Hey, I forgot to mention, my side rails are actually Thule cross bars that I mounted front to back flush with the roof over heavy duty seal stripping. The cage is a retro con ferr that I picked up a couple years ago. I mounted the cage directly to the side rails using 4 Square bolt method on each side. The side rails are mounted through the roof on the top side with a large rectangular washer and two bolts on each end with large washers, lock washers, and nuts, all stainless, an additional bolt in the center of the side rails going through the roof. The hollow space between the top and bottom side of the shell are filled using 1/2 x .257 x 1 nylon spacers to take most of the compression when walking down the nuts and washers. This way, the fiberglass isn't being crushed. In the front bolts they are half the length as the shell isn't as thick there.... Same thing with the center bolt nylon spacers. I did quite a write up on it, and I'm fairly certain I listed all the hardware and sealer product that I used.

I would have no apprehension in sleeping up there if the cage were long enough. Unfortunately it's only 60 inches long, hahahahaha. However, I think it would be possible to remove the cage and mount a roof mounted pop up tent like Coreys.

I chose the flush mounted side rails because I wanted to be able to fit in my garage with the cage mounted and it barely fits by around an eighth of an inch! However, it also keeps its much closer to the roof and the cage is actually under an inch in the center from touching the roof. I'm fairly certain that if I went back to 8 3/8 plywood platform all the way across all four cross bars that are welded into the con ferr cage, as well as the two tabs each in front and back of the cage, I could put a very large amount of weight up there and not have to worry about crushing my roof. Not only do I have wide side rails with top and bottom t tracks for secure mounting through metal,.... But I also used 1/8 inch X 2 inch aluminum strip on the top and the bottom all the way across the underside of the side rails and all the way across the underside of the shell. This in combination with the nylon washers allowed me to torque down the bolts to 30 pounds of torque. 5x 1/4 x 20 stainless bolts going through 1/8 inch rectangular door bolt washers 1/8 inch aluminum strips and compressing on nylon washers all the way across.... I can rock the truck back and forth 6 inches without any worry about it damaging the roof.

 

Yea its a lot. Like you said it's worth every penny if it is your dream truck we're talking about here.

Seriously people always ask WHY ARE YOU SPENDING ALL THIS MONEY ON THAT CLUNKER?!? and i tell them the facts. because i would rather buy a sick truck and fix it up and be down with under 13k vs spend 45k on a new truck and 5k on upgrades. its just not worth it to me. plus things now break easier. stuff back then was built to last.

Thanks guys. I'm really happy with the way it came out. I just laugh at myself because i held off for so long to do it and it was the easiest thing to do. I just held off because i wanted to get the rack installed correctly before i installed it.

 

Exactly, Richard. And how many people would really want, or could afford to to get their $50k SUV?

Amen!
Especially it we had diesels with minimal electronics; those things can stand flooding better than our gasoline engines. Reason why SUV's in third-world countries that really see rough conditions, are made with diesel engines.

 

Lot's of people can lease or get a loan for a new SUV but mine is bought and paid for.

 

and todays stuff is designed to be disposable not repairable sad to say

 

Dude I honestly wish i had a diesel engine in my 4Runner. They are so nice.
This past weekend I helped my dad clean up his big Dodge work truck. That thing is sick! Its I think a 1992 or 96 Dodge 3500 and it runs on a V6 Turbo Diesel Cummins engine. It sounds so freekin beefy and damn does it have a load of power! We're cleaning it up inside and out cuz it was parked in the drive way for about 1&1/2 years. And my dad doesn't have use for such a big truck with the compartments in the rear anymore. So he is selling it. We drove it around for a while and damn did it feel awesome. It is so nice.

My thoughts exactly. Why get a brand new truck that is worth 1/5 or 1/6 of what a house would cost. If you get stuck in a tight spot and can't make payments you always run the chance of repossession. And if you lease you will never really own the car and u will never be able to touch it as far as modifications go.
I like the idea of owning my own truck. I hate owing companies money and if I do run into a tight spot ill just put my truck as non op for a while and ride around in my gas saving car which is also paid off.

I agree. Look at 3rd gen 4Runners tacomas and everything after that. The front end of the frame is made to pretty much destroy your front end to absorb a head on accident due to the frame kind of having break in ripples or whatever the hell its called. Better to save your life but horrible for your rig cuz it'll be completely jacked up. Unless you decide to buy the reinforcement plates to avoid thay problem. Also things now days are made with way too much plastic. I like the good ol fashion steel. Also the motors are less complicated and more space to work in vs what they have now days. With huge motors packed into small engine bays, lots of confusing electronics and wires, and again lots of plastic. Lol I helped my brother work on his 2003 Mitsubishi Eclipse 3.0 v6 and that was such a pain jist to swap out his valve cover gaskets. Too much stuff packed into a tiny spot.

 

2014 4runner last of the dieing breed of cab on frame construction still ugh with the looks
still has a front skid plate interior looks nice but why the bulldog snout?


id rather have my 88 runner thankyewverrmuch

 

FUUUGLY! Why do new vehicles have to look so ricer? - LOL!
The first-gen is still the sexiest 4Runner

 

You are moving right on along with your project. Starting with your AC, sliders and working on your roof rack, doing good!! Your girls picture look great.

Toyota diesels are great. Got to drive them overseas and we are missing out. I would love to have one. The new runners just dont do much for me anymore. Nothing like the first gens.

 

Bahahhahahahhaaaaa!!!!!!!! that thing looks like a Transformer!! That designer should get shot

I feel for the first one I see on the road next to me....they're going to wonder why I'm staring and laughing at them! bhahahhaha!

 

If you are going to make a front end that aggressive maybe the tire package should match.

Also, looked at those CBI photos, I'd pick the one without the light protection. The extra tubing is too much, looks wise.

The rear looks nice and clean too. I need to get on something like that. It's annoying to strap a 35" tire in the rear cargo area. Had one like that on a 6 week road trip.

 

Heyy, only skimmed throught the last few pages but gotta say awsome truck sub'd

 

Yea i hate the bulkiness look toyota has given these. once they made it a full size suv thats when it all went wrong. I liked it when they kept them small. I'll take my 1st gen any day over this plastic bulldog looking vehichle.


exactly

totally agree with you. lol Not only are theywrecking the look of these 4runners but they're ruining the whole off road compatabilities with these trucks too though.

I remember seeing the Toyota Diesel trucks in Mexico before while growing up as a boy when going out on road trips with my dad visiting his side of the family. Those are nice. Never seen one before that had a stock toyota diesel in it before. only seen one with a VW one out here. it was pretty cool.

thanks for the compliments. i'm really satisfied with the transformation my truck has gone over the past year. Still have a few things i gotta do. but for the most part it is nearly done. *crossing fingers* lol


Thats what i had in mind. I only wanted the center tubing for the bumper. i dont like the look of the light protection tubing for that bumper. It's a bit much imo. But just the bumper and center grill gaurd with lights and winch definitely makes it look SICK

Thanks man. Seeing your thread made me realize one of 2 things. Past owners just dont care to service or maintain, clean these front axles, or maybe we just both had 2 really dirty axles lol. But i always see front axles in bad shape before people install them. They always gotta restore them how we both did. Pretty much every time.

 

Here's what real Toyota's should look like!

 

So since the SAS I have been having a bit of "Death Wobble" going on starting about
2-3 days after the first time I took it out for a drive. Mark felt this wobble first hand last weekend. And all I gotta say is that it had gotten worse last sunday. It was doing it frequently. I noticed it would h
Normally happen with bumps and dips anything that was un even and at a speed of 25-35mph. I finally decided to just not drive the truck till I found out what it was so on thursday i went under my truck to check on the bolts and this is what I found.


If you look closely you can see there is a 1mm distance from the nut to the part where it would be "tight". There was also a 1mm distance on the bolt side as well. After finding that I seen that all the nuts and bolts that had to do with the shackles were loose. 2mm on both the front ones and 1mm on both the rear. I knew that you gotta check on your nuts and bolts after an SAS but I honestly did not expect them to looses this quick. I had only driven it for about 100 miles before it started. And maybe 220miles when i finally tightened them. So yea loose bolts..... check them every few days after you SAS. I'm sure it takes some time for the new system to break in and I'm sure the nuts and bolts will get looser like mine did.

Since Thursday I've only driven it around yesterday and all day today and I haven't felt that violent shake at all. So this mystery has been busted. That's definitely what was causing the problem.

 

she getten a little loosey goosey glad you found that redeth i felt that once on a truck the front spring hanger broke loose NOT a fun feeling!

O..o'

 

Remember what I asked ya? "Dogs ya torque those nits to specs? Think it's 58-65#."......??? You said, "Nope, just tight as heck! " hehe...

Main thing I wanna ask though. .... where are the lock washers? If you go to 58-65# over a lock washered nut? It would not and should never come loose buddy. Get some grade 8 lock washers for those huge bolts and go to"Recommended toque" for those size/thread pitch bolts and nuts. Your new springs and hardware will have full instructions too. See, the stock bolt are M14 X 1.00 T pitch.... those bolts you got, I saw them, they are likely US/STANDARD & at least the of 27mm in metric.... and not as done a thread pitch. ... 27mm equals 1.062".... try a 1" or 1 & 1/16th" socket.... ser if I'm right? Hehe. ...

SICK lil Briquette you got there, bubba!

 

Hey Richard, one other thing,... I'm looking at that picture and it looks like there is no bushing flush against the bushing and bolt insert portion of the hanger, on either side... I just can't see it. It should look like this... The yellow part in that you see where my shackle is pushing against on the inside against the hanger plate and leaf end eye....



And here on the front hanger. ....



Obviously it's there or ur bolts would be flopping around in there, haha. ..... Just curious if maybe the portion that compares slightly between the shackle and the leaf Eye is gone/eroded away?

 

Yea she was. The shake feels very strong it isnt a pleasant feeling when it happens thats for sure.

Dude i was thinking the same thing when i came across that problem. Surprisingly All Pro never included lock washers in the kit. So yea i'm definitely gonna do what you were mentioning. Buy some grade 8 lock washers to fix this problem once and for all. I get paid this thursday so i'll buy some then.

I can see why you'd think it didnt have some huh lol. But yea it does. Just that mine are black. so you cant tell as much.
Here check it out.

 

Ahhhh, fhhew, good! Lol. ... And yeah, they look almost like nylon insert lock nuts, as they're kinda coned (the nuts in the pic)....but I HATE those nuts with a passion! I have had at least 5 lock up on me and basically cause the nut to hamburger the bolt thread. Those daystar shackles I got that were wrong? ......those were lock nuts, and they got on the first turn of the metal on metal and locked up on me. I'm not saying to ditch em, I'm sure ALLPRO did their homework and application testing.....I just have had pretty bad times with those.

Also, what size socket are they? Wanna see if I guessed right! Hahaha.... You must know after tightening them an s reading the instructions. ......tell me, PLEEEEEEEEEASE? hehe...

Btw,.... u have the 4 leaf packs and all that in already???? .....did I miss that?