i vote for a brushed steel finish, with a nice cushon on the armrest.... is this thing bolt in cuz you might have to start selling them

 

Ed,

I started the truck for the first time last night! Thanks for the help. I just need a few more things and I can start driving it.

Did you have to put a longer drive shaft in it?

Thanks, Tim

 

I hadn't thought of brushed steel, hmm, not you gave me something to think about. Yeah I'm making it bolt in the factory holes...at the speed I build things, if I were to sell them they'd be on back order forever, lol!

 

Hey that's great news! Glad I was able to help! I bet you can't wait to drive that beast!

My rear driveshaft is stock length, the front is I think 4" longer, but I did a SAS and moved the front axel forward aprox 2" ....your still stock IFS if I remember correctly? You should be good to go with your stock length drive shafts.

**EDIT** my front drive line is 4-3/8" longer than stock. I basically took a 2 piece rear drive line off of an 85' long bed pickup, and cut it down ( leaving it 4-3/8" longer than the stock front d-line) then I carefully grinded around the weld on the stock front driveline and removed the double cardan (DC) joint out of it. The rear drive line was the same diameter tube, so I tapped the DC joint into place and welded it up. I've been running it for the past 2 winters in 4 hi at 50-55 MPH with no viberations, and I never had it balanced by a shop. Here's link to the page on my build thread if you need it, post #371

https://www.yotatech.com/forums/f199...3/index19.html

 

I say go for the cushion so that would need vinyl. I like having a place for both of my arms to rest. My 86 the arm rest is to low and you would be surprised at what a difference that makes in driving it. It is moving up the list fast.

 

Hi Terry. Yeah the armrest on the door panel is too low, and so was the console, I think it should be just right when I'm finished. I like having something to lean on when I drive, my wife's Durango center console is just right. I have some padding that I saved, it's about 1/2" thick that I can use to cushion the armrest, I just don't have the vinyl. I have a lot of that canvass material I plan to use on my seats, I may try that since it wouldn't take very much material, If I don't like it I can always change it later. I'm going to try to get some done on it tomorrow...hopefully, lol.


I scored this electrical control panel that they were throwing away at work. They did a lot of up grading of equipment a few months ago and were going to throw it in the scrap bin, my boss said I could have it. At first I was thinking of using it for lockable storage in my 4runner, but since it is weather proof, and still has good weather stripping around the door I'm thinking I may use it on my trailer project and mount it on the tongue, I can store tools, tow straps etc. The way it's sitting on my truck it measures 30" wide by 24" tall by 10" deep. I just need to clean it up and plug the holes where the conduit came into it. The brownish color on the outside is just dirt, I thought it was rust at first. It's got a real durable finish on it, I'll probably respray over the outside, maybe that hammered finish, grey or black, the inside is like new, I'll just leave it.

 

That's a nice score on the box. So many possibilities for it.

 

WUZUUUUUUP? .....lol

Nice box!.... Boy is that open to some terrible re-interpretation. Haha

 

Thanks man! I get all excited over free stuff, lol. I was planning on building a storage box for my trailer tongue, this will save me a lot of time and money!

Hey Mark! I can always count on you for a good laugh! I've been following your progress on Suzie, awesome work in such a short time frame! I'm really happy for you, and that you were able to bounce back so quick and with such a positive attitude! Honestly, I don't know if I would have recovered that quickly, I probably would have had to taken so time and regroup' lol. Ive been meaning to ask you how you like those new AllPro rear leaf springs? I seen your wicked flex pics of Suzie, and have been thinking of selling my 83' ( just too many projects) and using the funds to finally re-do my rear suspension and finish up my trailer project. Just wanting your input on the springs brotha, lol!

 

Wellllllp, ..... So far I love em! I might be doing all pro 4 inch in the front which is really sry... The 4 inch Trail Gear upfront flex like crazy, but it's a little tall. I might just leave it alone, who knows... For now its working just fine the way it is. But I like that all pro front springs bring the axle 1 inch for the forward on the center pin. That eliminates me having to do any trimming it all...... Thanks for the props by the way!

 

I'm rockin the AllPro springs front and back and I love the entire set up. They're very flexible from what you can see in our big bear trips. And also agree with what Mark said about moving the axle forward a bit. That is very nice to have.

 

Thanks Mark, its good to hear a review from someone first hand! I'm leaning towards buying AllPro's whole rear kit. I originally wanted to do Chevy 63"s, but I dont have a pic-n-pull near by, ( closest one is 2 hrs away!) and dont see many on CL in my area, plus by the time I buy the Chevy 63's, and spring perches, and shackle hangers, and longer shocks, shock tabs, u- bolt flip kit, and spend all the time relocating/welding said parts in place, I wouldnt really be saving much money, I might as well just buy a reputable kit, at least I'll know what to expect from the leaf springs, you never know exactly what your getting with used 63s, lol. (I'm not trying to disrespect anyone using 63" rear springs, i know they've been used with great sucsess on alot of rigs over the years, I'm just weighing the pros & cons for my specific application and circumstances).

Thanks for your input Richard! Its good to hear from ya man! I know you probably been really busy with school and work, I hope its all working out for you!

 

No problem buddy. And yea. I should be busy doing homework but I'm procrastinating at the moment lol it's been a few weeks since I've been on Y.T. so I wanted to check up on every one.

BTW I totally agree with what you said about the 63s they're great but the kits cost a bunch of $$$ and they don't give much lift without having them blocks. That and the fact that I bought my SAS kit off AllPro is the reason why I went with their springs. They've treated me good this whole year.

 

That's good Info rich. I think I will also go with all pro when the time comes.

 

They're great springs. And super flexy.

 

thanks for the info Rich, yeah i remember your trip to big bear and how well they performed for you, your avitar is a good testimonial to that! I also remember when you were doing your SAS how helpful they were, good custumer service is always a priority when making a big investment like that! I'm really happy with my front RUF pack setup/flex and on road manners as well, I think AllPro's rear kit would be a good match to what I got going on up front.

This is off the subject, but I was wondering where you got your tension latch (I think that's what you call it) for your spare tire carrier at? I've been looking for something similar on line, for my storage box (above) and can't find anything, also that can be used with a pad lock right? Thanks bud!

 

I got my latch in my EMS OffRoad do it yourself tire carrier/swing bumper kit. They sell it individually too if u just want the latch by itself. Check ebay too there are tons of different angled, length, colored, and styles to choose from depending on what fits your need most.

 

Where I work at, they are throwing away a large control box. If you had to buy it no telling how much it would cost. I bet it weighs 200 lbs. Also they are throwing away a lot of rebar. I pulled it out of the box and rebar out of the dumpster and will use some of the rebar for my BBQ pit I plan on making this year, but I will haul the rest off to scrap. Funds for the projects. It is a shame to scrap out this box, I know if I needed it would cost a fortune but not sure if any one would need something that big.

Things like this is chump change for multi million dollar contracts but still the waste they do. I benefit from it with a little work and better then just going to the city dump.

 

Thanks Richard, that's what I was trying to find!

Hi Terry, the BBQ pit sounds like a cool project! Wow 200 lbs, that is a big control panel! Yeah it amazes me what they throw out, alot of it they put in a metal scrap bin, at least they scrap it. They allow us to dig through, some things we can get for free, some we can buy real cheap.

 

UPDATE 4/1/14... JUST THOUGHT I'D REVIVE THIS PROJECT FROM THE DEAD, LOL. I GOT A LITTLE DONE YESTERDAY, PLAN TO WORK ON IT SOME MORE TODAY.


^^^here is the base of the console, got it mocked into place. The 2 rear bolts are bolted into the factory mounting holes. I didn't have metric bolts long enough, so I tapped the holes to except a standard course thread 1/4" dia bolts. The front single bolt I drilled through the console base and the floor of the 4 runner, I was able to reach through the hole in the trans tunnel for the shifter and thread a nut on the under side. I'm moving the plastic part of the shifter boot console forward aprox 1" due to the transmission swap I did. When I swapped trans from the W56 to the G52 I had to cut a little of the trans tunnel out to allow the shifter to come through the floor, the shifter is a few inches further forward than the stock position, so it was hitting on the plastic housing. In the above pic, the small bracket in front of the console base is moved forward about 1" also, I just used a couple self tapping screws. Now that the base is located were I want, I can go ahead and start welding the enclosure to the base.