Colinb17's kinda sorta build thread - now with 4-link and long travel

gotcha, so overkill for what seems to be turning in to a grocery getter since i can never seem to find my way off paved roads.

 

i'd think most people are fine with a mobil 1 type oil. my truck already gets poor mileage, and wheeling trips are only going to get harder and harder on my components, as tires get bigger and the suspension gets more agressive. not to mention the stress that lockers are goin to put on everything.

 

I am putting Heavy duty shockproof in my duals, and have 80-140 in everything else.

 

I talk about land rovers a lot. when i'm up north, i wheel with a bunch of them on a fairly regular basis. most of those guys are in this video. they just finished up their 5th anual "rovers on the rocks" competition at Rausch Creek last weekend. it's a pretty cool rovers only competition with a number of different classes (class is based on a combination of tire size, lift height, and the presence of lockers). great people and a great park.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eRdjB6vBKB4&feature=c4-overview&list=UUUnCLXtAqip_9qd-T1NenbA

 

Except in the snow, after Christmas, on street tires.

 

^^^ hmmm..... I remember that.

Shockproof getting some attention in here.

 

yeah....that was an odd group I only knew two of the guys in that herd, prior to the trip. Doug got 2nd place in the 33''+ tires class though

need more 12%!!!

 

I just remembered the piece of conversation which eluded me last night. Lol.

 

well I guess that could be good or bad.... at least now you know how you ended up in the windowless van....

 

X_X

 

Lol, is that a hangover face?

 

Woke up feeling great actually. Just wish I coukd have slept in longer. X_X

http://coolmaterial.com/roundup/the-worlds-strongest-beers/

http://www.idigitaltimes.com/articl...don-130-proof-worlds-strongest-beer-video.htm

A little something extra. I don't think I sent you the second link last night? Can't remember. .....

 

om nom nom

you want me to pick up one of those bourbon barrel quads for you on the way over tomorrow. they still had a few in stock when I got the last one.

 

With some very appreciated help from mark, and use of his driveway, some good progress was made last night and today. should be finishing everything up tomorrow.

-did the engine oil last night.
-today was the front and rear diffs.
-transfer case will be done tomorrow. maybe tranny too, but we'll see.

had to spend a good 10 minutes with the dremel to get the rear diff drain bolt out. had to cut some of the protective ring out that was smashed towards the plug, and then had to trim down the plug itself in order the get the socket on it. knew that was going to be an issue though, so I got a shiny new plug.





Then came the very welcome comic relief, when it looked like my smiley had a bloody nose after the refill



Then came the not so fun task of removing the skids. gonna put them on the scale tomorrow at mark's to see what they actually weigh.



they've held up great over the last 4 years of heavy abuse.



the high clearance transmission skid truly is just that, as it doesn't seem to have taken a singe hard hit. just some light scuffs.




and then there's the transfer case skid. there's sand, dirt, and clay from 7 different states on this mad boy



and because we were talking about it a page or two ago; a picture of my shackle hanger. other than being a little bent from one too many high speed runs, it is undamaged. no scrapes whatsoever.

 

Out of curiosity, how does your gas tank skid look? Thinking about going with aluminum since it doesn't seem like it'd get a lot of action. Hopefully save a little weight not that it matters at this point.

 

it takes far fewer hits than the others. and even though I have a heavy ass end compared to most tacomas, it's still a lot lighter than the front of the truck, so the hits it does take usually aren't as severe.

an aluminum one would probably suit you well. just be careful about the side and rear edges of it, since it will be easier to peel an aluminum one backwards/sideways if it hooks on something.

 

Smiley got a bloody nose, from too much use. lol.

Seriously though, couldn't have planned a better pic! Keep that one for sure.

 

Since you just changed the fluid in your diffs. Do you happen to have the crush washers part number handy? The idiot behind the counter at the dealership gave me the wrong ones last time.

 

I've got a whole pile of invoices im my back seat from stuff from this weekend. I'll see if that's one of them. I did grab a picture of my gas tank skid for you though. I'll load it when I get home.