much awesomeness sad on the 3rd but new locker means no worries once all set up
drive shaft looks great

 

holy wire wheel. hope you had some eye protection using that thing

 

Mark my arms already feel worn out lol. Carrying that complete front axle is super heavy. I didn't think it'd be such a pain in the arse to move lol. Not to mention holding that grinder up for a few hours got my arms pretty sore too. Its all good. It'll be good for toning up right? haha!

You're right William. I was trying to save money by using his. But in the end if I'm completely rebuilding this axle I might as well use new internals too. Ill be using new gears and locker for both front and rear axles. So I feel confident ill be getting my moneys work once I take it out on the trail.

Haha funny that you say that. I almost forgot to haha. I was just about ready to begin when I thought the same thing. So I grabbed my clear work glasses and began the job.
Kelvin no kidding, that wire wheel is something else. I was expecting it to be kind of cheap for the price I bought it for at Harbor Freight but that thing works like a charm. That wheel took off all the mud/clay, dirt, grime/oil, rust, paint really easy. Almost like running a hot knife through butter. Using that wire wheel is definitely going to make my job a helluva lot easier for when I sand down the rest of this stuff.

 

uber wire wheel from HF ... check will be getting my own lol

 

I bought a couple of other ones that attach as drill tips. This are really nice for getting into smaller places. I bought the set of like 6 different sizes for about $4-5. Super cheap but it helped a lot. Beats using a screw driver and pick to clean tight spots.
That wire wheel you see in the picture is called something like a "knotted wire wheel" it'll run ya about $3-4.50 at H.F. and I definitely recommend that one. It performed much better then the other wire wheels I bought. I actually went back to the store yesterday to buy a few other kinds to make my job easier now that I know what feels comfortable using and what doesn't. Hehehe

 

Those pics of your trip are RAD. haha no that looks like a great time. what a variety of rigs. Glad you guys had a good time. Good thing you had it sealed up w ac...or you woulda had a dust bath. Looks like even ifs rigs got around pretty good?? It seems you would definetly want a good brake system and a working emergency brake. Looking forward to sas.

 

Its funny that you say that because None of us out here had Air conditioning. Mark(Chefyota4x4) is the only one who had that luxury and even that he still had to turn it off when climbing up steep hills.

As for all the extra brake power, i upgraded my Master Cylinder to the 1" bore type off the newer style 4runners. And i have a dual diaphragm already because my truck has the V6. I should be set with what i have now. The only thing i am gonna want to upgrade is going to be my discs and calipers. because this axle still has the 4cyl ones.
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Talking about Discs and calipers. I did this just for fun. check out the layer of rust on my Rotor! lol

They're still good. and useable. But i want to take off my discs and rotors when i hack off the IFS and reuse those parts on this axle. I know its doable cuz I've seen a few users on this site do it already. I just need to research "how" more.

I dont have any pix but today my older brother and i worked on sanding down some the rear leaf springs. thats all we had time to get done. and it still needs a little bitmore cleaning here and there. so i wont post those till im really done.

 

P.S. Ive been meaning to give you guys an update on my latest buy. I got my Napier Sportz SUV Tent (Model:82000) this past Friday. i didn't get a chance to assemble it till today. Here are the pictures. Thanks GREGO for letting me know about these kick ass tents. I can already tell I'm gonna love it.




Interior Shots and how it hugs the truck.




It is so roomy. I can fit about 4 large people in the tent with all my luggage still in it and i can keep all my stuff inside this tent when i go wheeling to avoid getting it dirty. It is so easy to set up too! I think for our first time it only took like 20 minutes. only because i made sure i got everything right according to the manual. but if i had to do it again im sure it'll only take me about 10minutes.

The best part about it is that there is still a lot of play left on the side that attaches to the rear of the truck. So even when i lift my truck 4" plus the tires this tent will still be usable with my 4runner. Definitely worth it!

With tax this tent normally goes for about $360-370ish off the websites. I bought this USED off eBay for $104+$20 shipping. so $124 in total. What a great find. And for those of you with pick up trucks. They do sell these tents and make them to sit actually on the bed of your truck so your tent never touches the ground. those are pretty neat as well.

If anyone is interested in one of these tents, i might have a 2nd tent(exactly like this - used) for sale soon. I'm giving it a few more weeks. I wanna see if my brother gets his 3rd or possibly 2nd gen 4runner before i let the 2nd one go. I know he's gonna want one if he ends up getting a 4Runner. But if i sell it, i am gonna be selling it for the same price i got it for $104 plus whatever shipping comes out to.

 

now thats an awesome tent! an dang great price as well!

 

Sweet! Looks really nice man!

 

Looks really nice! I's be willing to take the extra one off your hands if you need to sell it. I already have the one that goes in the bed of the truck, but there is one trip I go on yearly where we constantly drive to different areas so I don't use my truck bed tent, just a smaller ground tent. If I had one of those I would still be able to sleep in the bed of my truck where my nice Bedrug is and save from having to pack my cot.

Also, just an FYI, the company is excellent about getting you replacement parts. One of my tent poles broke after a few years of use, I just called them up and ordered one. It was very reasonable in price, I think $12? The parts list and prices are on the website.

 

Thanks for the compliments guys. I'm kind of anxious to try this tent out now haha. Grego, thanks for the tip man. I'll definitely keep that in mind when/if a part breaks on mine. and i'll let ya know about the tent when i find out about my brother. He is in the process of selling his car, getting his Marines settlement, taxes, and a few other payments. I know he definitely wants to buy a 3rd gen 4Runner that already has a lot of upgrades or completed off road ready truck since he doesn't have very much time to work on his rig himself. Anywho, if he doesnt get the tent it's gonna be either between you and Mark. you guys both want it lol but i'll let cha know when i find out what happens.

 

Hey bubba, .... There are always pros and cons to certain set ups....

Pros: You're able to sleep in either, keep ur gear in there with ya, semi-stand up to change w/out getting out, and mostly, IMHO, AIR FLOW IN THE SUMMER!

Cons: ur stuck to it in regards to 'where' it gets planted (truck and tent length can change ur options quite a bit), if u have guests using it, u cant escape their snoring, etc (no privacy), and I've rarely seen one thats 'bug-tight'....... (skeeterrs and no seeums get in around the body, so I recommend using an elastic rope to tie it super tight! [That would eliminate one of the cons, the worst one IMHO....> > > SKEETERS! hahaha] )......

DO NOT mistake my objective take as a knock! IT'S SICK! I love it! I told u that day that I was interested cuz I want this option! Lol. ... We'll see on wut we were talking about, right?

My recommendation is that you ALSO have an 8'x8' or so separate tent...... Just in case u go somewhere that is tricky terrain and want to drop a tent under some tight trio of trees, etc, ya know? U can still use the Napier in those Situations.... just nice to have the option. Does that sound 'sound'?

 

Actually you can stand up completely and stretch your arms upward and still not touch the top of the tent. It is perfect. Even u, being as tall as u are, can stand upright inside too. I like your idea about the strap around the truck. U do have a point there. And god knows how much I hate them damn mosquitoes! Its like they automatically book a reservation to feast on my body! So thanks for that reminder. As far as air flow goes this tent looks like its gonna have plenty air flow. It has a vent on the bottom part of the tent and also we can always open the vented window parts on all 3 sides without actually opening the tent and the top cover will work as privacy to cocer those windows while still allowing the tent to "breath".

 

NO KIDDING ON THAT! AIR, AIR, AIR! Nothing is more FINAL in regards to ending your slumber as three things, ..... 1. Noise 2. Skeeters and No-seeums 3. TOO FREAKING HOT WITH NO AIR! hahaha. I was totally giving props on that in the "PROS" section, regarding 'Air Flow'...... Because sleeping in your rig, unless you do what I do with Skeeter Screen light stickied to the outside of the sliding windows frame, ...... YOU NEED something like you have there! IT BREATHES without having to open up anything but your back window.

Also? GREAT DEAL, which is never a bad thing! lol. You scored, buddy!

I still recommend having a separate tent you could drop anywhere. I'm likely going to grab this EURO brand of 'POP-UP', ..... so that when it's really cold out, I can just 'boink', .... slide in my mummy "0*F" bag, and TAH DAHHHHHHH! lol. 20 Seconds......

ONLY other thing you have to research a lil...... RAIN! It can come out of nowhere, ...and I'm sure the tent has a plenty rain proof topper, and a lifted floor. But the seal around the body? TIGHT!!!!! Guys take rope-style bungies and put them together to make a tight seal, also using a strip of that Garage door foam/seal that you saw that I used on the top? (or something similar).... As long as the shute is waterproof material? YOU'RE SOLID! Just have to seal that up, or IT WILL leak in all over your stuff/feet/etc. lol. (if you sleep in the truck of course)

GREAT investment, Richard..... Just have to ALWAYS look at every angle, especially in some of the places that I camp, as they can lend CRAZY weather out of nowhere, ....but are worth EVERY BIT OF EVERYTHING THEY CAN THROW AT YOU, ....as long as you're prepared. One time in the high Sequoias, near Kings Canyon, .... up by the Kennedy Meadows pass where you literally go OVER the Sequoias until they turn into the Sierras, .... down the other side, into Mojave, basically(lil north of it)...... We were camped up there, 110*F, all day.... WOKE UP TO 3" RAIN IN 45 MINUTES! .... Who was prepared? hahahaa..... I got out and helped everyone 'tarp up'...... BUT AT 3AM? ....WELL, let's just say, I INSISTED they be more prepared next time, lol...

You have some REALLY nice gear, now, Richard, ....and you know how I feel, .."Why not be prepared and have what some consider 'too much' stuff? You know how often I've needed it?"... Even on our trip..... what, 3 different people ended up making comfy and useful use of my extra 'things', right?

 

Holy crap. Just got a quote from the place my neighbour told me to go to for the gear/locker installs. The place is called YotsMasters in California. Total will come out to $770 to install the ring and pinions and lockers into both my 3rd members. Wow! I was expecting something along the lines of $250-300.

$450 for labor.
The rest of the cost goes into the bearing kits, master set up kits, and solid pinion spacers.

And just to clarify this is all this is just for the 3rd members alone. Not for the whole complete axle.

Is that right? I thought these guys could install this stuff with just the gears and locker. I didn't think anything else would be needed. Wow.... I'm going to do some more research and try to see if I could find anywhere that will do it for way cheaper than that much. Because $770 sounds like a rip off to me.

 

Holy crap. Just got a quote from the place my neighbour told me to go to for the gear/locker installs. The place is called YotsMasters in California. Total will come out to $770 to install the ring and pinions and lockers into both my 3rd members. Wow! I was expecting something along the lines of $250-300.

$450 for labor.
The rest of the cost goes into the bearing kits, master set up kits, and solid pinion spacers.

And just to clarify this is all this is just for the 3rd members alone. Not for the whole complete axle.

Is that right? I thought these guys could install this stuff with just the gears and locker. I didn't think anything else would be needed. Wow.... I'm going to do some more research and try to see if I could find anywhere that will do it for way cheaper than that much. Because $770 sounds like a rip off to me.

 

double post? anyhow it sounds like they do a full rebuild with new bushings n bearings seals an ect but i know those shops do it so much it shouldnt take that long to do thus labor shouldnt be that high

 

Try R&H transmissions in Bakersfield. 661-834-7130. Talk to Nick. I know he dose a good job at a far more reasonable than $770 for both I can't see I costing anymore than $200 for the labor and I think that's a little high if you ask me. These third members are very similar to a ford 9" and any local race shop or good auto shop should be able to install the gears and locker for you and for quite a bit less than your first quote!!!

 

Nice! But whata glamper J/K - LOL! I just sleep here:


Richard,
Kidding aside, instead of dealing with bulky layers of comforters (and cotton is very in-effective in keeping you warm), may I suggest getting good backpacking sleeping bags? Synthetics are less expensive and keep insulating properties even when wet, but bulky. Down is lighter, compress to smaller size, but more expensive and lose insulating properties when wet. However, for use in SUV/SUV tent it would keep you warmer with less bulk. There are models that zip together for spooning .