eimkeith stuff!

[jkeithw]

Hi, I’m keith (eimkeith) and I'm thrilled about IDPOR - it's shaping up to be a different forum - which is exciting..

Similarly, I’m probably a bit atypical compared to regular vendors: my professional background has been in art, automotive, and fabrication; and I’ve now been involved in product design in more recent years - but as it relates to vintage sportscar restoration. However, I’m also a DIY guy; and I appreciate well thought-out and well-designed tweaks/enhancements, so when I can’t find them (or don’t like what’s available), I make them.

Being that I’m also a Toyota truck enthusiast and tweaking my 4Runner (and previously my Taco) is what I like to do on my time, designing stuff for this community was bound to happen at some point.

-and that’s how eimkeith.com started: on forums, in 2016, making something that I needed but was being overlooked by larger companies that make up the aftermarket off-road parts industry, - and making enough for other like-minded forum members.

So essentially, what I do is design & make Weld-It-Yourself stuff that I think is cool, that fits, and that I believe you other DIY guys might find useful.

Here’s what I’ve got so far:

• Panhard Correction Kits (PCK) for 3rd gen, 4th gen, 5th gen 4Runners, GX 470 & 460, and FJ (level your panhard, save $ over an adjustable bar)
• Fuel Tank Relocation mounts for 3rd gen 4Runners (F150 tank between the frame rails, behind the axle)
• Strut Tower Reinforcement Kits for 1st gen Tacomas and 3rd gen 4Runners (limit strap tabs to clear 2.5" coilovers and upper strut tower reinforcement plates)
• Lower Link Skids for 3rd gen 4Runners (stop folding over the factory lower link mount!)

And here’s what’s in queue as of October 4th, 2018 (in order of development):

• High Clearance Rear Bumper for 3rd gen 4Runners with 1” BL (quoting phase - and I'll be doing the front bumper in a few months)
• Lower Control Arm Reinforcement Kits for 1st gen Tacomas and 3rd gen 4Runners (prototyping these right now)
• Outboard Shock mounts for 3rd gen 4Runners
• 4-Link, med-length, dual triangulated rear suspension for 3rd gen 4Runners (just finished the axle tower design!)
• 3-link rear kit for 3rd gen 4Runners (if there’s enough interest – retains stock fuel tank)
• Full-length, low profile roof rack for 3rd gen 4Runners
• PCK for Sequoias

(also, my larger mission is a flat-belly program for – you guessed it – 3rd gen 4Runners)

My website is eimkeith.com, and SRQ also carries my stuff.

I'm on FB at PCK - by eimkeith and IG at eimkeith

(- and if you happen to use some of my stuff on your truck, I’d love to see photos in one of those places - there’s absolutely nothing cooler than seeing your stuff on other folks’ builds!)

 

[Brindybot]

Hi, I’m keith (eimkeith) and I'm thrilled about IDPOR - it's shaping up to be a different forum - which is exciting..

Similarly, I’m probably a bit atypical compared to regular vendors: my professional background has been in art, automotive, and fabrication; and I’ve now been involved in product design in more recent years - but as it relates to vintage sportscar restoration. However, I’m also a DIY guy; and I appreciate well thought-out and well-designed tweaks/enhancements, so when I can’t find them (or don’t like what’s available), I make them.

Being that I’m also a Toyota truck enthusiast and tweaking my 4Runner (and previously my Taco) is what I like to do on my time, designing stuff for this community was bound to happen at some point.

-and that’s how eimkeith.com started: on forums, in 2016, making something that I needed but was being overlooked by larger companies that make up the aftermarket off-road parts industry, - and making enough for other like-minded forum members.

So essentially, what I do is design & make Weld-It-Yourself stuff that I think is cool, that fits, and that I believe you other DIY guys might find useful.

Here’s what I’ve got so far:

• Panhard Correction Kits (PCK) for 3rd gen, 4th gen, 5th gen 4Runners, GX 470 & 460, and FJ (level your panhard, save $ over an adjustable bar)
• Fuel Tank Relocation mounts for 3rd gen 4Runners (F150 tank between the frame rails, behind the axle)
• Strut Tower Reinforcement Kits for 1st gen Tacomas and 3rd gen 4Runners (limit strap tabs to clear 2.5" coilovers and upper strut tower reinforcement plates)
• Lower Link Skids for 3rd gen 4Runners (stop folding over the factory lower link mount!)

And here’s what’s in queue as of October 4th, 2018 (in order of development):

• High Clearance Rear Bumper for 3rd gen 4Runners with 1” BL (quoting phase - and I'll be doing the front bumper in a few months)
• Lower Control Arm Reinforcement Kits for 1st gen Tacomas and 3rd gen 4Runners (prototyping these right now)
• Outboard Shock mounts for 3rd gen 4Runners
• 4-Link, med-length, dual triangulated rear suspension for 3rd gen 4Runners (just finished the axle tower design!)
• 3-link rear kit for 3rd gen 4Runners (if there’s enough interest – retains stock fuel tank)
• Full-length, low profile roof rack for 3rd gen 4Runners
• PCK for Sequoias

(also, my larger mission is a flat-belly program for – you guessed it – 3rd gen 4Runners)

My website is eimkeith.com, and SRQ also carries my stuff.

I'm on FB at PCK - by eimkeith and IG at eimkeith

(- and if you happen to use some of my stuff on your truck, I’d love to see photos in one of those places - there’s absolutely nothing cooler than seeing your stuff on other folks’ builds!)

Awesome stuff man!! I'll be buying your PCK for the 4th and 5th gens soon. Ive been dreading buying a new panhard bar but not anymore!!

 

[theesotericone]

Hi, I’m keith (eimkeith) and I'm thrilled about IDPOR - it's shaping up to be a different forum - which is exciting..

(- and if you happen to use some of my stuff on your truck, I’d love to see photos in one of those places - there’s absolutely nothing cooler than seeing your stuff on other folks’ builds!)

I'm pretty sure I was one of the first batches of 3rd gen 4Runner PCK's that went out. Here's your PCK on my rig. I run 861's in the rear with a Savage Dual Swingout. Center of hub to flare in the rear is 24.5". It's big lift and your PCK leveled my bar almost perfectly. The difference between running the stock bar without the PCK and running with it is amazing. It should be mandatory for anyone lifting these rigs.

 

[miles.less.traveled]

Hey Kieth, I'm interested in your Strut Tower Reinforcement Kit but I cant seem to find any pictures of them installed anywhere? I know a few other members were curious too.

Could you post some pictures for us?

Thanks in advance !

 

[jkeithw]

Hey Kieth, I'm interested in your Strut Tower Reinforcement Kit but I cant seem to find any pictures of them installed anywhere? I know a few other members were curious too.

Could you post some pictures for us?

Thanks in advance !

I just started shipping them last week, so I doubt anyone has theirs installed yet; although Assburns got an advance set of tabs - but not the upper plate.

I’m going to try to carve out some time to weld my upper plate on toward the end of this week, so I’ll post photos if no one else has installed theirs before then.

 

[AssBurns]

Hey Kieth, I'm interested in your Strut Tower Reinforcement Kit but I cant seem to find any pictures of them installed anywhere? I know a few other members were curious too.

Could you post some pictures for us?

Thanks in advance !

I welded on my limit strap tabs this weekend. I got these tabs a few weeks ago, but barely found the time this weekend to weld them on. The fit and finish is perfect! Plenty of room for a 2.5" coilover too. I don't have the upper plates since I made a crude set of my own plates a couple years ago when I blew out the coil buckets.

You can see on the shock, that I was rubbing the limit strap on the lower part of the 2.0" shock, even with a 1/2" spacer. These leave a ton of room for larger shocks/coilovers. And if you look closely, you'll see the crack in the shock tab from running the limit strap off of just those tabs. They obviously couldn't keep up to the abuse.





Here you can get the idea of what the top plates are for. Definitely stiffens up the super thin coil bucket.

 

[jkeithw]

^ here’s the top plate that comes with it.

 

[AssBurns]

View attachment 1138

^ here’s the top plate that comes with it.

That looks much better than the one I made. I wish I could cut it off now so I can run yours hahah

 

[Dezert4Runner]

Looking forward to some prefab’d outboard rear shock mounts! Are they going to be a simple tower or a full on hoop? Have you done any renderings?

The TC tower ones made for the 1st gen Tacoma here seem the simplest (which I think >$400 is a crazy retail number for a simpler design like theirs) but I really like the bolt on version @Prospectator did here. I’m planning on running a 10-11” Fox/King 2.0 remote resi 7/8” shaft shock and getting some uptravel back while dialing in better valving for my usage and coil setup. Want to add a shorty hydro bump too down the road. 2-2.5” stroke and cut out the factory mounts.

 

[jkeithw]

I'm borrowing heavily (with permission) from @AssBurns' design - it'll be pocketed into the frame for maximum droop without contact when articulated, and angled just enough to hit the factory bump when fully stuffed. This was fairly simple using the 2.0x11.5 Bilstein, but I'm having to revise it to make it work with a 2.0x11.0 Fox. Not sure how it is possible with a King; their compressed length is SO long...?

the bottom side axle mount is already finalized, btw - just re-working the frame notch and upper mount at this point.

also, I want to make certain it's a good fit for my 4-link, so I need to get a little further along with that to button up the shock mount design.

 

[Dezert4Runner]

I see that King 10” are about 3/4” longer but you can always run a weld on rod end to shorten the overall compressed length. The 11” Fox are more ideal since you can bump & strap with at least 10” of usable shock shaft anyways. I’m curious if your design/ @AssBurns design is solely frenched to avoid running spacers? I’ve seen a few setups with the shock mounted farther above the frame and still don’t have the extra frame notching but they run spacers. Is it to run a wider tire than a 285 (11” wide) and still stuff? Like designed in mind for those with 35’s? I’d like to avoid notching unless absolutely necessary.

 

[jkeithw]

It’s designed to not lose any uptravel over stock, specifically. It should also fit behind stock wheels without spacers depending on tire width.

I suppose you can run longer shock bodies with bump stop spacers, though

 

[jkeithw]

Also, the area being notched is insanely reinforced on the inside of the framerails already; transverse tube, coil buckets, etc.

Notch plate will extend forward and back on the outside of the frame for additional strength as well

 

[AssBurns]

I see that King 10” are about 3/4” longer but you can always run a weld on rod end to shorten the overall compressed length. The 11” Fox are more ideal since you can bump & strap with at least 10” of usable shock shaft anyways. I’m curious if your design/ @AssBurns design is solely frenched to avoid running spacers? I’ve seen a few setups with the shock mounted farther above the frame and still don’t have the extra frame notching but they run spacers. Is it to run a wider tire than a 285 (11” wide) and still stuff? Like designed in mind for those with 35’s? I’d like to avoid notching unless absolutely necessary.

The difference between those designs that are mounted up further, and mine is that I did not lose any up travel whatsoever. I actually had about 3/4" shock shaft showing at full bump. With the additional up travel, the tire was pushed up further into the wheel well when flexed out, so I pushed the shock further inboard and notched the frame to clear at all angles. I actually ran 1.25" spacers with stock wheels and 285/75R16 tires. The tires would have most likely rubbed without them. With the same wheels and spacers, I am running 315/75R16 tires and there is very little room between the tire and shock/mount. See pics below on that.

You can see I heavily plated the notched area with internal frame plates and fully boxed the notched area. I've beat the hell out of this setup and it's showing no signs of any issues.

 

[Dezert4Runner]

Gotcha. The guys mounting higher up are probably running low backspaced wheel to clear the shock body or something but it makes me curious how their tires stuff without hitting the fender lip.

Either way, I’m eager to see the finished product @eimkeith and will keep an eye out for updates!

 

[jkeithw]

I bet most guys can't stuff their wheels up there like @AssBurns can with his setup..!

 

[DuroBumps]

Keith, Hows it going with all the electrical and plumbing with the F-150 Tank??? I want to do the conversion but i want my gas gauge to work!!

 

[jkeithw]

Still working on it!

 

[KarlTyler]

Any further updates on the rear bumper as far as pricing and availability? Also IIRC (though I have no idea where) I read somewhere that you said the ability to actually tow with the built in receiver was a priority of yours. Would this be to the full 5,000 lb capacity of a standard receiver? Not that I would ever want to tow at max capacity, but my top two priorities are also high clearance and the ability to tow at least 3,000 lbs safely.

 

[RedRunner164]

What setup do you recommend as far as an upper clevis mount for the front limiting strap on the strut tower reinforcement kit?