81 Trekker Build

[dropzone]

I wish I had done this before I headed to the dunes last week.
I installed my  power tank mini monster  tire deflators today
http://www.powertank.com/products/sfID1/15/productID/445
Total install for four wheels was a little over an hour.
I was nervous drilling into the wheel



Found the correct 7/16" 1/4" -18npt tap on eBay

Installed

Mounted them opposite of the valve

Went from 30 to 0 psi in about 30 second s

[jeradx10]

Nice build man.. Looks like you had some fun with the rust tho....

[dropzone]

Probably had another week or two of decent weather but had the time to put the Trekker back in crappy weather mode
top and regular doors back on



kind of happy top was off with half doors on for about 14-15 weeks..

[dropzone]

Not a big update but scored some rare trekker spare parts from a trekker that was rolled a few years ago


going to cut down and fill the window frames since the canopy windows I have are just a hair too narrow for the window openings.  I figure some 1/4" lexan should do the trick.

[garlicgabe]

Sweet find!

[dropzone]

Sweet find!

Yep a little rough but I can use the rear hatch window channel big time.  Hopefully have time to swap the windows in the next week or so. 12 hour shift kind of suck..oh well


pulled the truck into the garage for some front end work.   
Went to go pick up a 30mm socket and saw Magnum drive by

Something about a 308 that I really like:P
Any way it was time to swap out steering boxes, my old one had a little play and a buddy of minehad hooked me up with one off the frame he is using off a 2nd gen 4Runner he just wanted the body. Turned out having a section of frame made it easier to pull the steering arm off

Swapped the box and noticed a bleeder screw on it and had an aw ha moment
way easier to bleed air out of the system:D

I had ordered replacement front spring bushings, UPS said they were out on the truck for delivery so I thought might as well take the old ones out in prep..7:30 pm and it still shows out on the truck. .gee thanks..


After 6 years on the truck the old ones were pretty far gone. I wish Dave's Off Road had their Delrin Frame bushings in stock.  $11 each but supposedly they help handling big time.
I need a set of taller jackstands too..someday..

[megaphoneman]

Wat are u doing with that rear hatch...and door??

blahhhhhhhhhhh

[dropzone]

Wat are u doing with that rear hatch...and door??

blahhhhhhhhhhh

It is pretty rough.  the Frame is tweeked a bit from the roll.  I also have the top from this trekker that is cracked to hell that I am thinking of using as half cab.  My existing hatch window channel (between the lexan and the hatch fiberglass) is pretty well gone.  I was going to pull it to use on my current hatch.

[megaphoneman]

I got stock seats.. u want em?

blahhhhhhhhhhh

[dropzone]

I got stock seats.. u want em?

blahhhhhhhhhhh

thanks but stock seats don't cut it for me.  I am currently running a set of low mileage mid 90's prelude seats.  I really want a set of Corbeaus or some form of good suspension seat.

Will get the pics you need soon..haven't forgot just been crazy busy the last week with family stuff and work.

[dropzone]

Got side tracked on my frontend work..though LROR finally sent the rest of my order..
my cut down  windows have always had a slight leak that I couldn't track down even after attempting to reseal so going back to stock size trekker windows..I should have just reused my original windows. ..would've been the smart move $$wise.
Anyway.
Going from this-


cleaned up the new donor frames out of a rolled trekker


a lot of old sealant and crap came out


enlarged the window opening and test fit the frames


hopefully tomorrow I will have time to make a template and cut the lexan

[megaphoneman]

Thats badass!!!

blahhhhhhhhhhh

[dropzone]

Got a little time to work on the replacement windows.
made a stencil and cut the lexan

epoxied the frame back together

Going to let it sit overnight before installing it.

[dropzone]

So the window refit project has taken me forever...but today it is finally done.   Fingers are crossed my leaks are cured.

I don't know why I didn't noticed this before but evidently I got pretty close to a tree or rock on a recent trip..rain gutter is tweeked and a good stratch down the l/s of the roof. 

got lucky I didn't fubar the fiberglass..
Window in and masked for touch up

Cleaned up and installed


I tinted the lexan with some rustoleum tail light tint as an experiment. .. not sure how I like it but stuck with for now...

[garlicgabe]

Nice work.   

[nisota]

Looks really good.

[dropzone]

Looks really good.

thanks guys appreciate it.

Picked up Galaxy Tab 3 7" tablet recently.  I like this one a lot more than my older Pantech.
ordered a 22" Akron gooseneck mount off ebay fairly cheap

It came with a few different mounting options (floor/dash/seat mounting bolt) so I should be able to find one that works well.

I have downloaded a few different Map apps like ViewRanger, Back Country Navigator and Locus Pro that allow you to use maps offline when you are out of cell tower range.

[dropzone]

She was evicted from the garage today..
It took 8 weeks but has a tighter steering box compliments of a friend from gitout.com, new rear windows and spring bushings.
Much tighter handling...

[Wainiha]

What does the "shell area" floor look like?  I mean from the back of the front seats towards the rear. 

What is the length from the back of the seats to the rear when closed?

I thinking of sleeping in it...

[dropzone]

What does the "shell area" floor look like?  I mean from the back of the front seats towards the rear. 

What is the length from the back of the seats to the rear when closed?

I thinking of sleeping in it...

well mine is 8-9" shorter than a stock trekker since I bobbed it.  I could probably squeeze a 37" tire behind my back seat, currently I have a 35" tire in the bed.
I don't have a ton of pictures that show the rear tub.  The seat tray is probably about 4" deep.
Anyway, these pics(taken when I was painting the cage and before the bed bob) might give you kind of an idea:



I feel I could still sleep in the back, just pop out the spare and use a plywood section over the seat tray and extend it forward, slide front seats as far forward, could probably get a good 6 to 6.5' of sleeping space.
The bed started out the normal 6" bed length of a standard bed, now it is 5'3"...

[Wainiha]

Looks like you could if you had to.  Nice cage.

[dropzone]

 I had tried a Drift HD camera but wasn't ever really happy with it. so I sold it on eBay and
a little while ago I got a great deal on a JVC Adixxion camera..got it way cheaper than a Go Pro.
Played with it  and it works great with an app that will allow me to control it from my phone..


This one is very user friendly and for $65 (used) I am happy. .may see if I can find another one..

a couple of days ago I went to put in a back up camera today and found I didn't have power to my cigarette lighter...
so that prompted a minor redo of my dash..
here is an older picture of a previous owners hack job on the stereo..

used a fairly decent mildly hacked replacement dash plate.

2 12 volt plugs (one in stock location) and 1 dual USB compliments of Blue Sea..
The switches are for future use and the stereo will be moved to the locking center console.
I do have a uncut replacement metal dash and a good dash pad that will go in sometime over the winter.


here is the result of the rear camera that prompted the mini redo of the dash.
it is nothing fancy a cheap Peak back up camera..i really wish I would have done this years ago.  really handy with limited visibility when backing up..



Am thinking it will also be nice on the trail..

[Wainiha]

Let's see pics of the rocket launcher.

[dropzone]

Let's see pics of the rocket launcher.

it sucks but it was impounded at customs...stupid arms guy

[dropzone]

not a big deal but am pretty happy with this deal I got from a guy at work

surface rust but functional...can't complain for $50..
I have a feeling I will be swapping engines sooner than later

[Wainiha]

Tundra V8?  Hehe.

[dropzone]

Tundra V8?  Hehe.

I wish!  I have another 22R sitting in the garage.   I wish I had some cash..There have been some great deals lately on 2 & 3RZ.


So some of you probably know I have a stash of parts, some like my rear disk brake kit have been sitting around entirely too long

made a little progress today.
IFS width axle will be going in

After trying the unassisted gravity method I broke down and cut up an old axle housing and booger welded a handle to the spring perch...Low and behold it only took a couple of whacks using the assisted gravity method on each axle.

hopefully make some more progress early next week..

[dropzone]

Been trying come up with a way to mount a sun visor on my cage.  Saw a cage on ttora that was using a side by side visor.  Thought what the heck I have most of that stuff around.  I need to get some fine grit sand paper to clean up the cut edge..but figure not bad for a low buck project using mostly materials I already had..

[4x4yota]

That is a great idea for a sun visor... shades the sun and still able yo have full view.

[dropzone]

That is a great idea for a sun visor... shades the sun and still able yo have full view.

Thanks. I tried to figure out a mount to work with some junk yard visors but never came up with a working way..This was cheap and a nice quick project..