SaukMtnShitbox
Member
Figured id do a build thread on my runner. I bought it bone stock in late February 2025. I had already planned to sas it eventually but after the 22re decided to start knocking after a week I figured its go time on hammering everything out.
I pulled it into the shop and cut the rear suspension out then pieced together a 63 spring swap utilizing excess parts from previous builds. I ordered a LROR frame side shock mount aswell as TG axle side mounts.
Moving onto the front i cut the ifs out and while I was up there i figured id yard the engine out to dig into it. With everything out of the way I cleaned up both passenger and driverside frame rails, plated both sides inside and out aswell as welded in the frame tubes, front hanger, and hanger gusseting. I rotated and pushed the steering box forward as far as possible without cutting into the core support.
Jumping over to the engine i found #3 rod bearing spun and wiped out the rod with it. At this time I also was planning a trip to drop off a bunch of core blocks at 22reraceworks for Jim to use as cores so I now had a time crunch. I pulled a older tall deck 22r into the shop that had been sitting in my driveway for about a year and found it was seized. After soaking it with atf and diesel i got it to free up, pulled the pan to inspect bottom end bearings, pulled the head and inspected the cylinders. Everything looked solid so I lapped the valves, installed new valve stem seals, decked the head and reinstalled it with a fresh set of head bolts and gasket. With the 22r buttoned up all I had left to do was drill and tap the block for the knock sensor.
Back to the front end I had a spare 84 axle out of one my other rigs I had just parted out I was able to use. I kept the stock 4.10s and just installed a grizzly locker as I honestly didn't know what I wanted to do as for as the end goal in this build goes at that time. So with a fresh set of bearings and seals in she went.
I pulled it into the shop and cut the rear suspension out then pieced together a 63 spring swap utilizing excess parts from previous builds. I ordered a LROR frame side shock mount aswell as TG axle side mounts.
Moving onto the front i cut the ifs out and while I was up there i figured id yard the engine out to dig into it. With everything out of the way I cleaned up both passenger and driverside frame rails, plated both sides inside and out aswell as welded in the frame tubes, front hanger, and hanger gusseting. I rotated and pushed the steering box forward as far as possible without cutting into the core support.
Jumping over to the engine i found #3 rod bearing spun and wiped out the rod with it. At this time I also was planning a trip to drop off a bunch of core blocks at 22reraceworks for Jim to use as cores so I now had a time crunch. I pulled a older tall deck 22r into the shop that had been sitting in my driveway for about a year and found it was seized. After soaking it with atf and diesel i got it to free up, pulled the pan to inspect bottom end bearings, pulled the head and inspected the cylinders. Everything looked solid so I lapped the valves, installed new valve stem seals, decked the head and reinstalled it with a fresh set of head bolts and gasket. With the 22r buttoned up all I had left to do was drill and tap the block for the knock sensor.
Back to the front end I had a spare 84 axle out of one my other rigs I had just parted out I was able to use. I kept the stock 4.10s and just installed a grizzly locker as I honestly didn't know what I wanted to do as for as the end goal in this build goes at that time. So with a fresh set of bearings and seals in she went.
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