Project Hardshell

[TheCrabMaster]

Alright did some work on the truck yesterday. Started by getting the driver side suspension tore down. Then I had to cut the old 4x4 bump stop frame out, otherwise ill never commence with the lows!

Originally I was going to box it but its already boxed inside so im not too worried about it.
Next step was to tear down the 2wd spindles. While they were apart I cleaned and paint the hubs, then threw some rear studs in them since they are longer. Then reassembled with new bearings, seals and globs of new grease!

SHINY!
Then threw the upper control arm back on, then threw the knuckles back on with new balljoints.

Also got the oil filter relo kit on and put the starter back in and threw the heat wrap on it.
I don't think it will get the hot near it but it also keeps stuff off the starter.

But that's all for now!

[TheCrabMaster]

Finally made my intake, made a bracket for the catch can and plumbed it up.

Kind of crappy picture I have to take the intake out again for final cleanup and paint the chrome and the maf housing black. Then it will be ready to put back in for good.

[TheCrabMaster]

Alright did a little work today and made some progress!

Started tidying up things here and there. Moved the bracket for the fuel filter and mounted the oil filter kit in the only place it would work on the power steering reservoir.



Got the headers in today also. Everything clears them also so no worries about them. The passenger side went on perfect. The driver side gave me nothing but problems haha.
Put some heat shielding around the power steering line since its pretty close to the exhaust.

Got the intake off and painted. Then put it back together and got the oil catch can fully installed.

Had to make a simple bracket for the catch can since it didn't come with one, then put the heat sleeve over the return for the can since its over the exhaust.

Clearer pic of the egr block off plates and driver side exhaust.

Last but not least, a pic of all the new steering parts and ball joints. So I just need to get the crossover pipe on and the exhaust at the front is done. I have to put the torsion bar crossmember back in then everything up front is basically done.
Next big thing on the list is rear suspension which you all will be happy to hear, the only will be able to get to a legit height is lots of cutting and... DA DA DA DAAAAAAAA. COILOVERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! So I shall be buying those soon enough. More updates to come!

[TheCrabMaster]

The rabbit holes continues to get deeper and deeper. I am starting to wonder if this is all just a dream.

But got my coilovers in the other day. I'm only doing the rear for the time being. Should start fabbing the notch in the rear and building the brackets and everything very soon. Also have some more surprises up my sleeves, so you'll just have to patiently wait. Stay righteous my friends!

[TheCrabMaster]

Well over the past week ive changed what direction I was going. I was originally going to just run the 15x10s in the rear but I decided lets step the game up. The 15x8 got sold to a buddy whose always wanted then and I turned around about bought these bad boys.

The brand new Maxxis Vr-1. 245/40R15 and im going to run a square set up for daily/ spirited driving. Then throw some crap tires on the rear for the skidz! Im so stoked for these finally exciting upgrades. And each day I work on the truck I can feel it getting closer and closer. In the middle of fabbing up a frame notch for the rear and coilover mounts. Need to pick up two more wheels, and then we are working towards a drivable truck once more!!!!

[mx5_matt]

mmmmmm i love the meat

[TheCrabMaster]

mmmmmm i love the meat

Wat

[TheCrabMaster]

Not much of a update, but having the wheel for literally one day and couldn't wait for the other tires or even the wheels I haven't bought, got one mounted.

They look so good, slight stretch but its acceptable. I think im going to be one of the few hardbody guys with a 15x10 not running a 185 stretched all to hell.

Youre welcome for the awesome phone quality. The front with camber at the rough height I want will fit fine under the fender, may run the truck a little higher and run flares front and rear.

The rear on the other hand needs to still come out about 3". Which im fairly certain I can get that with a little pull on the overfender and with running a flare. So stoked I actually went through with the square setup. I think once I get closer to mounting all the wheels its going to be even more exciting!!!!

[TheCrabMaster]

Basically how I want the front to sit.

So exciting, the other tires came in today also!!!!

[TheCrabMaster]

Truck got all new fluids from motor all the way to the diff. I cant stand gear oil and somehow got a nice amount in my beard and ***** life for a couple hours. Have the metal cut for the c notch picked up metal for the crossmember and the coil buckets. Just have to do a couple little thing up front then all I have left is the notch and exhaust and we should be back to a drivable truck!

[87hardbody]

This thing is sweet motivation lol and mine is only supposed to be a daily

[TheCrabMaster]

This thing is sweet motivation lol and mine is only supposed to be a daily

Thanks man, it's actually going to be my daily soon so it should be interesting haha

[TheCrabMaster]

So finally started welding in the notch we made, 4"x2" rectangular tubing 3/16" thick and sleeved inside the existing boxed frame. Then its going to be topped off with some 6"x2" rec tubing for the crossmember and 11 gauge gussets everywhere.

Coming along slowly need to get it back on the floor rolling again asap thou!

[TheCrabMaster]

Got some more work done today. Got the old frame cut out the other day. So today was spent making gussets to further add structure to the new notch.

Good ole 1/4" carbon steel, this thing should go nowhere. Also the front gussets will have the upper link crossmember tied into it.

This is lower than I plan on having ride height but couldn't resist taking a pic. If ever need be I can bleed the brakes with the wheels still on. #offsetkings
The upper link crossmember is going to be clocked a little different from stock to put pinion angle back in a healthy degree. Once that's all welded up we can weld the upper crossmember on and just have to make brackets for the coilovers to mount to the axle. More work will be done tomorrow and over the next week I should have so good progress.

[TheCrabMaster]

Well I just picked up a new wire welder the other day so I could go through and build coilover brackets and tack everything together while my brother is out of town. So I did exactly that, made the lower mount brackets. Then had to make mounts for the upper links and tacked those on. Made sure the upper crossmember was centered before even thinking about welding it on. But before I could weld the lower brackets to the axle I needed to make a pandhard bar that fits. So I scavenged the junkyard and grabbed one off a late 90s 4runner. Pressed the bushings out and pressed some pathfinder rear strut bushings into them since I'm using the stock strut mounts for the panhard bar. Then had to cut a section out of it to shorten it to a closer length. Next I took my old out/inner tie rod and adjuster sleeve and cut the balljoints off them, cleaned them up good and slid the ends int the pipe and welded round so I have a adjust panhard bar now. Then centered the axle and tacked the lower mounts on as seen here.

So when my brother gets back I'm going t have him go over all the welds and fully weld them up for me. Then I need to build the exhaust still, plumb the clutch line and bend the fuel lines up and around the notch. Then its just little things and it will be road worthy again!!!! Stay tuned!!