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

[BigMike]

Here I began working on the removable door hinges.

However, after doing allll this work, I decided I do not like it because the door makes contact with the corner of the fender and chips the paint.

So I built the hinges and then decided not to use them.



Making the CUT




Hinge disassembled


Here I am setting up to weld the left over piece to reinforce the single shear pin




And here it is installed:


But again, I am not going to use these because it will damage the paint pretty bad..



So all that work for nothing. Oh well, it was fun at least

[BigMike]

For the looooongest time I've been running around with a bump stop only on the front passengers side. I finally got pissed and set out to remedy this asymmetric problem.

When I got these Poly bump stops, I used rags and some vice grips to clamp onto the shock shaft to hold it in place. The passengers side shock came apart rather easily and I was able to install the bump stop there, but when I removed the driver's side shock and tried to take it apart, wow, there was nothing I could do to break the locktite or glue or whatever Bilstein has got there. That was about 2 years ago and it was getting late, so I just called it a day -- having only installed the passenger side.

So finally, I decided I had had enough and I was going to get this done.

At first I was thinking about using rubber with some vice grips, and then Marlin suggested why not use the press?

Use the press, wow, great idea Marlin! People don't call you a genius for nothing! ha ha hhhhho hum... why didn't I think of that

Loaded up in the press. I made sure to get it as far down the shaft as possible just incase I were to scratch it, at least it would only bother the shock only under max articulation.


Here it is with the end removed, bump stop and washer in place:


Added some red locktite and put her all back together:


And here she is mounted back on the axle:


MAN that press sure made that an easy job! Whew!

And regarding the shaft getting damaged, nope, nothing. It didn't leave any mark of any kind. Plus, the washer and bump stop are in that area, so really, even if I had damaged it, I bet it would still be very much usable. But the press trick is perfect and does not damage a Bilstein shock shaft

[BigMike]

A couple days prior to that night, I was moving my my driver's seat forward to get some stuff out from behind it, when something under the seat was preventing it's movement. I was in a hurry and also not thinking and I pulled the seat reallllly hard and something just gave away and broke.

I ended up crushing my front e-locker control circuit. I was really pissed because it was a prototype I've been working on that I had never mounted or had even finished for that matter. And now I broke the only part I had, and the Tin Bender's Jamboree Hammers trip was right around the corner!

I knew I needed a front locker for the hammers, so I forced myself to spend a very tedious hour and got the circuit fixed.

I don't have any pictures of the repair or the circuit, but here is the control module that does all the E-Locker work for me Thanks little guy, at least now I won't go around breaking ya any more



And that is it from April 22. Yup, that was a loooooong night for sure Definitely well worth it

[crawlerdan]

And here she is mounted back on the axle:



And regarding the shaft getting damaged, nope, nothing. It didn't leave any mark or any kind. Plus, the washer and bump stop are in that area, so really, even if I had damaged it, I bet it would still be very much usable. But the press trick is perfect and does not damage a Bilstein shock shaft

those look like ford body mount bushings

[BigMike]

those look like ford body mount bushings

That's funny! They are just modified BBCS Bump Stops I bought a long time ago from Poly Performance.

Here is the website for these bump stops:
http://www.polyperformance.com/shop/BBCS-Bump-Stop-p-1354.html

They are pretty tall, so I cut off about 1/3 of the material to cope with my limited up travel.


I was going to say something else about what I did on the 22nd, but my memory just threw a rod. I'll swing back later if I remember what it was

That's it for now!
BigMike

[BigMike]

I was going to say something else about what I did on the 22nd, but my memory just threw a rod. I'll swing back later if I remember what it was

OK DANGIT, Welcome to brain farts anonymous


I forgot to add that I dished out a bunch of Jacksons and bought an entire case of Royal Purple Max-Gear Synthetic gear oil



I am running it in my transmission, all 3 Crawlers and Transfer case, and rear end

In terms of temperature, I am not sure how much cooler stuff is because I did this in early Spring when its cool outside anyhow, yadda yadda yadda, but definitely, in terms of rolling resistance, oh yes, this makes a positive difference in gas mileage for sure. Now granted I switched to a different transmission, but according to my vacuum gauge, the engine used to draw about 4 units of vacuum to travel at 75 mph, but now it's able to draw 6 units at the same speed! Definitely less energy is required to move, there is less drag in my drivetrain and I credit this mostly to the Royal Purple gear oil.

I know it was a good $90 to do it all, but with the crappy gas prices today, it isn't going to take much time for this to pay for itself.

Regards,
Mike

[BigMike]

It's about damn time you got your arse in gear on your truck there Mike! 

Hey, what's it say on your front fender in PINK?

Almost forgot!

It says:

MOOSE
LOVER

[KDXSR5]

A couple days prior to that night, I was moving my my driver's seat forward to get some stuff out from behind it, when something under the seat was preventing it's movement. I was in a hurry and also not thinking and I pulled the seat reallllly hard and something just gave away and broke.

I ended up crushing my front e-locker control circuit. I was really pissed because it was a prototype I've been working on that I had never mounted or had even finished for that matter. And now I broke the only part I had, and the Tin Bender's Jamboree Hammers trip was right around the corner!

I knew I needed a front locker for the hammers, so I forced myself to spend a very tedious hour and got the circuit fixed.

I don't have any pictures of the repair or the circuit, but here is the control module that does all the E-Locker work for me Thanks little guy, at least now I won't go around breaking ya any more



And that is it from April 22. Yup, that was a loooooong night for sure Definitely well worth it

Do you have a wiring diagram somewhere on how you wired this up? It would be much appreciated.

[Cheesemaker]

These are some links from Marlin's electric locker page!

http://www.4x4wire.com/toyota/tech/electric_locker/
http://67.122.16.97/carterman/4runner/mods/locker/


Moose Lover!!    Your a funny guy Mike!

[BigMike]

These are some links from Marlin's electric locker page!

http://www.4x4wire.com/toyota/tech/electric_locker/
http://67.122.16.97/carterman/4runner/mods/locker/

Thanks for posting the links, but I am not using any of the wiring harness diagrams on the net. I am using a system that only requires 1 signal wire to operate the entire circuit.

Moose Lover!!    Your a funny guy Mike!

Good eyes for catching that one You can thank Brian from Canada for it as well as a "I WANT TO BE CANADIAN" writing on my tail gate, sneaky little hoser

[KDXSR5]

Thanks for posting the links, but I am not using any of the wiring harness diagrams on the net. I am using a system that only requires 1 signal wire to operate the entire circuit.

That is why I asked what you are running since it did not seem like any other ones I had seen. So... any diagrams?

[Phazertwo]

Update??

[MiniSimp]

Update??

After he put all that work in to it he decided to get out of 4wheeling because it's too time consuming to his schedule......so here is a pic I took last week after he dropped it!!!!!

[4RnrRick]

[79coyotefrg]

These are some links from Marlin's electric locker page!

http://www.4x4wire.com/toyota/tech/electric_locker/
http://67.122.16.97/carterman/4runner/mods/locker/


Moose Lover!!    Your a funny guy Mike!

  at least its not "moose knuckle lover" 

[46&2]

  at least its not "moose knuckle lover" 

hahahaha

[hollywood_toy90]

 

[TacoRunner]

Mike, just get to the front end please.

[Phazertwo]

Mike, just get to the front end please.

X2

[Yoat Goat]

This thread just brought the funny!!!!

[Phazertwo]

This thread needs to bring the updates!

[Doof]

[Rocksurfer]

As usual Mike leaves us hanging on the build threads.

[Phazertwo]

Dude, you and 4runnerick are killin me!!

[yotakid707]

truck looks sick mike keep up the work

[wampum]

Can't wait to see some updates on this rig BigMike! Keep her goin' 

[MiniSimp]

[Wermz84]

[SolidAxle]

Hey Mike how about a "how to" on the seat belt locking thing.

[Rocksurfer]

So when is Mike going to start another thread about the build up of his truck? Maybe even a thread about the thread of the thread about the thread of the build up of his truck.