y=mx+b's 05 4runner Build Thread

Pic came though well, fit looks good

I'll definitely have to swing by walmart to take a look, since walmart carries both the tubs and the HART stuff.

 

Saving these links for some organizer foam. I'd use this in either the tote box or the modular thingy. Turns out the Kaizen name brand foam is actually a value than expected. Might buy the 8-10 sheet bulk and do my toolbox as well, since the price per sheet is halfed and ships for free in bulk

Kaizen foam: 7/8" thicccc | 24"x48" | $40 | https://www.fastcap.com/product/kaizen-foam
Kaizen foam: 1-1/8" thick | 24"x48" | $43
Kaizen foam: 2-1/4" thick | 24"x48" | $55

FoamFit Tools: 3/4" thiccc | 12"x24" | $27 | https://www.foamfittools.com/toolfoampsa.php

5S Supplies: 3/4" thiccccc | 12"x24" | $35 | https://www.creativesafetysupply.com/foam-tool-kits/ (this just looks like rebranded of the FoamFit tools stuff


Amazon Special 1: 1/2" th | 16"x54" | $30 |

$45 Case Club Customizable (PE) Polyethylene Foam 54" x 16" x 1"

https://www.amazon.com/Case-Club-Closed-Military-Grade/dp/B07YGVFVN3/ (downside is that it isn't individual layers to peel out for different depths)
Amazon Special 1: 1" thic | 16"x54" | $45
Amazon Special 1: 2" thic | 16"x54" | $65

 

@ilubtimmyhos used to not have a garage and we did all wrenching in his driveway, so he had one of the roller systems. I don't remember which one, but it was a nice setup. When it was time to wrench, he just rolled it out into the driveway and when it was time to wheel, he would toss them in the truck. For someone in your situation, I think this is a great idea. I vote for a system with wheels because it'll make your life easier.

 

You could also do something like Jason though idk how easy it would be to adapt your current tools into something like this.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BYzJ81uniPe/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

 

I legit have a set that's empty and I need gone. I'll let it go for free if you come get it.

Https://www.homedepot.com/p/RIDGID-PRO-Tool-Storage-System-3-Piece-RIDGIDPRO3PCTSS/315289493

 

Talked with Adam offline, and unfortunately I'm now a bit further away from him now than when I was doing the internship in MD. I really appreciate the offer!

Got a chance to look at the walmart HART box when I was at the store this weekend, but the box has one deal breaker feature. They have a seam in the center, which divides up the container too much. I have some long handle wrenches that I like and want to take with me when I go places. All those little insert cups would be removed so I could put tools in the box without them there. I need a chance to go to home depot and check out the husky version. Its comparable price, I just liked the Hart because I could buy the base piece separate and not end up with some parts I don't think I'd use as much.




This husky boxes don't seem to have this seam in them, but I want to go into the store to see myself


Also got to drive the electric bendy bus last week. We only have 2 electric bendies, and they don't go on routes I usually drive. The first time it didn't have the wrap on, and this time it did, so I was super excited. Only 3k miles the first time I drove this exact unit in october, and now its only up to 6k miles. Newest vehicle I've ever driven haha. Regen braking isn't as strong as the hydraulic retarders on the diesel buses or even the regen on the hybrids, so I'm wondering if that could be tuned up through software? The hydraulic retarders are really easy to control to 25mph down hills, but the electric regen braking not so much.


And Earth day in my pre-09 pre-def bus lol. Still can replace up to 75 cars, so still beneficial to ol mama earth


hokie bird bus. even has the bird butt on the back

 

Made it to the moon baybee

 

my bora spacers finally shipped. Finish school on the 11th, and have to move to central Illinois this summer for an internship on the 14th. Maybe I'll try to do things while I'm at home for those few days or it will have to wait until summer is over. I don't think I'm taking my welding stuff out there

 

Turned in my last homework assignment of the semester!

Regular class ends this Wednesday, and my last exam is next Wednesday. May have time between when classes end and when my exams start to weld on the last spindle gusset. The 1/2" spacers finally shipped with arrival date 5/4 if I'm lucky

Then I'm going to pack what I have here and head home for Thursday and Friday.

Then to start a new (short) chapter in Illinois for the summer. Looks like its about a 14hr drive, so that should be delightful

 

Knew I'd be working on a valvetrain team this summer, but what I didn't know was the team was specifically for large engines: 27-300 liters. holy moly

 

880mile trip from eastern VA to central IL completed. Overall everything went smooth, although I'm realizing gears are really needed when toting around the extra weight

Another issue is that after the trip I have definitely formed a bubble in my cooling system probably as a result of a head gasket leak. Wouldn't be the first time it's shown signs. Going to burp it tomorrow and see if that fixes it



Also 240k woohoo

 

Beautiful looking build man!!

 

Thanks dude, I really appreciate that! I kinda like it too haha

 

Apartment parking lot oil change complete

There's an area in the back of the lot I guess they're saving for future buildings or had to cut short construction or whatever, so I went down there to be mostly out of view and also avoid and accidental brake parts cleaner overspray on cleanup




Nothing fancy, just the super tech synthetic. I was using the super tech advanced synthetic, but they didn't have it this time. I change every 5k anyway, so the regular synthetic is fine.


Wasn't thinking ahead/still settling in, but I should have planned an offroading trip for this long weekend

 

Even little tires get boo-boos








Been cycling more now that I don't have to keep up with homework over the summer and because I sit at a desk most of the day. Just using a bike we had at home, nothing fancy, but I definitely see how all hobbies can end up as (fun) money pits. Newer bike, different bars, different cranks, rack to hold it all, etc lol

 

Bike Rack Mods

So a bit back, I mentioned that I bought this Saris bike roof rack second hand to take a bike to Illinois with me. It has one single bike rack and one tandem bike rack. Each bike sits in a little tray, that runs front to back of the car, and sits on roof rack crossbars that mount to the factory rack.

The single rack uses one (1) of these arms (pictured below) to both secure the tray to the front crossbar and to hold onto the bike frame. To mount the tray to the rear crossbar, there is a little block that goes between the tray and the crossbar

The tandem bike rack uses an additional arm instead of the rear block, to hold onto the longer frame, for a total of two (2) arms. The tray for the tires is identical in profile, just longer for a tandem bike. The problem is that the arms have no way to secure them when a bike isn't attached, so on a normal sized bike, the rear arm would be flopping around.

The goal of this project is to replicate the functionality of the rear block, so I can mount two single bikes on the roof

Arm left, block right


So here is the final product! Aluminum flat bar and stainless hardware, so rust won't be an issue. Two bolts are used instead of a T-section to keep the tray straight. The top/flat aluminum piece was slightly undersized because I had initially made bends in the bottom piece that were too sharp, decreasing the overall span. When I flattened it out, the bottom piece got longer, so it looks a little funny. Still works and I'm using pretty limited tools here and didn't want to make another if this one still worked. May trim down the ears to get them to the same length, but that would just be for aesthetics


Additionally, the previous owner lost a piece of a small bracket and replaced it with some bent piece of soda can. I didn't like that, so I made a little replacement piece out of some left over aluminum flat bar to match the other identical bracket.

 

Forgot to post the pic of them both on the roof. It's kinda ridiculous with them so high up there, but it works. My bike isn't very heavy, so I can do it pretty easily alone, but the MTB is a bit heavier to do alone. My friend from school and I have been wanting a tandem bike because you have double power with less than double weight, so hopefully I can utilize the tandem rack to it's full potential at some point haha

 

Looks great!

 

With the squared off main tube, it's actually easier to get up there than my other bike because I can prevent it from rotating. I lift the bike over my shoulder with one hand, and climb up with the other

 

no 4runner mods, just bike stuff. ended up buying a platform rack on craigslist because it was a steal and the roof can get annoying. I definitely like it for some aspects, but its much easier to throw it on the back