Scott Wilson's 1988 4Runner Build, Version 2.0

[gnob]

Congrats on the ref.  Sounds like those guys just have a hard on with the tiny bit of authority they are awarded.
When all you need to do is plug in and make sure the monitors are cleared....

[swilson]

Tonight ran the last of the wires through the interior.  Finished the harness for the 6 switches in the dash and added some 12V outlets for the kids in the pockets beside the rear seats... you know, stuff kids didn't need in 1988 when this thing was built.   

[swilson]

Picture of turn signals and a link please.

Found the LEDs.

http://a.co/4kbfFFP

[Pat]

Loving this Build,  Nice Job

[swilson]

Still checking items off the list... not nearly at the pace I wanted to. 

I made up a bar to connect the tops of the strut towers.  Used tubing couplers, so I can unbolt it if the valve cover needs to come off, or engine needs to come out.

I installed a bikini top for a FJ40 today (from TPI Land Cruiser).  I made a flat 1/8" plate that uses the factory hard top bolts, and sandwiches the top against the body.  Then installed some footman loops on the back end of the body.

Tonight I went ahead and packed.  Its a tight fit for sure with no roof rack or swing away (yet) and keeping space for 4 passengers. 

Last item is the fenders... need to make room to stuff the tires.  We'll see what I have energy for tomorrow.  It will probably be quick and dirty to be ready for this trip.

[swilson]

Wow... these fenders are taking a ridiculous amount of hours to finish.  I got them far enough along that I won't have any clearance issues at Rubithon.  The rear however is missing the inner wheel well, so I'm hoping it's not too wet up there.  And if it is... oh well. 

Here's as far as I've gotten.  In the future I'll be adding an inner fender for the rear. Then  I'll use a round bar to put a clean edge on the fender and put some strength back in it.  Then metal work the fenders some more before it gets a paint job.

For now... I'm packing the last of my crap and I'll be on the trail first thing Wednesday morning!!  See ya!!

[OVRAROK]

shake down run on the rubicon, can't wait for the trail pics.    hope everything goes well. have fun

X2

[:)bestgen4runner]

X2

X3

[84 yota dude]

http://www.ttora.com/forum/18-pickup-early-4runner-tech/164292-4runner-fender-mods-101-a.html

[swilson]

x4!!!  Ha ha ha

[swilson]

http://www.ttora.com/forum/18-pickup-early-4runner-tech/164292-4runner-fender-mods-101-a.html

Wow, that's some slick sheet metal work.  I'm envious of his tools... And skill using them

I did something similar on my FJ40, where I welded a very factory looking lip on the edge of the rear wheel openings after cutting them out for larger tires.  Luckily for me, FJ40s are a lot less 3 dimensional than a 4Runner, because I don't have a shrinker/stretcher!

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/toyota-land-cruiser/476229-1966-fj40-build-up.html#post5513071

[Gnarly4X]

Wow, that's some slick sheet metal work.  I'm envious of his tools... And skill using them

I did something similar on my FJ40, where I welded a very factory looking lip on the edge of the rear wheel openings after cutting them out for larger tires.  Luckily for me, FJ40s are a lot less 3 dimensional than a 4Runner, because I don't have a shrinker/stretcher!

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/toyota-land-cruiser/476229-1966-fj40-build-up.html#post5513071

A highly experienced sheet metal guy can almost perform miracles with sheet metal.  It's a science, but mostly ART!!

Gnarls.

[redneckcustoms13]

We have a crew of union sheet metal workers at the mill. One of them made a sphere out of 063 aluminum plate, tigged the two halves together and polished it. Amazing work.

[swilson]

The shakedown run was EXCELLENT!  This 4Runner wheels better than both my previous rigs.  It has an absurd amount of wheel travel.  I only lifted a tire a couple times the whole trip.

I wheeled from Loon to the Springs with my daughter, then a couple days later we wheeled back to Loon to p/u the rest of the family, then back to the Springs the same day.  Then back to Loon the last day.  So it got over 30 miles of Rubicon testing.  We took Old Sluice on our way in with no issues.  Then when I we headed out to pickup the rest of the family we took Old Sluice in the uphill direction.  I had to pull winch line a few times to get through.  That was the toughest wheeling I've done to date.  Had a great time doing it!  Almost came out clean, except towards the end I got too close to a rock and folded up that right front fender.  I figured now was the time to see what it could really do, since I hadn't painted it yet    

No breakage.  Little scrape on the left rear fender and folded up the right front fender.  Used the sliders and bumpers plenty.

I'm extremely happy with the Maxis RAZR tires.  Even at 10 psi front/14 psi rear they hooked up better than the grooved swampers on the FJ40 did at 8 psi.  The truck climbed like a goat.

Stuff I need to work on... I had a minor interference issue between a bolt on my hydro assist ram and my panhard.  I'll end up mounting the hydro assist ram a little lower to fix that.  I should have resealed my PS box when I had it out.  It has a significant leak, so I'll pull it soon for a rebuild.  The Alcan springs worked fantastic, but I was on the bump stops far too often.  I'll be shipping them back to get reworked for a couple more inches of lift.  It was my own fault, when I spec'd them out I didn't count on frenching the front spring hanger, so I lost some height there. 

On the way in I was also on the ORI bumps far too often.  Mark Elliott (Purple Top Garage) has been running ORI's for years.  He helped tune them in the springs before the last day.  I'm now running 230 psi in the lower chamber and 340 psi in the upper.  It sits higher and wheels much better now.  Wish I had done that before running up the Old Sluice.

When I got back, I left the next day for a 2400 mi motorcycle trip with my daughter, so it's just been sitting leaking PS fluid since we got back.  I need to get back to it soon because in a couple months I should finally be moving home.  They finished sheetrocking the house while I was on vacation. 

[swilson]

I also need to cut the All Pro front bumper back.  I can stuff the front tires into it pretty hard. 

Happy 4th of July!   

[gnob]

30 miles on the Rub'.  Very legit shakedown.  Looking tight.

[swilson]

Here's a video of the 4Runner going up Soup Bowl

[gnob]

Sorry, i couldn't find in the thread.  What headlights are you using?

[swilson]

TruckLite LED.  Good low beam, bad high beam.  After I installed them my blue-high beam indicator stopped working... it worked for a second or two, then went out.  I've verified the blue LED in the cluster is still functional and installed the correct direction.  Still need to finish trouble shooting why it doesn't work.  I had just installed the LEDs in the instrument cluster too, so not sure that the highlights were the cause.

[redneckcustoms13]

Led headlights do not have enough current draw to turn on the dash high beam indicator.

[:)bestgen4runner]

I need a picture of the crunched fender.
Show and tell.

[seabass]

Pat and I were just talking about your old runner, how nice it was, then today he sent me this wow what a build. great work
sorry to see the house fire

[swilson]

Led headlights do not have enough current draw to turn on the dash high beam indicator.

That could definitely make sense, but it's pretty odd how it worked for a couple seconds when I first powered on the high beams... but it's never even flickered on each time I've powered them on since.

[swilson]

I need a picture of the crunched fender.
Show and tell.

Ha ha ha, ok

[swilson]

Pat and I were just talking about your old runner, how nice it was, then today he sent me this wow what a build. great work
sorry to see the house fire

Seabass... there's a name I haven't heard in awhile.  Hope you're going great!  And thanks!

[seabass]

Seabass... there's a name I haven't heard in awhile.  Hope you're going great!  And thanks!

no rig in 8 years so been off all the 4x4 boards, customers still show off there rigs, so I'm looking for a toy

[redneckcustoms13]

That could definitely make sense, but it's pretty odd how it worked for a couple seconds when I first powered on the high beams... but it's never even flickered on each time I've powered them on since.

Mine did the same thing. I ended up going back to halogen lights when one of my LEDs got wet. Now the indicator works again.

[mudmaster]

My LEDs from superbrightleds.com work great and they've been wet on numerous occasions.

[emsvitil]

Mine did the same thing. I ended up going back to halogen lights when one of my LEDs got wet. Now the indicator works again.

Add a small normal bulb or power resistor in parallel to the high beams for a more 'normal' load so the indicator works.   

[mudmaster]

Mine are plug and play.