spenedwrds
New member
Thanks! Yours looks amazing. From what I could see.i work at mall of ga dodge so I'm in Buford every day. You going to the meet in may?
Urban assault's '99 4runner build
- Thread starter URBAN ASSAULT
- Start date
Thanks! Yours looks amazing. From what I could see.i work at mall of ga dodge so I'm in Buford every day. You going to the meet in may?
URBAN ASSAULT
New member
Thanks!
GSMTR at Windrock? I am going to try and make that. Not sure what day I will be able to get up there though. Potentially Thursday, but more likely Friday a.m. arrival. Keep me posted with your plans.
spenedwrds
New member
Nah we have a good bit of people going up to dahlanega to hit up a few of the forestry roads. More info in the general discussion page.
URBAN ASSAULT
New member
On the past trip, I met a guy who happens to be the sales manager at IMS Steel :hungry: We began talking about how expensive DOM is, and that not everybody carries it, etc. He said to keep him in mind for my next order. I need to tackle the rear suspension next, and want to do 2" DOM tube to match the front. He seriously hooked me up with price. For any local guys, his name is Jim at IMS Georgia Steel
This is no store front place. This is where you get steel if you are building a skyscraper.
Massive place, hardhat mandatory, steel yard. I was the only non-semi picking up steel, and felt a little inferior picking up my 1 little stick of DOM. Thanks Jim!
Loaded up and home with 20ft of 2" .250 wall (1.5ID) DOM tube. This will become the rear links, though I still haven't settled on the exact plan yet. I also want to make 1 spare lower link for both front and rear. And will still have some left over.
And to make this an even better day, I found this on the way home!!!
Who knew Del f'n Taco was in Georgia? I grew up in California, and this was a staple in my teenage diet. My Dad loved it, too. He would even sneak there for breakfast if Mom wasn't around.
I realize it's probably cat food with a hair in it. But it's NOSTALGIC hairy cat food. I had to stop! (I didn't really park in the HC spot; just for the photo op)
I will probably chit my brains out later, but a happy man at the moment.
Some days just work.
This is no store front place. This is where you get steel if you are building a skyscraper.
Massive place, hardhat mandatory, steel yard. I was the only non-semi picking up steel, and felt a little inferior picking up my 1 little stick of DOM. Thanks Jim!
Loaded up and home with 20ft of 2" .250 wall (1.5ID) DOM tube. This will become the rear links, though I still haven't settled on the exact plan yet. I also want to make 1 spare lower link for both front and rear. And will still have some left over.
And to make this an even better day, I found this on the way home!!!
Who knew Del f'n Taco was in Georgia? I grew up in California, and this was a staple in my teenage diet. My Dad loved it, too. He would even sneak there for breakfast if Mom wasn't around.
I realize it's probably cat food with a hair in it. But it's NOSTALGIC hairy cat food. I had to stop! (I didn't really park in the HC spot; just for the photo op)
I will probably chit my brains out later, but a happy man at the moment.
Some days just work.
downpour11
New member
So what's your tentative plan for the rear? You keeping the stock setup and just beefing it up?
URBAN ASSAULT
New member
Long Term Plan: 4 link, 14" ORI's to match the front
Other stuff required: Swap/Relocate fuel tank with F150 or cell, fabricated axle housing or truss stock housing, plate frame, french in towers, new lower coilover mounts, 8 new link mounts.
Reasons why not…right now: I would rather have a fabricated housing than truss the stock. And I would rather have a Diamond Axle housing for the rear. Expensive! I've haven't seen anybody swap in a F150 tank, or fuel cell and get the stock fuel gauge to work correctly. ErikB over on pirate is close, but still off by 1/4 tank. Still hanging on to the notion of maintaining creature comforts and stock instrumentation. But $$$ is the principal reason I would like to delay the 4link. Maybe next winter. SAS hurt the wallet.
Short Term Plan: Stretch (2-3") and beef-up the rear but maintain stock geometry, 14" ORI's. Basically, a long arm.
Other Stuff: Plate frame, French in coilover towers, ballistic joints (they make a 2.3" joint which should fit stock mounts), new panhard mounts (Ruffstuff). My current panhard looks like a ski slope. The new mounts on frame and axle should get me close to flat. New lower coilover mounts.
Reasons why…for now: Faster. Allows me to get ORI's on all 4 corners, tune and level ride height. Can keep stock housing for now. Geometry is already pre-determined. Towers and frame plates will already be done for future 4link.
I really do not have too many complaints about the stock rear suspension. Though, It will be really nice to have the adjustability and tune-ability of the ORI's. Also stretch the wheelbase out a bit to keep my tires (and maybe larger tires) out of my backdoor.
Will give it a go.
:lookout:
downpour11
New member
Update on the progress linking the rear?
Notching the frame to get your ORI's through the floor I would imagine?
Notching the frame to get your ORI's through the floor I would imagine?
URBAN ASSAULT
New member
Making progress. Everything always takes longer than I estimate. I now use a 5x multiplier on build time estimates. There are a ton of brackets involved with the rear axle. Took a lot longer than I thought to cut everything out, and smooth down to frame.
Exactly. Through the floor with 14" ORI's, and moving axle back 3". Also allows me a chance to remedy a few things I do not like about the stock axle housing.
1. I hate how much stuff hangs below the axle. My shock mounts were beat to hell.
2. The lower link mounts also sat below the tube.
3. Even the brake lines are under the axle. Whose idea was that?! My brake line below the panhard mount was pinched bad.
Here is a before pic:
Still a lot to do, but here are a few interim pics:
2" DOM, .250 wall, Ballistic Joints, 3" longer than stock
I ended up remaking the upper links since this pic. I didn't like how much thread was showing to get the pinion angle dialed in. Probably a late night measuring mistake on my part.
Old vs. New. This should help keep the tires out of the back door.
Moved lower link mounts to front of axle, rather than below it
Made up some frame plates just like the front.
Frenched towers into frame and through the floor. I opened it up a bit more so that I could get a good frame weld to the back of the tower. Will be boxing it all in with sheet metal anyway.
Plated and gusseted. I will also be adding a spanner bar from tower to tower.
Still to do:
Finish weld shock mounts
Make new panhard mounts, and new panhard bar. (using Ruffstuff mounts)
Add a bunch of gussets for overkill
Run new brake lines above axle
Paint links and frame
fab up a spanner bar
box in towers
Trim bumper to fit tires at full stuff
probably a bunch of other stuff I am forgetting right now
Reassemble everything
Wheel it
I will be using the longer Tacoma d-cab driveshaft (PN-28) which is a couple inches longer.
I hope to have it done within the next 2 weeks. I have 3 offroad trips planned in May.
Thanks for checkin' in.
URBAN ASSAULT
New member
Thanks! I am certainly anxious to be done. The "winter re-build" has stretched into spring.
I know what you mean! This setup wasn't too expensive since I am using the stock housing. Main expense was another pair of ORI's, which I found used over on Pirate. I couldn't wait 3 months for new ones.
Originally, I planned to hold off on the rear until Fall. But I was having to run the front ORI's really low to avoid a ridiculous front rake. I've felt them bottom out even at slow/moderate speed. Putting ORI's on the rear will allow me to take the front up another inch, and then level it out.
Also, should allow plenty of room for 37's :becky:
Thanks! I can't wait either!!!
I consistently do more than my share of bolstering "Murphy's Law". I ran out of welding gas....at night....on a holiday weekend. So progress came to a halt until Monday. I had already carved out a couple hours to work on the truck. So, I took some garage flex pics, then sat in a lawn chair and drank beer.
Anyway here are the pics:
...of the truck, not of me drinking in a lawn chair.
Full droop:
Full stuff:
URBAN ASSAULT
New member
Yes. I had to clearance the bracket a little bit to account for the larger ballistic joint. I also added some gussets, which is probably overkill. I used the 2.375" ballistic joint for any stock brackets. The stock joints were 2.33" so I had to polish off a tiny bit of the misalignment spacers with a sanding disc. Still a tight fit but they have full cycle without binding.
Here are a few more pics:
Fully boxed coilover axle mounts
New panhard bar 1.5" DOM and heims. I used the hex tube inserts from Ruffstuff. Man, I wish I would have used those on the links too. Makes tightening the jam nut so much easier.
New panhard frame mount from Ruffstuff. Wraps around frame. I added some additional 1/4" to fully box it in.
I've picked up some scratches and even a small dent on the rear diff.
So while I have the axle out I went ahead and added some armor. I picked up the diff guard from Ballistic also. I didn't want the coupon to go to waste.
This is way overkill! However, if I ever decide to repeatedly bash into rocks backwards I will be covered.
I opened up the window for the fill hole to make things a little easier. Also welded the seams and sanded smooth for Hannibal Lecter effect. And I couldn't resist putting a skull on it.
I feel like there is still a lot to do, but the list is much smaller. Progress is slow with 2 little kids, job, etc, etc. 10pm to 1am is prime garage time.
Still need to fab up a crossbar between the towers, run brake lines, and possibly fab in an anti-rock sway bar, depending on how the test runs go. Also, need to box in the towers, which may not happen until after GSMTR at Windrock. And I still haven't settled on the final draft of that detail. I will likely just use some dynamat to seal them up until after May. Oh, and paint everything. Frame, axle, links, towers, etc.
I'm rambling.
Thanks for checking in!
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URBAN ASSAULT
New member
Thanks! That did cross my mind. Especially after finding an inch of old dirt/mud in the base of my upper link brackets. Those even have drain holes. The ORI mounts are massive and fill up the majority of my boxed mount. Probably wouldn't even hold a tablespoon with everything bolted up.
Drain holes would have been nice, but I wanted every millimeter of solid weld contact on arguably the most important mount.
There are lots of places under our trucks for water and mud to hide. This is one of them, but among the smallest.
From the first mod, it has been about compromise. Give a lil' this, to gain a lil' that. Everything got a healthy dose of self etching primer, and several coats of paint. Hopefully, that will do it.
Also, they do not treat the roads here. Oh, they have the stuff. They just don't do it.
Good eye. Thanks again.
I love it! I pieced together a PSC kit (ported steering box, reservoir) and a Trail-Gear pump. This one: Trail-Gear Toyota 1,450 PSI Power Steering Pump with Pulley
I'll send you a PM on this.
The hydro assist is great. There is a bit of a learning curve on "the feel" of the steering wheel. I swam around the road for a bit til I got the hang of it. Plenty of power. Literally can steer with one hand through obstacles, even when locked.
The RAM has a bit more travel than I have steering. I need to limit the RAM somehow. Otherwise, I could really jack up the tie rod ends with the added force from the hydro assist.
Love it. Do it!
BigFishAllDay
New member
This rig is getting plain nasty! Those are some very cool mods on the rear axle... stuff that I have never seen done before, on this forum or any other. I always keep an eye on your thread, and I'll be looking forward to seeing how the rear setup performs / how you like it.
Bad ass work, as always! :nod:
Bad ass work, as always! :nod:
URBAN ASSAULT
New member
Thank you!!! I usually jot down random things I like about other rigs, even if they are not 4Runners. Then put together my own version of it. The internet is 96% porn, but the rest of it has some pretty cool truck tech.
I follow your thread as well, and I will be making some West Coast trips, when my kids are a little older. I would love to coordinate a Moab trip, CO trip, Rubicon, or even a NM trip. Your trail pics are amazing. I had my 1st birthday in NM. Ha! Long time ago.
Everything always takes longer than I think. Progress was slow over the past couple weeks because of work, trips, etc.
I was in Seattle last week. I have a buddy who is in the wine industry in WA, and he had a big showcase during the Woodinville Wine Event. Of course, I had to help showcase/drink his wine.
I saw dozens of amazing Toyotas. Several 3rd gens, though I didn't recognize who. Tons of well built Tacomas, and 1 sick Tundra. I kept looking for [MENTION=62779]Kurtis[/MENTION] 's rig. Would have loved to see it.
Anyway, the truck is back on all 4's, and I need to get the photos caught up.
All bare metal got a coat or 2 or self etching primer:
Followed by Rustoleum's Hammered Black:
Final version of links primed and painted:
Ready to go back in:
A few weeks ago, I picked up a driveshaft out of a Tacoma Double Cab. The shaft was a few inches longer than a stock 4Runner.
But not long enough:
The slip is fully run out and splines are visible. Not going to work.
So, I followed [MENTION=67615]Dirtco[/MENTION] 's lead and had it retubed in .120 wall and lengthened.
Much better:
Gotta be careful when building a truck in your home garage. New ride height may not let you out. I literally just scraped by. As in, actually scraped the roof rack on way out. Will not fit if/when I go 37's. Unless I lose the roof rack, which I love. I have a full rotopax setup up there, and will use every bit of it on my next 2 Windrock trips. Anybody know how to make the garage taller?
More pics later this pm.
Thanks for checkin' in!
