FreshSeaBass Build Thread

Joined
Dec 12, 2019
Messages
342
Age
27
Location
Dahlonega, Georgia
They also ruined both manual wheel hubs and a couple of studs...... :mad: So, I had to rush order some brand new manual wheel hubs and all I can say is WOOOOOOOWWWW!
IMG_20200714_065729.jpg

I've never been so thankful for having parts broken!
IMG_20200714_172515.jpg
Put in new studs supplied by Low Range Offroad!
IMG_20200714_173931.jpg
I couldn't wait any longer to slip that hub on there!
IMG_20200714_174018.jpg
A thing of beauty!
IMG_20200714_174113.jpg

11pm, lubed up, and ready for a long night!
 
Joined
Dec 12, 2019
Messages
342
Age
27
Location
Dahlonega, Georgia
Mounted and torqued the hub lock ring! 200 ft/lbs?!?! :bash:
IMG_20200714_200454.jpg
Soz for the xtra long photo here..... Prepare yourself because I'm a wannabe #weldporn enthusiast. They're not perfect, they ARE hot, and I can't seem to be consistent all the time, but I was proud this go around!
IMG_20200715_211342.jpg

So crazy to have parts that come from an idea in my head, into CAD, through CNC, then onto the table in front of me. I'm pumped!!!
IMG_20200715_214516.jpg
IMG_20200715_214527.jpg
IMG_20200715_214544.jpg
IMG_20200715_214610.jpg
A few burns on my hands later!
 
Joined
Dec 12, 2019
Messages
342
Age
27
Location
Dahlonega, Georgia
IMG_20200716_210653.jpg
Hubs stripped, rebuilt and painted!
IMG_20200716_212840.jpg
This was surprisingly theraputic.
IMG_20200716_235952.jpg
Testing the fitment with the tower tacked!
IMG_20200717_000358.jpg
Getting into the wee hours of the morning at this point!
IMG_20200717_214943.jpg
Towers welded to the frame sans the fish plates and tube work.
IMG_20200717_213556.jpg

UCA mounted, greased the uniball and sleeves! Had to take the brake dust shields off because for one reason or another they won't fit the new rotors.
 
Joined
Dec 12, 2019
Messages
342
Age
27
Location
Dahlonega, Georgia
Getting into it proper!
IMG_20200717_235459.jpg
Excuse the mess, welding with stuff all in the way and out of position is probably my least favorite part about this...
IMG_20200717_235508.jpg
Hot and strong, maybe presentable.
IMG_20200717_235433.jpg

No going back!
IMG_20200717_235524.jpg
Had to call it a night and come back to getting it buttoned up!
IMG_20200717_235613.jpg
 
Joined
Dec 12, 2019
Messages
342
Age
27
Location
Dahlonega, Georgia
IMG_20200719_135657.jpg
I told my wife we would be driving out to the national forest to swim in one of our favorite rivers, so this had to be rolling!
IMG_20200719_130114.jpg
1 month of grinding dust, to clean off. Come to think of it, I dont think I've ever been this thorough washing it.IMG_20200719_135709.jpg
Everything is still raw, but I have to head down to my buddy's shop to bend the support hoops from the frame to the tower. Fortunately, the DOM bushing hardware showed up to also make a 'strut brace' across the engine bay.
IMG_20200719_135427__01.jpg
And that does it! It handles like a brand new vehicle and having the full range of travel out of the front end feels amazing! I have to weld on the hoop supports and strut brace to give myself full confidence in the really rocky terrain, but it feels incredibly rigid as it sits! In addition, the articulation out of the 600lb springs strikes a remarkable difference when compared to the 650lb springs. The 2.7L definitely likes the lighter weight spring set.

Not sure what to do with all of my time other than to drive it and continue with some of the accessory parts. I have the rear bumper to start on and start thinking about a storage solution to design, but this has by far been the biggest test for me in terms of doing my idea justice.

Thanks for reading!
 
Joined
Dec 12, 2019
Messages
342
Age
27
Location
Dahlonega, Georgia
Started with tubbing the firewall last night, got to a good place in only a couple hours. I wish I had known from the get-go how many overlapping layers of sheet metal there are. After getting into it with an angle grinder I think I'll probably have a crack at it with the plasma cutter this evening. Frame notch is next on the list.
IMG_20200729_215204 (1).jpg
Starting off small...
 

Attachments

  • IMG_20200729_201936.jpg
    IMG_20200729_201936.jpg
    70.2 KB · Views: 4
  • IMG_20200729_215204 (1).jpg
    IMG_20200729_215204 (1).jpg
    137.3 KB · Views: 4
Joined
Dec 12, 2019
Messages
342
Age
27
Location
Dahlonega, Georgia
This truck is not a high speed desert machine, it's geared more towards slower/technical trails, so I will be removing the factory bump stops and going with some low-pro bumps form LROR. Pulling 10.25" of wheel travel with the factory bumps, so I am guessing I will net about 1.25" more with the smaller bumpstops. We'll see what really ends up being the case.
IMG_20200729_211047.jpg
Droop: 17" at hub dial
Compression(with factory bumps): 27-ish" at hub dial.
IMG_20200729_211000.jpg
*There was a tiny bit more room to touch the bump down completely, but being on jack stands I didn't want to test it*
 
Joined
Dec 12, 2019
Messages
342
Age
27
Location
Dahlonega, Georgia
Is it thanksgiving? This is a lot of stuffing...
IMG_20200729_205622.jpg
IMG_20200729_220325.jpg
*Going to Clear for another 1.5" at least. This is going to be fun :doh:*
IMG_20200729_205904.jpg



Next will be the frame and start framing out with 1/8" steel rod before doing the panels... I opted for the same sheet thickness as the body. It looks like in some places it is about 16ga or maybe 18ga. 16ga will be a b**** to work into shape.
 
Joined
Dec 12, 2019
Messages
342
Age
27
Location
Dahlonega, Georgia
Wouldn’t it be cool if there was a 40” hole saw? Just start at the hub and push...
I'm pretty sure a holesaw would have actually helped me here.... On that note, I may even break that out for the overlapping panels now that I think about it... So far, two cut off wheels on one side. Still trying to figure out what would be the best method. *Edit: I mean sawzall*
 

Dezert4Runner

Pineapples belong on pizza
Joined
Oct 23, 2018
Messages
1,172
Wouldn’t it be cool if there was a 40” hole saw? Just start at the hub and push...
Or you can go old school and use a 40” piece of string with a sharpie on one end and center the string on the hub and draw your arc. A 40” hole saw would be epic though lol
 

4runner DOA

Hold my beer
Staff member
Joined
Oct 2, 2018
Messages
15,887
Location
OC
Hey, thanks! It's a shame, but after the hack T4R was not the same. I wish there was a resurgence. This reminds me I should update the thread because theres some of this on there.

Naw, keep it exclusive here. :anon:

Man I haven't been on t4r in ages. I should probably log in. Haha.
 
Top Bottom