lbs per the warn instructions with the zeon using the provided grade 8 hardware.

A small tip if you find yourself in the similar position. When drilling here really get a strong hold on the drill and wear gloves. If the drill bit bites the drill can easily smash into your cooling fins and tubing and do damage to the fins and to your hands. Ask me how I know. LOL

Next up I'm going to focus some attention to getting the 99 center console installed so I can get the front seats back in. After that it will be time to start getting the manual hub conversion parts, ball joints, tie rods and new lower control arms all put on.

 

[txbonds]

Little more tonight.


Out with the old chew toy and in with the new (used) replacement

Getting the 99 4runner console in as part of the cupholder mod. Having a little trouble getting the bracket bent just right but will get it figured out. Here is what it is going to look like though.

 

[ranbar02]

Awesome build. I wish i had the time and $ to do just some of what you did. Looks great, love the color.

 

[txbonds]

Awesome build. I wish i had the time and $ to do just some of what you did. Looks great, love the color.

Thanks. I'm honestly not sure it is a rational project but it is a project.



Tonight I started working on the dash a little. The truck had some wood added beyond the standard limited wood trim. Over the years the clear coat had bubbled and become yellowed in spots. It delaminated in many areas too. I thought it to be real wood but it turns out to be plastic like the factory wood. Anyway, I sourced a matching replacement kit through Burtman Industries, you can find info earlier in the build thread.

So, here is the scoop:

BEFORE

SIDE BY SIDE

AFTER

Here is the basic process (DONT FOLLOW THIS METHOD UNLESS YOU ARE REPLACING WITH NEW PANELS)

You heat the panel with a hair dryer or heat gun. I'm using a heat gun but you have to be careful not to melt something. I'm using it on low. Anyway once warm the panel becomes pliable. Using a small flat head screwdriver start to separate the panel from the dash

Work your way around until the old panel pulls off

This is what is left behind. 3M Adhesive.

You get the adhesive off by heating it and slowly rolling it off the surface with a flat item like a screw driver blade

Next up is to clean as much remaining bits of adhesive off as possible. I used some goo gone and a dry rag. This is the passenger side but gives an idea of about how clean I got them.

Here is the finished passenger side. Drivers side shown above

Started working on the pieces surrounding the steering column but had to stop to go watch Gold Rush.

And here is why I say don't use my method if you are not recovering it with new trim. It eats up the underlying finish getting the old 3m adhesive off.

Lastly I have a set of new light racing upper control arms inbound as well as the new toyota lower control arms so my entire front end is going to be starting fresh to last me hopefully 16 years like the original parts made it.



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[txbonds]

Did some work on the center console piece. Needed a new cup holder, new clock and a new vent in addition to 3 pieces of replacement wood trim

BEFORE

AFTER

The after picture has the new vent in the center, a new to me used clock (hope it works), and the 3 new wood panels including one on a brand new pull out cup holder.




Also finished up the trim around the steering column. Looks a little rough and needs some clean up overall but looks better than the old wood did by far.

Got this side a little too high but think it will look okay once area around it is cleaned up a little.

 

[txbonds]

Looks like I finally have all the parts needed and wanted to start on my front end refresh and manual hub conversion. Will post pictures as I go and hope to get started in the next few days. Only thing that will be hit or miss is whether or not I run into any bolts that need replacement as I plan to reuse my cam bolts and UCA bolt.

Also got the correct bracket for my center console so I will be getting it mounted and the front seats in place in the next few days as well.

(FYI - Before anyone points it out, some parts are not shown)

Hope everyone had a nice holiday and wish everyone a happy new year.




.

 

[txbonds]

Little more progress this afternoon with some good news and some bad news.


I tackled replacing the wood trim on this section of the console

You can see how faded it was above but you can see the yellowing in this picture

Leaves you with old 3m adhesive to get off

Little more adhesive removed with combinations of heat gun, razor blade and flat blade screw driver

Most goop removed

Heating up trim to make it moldable

First piece applied

Heating second piece

Both halves applied

 

[txbonds]

Moving on


Never could get this bent into shape so I Replaced the 97 console bracket

With a 99 console bracket. Still required a little bending but works like a charm

The tab on the plastic rear vent was broken so I glued it back with some crazy glue and banded it to the bracket with 4 rubber bands for support

Next I reassembled the upper portion of the floor console sides and installed the new console top with the new wood trim applied

Got the new hi/LO shifter and boot installed to replace the dog chew toy.

Then bolted the 99 console in place. I have cup holders. Awesome.

And the bad news........... I cut the carpet too short on the drivers side of the console and on the rear of the console.

Next up is the front seat brackets so I can get front seats installed.


.

 

[txbonds]

Because of some rust and because I added some brackets to hold the seat belt buckles I had to repaint the seat brackets.


Did some wire brushing on the seat brackets and repainted with primer

Then put on another coat of flat black

Once dry and cured should be ready to bolt front seats and seat belts in place

 

[txbonds]

Seat bracket with seat belt latch bracket in place

Bolted the factory seat belt latch onto the new seat bracket

After multiple paintings I managed to scratch off paint getting the seat bolted onto the bracket. Grrrrrr........

Had to trim a small piece out of the console side to allow room for the bolt holding the seat belt latch to the bracket. Not visible once seat is in place.

And lastly the seat bolted in place. I think it turned out nicely. Only thing I need to change is the bolt holding the seat belt latch to the bracket needs to be a rounded head bolt because it rubs the seat side when the seat is pushed all the way back. A rounded head should help the vinyl last longer with seat movement.

Just need to route my cb antenna wire down the passenger side under the carpet and I can get the passenger seat bolted in the same way.



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[txbonds]

Replaced the bolts with hex socket button cap bolts. Same size so nylock nuts still fit.

Rounded head bolt installed

View down from seat

Factory seatbelt works now

 

[txbonds]

Did a little work today.

Cut the connector off the factory turn signal wire

Prepping the pigtail for the new LED turn signals that CBI supplied with my front bumper

Preparing to solder

Little silver solder to secure the connection

Painted the solder with a little liquid electrical tape

Somehow didn't get a picture but I put heat shrink on each wire and sealed the ends with liquid electrical tape and then put a larger heat shrink over that

Then covered that with some techflex since this wire is pretty exposed. You can see I still need to enlarge the one bumper mount hole to get the bolt in there.

Light mount trim in the hole

Light plugged in

Lastly light pressed in place

 

[txbonds]

Also tackled a couple of other items

Opened the swing out on my CBI rear bumper

Drilled a hole right behind the spare tire mount and hit it with a black paint pen

Inserted a bolt and tightened it down with washers, lock washer and nut

Inserted this larger red plastic block and then fixed in place with washer, rubber washer and wing nut for easy removal

Now I have a nice storage location with easy access for my hi lift base

View with rear swing closed to show how close it comes but there is plenty of clearance

 

[txbonds]

Lastly I started on my CB antenna mounting and wiring.

I have 3 locations for mount on rear swing, on right side of rear bumper and right side of front bumper. I decided the right rear tab that I paid extra to have put on the bumper actually sticks out to far for comfort.

I decided to start off trying the one on the rear tire swing

Hard to see it but i ran the antenna cable along the bottom of the tire swing

Found a grommet inside the passenger rear panel behind the CBI bumper

Still need to route the wire to the front to complete the install.



Also finally got my tag relocated from the door to the tire swing so that it isn't blocked by the spare tire. Below the can carrier and just above the hi lift is a spot with two pre drilled holes

Using some stainless bolts, washers and lock nuts

I mounted the tag. Ironic it has CBI in it isn't it.......... LOL.

 

[txbonds]

Did some work again today.

Antenna tab on CBI swing arm. Used rat tail file to remove powder coat inside hole

Used sanding drum on drill to remove powdercoat below hole for proper ground plane

Got CB mounting stud tightened in place

Tested ground continuity between mount and frame. Looks good.

Got spring and quick disconnect mounted

Then touched up with some black paint pen under the mount

Drilled a hole in side of interior rear wall to bring antenna wire into truck

Routed over fender towards front

Under the passenger front seat and across RCA cables

Ends at front console

 

[txbonds]

Next up was passenger seat install


Corbeau Sport Seat in black Vinyl with corbeau sliders attached. Used grade 8 bolts through sliders to attach to seat brackets. Used washer between slider and bracket to allow space for movement

Bracket loosely bolted on and ready to go into truck

Passenger seat bolted in and ready to go.

That is all. Carry on.



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[Holley]

seats look great! how did you get the back seats to match the front?