txbonds 97 4runner limited project

[txbonds]

What a filthy shop.. Can't see how anyone could ever get any work done out of it! YUCK!!

:llama:

HA!

I'm admittedly a little OCD about it. :becky:

I really wish I had epoxied floor before getting this far with it. That is on my future project list some time when I can roll all my stuff over to my in laws garage for a week or so. :becky:

 

[txbonds]

Just to keep my build log documented, last night I got 6 interior panels cleaned and reinstalled. It was a pain in the but since the replacement carpet I installed is so much thicker and since it had been a year since I took the panels out. Took me a while to figure out where a few of them went but once I got going it was pretty easy. Thankfully I had labeled the screws and small stuff in bags.

Anyway, after some triming of carpet and padding, I managed to get the Two lower B pillar covers back on over the driver/passenger seat belt assembly. Also got the upper B pillar covers on that cover the upper seat belt and above the rear passenger doors. And lastly I got the front A pillar covers and grab handles on that also cover over the front passenger doors.

Next up will be fitting the rear wheel well carpet pieces, the plastic trim that goes over the C pillars and beside the rear seats, and then fitting the subwoofer and the passenger rear quarter panel back into place. After that will come some wiring at the amp and then fitting the drivers side rear quarter panel into place.

Then its on to pulling the door panels off and sound deadening in the doors, getting the front speakers installed, and lubricating and/or replacing the rubber seals on the windows to correct some slow moving windows in the rear and the back door.


Fun fun. I'm really starting to run out of steam on this project. LOL :bash:

 

[txbonds]

This is after about 10 miles of driving it. As best I can tell its still dry in there. I not only felt and wiped the abs sensor and hole, but also used a qtip with some needle nose pliers to swab the bottom of the axle tube. Not saying it won't leak but I think its holding so far. Will check it again after some more driving and then again after a week or two. I'm hoping it holds as it would be a pain in the arse to have to pull it and do it again.

So today I put about another 25 to 30 miles on it with a mix of driving to include the interstate at 60 to 70 mph, around town at 30 to 45mph and lots of stop and go.

Just finished opening each ABS Sensor Port and taking another look and both sides are just as dry as they were above. The ABS sensors were dry too so I'm going to assume the seals are holding but will come back in a week or two to double check one more time.

While down there I gave the brake shoes another adjustment of 3 or 4 clicks each to account for the shoes setting in. I did this because I noticed the peddle engagement level had dropped a little and the stopping felt more front nose heavy. When checking I could tell the shoes needed a little more expansion. I'm guessing they wore into the groves inside the rotor so they should be good to go now as well.

Hope to really knock out a bunch of the interior work this weekend as that will be my focus for both days. We will see but I'll keep the log posted and updated. eace:

 

[txbonds]

Was getting the new 06 detailed today so I had them give the 97 a wash, interior vacuum with wipe down and a very light coat of wax on the tan paint.

 

[sschaefer3]

Awesome Truck !!!

 

[jmildoc]

off the wall question, how did you hang the shop vac on the wall??? and are those soffits at the top of your garage or storage shelves? Looking to get my garage a little more organized and such, and my ceilings are tall as well so that looks like a good idea.

 

[txbonds]

off the wall question, how did you hang the shop vac on the wall??? and are those soffits at the top of your garage or storage shelves? Looking to get my garage a little more organized and such, and my ceilings are tall as well so that looks like a good idea.

That shop vac was made to hang on wall. Not sure if they still sell it at lowes but Home Depot and sears had a similar version too. I have the Home Depot version as well in another garage. Both work great.

The thing under the checkerboard is a storage loft. I bought a glue-lam beam for the front support and it's running 20' across the garage on top of 4x4 posts. I then framed in the front floor so there is a 4' deep x 20' wide loft across the front with no center posts on the floor. Then down each side I have an 18" deep by 18' long storage loft shelf that ties into the same main beam. The checkerboard panels are just correlated plastic I ordered online with printing on them to hide the junk.

Hope that helps.

 

[txbonds]

Awesome Truck !!!

Thanks Steve. I sent you a couple of emails yesterday or Friday asking some questions about the suspension on this new 06 vs the setup you have. Give me a shout when you have a moment. Thanks.


Took another round of pics yesterday with my new 06 and its new rims and tires size compared next to my 97.

 

[txbonds]

Hate to say it but I'm having thoughts of selling the 97 and doing a mild build up on the 06. After a year of restoring and building the 97 up I'm just not finding us using it for the intended purpose. I've only put around 4,500 miles on it over the past year driving around town.

So if anyone has been drooling over it for the last 42 pages and realizes the amount of restoration work that has been done, give me a shout to discuss. At this point I have a few chores to finish before it's officially listed which include mounting the savage skids, mounting a radio and snapping the trim panels back in. Once I finish those chores I'll be able to make a formal ad with features and items included.

Who's ready for adventure?

 

[JWaldz]

Nooooo....

I completely understand though. However I rather wheel the '97 than the '06

 

[txbonds]

Nooooo....

I completely understand though. However I rather wheel the '97 than the '06

Yeah. I'm finding myself more in need of a generalist do all runner than the trail truck. I need to be able to hit the highway around Florida for work, tow a big trailer with our Mule Pro FXT on it, travel comfortably with the wife, kid and dog, and occasionally do some light trail riding.

Right now I'm thinking if I can sell the 97 for what I need to get out of it, I'll invest a little into the 06 for a mild fun truck that still does the above. If no one is ready to buy at my price range I guess I can piece it out in exchange for cash and factory part swap but I hate to do that to such a nice, ready to go as is package.

 

[txbonds]

I know it wishy washy as he'll but I decided after driving the 97 this morning to pull the FS ad back down. I've just made it too nice to part with I guess. Anyway I'm gonna try living with both for a while and see how it goes. No promises I won't change my mind again but for now I'm gonna keep moving forward on my 97 build and keep my work on the 06 limited to just the katzkins that are already ordered and treating the bottom for surface rust.

:roadkill:

 

[t4r4life]

All that matters is when the zombies come, which one would you take?

 

[txbonds]

All that matters is when the zombies come, which one would you take?

HA

I guess the 97 because it would make for better TV since it's cooler looking. Plus it has more protection bolted on and better tread for oozy roads. :bash:

 

[txbonds]

Since you guys talked me out of selling it again, I figured I might as well work on it some more. :reckon:



So, this morning I decided to finally tackle the front pinch welds so that I don't get rubbing when reversing with wheels at full lock on either side.

First I jacked it up and placed a jack stand under frame for extra support. Then took the tire off and gazed at all those pretty new parts!

Then took some shears and trimmed away some of the plastic liner that was covering the pinch weld

Next up was the safety glasses and breathing protection. Don't wear this stuff as often as I should. :crazy:

Grabbed the first powered tool to the party (not counting the impact wrench for the lug nuts) and got ready to cut away some of the pinch weld. I decided to cut instead of just pound with a BFH.

First up I cut off the small thin tab at the very bottom to get it out of the way

Then slowly start working your cut line through with the dremel

I stop every so often to work the cut back and forth using my adjustable pliers and a hammer. Bending it back and forth helps it eventually break so I don't have to try to cut all the way through.

Rough cutting done and section of pinch weld removed

 

[txbonds]

Next up is some smooth and contour with the die grinder. My 30 gal husky doesn't really have the volume this thing needs, but the twin cylinder pump manages to keep up………. you just have to listen to it run after a few minutes of usage. Luckily the twin cylinder is pretty quiet even in the garage with me.

A little smoothing

A little more

Now that the sanding and smoothing is good, next up I degrease the area. I used the POR-15 stuff but honestly 409 or similar would work too. Just what I had handy.

Hard to tell with the undercoating but the metal is degreased and drying.

Will add more pics in the next post shortly as next up is primer and then top coating with a black rubber seal.

 

[txbonds]

Now that the degreaser dried its time to prime and coat.

I liberally coat everything with some basic primer. I used Krylon Rust Tough.

Once the primer is dry, I came back and coated over it with some flexible rubber sealant for extra protection.

After it dries, the next step is to tuck the plastic liner back behind the fender flare. Drivers side is still drying but here is a pic of the finished product on the passenger side. Realistically its hard to tell I've done anything but it adds a good bit of clearance for the wheels at full lock.

Last step is to simply remount your tire and torque your lugs back to spec and then clean up the mess. :nerd:

 

[txbonds]

Got the 8 zerks on the prop shafts greased on the 97 Tan runner before backing it out of the garage and testing for rubbing on the newly trimmed pinch welds. So far it looks like its all good as I didn't hear any rubbing when backing out up hill and with wheels at full lock (a typical scenario that always caused bad rubbing before).


So, with the 97 tan runner and the 06 blue runners out in the drive awaiting their next build task, I decided to get the '15 green runner backed into the garage and ready for its first service. :reckon: :reckon: :reckon:

 

[SilverRidgeRunner1]

I kinda got a Military vibe from this build have u ever consider building a mount for some weapon system storage and Ammunition kinda would be neat here is a couple of ideas of what I am referring to

 

[ifsttl]

Hate to say it but I'm having thoughts of selling the 97 and doing a mild build up on the 06. After a year of restoring and building the 97 up I'm just not finding us using it for the intended purpose. I've only put around 4,500 miles on it over the past year driving around town.

So if anyone has been drooling over it for the last 42 pages and realizes the amount of restoration work that has been done, give me a shout to discuss. At this point I have a few chores to finish before it's officially listed which include mounting the savage skids, mounting a radio and snapping the trim panels back in. Once I finish those chores I'll be able to make a formal ad with features and items included.

Who's ready for adventure?

been following your build for a while now as a guest tho, made my account today this runner really up for sale ?