Brett's average build thread

Are you still running the original injectors?

I have 178K miles on my '96 and am thinking I should be replacing injectors, plugs, coil packs and fuel filter. While I don't do serious wheeling I tend to get a long ways off paved roads.

 

yes, I am on the original injectors...I haven't really given it much thought until now.

 

Good to know on the coils. I'm at 213, probably going to do the coils and fuel filter soon.

 

I think the coils are worth it. Kind of pricey but should be the last time I have to change them. The acceleration is way better, I was having some mild hesitation at WOT and had already tried fuel system cleaner and a fuel filter.

 

I have been using this cot for a few years, mostly in a tent but it just happens to be 72" exact and fits in the bed with the gate up. I'm slightly shorter than that so I can sleep comfortably in the back.


Only drawback was the fenderwell being in the way of the center leg and the lost space.


So I drilled the rivets and picked up some 1" aluminum tubing and started to re-make the legs.




10/24 screws and nuts in place of rivets.


A new brace to keep it from collapsing on me. My butt is kind of close but I clear.




all the way over now.


More room for my gear and the dog now. Plus it still folds to give more room for hauling stuff like a truck was meant to do.

 

It's like 95 out so perfect tine to sit in the truck in the sun and weld some stuff up.
The stock storage compartments are just big enough for the stock jack, which is useless after a lift...so lets make that space bigger and more useful.Plus, who really sits back there anyway?

Start by gutting it. Plastics pop off, panels are bolted in. Easy peasy.


Removed all the seatbelt stuff for the rear. You will need to remove the window bracket to get the plastic to pop out enough to reach the bolt for the recoil mechanism. Really not that hard.


Started with a couple feet for mounting tabs against the back wall.


I used the existing bolts and holes from the old seat attachments/brackets
Some plastic had to be cut out of the way but it will be covered and the truck will never go back to stock at this point as far as I'm concerned.




Place for the rear support bar to sit now.


Raised 1 1/4" to the height I wanted. This is entirely up to you as to how high you want it.


From there I decided on a distance from the back and cut the end and center pieces. I settled on 16" overall width, 14" center sections. The length of the supports are 51", this gave me 1" of space on each side to play with and make it easy to work with. The plywood will go full width and cover everything.
Also cut the front legs after getting the top portion finished and bolted in.




A coat of primer, and some lunch. Cardboard template and the plywood is next.

 

I like what I'm seeing here

 

a few hours later, I got to this point.





Looking for carpet next, pretty Home Depot will have something suitably ugly.
Then the hatch's. Undecided on what I want there. For now I may just fill it with all my junk and screw it shut

 

So, Home Depot had some cheap indoor/outdoor carpet in a close match color. 6' x 8' for $18.00 bones, precut in a roll.
Well within the budget.

After pricing out marine style hatches, I decided to go a cheaper route and bought a 48" piano, or continuous hinge and use the plywood that was already there...
This actually allowed me to make the opening as big as possible and able to open full length if needed. I like this better.Not as clean perhaps or trick looking but it will work well for me and was cheap as hell.





The light is just a flashlight. But it makes me think a set of led's in there might be kind of useful.

 

I have enough carpet left over to line the inside of the space. I did not have enough daylight to accomplish this.

 

Turn out nice Brett
I like it!!

 

Thanks Rebecca!
It was a much longer project than I anticipated. I figured 3-4 hours tops. Was closer to all damn day. I blame the heat. I'm happy with it though.

 

It was a hot mother yesterday for sure

 

Looks like the same stuff I used on my bed platform and gave the leftovers to @Squeaky Penguin for his.
looks good

 

Thanks dude!
I was pricing it online at $8.00 something a foot. Found that cheap stuff and didn't hesitate to grab it.

 

Swapped out my 2 year old Moog lbj's for brand new OEM Toyota units.


What a piece of shit. If I had seen these side by side with OEM, I never would have let it be put in.
Two years old, about 35,000 miles give or take.
Leaking grease already, and even though they are greaseable, what a pain in the dick to actually grease them as there is no zerk and the opening is not easy to get to.


Notice the nice machined surfaces on the OEM


And painted from the factory as well...


Put a new OEM outer tie rod on there at the same time. I actually replaced the driver side last year right about this time.

The only aftermarket crap left is the steering rack. That will be left alone until it starts to leak. Then back to OEM for that too.

 

How much were the OEM tierods? If I replace my rack again I think I wanna go OEM and use my 555's from low range (I guess Moog?) as my trail spares.

 

Ball joints were 125.89 each
Tie rods were 51.32 each.
Really not that bad considering what they do and how long they original lasted.

 

That's not bad at all. I got the OEM balljoints when I did my rack 2 years ago so they are still fine, but I would definitely like to go OEM outers.

 

mocking up a swing out tire carrier.