'88 1uz 4runner Build

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By a lucky chance of fate the towbar was made out of 75mm box in a 6mm wall, the exact same as my crossmember! Instead of mucking around notching the crossmember I decided then and there to cut the crossmember, sleeve the inside and weld in a section of the tow bar:



Here's the rear bar cut in half, seemed wrong cutting it in half after all the careful measurement that went into it:



Here you can see the sleeve I used inside the crossmember, I definitely wasn't satisfied buttwelding these sections together so sleeved either side for a good 8 inches:



Welding the two sections together with the new towbar portion in the middle:



Welded in some tube going from the C channel mounts to the tube lower portions for additional strength, The high lift was there to maintain the correct dimensions during welding:



Now that was done it was time to knock up the upper sections to the rear bar, both sides will be the same height as the rock sliders:



Here you can see it in progress, the fittings are just buttwelded to the tube then grinded smooth:



Here's the OHS work supervisor "rusty" observing all that is going on, he's an Australian red cattle dog crossed with an English staffy:



Here's the upper section tacked on to check position:



Another angle, the bar has a bit of surface rust as mr plod didn't warm to me driving around with no rear bumper to speak of so I put it back on half done:



Here's both sides tacked in place after final checking ready for welding out:



Had some laser cut gussets left over from a project a while ago so welded them in for a little extra strength, they have the maltese cross cut into them:

 

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Here's the bar after I took to it with the flapper wheel:

Welded on the spring loaded latch system I will use for the swing away wheel carrier:

Here it is sitting outside covered in rust converter ready for a wipe off and a coat of paint:

Here it is after its first coat, mainly to get the rear sections that can't be accessed when it's on the car:

Here it is finally installed getting a lick of paint, I went with a more silver hammertone this time and the sliders will get the same treatment in due time:

And finally here's the finished product with a recovery eye attached via a lockable receiver pin:

Another angle:

Final shot:

Now the rear bar is taken care of I will be looking to fit some flares, getting a new set of wheels from the states which should arrive in the next couple of weeks so that will make up my next update.

Cheers to anyone who is reading!

Peter

 

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Hello again time for an update on the runner. There’s not heaps happening on it just trying to get it ready for a move to Sydney which meant taking care of a nasty oil leak coming from the side gears in the front diff. I also removed the chrome trim from the wheel arches and replaced it with rubber flexi flares. After that I knocked up a simple removable mud flap mount to properly cover the wheels.

The best part of the update happened after I came home late one night and logged on to 4wheelparts and started browsing. I woke up the next morning and found an invoice in my email telling me I bought some wheels. Online checkout systems are so easy to complete these days they are becoming hazardous. I went with some Dick Cepek FCII’s 16x8 in a -12offset.

Ok time for some pictures:

Here’s the diff with the side gears pulled, they come out easy just a hammer and block of wood or a rubber mallet and they pop out

Old seal full of crap

New seals with the yota part number

Getting the new seals in, this is the time you are happy you bought a large socket set if only to help drive in seals.

 

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Nice new seal

Mud flap parts ready for paint

Both sides ready for assembly

Both sides together, the remaining brackets bolt on inside the wheel arch

Side angle showing the mount points didn’t get a great photo but you get the idea

 

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Came home from work one day and there was a large package for me

Here they are mounted to the Cooper STT’s, you can see the flexi flares as well

And one more

Last is a picture of my dog Rusty just because he’s a champion

That’s the end of the update next one I’ll hopefully have a proper bashplate knocked up for her. The current one is the standard ifs model however the location of the sump puts it about 5mm from the back bash plate. This caused the sump to crack a while ago and need to sort something better out cause I’m not pulling that sump off again if I can help it.

Cheers to anyone who’s reading

Peter