Road to Recovery
For the story on the theft and home coming check out (stolen Vehicles section)
This is the thread on getting my rig back to where it was before the Bast%&#d stole and FUBARD it up! I will update as I get things done.
First thing get rid of the rust orange color on the top.




AAHH! much better!!!

Picked up some Black American racing steelies(15x8) rims today off of Craigs list. There in very good shape and I paid $100. for the set of 4. Also picked up a new Glove box(used),and radio bezel from Pick-n-pull $8.50. I'll get some pics up on the rims soon.

 

wow that looks nice!
good work

 

Excellent work!

I can't wait to see steelies!

 

Glad to see you got it back and fixing it up again. Take lots of pictures...

Robb

 

Very glad you got your rig back!

 

Glad to see you got it back and are modding again.

 

When I got home today my wife had 4 BFG sitting next to my rig, mounted on the steelies I got yesterday. She also got a used fuel door off craigslist and installed it for me(gotta love that). The BFG's are awesome, 32/11.50x15's. also put my roof racks back on(they where removed and 2 of the 3 where in the back of the rig, guess he didn't get the chance to sell all of them, just the one with the 4 lights on it.). Here are the pics.
Look at the size difference


The tires raised the truck 3". Note the fuel door.

All 4 tires and rims on and the racks.

Thats going to be it for a while now, need to reimburse the cash flow.

 

looks good. glad you got it back.

 

Installed 4 kill switches today . I know sound a little obsessive, but I don't want to go threw this again.

 

dude your wife if the coolest chick. i'm waiting for the day my gf suprises me with dual arb lockers in my rig. hahahaha

 

How about a list of what else you'd like to have/need so folks willing can help out?

 

nice, nice, nice. I am glad you found it, and its looking alot better.

 

Echoing everyone else; I'm glad you got it back in one piece.

 

Any help would be greatly appreciate!!!
Well I still need a CB, Stereo, Winch (I'm making a new mounting plate), some plastic parts inside(piece around shifters 5spd & low range, the tray below the stereo, ashtray) off road lights, front carpet, alarm system, battery strap, I think thats it. I did pick up a brush guard and the valance below the front bumper off of craigs list, for $75. this week. Its getting back to where it was. So far its cost me including the( get out of impound of $265) $1336.. Heres some pics.






Thanks to everyone for the, well wishes.

 

You got an Optima...I'll make you a top strap for an Optima.

 

THANKS!! That sounds great, but I no longer have an Optima. It was taken, I replaced it with a Exide Extreme instead, which is very close to an Optima. Just a little cheaper. But any thing you can make would be better than what I don't have now. Which is no strap and a floating battery. I don't know how familiar you are with the Exide? So let me know if you need measurements, I can get them for you. Thanks You Very Much!!!
Wil

 

Update! I got my winch plate made and installed. All I need now is a winch and $$$. I had to widen the brush guard to fit the winch plate. Which is 1-5/8" wider. I still have to cut the excess brush guard off below the winch plate, so it isn't sticking down so low.

 

Got a replacement CB for Fathers Day. So guess how I spent my Fathers day? This is the seconded go around with the CB install. But this time the antenna and all the wiring are already there. Just had to make the connections to the CB . But this time there is a big hole in the dash where the radio and tray should be. So there's nothing to mount the CB to. I came up with the idea of making a face plate to hide the hole and wiring. Made it out of some aluminum diamond plate I had lying around. Made a template and than cut away. Made some clamps and screwed it to the back side of the trim, using existing holes.
There's how it turned out!


Here are some behind the plate pics.


Like all good projects one must bleed a little. Which gave me a chance to use the new Duct Tape band aids I just got.

Here's a shoot of the template I made.

 

Looking good Will.. I feel for you. I just had my dirt bike stolen out of my truck on my way home from my wheeling trip in Oregon.

 

Well its been a little over a year since I up dated this thread. I've been busy working on the 4runner. I've added haft doors(for summer), Stereo, bikini top, Aussie locker, changed from 4.10's to 4.30, added to the rear bumper, installed a 9000lb. winch, and added two PIAA 520"s that where given to me from a member on the blue FJ board(Recon FJ).
Here are some pics.