Topic: SqWADoosh's 85 Runner Build Thread

[SqWADoosh]

 

[redneckcustoms13]

How does it pull em on the highway?

[Rockcrawlintoy]

Looks good. You get back on the ramp to double check any rubbing issues? Pretty smooth on the high way ?

[Axman]

I want to live in Enumclaw so I could say and the name more oftern. ENNNNUUUUMMMMCCCCCLLLLAAAAWWWWWW!

We (me and my buddies) just call it the CLAW 


The tires look Awesome!! looks like you have only tested urban crawling, are they gonna rub under full flex?
I just got 36's for my rig and thats my next step, see if I need to do some trimming...

[SqWADoosh [OP]]

How does it pull em on the highway?

Can definitely tell they are a lot heavier. The 3rz and 5.29 helps a lot though. Still pulls good.

Looks good. You get back on the ramp to double check any rubbing issues? Pretty smooth on the high way ?

Going to 4WP to pick up a part for my work party this weekend. Plan to check them on the RTI ramp again then.

We (me and my buddies) just call it the CLAW 


The tires look Awesome!! looks like you have only tested urban crawling, are they gonna rub under full flex?
I just got 36's for my rig and thats my next step, see if I need to do some trimming...

I did some trimming to prevent rub. It appears that I'm going to tuck nicely and not rub.

[Dingman.]

They look good

[blackdiamond]

The tires look gnarly. Perfect for local wheeling and I suspect the rubber compound will be great on the slickrock.

I was expecting them to be bigger than 36-1/4". Do they gained height when mounted and aired up?

[SqWADoosh [OP]]

The tires look gnarly. Perfect for local wheeling and I suspect the rubber compound will be great on the slickrock.

I was expecting them to be bigger than 36-1/4". Do they gained height when mounted and aired up?

My friend Liew came over and I stepped back and looked at the tape while he held it. It is the angle of being close that make them look like that. They are measuring about 36 7/8 to 37.

[4runner]

sweet rockers... cant wait to hear how they treat ya

[1985CRAWLER]

Yep they look sweet ! Make your runner not look so funny with cut out fenders and only 35s

[mudmaster]

Those look great! Can't wait to see em in person. 

[SqWADoosh [OP]]

A little shop floor mock up to double check I've got everything before tomorrow.

[OVRAROK]

A little shop floor mock up to double check I've got everything before tomorrow.

I don't see any fluid

[SqWADoosh [OP]]

2 gallons of it are already in the back of the truck.

[blackdiamond]

Did it go well or has your 4Runner lost its way? 

[SqWADoosh [OP]]

45. Upgrade power steering to TC style pump with remote reservoir and Chillkat bracket
46. Drill and tap steering box
47. Install hydraulic assist

Well what a weekend it was. I went over to mudmaster's place to tackle quite the big job of upgrading my power steering as well as install my new hydraulic assist. We started off very strong with Mark's friend Jim helping with some fabrication and welding. He made short work of welding on the bracket for the hydraulic ram onto the axle while me and Mark ran to the metal yard to pick up some steel for a custom bracket to mount my new Dave'z reservoir. We then all set about designing and creating the bracket. We were making very good time and had the fabrication work done by mid day. We then set about the mechanical side of things starting with the removal of all of my current power steering equipment. By 4 oclock we had everything drained and pulled off the truck and had begun to disassemble the steering box for drilling and tapping of hydro assist fittings. Everything was going very smoothly up until we attempted to screw in our first fitting. We found that the fittings would not start into the newly tapped holes. After about an hour of scratching our heads and attempting to figure out the problem. I realized that the tap we were using had a taper such that we were not getting deep enough with it to spread the hole enough for the fitting's threads to start. After we figured that out we made short work of finishing the tapping and re-assembly of the steering box. We then began to install all of the new parts and connect hoses.   

After a very long and arduous first day we were left with one major problem standing in the way of completion. The hydraulic hoses I ordered to run from the newly tapped steering box to my new hydraulic ram were too short. We racked our heads and got on google searching all over for someone who was open on Sundays making hydraulic lines. With a couple possibilities, none of which were very promising, we called it a night. I shot off an email to a guy I had been corresponding with from Pirate since I began looking into doing hydro assist and whom had recommended me the lengths of hoses that I ordered. I didn't receive a reply from him before I passed out on Mark's couch around 1 AM. 

I awoke to an email from Romeo the guy who I had emailed the night prior. He let me know that he lived nearby and could bring me an extra hose that should be long enough to work, so long as the longer of my two hoses could work for the shorter run. I shot him off Mark's address and then went about testing the longer of my two hoses on the shorter run. I was able to make it work and was back in business. Romeo showed up about an hour and a half later with his spare hose in hand. I quickly installed it and we began the bleeding procedure. Now going into this I had read up while researching hydro assist, that the bleeding was by far the biggest pain in the ass and could even take 2 days to get right. I have to say our experience was nothing of the sort. My new friend Chris showed up shortly after Romeo, and the now 4 of us set about bleeding the system. Short of a couple fittings that needed a little tightening up and my power steering pump belt being installed on the wrong pulley the whole process was quick and painless. Around 3 oclock I had taken the truck around the block for a couple test runs and on the 3rd one we no longer found any leaks and the job was done! 

I can't thank Mark, Romeo, and Chris enough for the help this weekend. Especially Mark for the long 2 days he put in with me and for the hospitality of his garage and his home. It was really nice getting to wrench and hang out with you before our big trip to Moab, brother. You are one cool cat and I'm glad to have made you as a friend. 




















My recommendation for those of you who attempt to tackle hydro assist in the future:

1. Absolutely utilize the guides on the forums out there, however make sure to take measurements for your truck in particular for hoses, as no two trucks are the same in this regard.
2. Make sure to have both a tapered/regular 1/4 -18 NPT tap as well as a bottom 1/4 - 18 NPT tap.
3. Put your axle on jack stands or jacks so that there is no weight on the tires when you do the bleeding procedure.
4. Make sure your reservoir is higher than your pump. I fully believe this is why my bleeding procedure went so smoothly.

[redneckcustoms13]

Surely it is not, However the angle on the photo of your Dave's reservoir makes it look like your bracket is bolted to the intake manifold as well as the fender ?

[mudmaster]

It is and may need to be removed. It's also supported from the bottom so that bolt isn't really needed.

Andrew, when did you have time to take pics 

[SqWADoosh [OP]]

Surely it is not, However the angle on the photo of your Dave's reservoir makes it look like your bracket is bolted to the intake manifold as well as the fender ?

It is indeed. You are the second person to comment on it. Like Mark said,  it is well supported in two other locations. Maybe ill cut off the part that connects to the intake.

It is and may need to be removed. It's also supported from the bottom so that bolt isn't really needed.

Andrew, when did you have time to take pics 

As you can see it is only a couple. I sure wish I would have taken more.

[redneckcustoms13]

I'm just thinking the torque of the engine under acceleration is going to want to be constantly pulling on it. Kind of like trying to solid mount an engine but keeping the rubber isolators.

[84_yota_4wd]

Cool Man, Glad you are going to cut the bracket free from the engine.

I think it would have been a matter of time until it broke free. Looks Great Keep up the great work.

[SqWADoosh [OP]]

Removed the bolt connecting the bracket to the intake. I also did a next day checkup to make sure I didn't have any leaks. So far so good in that department. I shot off some emails to both 4xinnovations and KillerToyTops today to inquire about the status of my orders. KTT responded letting me know that my top will be shipping tomorrow. Adam from 4xinnovations said I'm still a few weeks out from receiving my tube doors. I also heard back from Cody at BadLand about fixing my bumper, redoing my bump stops, and moving my jerry can mount higher to solve some of my departure angle problems. I have an appointment to drop off my truck to him later this month. Everything is on track to be done well ahead of Moab. Other things that are now on my radar after I found out that my work at BadLand will not be costing me nearly as much as I thought it would be:

- IFS hub swap w/ FROR tacoma bracket, 02 Tacoma brakes & rotors
- ARP hub and knuckle studs
- LPSV delete

[blackdiamond]

ARP studs are needed with your 37s. Good choice. I sort of assumed you had them already, I guess.

What about just taking the can bracket off for the Moab trip?  What kind of mileage do you get?  You shouldn't need any fuel on the back and lighter is always better for climbing.

[SqWADoosh [OP]]

ARP studs are needed with your 37s. Good choice. I sort of assumed you had them already, I guess.

What about just taking the can bracket off for the Moab trip?  What kind of mileage do you get?  You shouldn't need any fuel on the back and lighter is always better for climbing.

I get mileage and only have a 14 gallon tank. The jerrys are staying. They are going to be raised to where if I'm catching on them then I am already going end over end.

[SqWADoosh [OP]]

ARP studs ordered. Going to put them in on Saturday before I hit walker on Sunday.

[blackdiamond]

ARP studs ordered. Going to put them in on Saturday before I hit walker on Sunday.

With your hydro assist, 37s, and slickrock ARP studs in your steering could save the day. The goal is to never know for sure. With your e-locker you can relieve the pressure, but you'll still end up turning while locked in partly out of necessity and partly because you may not feel it when it is locked.

Zembalayan said his steering felt about the same locked or unlocked with his hydro assist on the last trip.

[SqWADoosh [OP]]

With your hydro assist, 37s, and slickrock ARP studs in your steering could save the day. The goal is to never know for sure. With your e-locker you can relieve the pressure, but you'll still end up turning while locked in partly out of necessity and partly because you may not feel it when it is locked.

Zembalayan said his steering felt about the same locked or unlocked with his hydro assist on the last trip.

I plan to get some local trips in (including this weekend) to tackle the learning curve of it. I'm starting to think I really need to get beadlocks as it is going to be much easier to unseat a bead with hydro now.

[blackdiamond]

I plan to get some local trips in (including this weekend) to tackle the learning curve of it. I'm starting to think I really need to get beadlocks as it is going to be much easier to unseat a bead with hydro now.

I don't see you having that issue. You seem pretty aware of your tire placement so I would expect you to know when you might be in danger...

[SqWADoosh [OP]]

I don't see you having that issue. You seem pretty aware of your tire placement so I would expect you to know when you might be in danger...

Hope you are right. 

[SqWADoosh [OP]]

My soft top from Killer Toy Tops is arriving on Saturday as well as my ARP studs from FROR. Going to spend that day getting those installed and then I'm off to Walker Valley for a 2 year anniversary of the first trip out with the runner.