Her Name is Frank

[Twisted Minis]

So the radiator is mounted. I need to run a straightener through the fins. It got pretty beat up in shipping. But I modified the lower hose and built mounts and a fan shroud. Need to add a port for the heater hose.

[GONZO97]

PICS! When closer!

[Twisted Minis]

Simple radiator cover.



Wishing now that I had left the center hole out.

[THK Matt]

reason for a rad cover?

[Twisted Minis]

Top of the radiator is uglier than the cover is?


Big downpipes for the S4 (3"). Time to clean them up, and modify them a bit to fit the larger exhaust system I plan to build.

[BHT12]

Man im not one for lower trucks but damn you do some good work..   

[THK Matt]

damn you're going larger on your exhaust system?

[Twisted Minis]

Ya, bigger turbos, so I'm going to open it up so the flow is not so limited. It has stock turbos now, and I kept stock size exhaust and just put different mufflers on it that where not so restrictive. But the stock downpipes are pretty restrictive, especially for the larger turbos. Stock is 2 1/8". The down pipes I bought are 3" and delete the pre-cat, and run a higher cell cat to make up for it, that still flows higher, and still smog legal. They are meant to neck down into the stock exhaust system, but I am going to put a V-band on them at 2.5" and run that into a single 3" all the way back with one muffler instead of two. Hoping it won't be too ridiculous around town.

[THK Matt]

very nice, you have some skills

[Twisted Minis]

Sorry I have not posted in ages, life has been a bit crazy!

















Doing a bunch of repairs on an 05 Corvette right now, and finishing up the back half on the green Nissan.

[Nimyad]

Man your work is so sick. I love it every time this thread pops up. I want a truck just like frank someday for a DD

[Twisted Minis]

Maybe someday I will finish the red DD truck, it will be similar to Frank... I miss that truck though.

[BigMike]

Man your work is awesome! Some day ya gotta build a Rock Crawling Toyota-powered buggy!! Thanks for posting the updates man!!

[Talon84x4]

Glad to see some updates and that you're still going strong, your fab work is amazing and is an inspiration to make mine better. Keep up the outstanding work

[Twisted Minis]

Thanks guys.

I am actually looking for a 1st gen 4Runner to build. My wife wants one, and it would give me a chance to build something 4WD for a change.

[46&2]

Thanks guys.

I am actually looking for a 1st gen 4Runner to build. My wife wants one, and it would give me a chance to build something 4WD for a change.

Giggity.

[Twisted Minis]

[THK Matt]

[BUDDERS]

So what did you do for door locks?  I almost have one done myself, but am having issues figuring out the lock situation.

[Twisted Minis]

No door locks, wasn't requested and I didn't really think about it. But if you cut the door a little bit more forward of the rear window frame, I don't think it would be too hard to reuse the stock locking hardware.

I am thinking about selling my Audi to get a 4x4 Toyota or a diesel truck, if anyone is interested.

[BUDDERS]

I guess door "locks" wasn't really the right word....err...make that latches/ door release levers/ door latch rods.

[suprawheeler]

Nice metal work. I like those half doors...similar to what I have.

[Nimyad]

So I have a question if it's not to odd for me to ask. But what would you charge if I brought in a 2wd first gen stock and wanted it completely slammed, linked with air bags and all that good stuff minus paint. I'm curious to see if I could ever afford it and not do it myself.

[Twisted Minis]

Honestly, around $5000 is a pretty basic bag job on a stock truck. There is about $2500 in parts. That doesn't even get into exhaust, replacement parts like ball joints and tie rods (usually becomes necessary within several hundred miles if not done with suspension install), the fact that those trucks need the frame Z'd and transmission crossmember replaced to lay flat. And the firewall needs to be tubbed, brake master relocated, clutch master relocated, wiring relocated, and I'm sure I'm forgetting about a dozen things. Its much more work than you think when you first get into it. I forgot how much work ti was going into the Nissan since I had not done one in about a year.

That said, its definitely cool to have a truck like this with well done suspension, and not have to worry about it. But the cost drives a lot of people away, which I understand.

If you're set on a first gen, I would consider selling mine for the right price. I'm getting to the poitn in my life that I need a fullsize 4WD I can tow with...

Nice metal work. I like those half doors...similar to what I have.

Thank you!

I guess door "locks" wasn't really the right word....err...make that latches/ door release levers/ door latch rods.

Ahh, I misunderstood. Because of the way they where built, and the handle being below the cut line, I had to uses cables/crimps with a small brass pulley that I machined. It would have made things easier to have the cut about 2-3 inches higher and a 45º cut on the back side instead of 90º.

[BUDDERS]

Ah...pulley and cables with crimps....ingenious as always!  I need to think out of the box more 

[Nimyad]

Honestly, around $5000 is a pretty basic bag job on a stock truck. There is about $2500 in parts. That doesn't even get into exhaust, replacement parts like ball joints and tie rods (usually becomes necessary within several hundred miles if not done with suspension install), the fact that those trucks need the frame Z'd and transmission crossmember replaced to lay flat. And the firewall needs to be tubbed, brake master relocated, clutch master relocated, wiring relocated, and I'm sure I'm forgetting about a dozen things. Its much more work than you think when you first get into it. I forgot how much work ti was going into the Nissan since I had not done one in about a year.

That said, its definitely cool to have a truck like this with well done suspension, and not have to worry about it. But the cost drives a lot of people away, which I understand.

If you're set on a first gen, I would consider selling mine for the right price. I'm getting to the poitn in my life that I need a fullsize 4WD I can tow with...

That's the number I thought and was afraid of. I knew it was a lot of work and cost for parts. Someday I'll get one, but definitely not in the cards right now.

[Twisted Minis]

Ya, unfortunately its not cheap, and the job generally outweighs the value of the vehicle. This is likely why I am seeing less of these jobs, and more of other types coming in. You really have to want it, and want it done right, to spend the money on it. The majority of my job is honestly fixing bad work.

[Twisted Minis]

Modified oil cooler.

[THK Matt]

Not to thread jack, but I thought youd be my best option. Is there a trick or tip to paint the oem gauge faces? Do I really have to tape off all the speedo and lettering? Or does someone make stickers?




Sent from the HO KID network using Tapatalk 2

[Twisted Minis]

I am actually not sure if anyone makes a sticker for them. I know when I did it on my first gen I did not mess with the gauge faces themselves since they where in nice shape. I would have a local graphic artist scan them and recreate them in vinyl before I painted anything, that way you could compare them side by side.