So now it was time to finish up the interior pieces and make this thing look like it belonged there.
I had grabbed a taco console and shifter boot, the boot fit the hole fine but the console was just to different with the curves in the runner dash, sooo I decided I would try and make the runner console work.
To start the console actually mounted to the auto shifter base.


So I cut off the bit I needed rather than try to fab something up


Cut roughly what I thought I needed to out of the shifter area and started test fitting.

Once I had it opened up enough I carefully removed the fake leather boot out of the taco console and started fitting it in the new opening, this did not come out perfectly because the opening in the taco console was much longer and narrower but I did the best I could with it.


The Tcase knob was not threaded it was designed to have a screw that went through the shift lever, I simply tapped that hole in the knob and put a set screw in it to keep it from moving. I'm sure I've missed explaining something and I know I don't have a lot of pics but if anybody wants to know more about this just ask and I'll be glad to explain more if I can.
Bottom line I'm really glad I went ahead with this swap, I'm excited to get it out on the trails and see how I do with it there.

 

first off looking at the last pics I posted, good lord my runner is filthy.
Ok I have updated anything here for awhile, I have been covered up with another toyota related project that I will fill you all in on soon.
Ive also been working every free minute Ive had trying to get the runner ready for the moab trip I will be making in a couple weeks.
The runner didnt need a lot of big things done just a lot of small projects, I changed the oil, changed out gear oil in the diffs, went over everything from the tranns swap checked all the bolts and made sure everything was as it should be, touched up all the paint on the tube work. just basic stuff.
the tint on the front windows has been wrinkling with age, and its always made it diffacult to see out in the dark and in the rain etc, I like the looks of tinted windows but decided with the wear and tear and the other issues to just do away with it


Ive also been trying to figure out some additional storage, just for lite stuff, I stumbled accross this cargo net and decided to figure out a way to use it, the pics n ot great but I think it will work ok for a freebie just my time to figure out how to get it mounted up.

and the big project was for the umteanth time Ive tried to figure out my spoongy brake isuues, I spent some time doing reaserch on the issue and discovered Im not the only to have dealt with this issue, and found and unexspected master cylinder upgraded.


this master is off a mid 70s 1/2 ton chevy pickup, I was surprised at how easy it was to install, some slight modification yo the mounting holes, and removing the adjustment pin on the push rod and it slid right in place.

this empty spot is where the ABS control box used to sit, I decided after my reaserch to go ahead and remove it as well. getting the new master plumbed was the biggest issue and even that wasnt bad. Im happy to say that the brakes feel better now than they ever have, very solid peddle but not grabby, if they hold up I think I may finally have the issue solved.
I hope I have everything done up and ready to go because this is the last time I have to work on anything, the runner is sitting at a buddys house awaiting its turn to be loaded on the transport to be hauled to moab so if its not done its not going to get done.
anyway thanks for checking in, look forward to a ton of pics and vids from the trip coming soon.

 

Pics! Pics! Pics!
Can't wait to see your reaction to and fun in Moab!

Neat idea on the master cylinder, cross fingers it does the job.

 

Made it back from Moab, to say the place lived up to expectations would be a understatement. the runner did awesome with only a few minor issues, starter solenoid started giving me issues but always eventually started, both rear axle seals and one front started leaking, tires rubbed everywhere lol, but it didnt break "cant say the same for most of the other guys that were with us".
Okay so on to how things went, My goal has always been to drive out to Utah wheel and drive home but with the chance to do this trip on a budget the runner was hauled out with three other trucks.

We drove out sat and arrived sun, two of us in the truck a couple guys in a car behind us and one guy flew into albaquerque and had to be picked up.
We based camped at a place called "GRANPAS GARAGE'. If you're not familiar with the place or the owner DANNY GRIMES google him he is an awesome person and supporter of the off road community, not just trucks but bicycles, hikers, rafters, you name them they are welcome at Dannys.
Some of us stayed in tents some of us slept in the house some slept in there trucks but everyone had a shower avaliable as well as a fully equipped shop to work on broke trucks, an awesome patio to hang out on and a man cave to hang out in when it got chilly at night.

 

Monday started out wet and rainy but we were determined to get on the trails so led by none other than Brian "WOODY" swerington "the owner of IH8mud" we headed out to run "Fins and things"very easy trail but iconic and a must do while int the area.
tuesday again led by Woody we ran the full "Hells revenge" loop. A couple of the guys ran Hells gate and the escalator as well as a couple of the hot tubs etc, fun trail with tons of slick rock and sand.

 

Wed turned into a bit of a work day for a lot of the guys, rangeing from a broken spring to trying to get one truck wheelable after a serious roll down "potato salad hill". after pitching in where we could a few of us decided to strike out on our own, we did a little shopping in down town and the decided to head to Arches National Park.









there is a trail that leads out to the back side of an arch called "DELICATE ARCH" its not a hard trail but did require 4x4 in a few spots, of course thats was before we realized we had missed the arch and where probably 2 or 3 miles past it, but it was fun and beautiful scenery.

 

thur and fri we ran "STEEL BENDER" and "BEHIND THE ROCKS" both great trails, a lot less slick rock and more desert floor terrain. part of "behind the rocks" runns through "canyon lands" national park so I guess I can say I was there too. My buddy Andy was having fuel issues at we got stuck on the trail until well after dark, driving was a bit sketchy but I cant even begin to describe that view of the stars.
sat Im drawing a blank as to what we did, I think we went back and ran hells revenge a second time but I dont remember.
sun we played tourist, we ran a trail I cant remember the name of but it starts out a paved road following the river through the canyon and then then to gravel and the to a dirt trail through the canyon.
at some point on this trail is where the final seen from thelma and louis was filmed as well as seens from jeronamo the johnny depp version.

 

Wow, you've done way more of the iconic trails than I have, and all in one visit! Fins was crazy, how steep you are- it was awesome! More pics if you've got 'em, please!

 

you guys do way more out there than I did, you get out and hike and ride your bikes, I just rode around lol. the first fin on hells revenge really got to me the first time over it, I just kept telling myself "they send rental jeeps over this" I got nothing to worry about lol.
I have way more video than I do pics and Im sifting through that, I will get the rest of the pics I up as soon as I can.

 

It hit me looking through pics, the sat I couldnt remember what we did, we ran a trail called "STRIKE RAVINE" or at least part of it, we tried it again a few days later and still dont think we ran the full trail. We did however both times end up in a place called "AREA BFE" both times.


the area is a private park thats just kind of a play ground for way better built trucks than mine but still cool to check out.

 

my favorite pic

 

 

 

 

our last day of new trails was thur, we ran up to poison spider mesa, beautiful ride, from there we split off on golden spike trail and on to gold bar rim. the only obstacle that I had a real issue with was a spot called the wall on gold bar rim, had to winch up it but not to bad for that trail. golden spike is also where the famous "golden crack" is I really didnt understand the excitment but it was kinda cool I guess.
our last day before packing up we decided to hit Hells Revenge one more time my buddy Andy wanted to run Hells Gate, My runner ran Hells Gate as well notice I say the truck did and not me well thats because I chickened out and my buddy Bobbie drove it up. I will be posting more as I remember stuff and Ive also got a bunch of video to go through. thanks for checking in.

 

Sounds like a great time and some great looking scenes. All good things must come to an end. Glad to see everything went okay for you guys. I just seen a thread on here yesterday and some guy was asking if anybody was going to Moab this week or next. I got a kick out of that. He was just a little late.

 

WOWOWOWOWOWOWOW!!! So much awesome. Scenery, trucks, trails you got to run....all of it! Loved to hear how much your 4Runner did, some of that is yikes! stuff. Hope your vacation out there was as amazing as ours! Sure looks like it.

Love the truck shadow pic, cool stealth on scenery.

Soooo, always looking for the good food. Did you find anything I need to try?

 

Thanks hab, it was a great trip and I'm already looking forward to the next one, when ever that is.
We ate out a few times, tried MILTS it was good, MOAB DINNER was just good old American food, PASTA JAYs had a pretty good pizza, the best by far and I can't remember the name sorry was a steakhouse just south of town, more locals less tourists good food and service, it's just across the street from the SHELL station about 3 Mls south of downtown.

 

Branding Iron? Milts and the Diner tastes best after a bike or hike for sure. I used to like Eddie McStiffs, but it's changed a lot over time. Have never tried Pasta Jay's, will have to give it a go.

Such an ITCH you've given me to go to Moab!

 

Branding iron is the place. We heard some bad reviews about Eddie mastiffs so we just avoided it. We had planned to go to Moab brewery one night but got stuck on the trail until well after dark and ended up eating cold sandwiches and prepackaged chocolate chip cookies lol.