BigMike's "Return of the Project" [Updated 7/11]

[BigMike]

[crazykooter]

Why don't Marlin make a bracket for a york to mount on Toyota motor?

It would be a nightmare for them to do this since some yrs have diff mounting locations and brackets.  Its not hard to adapt the stock ac bracket to the york bracket.
Like my 22R ac is in what would be the normal ac location.  upper intake side but since I have to have a smog pump it really makes it hard to get the york to fit.

[83 Crawler]

so any new update big mike?

[Cheesemaker]

so any new update big mike?

 


Mike is the biggest tease about his rig. 

[83 Crawler]

 


Mike is the biggest tease about his rig. 

i just went threw all 3 of his build... and thats what iv seen! it sucks! i had to wade threw 3 pages of bs to get to updates!

[BigMike]

Yes BigMike, please get this updated!!!

[Rocksurfer]

At least you fixed the image problem so we can see the old upgrades.

[83 Crawler]

Yes BigMike, please get this updated!!!

please do you tease....

[Cheesemaker]

Yes BigMike, please get this updated!!!

Mike teasing us again!!   

Mike, I'll be down in June, maybe I can get pictures and post them up, then you can make comments.  After we do a run on the 16th, sound good? 

[BigMike]

My truck lives Here is Chris driving it last weekend at the Hammers. I finally got to run upper Big Johnson (had previously only done the lower section). It's not as tough as I thought it would be. Truck performed flawlessly which is great considering I don't do any maintenance to it anymore... Somehow she keeps going.



Next event will be the Molina Ghost Run in Hollister next, next weekend

[83 Crawler]

anything new lately

[BigMike]

anything new lately

I had to put fresh gas in it for the trip.

[fordh8r]

I had to put fresh gas in it for the trip.

Where's the pics?

[83 Crawler]

Where's the pics?

x2

[BigMike]

Got my truck loaded and ready for CAL4WD's Molina Ghost Run this weekend in Hollister

[Cheesemaker]

Mike, would you be willing to do a day trip on June 16th?  I already PM'd Freds40 and bribed him with cheese.  That weekend is the only free weekend I will have.  Just need two seats, one for me, and one for Steven Holtman.  Would love to see how the pro's wheel it. 

Be willing to buy some sammy makings for everybody. 

[BigMike]

Hey Cheesy, I heard you were coming down but I thought it was to wheel the Dusy (which doesn't open until later in the summer so I figured ya wouldn't be here till sometime I'm June). I might not be around that weekend as I have a 24 hour endurance mountain bike race the weekend before and a 4WD event the weekend after (Moonlight Madness). So that's pretty much my only weekend in June to go visit my wife :'(

[fordh8r]

Are you suggesting June 16th in Hollister, Cheesy? Hmmm... I may be down for that! 

[Peterbuilt84]

Got my truck loaded and ready for CAL4WD's Molina Ghost Run this weekend in Hollister

Do you plan on checking out Hudner?

[BigMike]

Hudner? Does Hollister even have named trails?

[Peterbuilt84]

See link: http://board.marlincrawler.com/index.php?topic=88684

And a full map for reference 

http://ohv.parks.ca.gov/pages/1170/files/hollisterhillsmap_upperranch-web.pdf

[Cheesemaker]

I was talking to Kyle (88pathy, he's the only local wheeler that I have a number for) and he was talking maybe up to Strawberry, Coyote trails.  I just want to get a trip in while I'm down there.  There has to be something local that can be done.  And I understand about family time Mike.  I was just hoping to get to hang out with some real wheelers.     I'm tired of mud!  Maybe some of the other guys in the office or shop is willing to do a day run.  So, pass it around the office that I'm willing to bring sammy makings, and sodas for the gang. 

You gonna be in the shop on the 18th?  Because I want to hang in the shop for a few and pick out some stuff.   

[tanabuse]

are those 1.5 spacers in the rear to help with tire rub on the frame because of the spring rockers?

That's it for tonight, it's already midnight!


Here is a little sneak preview of the next thing I did:

Early March 2008: Out with the old 1986 wide rear end...

[BigMike]

are those 1.5 spacers in the rear to help with tire rub on the frame because of the spring rockers?

Good guess, but no, I just wanted a wider track. Since then I've switched to a Tacoma rear axle and no longer use wheel spacers.

[*** YELLER ***]

MIke since your here, when you get time can you get me a picture of your pivot block stop so I can make one for mine PLEASE

[tanabuse]

soo what are they then? 1 inch spacers i wanna do the spring rocker as well but im running a 37,14 ,15 irocks
on a ten inch rim with bobbys longs bead locks so there really wide i need to know what will get rid of my frme rub . i have a tacoma houseing but the thirds are hard to come up with besides i allready have a v6 third with spool will the spool form a v6 go into a taco third houseing ? i also wanted to know if i should buy these pivot blocks from MR david wong or have bc broncos send me a set what do u recomend.

[BigMike]

The spacers were 1.5". The only problem I had with tire interference was inner sidewall to the frame rail. So with wide tires and no wheel spacers, yes I can see this being a limiting factor. It's gonna vary so much depending on your setup, so you'd probably just install some pivot blocks and then see what rubs first before you can make an informed decision as to what is needed exactly.

For me and the Tacoma housing, I was already running an 8" E-Locker, so I just found a E-Locker Taco housing and it was a very easy swap. I guess you could get an E-Locker housing and weld it up and rearrange a few studs to get a non-E-Locker 8" third to fit in place....?

I do like the BC Spring Rocker pivots because they have grease zerts which is a really nice feature: http://www.bcbroncos.com/rearsusp1.html They are also designed to rest on top your existing perches, so they may be removed at any time if needed. I am not sure if Dave Wong is still making his version or not





Man... Replies to this thread are starting to give me the itch to do something to my truck!

BigMike

[TacoRunner]

I wounder what you're gonna do???

[tanabuse]

well as for the third i know  im not gonna bother with welding up my taco houseing to make it a non elocker it's allready a noe-locker + that would be a waste of my time . and the studs on a taco houseing are bigger and are a different bolt patter then the 4 banger/v6 thirds  so ill just stick wit my v6 third and my 86 houseing wit 1.5 spacers wich makes me 61 inchs wide. i shouldent have two many problems if i need i can always go two inch  but i know it would not be that grate unless i have a full floater witch i dont think i need, now for the spring rocker wouldent the nuts  bolting the unit to the axel limit travel of the rocker itself.  and since its has bronze bushings it would be nice to be able to rebuild it if needed right? 

also 1 more thing mike after going over your projects builds i was just wondering why you have not upgraded to disks and a full floater in the rear  from the guys at  Diamond Axles

[86rustbucket]

well as for the third i know  im not gonna bother with welding up my taco houseing to make it a non elocker it's allready a noe-locker + that would be a waste of my time . and the studs on a taco houseing are bigger and are a different bolt patter then the 4 banger/v6 thirds

you could go with a housing from a 3rd gen 2wd 4runner. They are tacoma width but they take the standard 8 inch 3rd member instead of the 8.4 that you mentioned.  you could find one at a full service junkyard for not much more than a new pair of wheel spacers.