hoverlover’s “there are many like it, but this one is mine” extra long title bs thread and build too

I couldn't tell you how many times I wish I'd had a horn.

Well. We had a system malfunction on Sunday morning when we went to leave and ended up taking the helicopter from COTA to our private heliport 5 minutes away. I'll be bringing it back in another day or so when they get it fixed.

Safety Restore repaired my belts -

https://www.safetyrestore.com/

You'll have to remove your seatbelts and ship them.
They charged me $75/belt to restore my seatbelts and their retractors to like-new condition.

 

​

 

yup, awesome drummer

 

Big day tomorrow, I've got some high clearance fenders coming in. I'll be cutting almost 4" out of my hood so the suspension can cycle without the up-travel limit created by the hood and front fenders.

It's going from this - these are my current fenders with 37's


To this - these are high clearance fenders pictured with 40's so I'll have a few inches to spare.


I'm also going to have the same aluminum inner fender which I think looks pretty snazzy and keeps everything out of the engine compartment. Ignore the fact that I cut giant holes in the hood. They'll keep mud out and increase flow across the radiator.

If you look at the lines on the hood you can see how much higher the fenders will sit. The goal is a very low stance with a lot of ground clearance and flexibility. Low center of gravity, ample of travel: that's the goal. I'll eventually get some 16"-travel King dual rate coilovers under her similar to this




(Same fenders! Purrrty)

The Jeep has been a lot of fun to build on but it seems like I've got a never-ending list of work to be done. Currently I'm dealing with overheating problems (230F+), my suspension seems to have shifted giving me a new front-end driveline vibration, the transmission likes to run hot, and a few other little nitnoid issues here and there. It's a bit frustrating because I'm not cutting any corners with it and I'm doing my best work but it's easily the most work I've ever tried to get done all at once and there's been a bit of a learning curve to get it all right. When it's right, it runs like a wet dream; when it's wrong it's a living nightmare. The transmission isn't doing me any favors either. The overdrive has a 0.69:1 drive ratio and it's just too low for the engine. If it was turbocharged and intercooled, no problem. But it's not. So everything likes to overheat when ambient temps are above 90F. With the AC on, it's definitely going to wander close to the red. A bit frustrating because at the end of a 100F+ day outside in the sun I just want to cool off on the way home but sometimes I end up running the heater to keep the engine from cooking.

My conclusion: Tacomas are pretty easy to work on but very difficult and expensive to get the results I'm after. The Jeep has been a bit finicky to work on but the results are outstanding. I've found it to cost about half as much to get similar results, or better, but changing one thing results in an immediate need to change two or three other things.

One thing I do love is the crawl box. And unlike my Marlin Crawler Inchworm Taco Box the Advance Adapters box just. freakin. works. It's never leaked a single drop, it shifts easily, especially with the cable shifters, the Jeep doesn't even know it's there, and it's much more quiet than the Marlin/Inchworm. When I put it in compound low... I don't even know what to say. It goes places. I know my Tacoma was well-built and capable but I have a lot more confidence in the Advance Adaptors box. I'm not worried at all about snapping a nearly impossible to replace and incredibly expensive input or putting too much torque into the transfer case. The crawl box is a 2.5:1 reduction and the transfer case is 4:1 instead of 4.7:1 in the taco box and 2.5:1 in the transfer case. That means I'm only doubling the torque into the transfer case instead of nearly QUINTUPLING it. Further good news is, the Rubicon transfer case is a bit of a beast and has proven it can handle it.

The concerns I do have about strength are more about axle shafts and axle tubes because 37's are really pushing the limits of Dana 44's even with chrome-moly shafts and trussed axles. Of which I have neither. For now. I'm just keeping my fingers crossed that I don't have any shock-loads that'll snap my twiggy shafts any time soon.

Future plans: when (not if) I do bend a tube, the plan is to upgrade from the Dana 44's to Dana 60's (or better, I love the high pinion Rockjock D70's). I'm also wanting to resolve my overheating issue by dropping in an LS3 V8, Turbo 400 transmission, and Atlas 4-speed transfer case. I think I want to stay on 37's because I feel like they're a great all-round size but I'm planning to build it to handle 42's in case I'm tempted to step up to 40's. Which I already am. When in doubt, go all-out, right? I'll try to remember to take some pics as I do some work in the next few days.

 

Well, got nothing done today. FedEx sucks. 4 boxes got shipped together, one arrived, three got lost. This happens every single time I have a FedEx delivery. Maybe tomorrow, not holding my breath.

 

The purple man cometh



Quickly approaching the point of no return

 

Had a few setbacks at home but I still managed to get some work done today and I am loving it!

I was so tempted to just put in the fender liners and leave it like this. The pics might not look great but it looked pretty cool with no front fenders at all. Anyway, here's the old hood line.


Stenciled


Cut


New fender, working on the liner


Fender and liner getting lined up with the tub. I need to cut a bit more out of the hood. I'm a little annoyed with that because I measured 50 times and then made one super clean cut on both sides. Of well, I'd rather have too much than not enough.


Can't wait to get finished up!


The driver's side is about 85% done. I've just got to finish the hood, attach the latch, wire the blinkers and fog light, and figure out what I'm going to do with the window washer fluid bottle.

More to come

 

(*clears throat, channels Hank Hill*)

Boyh I tellhu hwut.

Cutting fenders: cake walk.
Cutting hood: not a drop of sweat.
INTENTIONALLY DENTING HOOD FOR LATCHES: .... Traumatizing.



What the picture doesn't do justice of is showing the rounded edge of the hood I had to hammer flat with (my great grandfather's) ball peen hammer. The latches require an elongated flat area to bolt down to the hood but when I cut 3" out the flat spots went with it. So I had to get creative.

Overall, not too shabby, I say.



The front fenders are done. The fender liners are in, the battery has been relocated, the AC lines bent to a new route, the computer, cruise control, horn, blinkers... It'll be shorter to tell you what wasn't moved: the engine is where it was originally. I moved just about everything else. Took about 20 hours but it's done and I love the result. I'll get pictures when I get the rear done. I'm still self-quarantined with my covid-positive wife so I may get a start on it tomorrow.

 

Before



After





Sliders should ship soon enough.

 

WOW! Just.....wow! I almost wonder why you didn't start with one less cherry, but I already know the answer....

 

Well, I'm super behind in here. To summarize, overheating issue is resolved and I can use overdrive again! I do occasionally wish I'd run some bigger gears, I find myself holding second and third out to 3500rpm before shifting. I can only complain so much though, it'll still do 85 on the highway!

Got my sliders in and installed


I had bought a soft top and the hardest for it last December and finally got around to installing it. I'm pretty certain the top was for the 97-03's because it just did not fit right. I know when you get them they're small and take a few weeks to stretch out proper but I was popping seams and it leaked when it rains because of it. I ended up selling it all but I should have kept the frame. I paid $220 for everything and now I can't find a frame in decent condition for less than $500 . So the hard top is back on it for now. I don't mind, it's quiet and the AC is much more effective but I loved having the top down when I could.

I took it out to HF for my birthday this past weekend and was having a great time running 4's and a few 5's. I didn't get too crazy because I was in my own and my wife isn't the best spotter but we had a good time nonetheless. The Jeep did great! Drove there, ran every trail I pointed it at, and drive back home without issue. Can't ask for more! I do need to replace the pump for the front locker, though. I broke the plastic nipple when I replaced all the air lines and did my best to repair it but it's leaking and can't build sufficient pressure to engage the front locker. That would have made a few things I did a lot easier. I wanted to try the harder lines on a few things and just couldn't get the front to hook up when I needed it to and ended up taking an easier line because of it. But I never had to use a bypass! I didn't get many pics but here's a few the wife took


Those two guys stopped to watch but weren't interested in running more challenging trails



She got video of this one, I'll post it up later because it was super smooth!



I wish I had video coming up this one. The waterfall was higher than the hood and had been torn up pretty good, but I found a way up it





I literally just now realized I have a GoPro and should have taken it! Guess I gotta go back!

 

Happy Birthday Alex! Nice present!

 

Thank you, sir! I think it was as well

 

@Oldie2007 i had thought the 18th was the second Saturday, I was all excited to head out to CnC that morning. I'm planning on heading out to the one in October. Are you going to be there?

Also gotta get @BassAckwards his trans jack back to him! I've only had it for like two years

 

hell yeah man, she's looking good. Happy birthday mang!!

Ahh yeah i forgot about that Trans jack hahah. I think you had a taco CV axle as well that i need to grab for the 4wd conversion..

 

Nah, the 18'th was Dr. Kevin trying to get us to visit the Shiner brewery - I was the only one going! Tried to meet up at Cactus Land, but no one wanted to so I made other plans.

I MIGHT go to the C&C. I really didn't like the new set up last year, but now that some folks are making it, I consider it. They seem to find a place to gather....

Hey, what became of the BUS?

 

Thanks bro! Much appreciated!

I think I've got more than one. Either way, I'll bring what I got. You want any other taco parts? I have a few things floating around still that aren't going to be much use to me anymore. Also PLEASE remind me as we get closer to CnC, I will (unintentionally) forget.

 

I've still got the bus but construction has been a bit slow lately. I've been focused on getting the Jeep all hammered out. I can only just barely afford one bad habit at a time!

 

Sounds good, can do on the reminder once it gets closer. Is your number still the same? If so I can shoot you a txt. And what kind of taco parts do you have floating around?