Let me tell you a little story, about a man named jed, poor mountaineer, who barely kept his family...... wait, wrong story

ok, back to reality. Markus started this prodject I think a year ago (I hope markus will chime in if I get any of the facts wrong). In any case his 96 runner went thru some transformations last year. The 3.0v tried to drink a bunch of water, guess it didn't like it much, got pissed, and broke . So he diceded to go the 4.3 route. Somewhere along those lines, he decided to do an SAS and rear leaf converion, with dana 60's (Hp in the front). The origional plan on my part of markus's rig was just to wire up the 4.3, but, funny how things change,lol. In any case it got drug up to my place while I was working on gibby's 4 runner. The rig was sitting on bare 60's, small roller tires and the 4.3 just sitting in the rig, and a whole lotta stuff stacked in the back of the rig. Unfortunatley marku's funds are low, so I am going to do what I can with them and hopefully put a decent ding in what needs to be done.

Here is how the rig looked when it was dropped off(and sat for over a month, poor thing

 

I love the comparison with the toy car next to it
Looking forward to seeing you work on this one Crash!

 

toy, thats my commuter car

This one won't be as nutty as gibby's, but will be a healthy rig non the less

 

Nutty! I resemble that remark. That's my twin bro's rig your working on

 

A little creative winching and I was able to get it drug into the shop(there is no steering on it yet either,lol)



Ok, the first step, was to figure out where the heck to start. When I built gibby's rig, I removed the t-cases/budbuilt crossmember and saved them for this rig so I figured I would get them into the rig first to see where things would sit. So I ripped the origional t-case out.



The tranny is a R150F.

 

R_R_R_R_R_R_R_R_R_R_R_R_R_R_R_R_R_R

 

This is the trip report from the fateful day when Markus tried to pretend that his 4Runner was a submarine.

http://207.202.208.243/faithwheelers/031304.htm

 

When I removed the t-cases from gibby's rig, I totaly spaced it, heck I didn't even think to remove the coupler off the back of the tranny. This didn't dawn on me till I put the stock coupler on the t-case and there is only about 1/2" of spline engagement left for the tranny. SO I got ahold of gibby since this is the first time I have ever dealt with the 23 spline stuff and thats when he informed me of my, umm, stupid mistake (not as bad as breaking his piaa, DOH)



IN any case I needed to get the t-case's put into the rig (will just have to yank them once I get the correct coupler).SO here it is installed with the budbuilt x-member and skid plate.

 

Now that the t-cases are in I tossed in the AA radiator to see how the motor sat/room wise on the radiator.




With how the motor sits, there is about 3/4" space between the radiator and the water pump. So a decision needed to be made on the motor placement. To save $$ (we also have a set of driveshafts that are perfect for where the mtor/t-cases sit) I called markus to give him the options, and we decided to keep the motor where it is, and just run a pusher fan in front of the radiator.
Now these AA rads come with no mounting holes so your mounting options are pretty free. I opted like in gibby's rig, to use the 4 stock threaded holes in the core support, but ran the rad low so the lower tank sits even with the top of the frame, giving us the most available room in front of the rad for hopefully a 16" pusher fan.

One thing I also had to do, was build/tach in spacers for the rad or the lower tank would have rested up against the frame front x-member.A





And here it is fully mounted in place.

 

Mike, I think that dual fan I had was reversible. Do you think that could fit in front as a pusher?

 

So now that I knew where the motor was going to sit front/rear, it was time to get the mounts done. I sold markus a pair of my mounts some time ago, and he only had time to buzz them on the frame to hold the motor in place.



So I whacked them off and prepped the frame rales.



So with this done, I got the motor centered and just the right hieght and cut the risers to match the frame. And welded them suckers in place with a couple gussets. And now the motor is fully sitting in the rig where it belongs.

 

If you get a chance dale, measure it for me.

 

No problem. It's big but you probably have room up front since he's not going to have any AC stuff.

 

Mike, the rig is a '95. But everything else is correct. I wanted to go to a 4.3 down the road after the SAS and Rear left conversion. I have a job that takes me to Alaska a whole lot. Just ask Gibby. I mean, I would be out of town when I should have been at the PNW meetings. The summertime is worse. I will be going out of town a whole lot because of the cruise ships. They need some fixing. Plus I was not able to start my SAS when I wanted to! Righy Gibby! Anyways, AOR said that the complete set of Orbital Eye Springs were 5 weeks out. I fought and fought with AOR and got my stuff on the 17th week. I did manage to get a free set of shock hoops from them because of their mistake. So instead of starting in the mid of June '04, I got to start at the end of August '04. The rig was being worked on when I was in town. So I decide to give Crash a call and see if he would finish the work where I started. Plus, I bent some many tubes WRONG , that I had enough with it.

But me being me I had to follow Gibby. Ooooppps, I should not have done that. But after the transformation, I think I can follow Gibby anywhere.

But now I guess it it time Gibby to get his free pop shots at me. I got him, but that is brotherly love!

 

Well Markus, your truck will be able to... but can the driver???

 

looks great but whats up with all the funky colors

 

I've been waiting for THAT question to get asked!

 

thats what im wondering too...im sure it will get the job done though...

 

Well, getting that motor in place and mounted was a HECK of a lot less work that the 350!

 

Well, I was wanting for the same question but from Gibby! I happen to like yellow. I saw the chevy orange when I picked up the yellow and said these colors will definitely be exciting.....hahaha. I like to be different and sometimes make the path versus follow the path! I am not worried about the colors. most of it will be cover with the hood and mud. I like to stick out. If this is the way than so be it. I will not be remembered but the truck sure will! That is what matters!