2000 TRD OFFROAD MT (Black Betty aka Black Hole aka Tamiya Bruiser II) Rebuild Thread

More progress.

White blasted and ready for paint.


Back to black. 2 coats epoxy primer and 2 coats of urethane just like the frame.

 

What did I just read lmao. How much did you buy this truck for and how much are you into it for? You still dead set on that DB lift lol?

 

I paid 8 for it and I think I'm sitting at about 13. The only big ticket item I have remaining to purchase is the wheels and tires.

And yes, DB stays for now, at least. Unless I decide to keep it for the long haul. Time will tell.

 

Reinstalled the frame cross members and set the body on some new body mounts.

 

Were the body mounts a PITA to replace? don't you have to remove the carpet?

 

Unbolt mounts.

Lift cab.

Chop off mounts from frame.

Weld new mounts on frame.

Just what I'm gathering based on the pictures.

 

You just need to pull back the carpet.

No welding required. All of the nuts for connecting the body mounts to the frame of the truck are tack welded on. I broke two off during removal and just replaced them with staked lock nuts during the reinstall.

I guess it's still kind of a pain unless you have an easy way to lift the body. My truck has rock sliders welded to the frame so I was able to use those and some 2x4s to leverage the body up. I lifted the whole body at once because I was painting the frame. Probably easier to do one side at a time. Still was not too bad.

 

Almost ready to put all of this together.

Does the E-Lock shift motor look properly clocked to you? The locker wouldn't engage before I tore the truck apart. After disassembly I think the previous mechanic may not have properly clocked it last time it was installed. I applied 3v to it and it seems to function properly.

 

New Vise


Straight as I am... lol

 

My TIG skills are not the best.


I'm going to go back over these until I have nice clean welds. I think I was too hot.

@ForestRunnerFrank99

 

Better... but not great. Good enough... but not the best. I don't think I cleaned the metal well enough before starting.


More ugly, but serviceable welding.

 

Bolts no longer fit through the holes!!
Looks like my awesome welding skills over heated and shrunk the metal. They fit before I welded them.

Fuuuk..... whelp guess I will have to do a little grinding. They are very close.

 

I'm planning to swap the TIG for the MIG gun and weld these up next. I'll grind whatever clearance I need after they are welded in.

Forward progress...

 

Looks like you were moving a bit slow based on your heat-affected zones not to mention filler getting contaminated (I see porosity).

It'll hold so you don't have to worry about that, but high heat along with fast movement should keep you dabbing and moving all while keeping your filler from sticking to the puddle as it looks like that's the case here.

 

Great progress though, haven't seen this thread for awhile.

 

Drop Brackets are ready to go. I MIG welded the alignment plates on instead of TIG. I think it went more quickly. Welds are still ugly but strong. I had to use a diegrinder to get the bolts to fit through the holes. Ready to move on.

 

Fresh out the box from ECGS.


Got some clean up to do before assembling. Realized I have not replaced the bearing in the diff tube. I have replaced every bearing downstream of the transfer case so might as well.

I'm a little pissed to find that the full bushing kit from energy suspension does not come with the front differential housing rear support... I'm struggling to find a replacement. Mine looks pretty ok... but again, I have replaced every other bushing. Sooooo...