Topic: Colorado

[toytank]

yes barbie jeep would have been sweet lol

[wakkjobb]

GM has that Mary Kay pink pearl...    maybe for the next rig.

[Zs Confederate Toy]

For the wifes rig maybe?

[wakkjobb]

Nope, I'd totally roll a pink rig. 

Rainbows and Unicorn Fabwerkxz

[wakkjobb]

Rainbows and Unicorns Fabwerkxz was in full effect today; burned on a drop hanger, ran outta wire and installed better shackles. Had some Sonic too... 'twas a productive day.















>>Dan

[4x4yota]

thanks again dan I really appreciate it...

[wakkjobb]

I'm sorry we didn't get the hi-steer on and that the welding wire ran out after I said "I should have enough.". Duh.  Does it drive straight? That hanger is off by 2mm or so... 

[4x4yota]

it pulls to the right a lil but I need an alignment anyways and it could have been the wind too... but definately rides way better since its off the bump stops...

[Volcom]

Working on getting the 4Runner back up & running.  I should have it running this weekend.


Removed the front leaf spring.  Ready for some links?  :razz:


The broken, trail fixed leaf spring.  I got 5 years of some tough wheeling out of this Trail Gear spring.  Can't complain that it broke.


Broke right behind the U-bolt plate.


Showing off my new 3 ton jack.  I needed a bigger jack to lift the Dodge.  It's overkill for the 4Runner.


Both springs now out.



TG 4" spring on top, stock 2wd rear spring on bottom.  Looks like the rear spring is going to move the axle 1" forward.


To get the axle back in the same spot as before, I drilled the spring perch 1" foward.  My steering is dialed with the drag link & tie rod perfectly parellel.  Same with the hydro ram.


I plan on using the stock rears as the top two springs and the bottom 4 TG springs.  This is how they are going to line up.


The stock rears have 40mm front bushing and 30mm rear bushings, same as the TG springs.  I plan on using new TG bushings in the rears up front.  I did find out that the bushings with the springs were too thick to fit in the front spring hanger.  I had to use the lathe to remove about 1/8" from each bushing.


I also had to extend the center slot in the U-bolt place for the redrilled spring perch.  I used my uncle's Bridgeport milling machine.


Easy to cut slots with a milling machine. 



I also wanted to increase the center pin size.  The stock pin is tiny.  Upgraded to a grade 8 allen head bolt to help with the installation of the center pin.


Mounted the main leaf to try and get some idea of the shackle angle at full compression.  It also allowed me to find out how I'm going to mount my bumpstops. 


I'm not happy with the shackle angle.  At full compression, it should be laying back more.  I will cut the shackles down (currently 5" hole to hole) to get the shackle angle steeper.  It will also lower the 4Runner (super happy about that).


Passenger side shot.  I still need to cut off the current bumpstop.

I've got alot of work to do this weekend.

[Quick Draw]

Nice, Aaron!  I especially liked the shots of the lathe and vertical mill.  You don't see enough of that in this sport.  Wonder why...   But seriously, I would love to have that stuff at my disposal.  I kind of have access if I really had to...but if it's not academic related and somebody figures that out, I can get into some trouble.

[Volcom]

Shackle angle at flat spring after cutting them down from 5" eye to eye to 3.75" eye to eye.  I thought the angle would have been steeper after cutting them down but there's no going back now.


4" Trail Gear on top, RUF/TG mixed pack on bottom.  The RearUpFront also ended up being about 3/8" shorter than the 4" TG's.


I was surprised to see them end the same height. (TG right, RUF left).




I also made spring clamps for both the front & the rear of the springs.  I used 1.25" 3/16" strap.  I countersunk some allen head bolts into the 3rd spring.  Rears up front are known to separate the main from the 2nd pack while wheeling.  I knew I needed some kind of spring clamps.   


Driver's side newly resigned bumpstop bracket.  Everything is from 1/4" plate because the 22RE is a powerhouse   


Passenger side bumpstop.


Ended up cutting down the front spring clamps after installing the springs.  The clamps looked like they might interfere with the spring hanger.  I still might drill some holes and run a bolt though them.


Rear shackle angle with full weight on the rig.  I wish they were layed back more but without alot of work (moving front spring hanger back or redoing the frame sleeves) it will stay just like this.  The rear spring clamps have 2.5" sleeves and bolts in them.


Only 1.25" of air gap between the bump & the pad.  The bump also has 3 5/8" air gaps.  I rounded down to 1.5" when I setup the bumpstop.  They compress great while on the trail.  My tires barely rub the battery box, front bumper, and firewall (tubbed back to the body mount) at full compression.   


Closeup of the bracket just in case anybody else wants to copy the design. 



Hard to tell in the pictures but the 4Runner sits nose down now.  I think I lost 1-1.25" of height in the front after swapping springs      Frame height on 39.5" tires at 8psi is 26".

[wakkjobb]

Nice work, Aaron! You've been a busy fella to say the least.   

>>Dan

[Volcom]

The truck seems way more stable on the trail.  Can't really pinpoint one thing that made all the difference.  I think dropping the ride height and having some good bumpstops with some progressive travel really helped.  The front of the truck is dialed pretty good!!

Now I need to work on the rear.  The rear shocks need to be pointed up.  I lost another rear shock bolt nut on the trail.  Pulled the shock and drove it to the trailer.  Scary how the rear feels pretty much the same with or without a shock       Just proves that my angled shocks are not doing much.

This winter will bring a rear housing swap for a straight one, new hard brake lines (the current ones are pinched pretty good in a couple spots), traction bar, and redoing the shock mounts.

[Volcom]

Ordered some more goodies for the 4Runner.  I was planning on using 6 55w fog lights for rock lights under my Toyota.  But they suck a ton of amperage and put out mediocre light.  I've always wanted to run LED's but they have been out of my price range.  I found a link on Pirate for a strip of 20 LEDs for $26.  The output looks great for the $.  They will be much easier to wire as well.  Since they draw little amperage, they don't have be wired with relays.  I plan on putting 2 or 3 inside the cab for dome lights and the rest will go under for rock lights.

I also wanted to upgrade my front Hella 500FF's.  They are a standard 55w H3 bulb.  I don't actually have them wired so I can't comment on how little light they put out in stock form.  But the hot modification for these lights is to buy a cheap HID kit from DDM tuning and convert them to HID's.  Granted, the converted lights won't put out as good of light as a true HID but the output will be enough.  I ordered the 55w 4500k lights.  Should be bright!

I also plan on upgrading my stock alternator to a GM CS130 style alternator.  I already have the Toyota to GM alt bracket.  I will need the extra amperage for the winch and the Oasis compressor.