Blackdiamond (Gup-C build-up)

[blackdiamond]

I'm home from work this afternoon getting ready to leave in the morning for Moab.  I worked swing shift Monday thru Wednesday which gave me an opportunity to get some final work on the 4Runner complete, but I didn't get home on Wednesday until close to 1 am and had to be back at work on dayshift at 7 am.  Between the changing schedule, long hours and stress I'm really tired.



I'll start a Moab trip report thread for pictures.

I am sleeping thru the Nascar qualifying and one of the drivers just had a nasty crash.  Somewhere close to 190 mph and it turned nearly straight into the wall.  He walked away with a wave.



The new COT seemed to do the job.  It was a MUCH harder crash than what #3 died in.

[gotrocks]

Did I say that I'm jealous.  Have a great time.  Hope you don't break anything and make sure and get me lots of pictures.

[blackdiamond]

Did I say that I'm jealous.  Have a great time.  Hope you don't break anything and make sure and get me lots of pictures.

So far nothing is broken, but we'll be changing a gasket on the front of the engine to stop a leak.

[blackdiamond]

Here's the link to some pictures from the trip.  I'll try to get the link to the rest soon.

http://board.marlincrawler.com/index.php?topic=44308.0;highlight=bdrunner

The damage wasn't too bad, the first day on Steel Bender we discovered an oil leak that required replacing the oil pump gasket to stop.  The second day on the Moab Rim my twin stick broke.  The third day on Hell's Revenge everything went well, the twin stick was replaced, the gasket changed and I had the local 4x4 shop install some Daystar "bump stops" on the front shocks to reduce the chance of damage since the springs had more travel than anticipated.  The fourth day on Behind the Rocks (backwards) we noticed a heater core hose with a minor leak so I grabbed a piece of spare hose and did an "As seen on TV" repair that seems to be holding.  The fifth day went well again on Cliff Hanger.  On Saturday I had the truck warming up getting ready to head home and noticed coolant leaking under the truck, somehow the upper radiator hose was leaking at the radiator so I had to relocate the clamp and tighten.  I felt like I had a lot of little things come up that couldn't really be anticipated.  I still have some drive train vibration to work out and the transfer case output shaft seems to have loosened up again.

It was fun to run a winch for two days that I borrowed from my dad.

I wish I could go back again soon...

The Marlin Crawler was the most used modification, I'd have major damage without it.  After running a bobbed truck, bumper dragging was a new experience.

I'll probably work towards replacing the Bilstein shocks with Rancho 9000's in the future, I simply didn't have enough shock to control the soft springs.  The ride off road was great, but I got tired of bottoming them so easily.  The ride on the highway is too soft for my taste.

[blackdiamond]

This thread was slipping to the bottom.  I'll have some bdrunner MCR7 pictures up in the next few weeks, but today I finally got the front shocks switched from the 12 inch Bilsteins for a new set of Rancho 9000XL shocks.  They are about 11 inch travel.  Now I have a full set installed.  I'll have to go for a ride to confirm, but based on how much better I liked the Rancho's on the rear for the MCR7 trip I'm excited.  Keep your eye out for a nice set of 12 inch Bilsteins going up for sale.  I know BigMike has his eye on a set already.

[88_Pathy]

I am totally opposite, I want bilstiens. I think the 9000s are to stiff, even on the softest setting

[John Doe]

Some great pics from Moab, looking forward to see your pics from MCR7.

[blackdiamond]

I am totally opposite, I want bilstiens. I think the 9000s are to stiff, even on the softest setting

What do you have for springs?  I'm running custom Alcans and I had my rear 9000s on 6 or 7 for the highway and 5 or 6 off road for MCR7.  Running empty it seems to feel great around 5 in the rear.  I'm not sure how it will change with a more firm shock in the front to help out.  In anticipate running them somewhere in the 3-5 range.

The Bilsteins allows too much wiggle on the highway when I was loaded up and also too soft off road for me.

[88_Pathy]

Marlin front 4in and all pro rear 5in all broken in. Settling 1 all the time.

[blackdiamond]

Marlin front 4in and all pro rear 5in all broken in. Settling 1 all the time.

I should add that I like the ride quality of the Bilsteins, just not the control they provided.  Do you drive mostly off road?

[blackdiamond]

I just purchased a Warn M8000 winch for the bdrunner.  It should provide the security that I want to run some of the more difficult trails in Moab this summer.

[gotrocks]

Nice! wish I was able to come with you to Moab this summer.  The previous dates would've worked out perfectly.

[blackdiamond]

Nice! wish I was able to come with you to Moab this summer.  The previous dates would've worked out perfectly.

I'm bummed about you not being able to go as well, but I didn't want to be in Moab that time of year and it worked out better for Rachel to use that week for the Dubai trip.  We purchased our tickets yesterday for three days in London on our way to a week in Dubai.  Capital One put a hold on the account to confirm the purchase so you know the tickets were not cheap.

We are planning to be around for your graduation, not that you'll have time to really see us...

[gotrocks]

We are planning to be around for your graduation, not that you'll have time to really see us...

Sweet I'm looking forwards to seeing you guys there.  Question about the time of year in Moab though, how is Dubai going to be cooler than Moab that time of year?

[blackdiamond]

Sweet I'm looking forwards to seeing you guys there.  Question about the time of year in Moab though, how is Dubai going to be cooler than Moab that time of year?

I expect Dubai to be 120+ degrees, but we're still planning to go to Ski Dubai!  The dates were chosen so that mrsblackdiamond can finish her government student loan contract so she doesn't have to worry about taking additional days off.  She is only allotted a certain number of days off each year (including holidays, snow days, etc...) so it can get tight.  The other part is that I don't want to have the trip back to back, as of now they are only 5 weeks apart so all of my fun for the year is in a two month period.

[gotrocks]

Oh its all good I just wanted to give you a hard time. 

OK back on topic of the bd runner:

Have you been out with it at all recently and if so where are the pictures.  Your thread needs some updating its been a while.

[blackdiamond]

Oh its all good I just wanted to give you a hard time. 

OK back on topic of the bd runner:

Have you been out with it at all recently and if so where are the pictures.  Your thread needs some updating its been a while.

I have not gone anywhere since the Rubicon trip (have been going almost a full month on a tank of gas) and have no plans before Moab.  I love the working world! 

[gotrocks]

That sucks.  Understand though with school right now.  I'm putting in between 16-18 hours a day right now between homework and my senior project.  I'm getting a little burt out.  Spring break will be a welcomed retreat.

[blackdiamond]

I just purchased a Warn M8000 winch for the bdrunner.  It should provide the security that I want to run some of the more difficult trails in Moab this summer.

A Viking synthetic rope and aluminum hawse fairlead are now on order.  Hopefully they will arrive this week so I can install the winch next weekend.

I am very close to ordering a Killer Toy Tops full soft top as well.  I really like the idea of running a soft top to Moab and not having to worry about the hard top while I'm there.  The weight reduction will be nice on the trails.

[808]

i really think you should trade that runner of yours in for a 3rd gen pickup, kina like this one ... http://board.marlincrawler.com/index.php?topic=54042.0

[gotrocks]

bd you'll love the synthetic winch line. Now that I've had one I'll never go back.

[rednk1980]

bd you'll love the synthetic winch line. Now that I've had one I'll never go back.

X2 on that one i had cable before and switched will never go back so much nicer and safer.

[blackdiamond]

Here's the winch installed.

[gotrocks]

Looks really good man.  I like the blue up there. 

[blackdiamond]

I ordered Longfield Hub Gears and ARP hub and knuckle studs for the bdrunner.  I think the bdrunner may be "complete" after these parts are installed.  I know off road rigs are never finished, but I can't think of anything that I really want or have a need for.

Here's the build specs:

1989 Toyota 4Runner

SAS (by gotrocks) with 85 truck front axle
TG cross-over steering
4-1/2 inch Alcan springs built (front built to Marlin dimensions & rears are 5 inches over stock)
Rancho 9000RSX shocks with about 11 inches of travel
35x12.50 BFG Mud Terrain KM tires on 10 inch steel wheels
Longfield Front Axles
Aisin Hubs with *Longfield Hub Gears
*ARP Hub and Knuckle Studs
4.88 Yukon Ring & Pinion
Front Aussie Locker
Rear Detroit Locker
Marlin Crawler rear Bumper
Marlin Crawler Heavy Duty Cross member (Now sold by TG)
TG Rock Sliders
Marlin Crawler 1200 lb clutch
Marlin Crawler 4.70 rear case with Inchworm adapter for a "dual ultimate"
High Angle front & rear drive shafts
Marlin Crawler shackles front & rear
Front Range Off Road Fabrication Front Bumper
Warn M8000 winch with Viking Synthetic winch line and aluminum hawse fairlead
Rebuilt engine with mid range cam
Rebuilt Transmission
Tube Doors
**Killer Toy Tops Full Soft Top

Moab tested and Rubicon approved!

*in the mail
** being manufactured

Once again I need to give gotrocks 100% of the credit for making this build possible.

Other than a full roll cage, that I don't have plans to get, what am I missing? 

[86turboyota]

4dees

[blackdiamond]

4dees

So far I'm happy with my 35's.  Tire size hasn't kept me from going anywhere I had interest in going. 

[Volcom]

3.4 swap 

[John Doe]

3.4 swap 

X2!

[gotrocks]

I think you're pretty much done man.  I love the 4Runner and unfortunately have not been able to go wheeling with you yet.  When you're ready for a family cage let me know.  I think its really the only thing I could see you "needing/wanting" in the future.  After a few rolls I am a firm believer in cages and I don't see any reason not to have one in any rig especially when kids come into the picture.

BTW on the 3.4 swap you guys keep saying.  Correct me if I'm wrong bd but I think he is plenty happy with the 22re in the Runner.  It has decent milage and power. Not to mention that I just rebuilt it, and there's no reason to replace it at least for a long long time.