Author Topic: BigMike's Big Summer Project: REVIVED! (Read 212944 times)

Rocksurfer · « **Reply #180 on:** Jun 11, 2006, 01:17:17 PM »

Great job BM, it's got me thinking about my newest project truck and doing a pivot on it. Something I noticed when you do this pivot, it eliminates the u-bolt I like that since when you do an SPOA or like in Toyota's you do the hanger flop you won't risk crushing your tube if you tighten them to much.

Bazzi · « **Reply #181 on:** Jun 11, 2006, 05:07:44 PM »

Great job

LCOwner · « **Reply #182 on:** Jun 11, 2006, 10:27:24 PM »

Find someone with a GPS if you want to see your top speed. Or You can get one that plugs you into lap top.

I think my 8000# Ford can take you.

gotrocks · « **Reply #183 on:** Jun 13, 2006, 10:52:13 AM »

nice mike. Looking forward to seeing your truck in person at the roundup

hopper · « **Reply #184 on:** Jun 13, 2006, 06:02:13 PM »

Hey Big Mike, It looks like you should have keep the windshield wiper sprayers. Now with all that power the bugs no longer bounce off the window. lol

Sorry Im just hating

I wish I had a 3RZ.

BigMike · « **Reply #185 on:** Jun 19, 2006, 01:58:25 AM »

Ok guys, just got home around 1:30am. I started at 1pm and got my interior all cleaned up.

I am going to be VERY VERY busy this week with work, preparing my rig for Rubicon, and also I am going back to Japan in 8 days from now (for 3 weeks) so I need to get packed and I've got some paper work that I am doing as well, that needs to be ready before I leave......... So I am really busy, but I know I've gotta get this stuff done. I really was not motivated at all today until late in the evening, but I finished what I wanted to get done so its all good

Here is what the Dash looked like before I began, and then I started tearing it apart

BigMike · « **Reply #186 on:** Jun 19, 2006, 02:00:56 AM »

Then I went to work with the Clineometer from an early style 4Runner, I think 84-87 style.

It was NOT hard at all. I had to hammer out the factory studs and use longer bolts to get through the thick 1st gen dash board.

The rest was standard modification work

BigMike · « **Reply #187 on:** Jun 19, 2006, 02:05:08 AM »

Then I started working on the SR5 dash panel. Some wacko who previously owned my truck thought it would be cool to hack the crap out of the nice wood grain dash. I've got a second wood grain dash that is in Near Mint condition, so I have just always planned on modifiing this hacked dash.

Building the template, then the sheet, then getting ready to hole saw for the gauges

BigMike · « **Reply #188 on:** Jun 19, 2006, 02:07:06 AM »

Did the wiring and lines for the gauges and got everything hooked up.

BigMike · « **Reply #189 on:** Jun 19, 2006, 02:18:45 AM »

I was actually kinda surprised that no one commented about the little oil gauge that I am using, and was electrical taped along with my boost gauge and a switch that kept lighting on and off in the video that I posted above.

Did anyone happen to notice that my oil pressure was only about 18 PSI?

I figured someone would say something

but since none did, I am using the Oil Gauge, which if you'll notice does not actually have the word "Oil" printed on it, as my Water/Alcohol Injection System Pressure Gauge. Liquid is Liquid. And the red switch was being used as a temporary Water Pump ON/OFF lamp indicator. The switch wasn't even wired up, only it's light circuit. And yes, I know that 18-ish psi blows chunks for Water/Alcohol inj, so I am going to seek out a larger OEM wiper pump when I get a chance.. Its working good right now, but I would love to see at least 30 PSI on a wrecking yard squirter pump motor if I can find one. Also, about this oil press. gauge, it is really old and I have had it in my garage since my MR2 days. I must have gotten it for free from a friend or something.. Well, I do not have the bulb or harness to light it up, so I had to install it without a light for now. I need to go to Autozone or somewhere and get a light for it.

So I installed the boost gauge, the Water/Alch. pressure gauge, and that cool Blue light, which is the Pump ON/OFF indicator lamp. Right now I have the boost switch set at about 0.5 PSI, so the Blue light also, basically, doubles as a Positive Manifold Pressure indicator lamp as well, which is nice

Also, I was not sure if I was going to replace the boost gauge with a black face gauge to keep all of my instrumentation the same face color, but MAN!! That Autometer Phantom II is N I C E. I never knew how cool it was until I lit it up for the first time! Major

It has a LED inside so I won't be replacing bulbs and it glows sooo nice at night and looks killer. So later this summer I think I am going to get a small Oil press gauge and then a fuel pressure gauge (maybe, haven't decided yet) from the same Phantom II family, white faces.

So that's that. 12 Hours of fun cleaning up the cab. Here is another picture showing the before and after. Yeah, I am with you too, I can't tell a difference either

I also miss the electrical tape around the steering column as well

BigMike · « **Reply #190 on:** Jun 19, 2006, 02:37:52 AM »

Next is to repair a minor crack in my frame near my PS box, and install our drop hanger in the front, because it seems that my factory front hangers are cracking as well in a couple of places, so I am just going to beefing it all up in one shot.

Then I have a nail in my passenger rear tire that has been there since before Finals week, like 5 weeks ago, and I need to get it patched before the run this weekend. Its been holding air just fine with it in there too! hahaha

Then I need to figure out what belt size I need so I can move the idler pulley out more and get my Electric Cooling Fan hooked back up. I can't go wheeling without a cooling fan, that's for dang sure.

There are a couple of vacuum and 1 fuel line that I need to replace since installing the Supercharger, it required me to do so, but I have yet to do it

Then I think that's about it. She should be Rubicon ready. I might be getting a new rear bumper this week, but I am not sure if I will have time to install it. TURBO's rear bumper saved my

at the Hammers so I can't really complain about how hideous it is

But it offers no side and tail light protection so I might be getting a rear Crawling bumper, but I'm just so busy this week, I don't know if time will permit

That's all for now,

!
BigMike

BigMike · « **Reply #191 on:** Jun 19, 2006, 02:46:31 AM »

Oh, I forgot to mention that my truck got a new tattoo today also

1Bad4Runner · « **Reply #192 on:** Jun 19, 2006, 03:19:34 AM »

I think the truck looks great and it seems to run great too. Nice job

BigMike · « **Reply #193 on:** Jun 20, 2006, 12:36:08 AM »

Today I drove my truck and picked up 1,100 pounds worth of parts. As expected, the rear suspension, being so soft, really sagged down and was a good 3+ inches lower than the front end. I was glad to make this parts run because I am worried how my truck will handle the mountain roads with my camping gear in the bed. Well, to my surprise, it handles better than with it empty!! With it empty, the springs are so soft and the pivot blocks just have their way with the springs; The truck sways very easily. But with the suspension loaded, their spring rate is increased, and hence, the pivot blocks have less an effect on the sway of the truck. So it was very stable on the freeway, and with the soft suspension, this is by far the best my truck has ever drove. It is very comfortable and very smooth when loaded.

So tonight I repaired my cracked frame and took care of a couple of other unimportant things.

Before I began, after work I decided to flex it out from the front and see what happens...

BigMike · « **Reply #194 on:** Jun 20, 2006, 12:45:07 AM »

Man those pivots are KICK ASS!! I have NEVER seen these shocks either bottomed out NOR maxed out on an EMPTY BED. So I definitely need some 14" shocks in the back now...

But if you look carefully at my drivers rear spring, you can see that it is S-bending just slightly, which is very bad for the springs. So when I install the 14s, I need to position the upper mount so that the bottom of the longer 14" shock body is in approx. the same location as the bottom of these 12" shocks. That way I can install some bump stops and be sure that the springs will not go beyond what is natural for them. The uptravel on the rear suspension seems to be just perfect.

But clearly having another 2" of shock extension would be a GREAT help with articulation, due to the fact that when the passengers side rear shock is fully extended like this, the front passengers side shock still has about 3" of shock shaft showing! So if I keep going up with the forklift as pictured, the rear passengers side tire will lift off the ground while the front passengers side shock is still being compressed.

So it looks like I need to do just a bit more tweaking to the rear end before I am finally satisfied with it, and to get a bit more articulation outta this thang. It sure has come along ways from the last trip I wheeled, so I am very excited about this weekend to see how the truck does now with a much better rear suspension setup.

BigMike · « **Reply #195 on:** Jun 20, 2006, 12:47:58 AM »

And a couple of pictures of my poor poor frame

BigMike · « **Reply #196 on:** Jun 20, 2006, 12:50:11 AM »

This is between the IFS P/S box and my factory front spring hanger, drivers side of course.

And at first I thought that was the only damage, and then tonight I found out that my truck really is ON CRACK

BigMike · « **Reply #197 on:** Jun 20, 2006, 12:57:11 AM »

My frame has been cracked starting from the radiator support, then down and under the frame rail, and then up along half-way of the side of the frame rail near the P/S box.

Obviously I should have plated the frame when I did the HySteer install, but it was one of those things.....

It was a Thurs night, I had to get the HySteer installed for a run the following day.
And sadly, when I installed my HySteer, we did not have our KICK ASS Box Mount Kits ..............

..........so what I did tonight was ground deep grooves through each crack to get more surface area for the welder, and just did a patch-up-job to get me through the Rubicon this weekend. I am going to be gone to Japan again for most of July, so when I get back I am gonna have to completely redo my P/S mount and beef'n up the frame before the Round Up in Sept.

I didn't get any pics of it finished, so that's all I've got for today. Tomorrow I need to get my E-Fan hooked back up, patch my passengers side rear tire, and change a couple of fuel lines and vacuum lines. Then I should be ready to hit the trails

More to come tomorrow
G'Night
BigMike

6.72:1 · « **Reply #198 on:** Jun 20, 2006, 01:22:56 AM »

Ouch, that is one large crack. Crack Spackle?

BigMike · « **Reply #199 on:** Jun 20, 2006, 01:28:20 AM »

Well, it is fixed (for now). I'll keep a close eye on it this weekend. I will definitely be pulling the P/S box off and will redo the whole thing when I get back.

I have no idea how long it has been cracked and to no suprise I have been driving it like crazy ever since the Supercharger went on. I don't seem to be worried about my temp. repair for 1 more trail run.

6.72:1 · « **Reply #200 on:** Jun 20, 2006, 01:33:10 AM »

It has been hanging in there for this long! Should be no problem.

Rocksurfer · « **Reply #201 on:** Jun 20, 2006, 11:22:57 AM »

A lesson well learned, and everyone that I know that has done the IFS conversion and not moded the frame to support the directional forces that the IFS creates over the push pull box has cracked them. I even cracked the frame on my Willys when I tried the Rubicon in it, which lasted all of 2 hrs. and had to be towed out. Those powersteering pumps are a lot more powerfull than one thinks, in my business we've used them as winch pumps and can not only recover vehicles but have lifted entire cars off the ground. Now think of that kind of power being transmitted to an unsupported frame.

b_ripper8 · « **Reply #202 on:** Jun 20, 2006, 03:33:47 PM »

Gald to see you got some work done on your truck BM.

Willy Mammoth · « **Reply #203 on:** Jun 20, 2006, 03:54:19 PM »

Also note that the ram assist helps relieve the stress on the frame and put more on the axle.

BigMike · « **Reply #204 on:** Jun 20, 2006, 04:00:52 PM »

That's a good point. I won't be doing Ram Assist until I put in the Rear Steer.

Willy Mammoth · « **Reply #205 on:** Jun 20, 2006, 04:48:56 PM »

Where have I heard that before?

I'v got the axle and high steer for mine.

KYOTA · « **Reply #206 on:** Jun 20, 2006, 05:21:29 PM »

Mike I hope you wait for us slowbies on the way up Icehouse

BenMara · « **Reply #207 on:** Jun 20, 2006, 07:04:11 PM »

www.urdusa.com for some SCer mods

BigMike · « **Reply #208 on:** Jun 21, 2006, 02:52:06 AM »

Well tonight was a strange night..

First, I wanted to continue with fixing what is absolutely imperative to make the trip this weekend, so I ordered some new belts so I could get the E-Fan hooked up and working. Well, no one has that size belt and they *might* be able to get it tomorrow

The worst case scenario, I can just hook up the mechanical fan, but I really DONT want to do that

So I figured I would patch my passengers rear tire. Well, the tire machine was blocked by numerous cars (since it is in the Automotive business, not the Crawler business) so I will have to do it tomorrow.

Then I decided I would take care of the 1 fuel line, 2 vacuum lines, and a new fuel filter, but I missed the cut off time for free parts delivery, and I just decided to do it tomorrow.

So I **SHOULD** have just ended the day right then and gone home. I could have packed for the weekend, and also started to pack for Japan...

..But being the crazy goof ball that I am, I decided to install some 14" shocks in the back, which is NOT required to make the run, but oh well.

I spent a good 5 hrs finishing it, and then went to Denny's with TURBO around 1:30am, and I just got back home now.

Then come to find out, I left the camera at the shop, so I won't be able to share any photos until tomorrow.

Well, the results are in with the 14" shocks. From the 5 hours of work that went into the 14" shock conversion, I gained a WHOPPING 1/8" OF DOWN TRAVEL

The suspension is actually a bit stiffer right now, so I think that after this run they will break in, but it does seem that the leaf spring is simply not able to drop down any more. The shackle angle is maxed out and it seems to be the new limiting factor now. A great disappointment for sure.

The good news is that the front end was able to gain about 4 inches of up travel before the rears came off the ground.

Also, the new upper mounts I designed are moved more than 2" up, so I also gained more compression as well since the longer shock body actually rides a bit higher than the shorter 12" bodies mounted in the stock location. So at least I have something to be happy for. Now when you stand on the tire, oh sure, you can jack it up quite a bit more, but that is cheating and its not how I compared it with the 12"s on...

I will talk more about it when I get the pics.

G'Night for now,
BigMike

6.72:1 · « **Reply #209 on:** Jun 22, 2006, 12:58:36 AM »

Sounds interesting, can't wait to see the photographs.

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