You guessed it, yet another 85 4 Runner buildup!

[Shoyrtt]

keep it up... it looks like you are happy with it.  I am with mine as well.

I am happy with it.  It does great both on and offroad!  I have a friend who just sold his 40K+ Rubicon because he was tired of it breaking everytime he went out. He is looking for a built 4 Runner now. He wanted to buy my rig, but it's not for sale. 
Here is one more picture from the Big Bear trip.

[yotadork83]

did your friend find a built 4runner. i have a friend with a 88 4runner fully built except for bumpers.

[Shoyrtt]

did your friend find a built 4runner. i have a friend with a 88 4runner fully built except for bumpers.

He is close to striking a deal on a local Runner. Send me a PM with the specs of your friends rig.

[Shoyrtt]

Zukizzy and I finally finished up the front bumper. 8)

And finally the CO2 tank and junk

[MR_DIY]

dude, she looks MEAN with that front bumper.  great work guys.
I want your runner 

[Shoyrtt]

dude, she looks MEAN with that front bumper.  great work guys.
I want your runner 

Sorry MR DIY, you can't have it.

Next on the list: I ordered a set of tube doors that should be here in a couple of days. After that, I am going to attempt to copy a Can Back top. I have a friend with a bobbed, stainless steel version and another with a full length standard steel version (allegedly the last one Can Back made). I also have a real nice lady lined up to sew the top with her fancy sewing machine.  The nice lady happens to be my mother  who said the top should be really easy. 

And here is a nice article on a "DIY" Can Back: http://www.wildyoats.com/canvas_top_tech.htm

We have another quick Big Bear trip planned this weekend. It's a night run, so i don't know if I can get any good action shots.

[ZukIzzy]

Hey Jim how is the direction of the LEDs? We should incorporate the can back in the EXO that would be cool

Thanks for the help sunday.

Wayne

[rocktoy83]

That front bumper looks sweet!!! 

[Shoyrtt]

Hey Jim how is the direction of the LEDs? We should incorporate the can back in the EXO that would be cool

Thanks for the help sunday.

Wayne

I thought you were at the beach starting today.  8)
The LEDs in the driveway seem to be perfect. They aren't the brightest light, but there is a nice "blueish/white" flood about 2ft in front and to the side of each wheel. I imagine Big bear will be a better test.

I like the idea on the exo, but I would like to have the option of the hard top too for our very brief winter/rainy season. Plus, our kids need a warm place to play Gameboy when it snows in Cougar Buttes.

[ZukIzzy]

I thought you were at the beach starting today.  8)
The LEDs in the driveway seem to be perfect. They aren't the brightest light, but there is a nice "blueish/white" flood about 2ft in front and to the side of each wheel. I imagine Big bear will be a better test.

I like the idea on the exo, but I would like to have the option of the hard top too for our very brief winter/rainy season. Plus, our kids need a warm place to play Gameboy when it snows in Cougar Buttes.

Beach tomorrow, and I got an Idea We can talk it over some time when it is a bit cooler in the shop.

Thanks
Wayne

[Shoyrtt]

Here (thanks to EarlKann) is a picture from our night run on the 15/16th. The new tube doors were nice, although I will probably change the latch. 

[Shoyrtt]

I also like the first test of the front LEDs. They aren't too bright to blind the spotter, but they throw off enough light in the right spot to see the trail. And the 6 LEDs down below also do a good job  .

[Hyena]

what about tha flop? 

[Shamb]

very nice build, clean! 

I saw the flop on PBB, ouch!  how's the carnage?

[Shoyrtt]

The flop did some carnage to the B pillar and a few new wrinkles in the front fender . It is pushed in and back enough that the hard top no longer fits. We are thinking a few tugs with a come along and a few taps on the inside and it should be ok.  There was no damage at all from the door back. The new tube doors have a push out top tube that might have saved the rest of the body.

[EarlKann]

 :_oops:Sorry if I outed you on that flop thing.  I wasn't sure if you were wanting to hold off on the news or not.  You did say to post the pictures so I went ahead and did it.  It really didn't look all that bad except for the B pillar.  I think that you're right, the tube door sticking out may have protected the side some.  If I can scrape the $$ together I think I'll get some for myself.

Donald

[Shoyrtt]

No problem Donald.  I was laughing with Matt as we flopped.  It's inevitable that we all will crash at some point, I just didn't think it would be on that silly rut.

At $140 per set shipped, the tube doors were a great deal!

[Yota4life]

How much back spacing does your rock crawlers have and is it a 15 x 10?

[Shoyrtt]

How much back spacing does your rock crawlers have and is it a 15 x 10?

I believe they are a 3.75" b/s wheels. I had the 2" b/s wheel, but because they are reversed, I couldn't run beadlocks.  I know they are 8" wide and I am running 2" spacers all around.

[ZukIzzy]

I believe they are a 3.75" b/s wheels. I had the 2" b/s wheel, but because they are reversed, I couldn't run beadlocks.  I know they are 8" wide and I am running 2" spacers all around.

You are correct, and keep in mind the beadlock makes them look an inch or so wider.

Wayne

[jedrattle]

You are correct, and keep in mind the beadlock makes them look an inch or so wider.

Wayne

Why can't you run beadlocks on 2in backspace? My neighbor has them.

[MR_DIY]

Why can't you run beadlocks on 2in backspace? My neighbor has them.

you can't get the tire back on

[ZukIzzy]

Why can't you run beadlocks on 2in backspace? My neighbor has them.

Shawn
the tire will not go on over the front of most reverse center wheels, you have to mount from the back. this makes most reverse center wheels impossible to weld on bead locks cause you can't get the tire on over the lock. I have found a way but it is time consuming. you have to cut away some of the wheel then weld on the lock.

you can get custom 2" BS wheels with locks made custom but you can't just weld on the diy stuff with these wheels.

Wayne

[Shoyrtt]

Why can't you run beadlocks on 2in backspace? My neighbor has them.

Shawn,
You can also run them with the beadlock on the inside of the wheel.

Hey, I heard someone I know scored a set of 5, 37 MTRs with blingin wheels.

[jedrattle]

 Maybe   They are going be replaced with anti bling!!    My new wheels will be here later this week     I plan on running Stauns internal beadlocks   Got to go to work.....on the runner!! 

[Shoyrtt]

Even after a few gentle taps with the BFH, I couldn't get my trusty old hard top to fit after my flop. I decided to improvise for the time being so I got a little happy over the weekend with a high speed cutting wheel.  

I'll post a few pics soon.

[Shoyrtt]

Here are the pics:




And from the ladder

[Yota4life]

Nice! that was a good idea to salvage the top and use what you can. Are you going to do some tube along the fender lines or partial exo? Your bumpers and sliders are perfect to build off of. How well does that poly performance co2 set up work and how much did it cost? Im woundering if buying an overpriced powertank is worth it.

[Shoyrtt]

Nice! that was a good idea to salvage the top and use what you can. Are you going to do some tube along the fender lines or partial exo? Your bumpers and sliders are perfect to build off of

Thanks.  It seems like it is difficult to even give away a 4 Runner hardtop so I had to do something with it. We don't get much in the way of rain in So Cal and the Runner lives in the garage, so for now, it will provide a little shade for the rear seat.  8)

My plan is to copy a CanBack top for the winter and exo the whole thing. 

[Yota4life]

exo is the way to go . How well does that poly performance co2 set up work and how much did it cost? Im woundering if buying an overpriced powertank is worth it.