Build The DirtStyle Runna (1st gen 4Runner on tons)

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Pulled the coils off to check full bump. No interference at all. If I wanted to relocate my upper coilover mounts higher I have room underneath to go probably another 4-5” down. I’d have to cut the rear quarters up higher and probably remove the inner tubs entirely. I also did finish cutting the access panels in the floor to gain access to the tops of the upper frame side link mounts and welded those up before closing up the panels. Now to see how long FOA takes to ship me the new coilovers and the rebuild kits. On the website it claims they ship in 14 days from order, so that’d mean they should arrive maybe by thanksgiving. I’m seriously debating not doing the air bumps and just doing some squishy bumps instead. I do have some air bumps I could install but I’m not sure it’s really worth the fab time.
 
Hell yeah. FOA order shipped. Scheduled to arrive Wednesday next week. Perfect timing. I’ll be able to get the new shocks on and be ready to go for a shakedown trip with my boys next weekend. 🤘🤘
 
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Finally got around to installing the Warn Zeon Platinum 10-S from the race car onto the Runna. Had to oblong the mounting holes a little from the previous 12k ****tybilt. Now to sell the ****tybilt to a mall crawler 😂😂😂. The line is a Custom Splice Diamondback 3/8 rope. I highly, highly recommend Custom Splice, we’ve had phenomenal luck with these ropes for a long time now. Factor55 Ultrahook on the end obviously.
 
Ordered some Metalcloak duroflex stuff to replace my front link flex joint junk. My logic is I’m not running this stuff long term so it should last for the 6 months to year max before I front half and move my front links around and redo them again. So it didn’t make a ton of sense to buy some high end expensive stuff. I also pulled the race siren off my Turbo S race car and installed it so I can get my boys attention when they’re on the dirt bikes and they can’t hear me hollering at them. And because racecar. :flipoff2::flipoff2:
 
Went out to Domo Offroad not far from where my mom and stepdad live near Fort Hood in central Texas. I bought my 13 yr old son an early 2000s yz80 and he was so stoked to go out and ride with Landon who rode the trusty xr80. I thought there’d be at least a couple “real” trails but nope. It’s not really anything worth visiting for rock crawling. I did get to hop in my stepdads can am and rip around the short course for a few laps which was fun. Boys had a blast, my stepdaughter practiced driving manual in the Runna so overall good trip. Now to replace the busted front flex joints and we’ll be pretty much ready for Hammers. I’m sure there’ll be a few small improvement projects here and there in the meantime.
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Went to a Wheelers for Wishes event in Katy with the Runna. Kind of annoyed they stopped me at the end of the ramp as I had every intention of driving up the tree until I lifted a tire. Should have had my wife spot me on the ramp so that I didn’t put the back tire on the ramp. 😂😂
Even saw Alex with his sweet little flooded yota. Met up with Boomtacoma to get some different 2” coilover spring options so I can play around with spring rates and get dialed in perfectly. Much appreciated man!
 

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Yet another reason to want to punch previous owners in the nuts. Had to take off the exhaust to be able to get the driver side upper link bolt out.
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Now just need to cut off the old welded on joints and weld on the new Metalcloak units. Should be ALOT better. Last major fix before KOH.
 
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Making some progress. These snap rings are a PITA but I can’t wait to have all new joints in the front. I think it’s gonna feel SO much better.
 
tribal4krawler said:
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Making some progress. These snap rings are a PITA but I can’t wait to have all new joints in the front. I think it’s gonna feel SO much better.
Click to expand...
FYI curries makea tool to compress the bushing to make the snap ring install easy. Its also really simple to copy and make.
 
Yea I’m getting it done anyway. All good. Just waiting for my last arm to cool off and put the insert in and then I’ve gotta clean up for the wifeys work Christmas party tonight. I’ll work on getting the arms reinstalled tomorrow morning, hopefully it goes pretty smoothly.
 
All done. Had my wife drive it around the yard while I checked and everything looks great. No more clunking or shifting from loose heims. Wife said she didn’t notice any difference 🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️😂😂. One of those projects where nothing looks different but ride quality goes way up. Just super minor things from here on out until we head out to Hammers for KOH. Mainly starlink mini mount, getting all that wired in properly, playing with rear spring rates (yes mobil1syn ill reference your sheet) to see what combination works best.. maybe redoing oil pan gasket and see if I can get that leak to stop, and then I gotta work on getting the motor home tuned up and some new tires for the trailer too.
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Starting on one of my little side projects - put the hard top back on and removed the sliding glass deals. My vision is to somehow make those openings have some kind of a swing open window or possibly vinyl windows with snaps for the openings. The idea is to make the cab loosely “water resistant” and more importantly be able to retain some heat in the passenger compartments at KOH if we do end up with another super cold event. I’m also going to duct tape in a piece of very thin Lexan for the sunroof hole in place of the mesh.

My thought also is I’ll be able to play with spring rates with the back mostly loaded up. I threw the spare in the back and those upper 150# coils are definitely just about fully collapsed lol.
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So… am I completely nuts? I’m thinking I could trim down these old 2dr JK rear windows to basically fit exactly like the slide in glass frames did. I’d have to do some snaps, my thought would be to have the top section be permanently glued in, and then have some snaps on the sides and bottom. It wouldn’t be watertight in a torrential downpour but… it seems like it could work?? lol.
 
you could even do panels or plexi/lexan that just latches in place, no hinges just something removable to fill the hole
 
The thing tho is I want the boys to be able to open it themselves and climb in and close it. That’s why before I was kind of thinking some type of sheet metal frame with lexan bonded to it with a hinge that swung open but in theory this could be even easier… maybe?
 
solvefunction.com

Upgraded Gulling latches

Upgraded Gulling latches These come as a pair modified and a pull string has been added. I have also added a pull handle with a magnet so it won't rattle down the road. If you get real cowboy the magnet will fall off. These will work with my Gullwings or Landcruiser phill's and pretty sure...
solvefunction.com solvefunction.com

i thought it was a product, but it looks like this guy just adds a handle to an existing "compression latch"

makes it so that it functions from both the inside or outside
 
You could put the top of the fabric in a trim bolted to the roof like RV awnings.


I saw a clean black 1st gen that had a tan top for his daughters but he had to close it after they got in. They had a system but it wasn't useable for the kids.
 
yeah I’m not sp
Motiracer38 said:
You could put the top of the fabric in a trim bolted to the roof like RV awnings.


I saw a clean black 1st gen that had a tan top for his daughters but he had to close it after they got in. They had a system but it wasn't useable for the kids.
Click to expand...
ooo. I like that idea. Id have to sweet talk my MIL into sewing a rod into the top of the window that could slide into that channel but it could definitely work. One of my thoughts was actually using magnet buttons instead of snaps, that way when the boys got in and let go of the window theoretically it could fall and magnetically snap itself closed..
 
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