Builds A Teenagers Attempt of a Build Thread

[Andrew Bluemel]

That’s definitely not a stocker trail. We banged around our 3rd gen 4Runner on 33’s with 3” lift, and it squeezed through some lines the 80’s have to go over.


Both Saran Wrap and Eagle Rock are legit technical trails especially if it’s a bit wet as some steep stuff will just dig out if you start spinning. It was wetter when we went in Aug and there were a few spots that challenged being dual locked on 37’s with 4” lift.

Hackett and/or Longwater Gulches are better suited so long as you don’t try to follow rigs into really deep water that have snorkels and almost hydrolock your engine

Hmmmmm wonder who that was

 

[Dragos80]

Oh

 

[Andrew Bluemel]

Went on a wheeling trip with @ExpoMax. Bad idea.... a 3 link is now added to the build list . Was a lot of fun and pretty sweet to watch his in action. Still pretty pleased with how mine did but his is on a totally different level.

Regear and rear locker going to be added to mine in the coming weeks though

(His partially flexed)

(Mine almost fully flexed)

(Amazing how my car looks pretty big everywhere I go until I go wheeling with Max )

 

[NateMob]

@Andrew Bluemel , I've got a stock front bumper in 100% better shape than your current one in the garage if you're interested!

 

[Andrew Bluemel]

@Andrew Bluemel , I've got a stock front bumper in 100% better shape than your current one in the garage if you're interested!

Sign me up! That would be awesome! My bumper is trashed I have pulled it off to try to straighten it 3 or 4 times and it’s pretty far gone. Goal is to custom make one eventually but that is definitely down the road quite a ways. I’ll PM you this evening. Thank you!!

 

[LCHardriver_02]

Very cool thread!!!

I am amazed at what you have done to initially purchase this truck and then modify it so soon thereafter! My first car was a '76 Olds Cutlass Supreme, with a saggy backend! I only wish I had known of LCs back then! I wanted a 4X4, but could not afford one (1 striper in the USAF at the time).

Nice job!

 

[Andrew Bluemel]

Haven't updated this thread in forever and thought it would be fun to before I go off to college.

Since I last posted the cruiser has received the following
Re Gear to 5.29s with Aussie Rear Locker
Bumpers: Trail Gear Front Plated and Hudd Expo Rear prototype (can't say enough about how much I love the rear bumper Max and his dad over at Hudd Expo do a great job)
Winch: s***tybuilt I mean Smittybuilt (I got a good deal and so far has pulled a Jeep off a beach)
Tires: Cooper AT3 XLT: Overally impressed with on road handling, noise, offroad traction, and 60,000 mile warranty piece of mind
Dobinson 4 inch coils
Rancho shocks (LOVE these shocks 9 way adjustable dampening is awesome hopefully they hold up I still have my doubts)
Wits End Rear Lower Control Arms
Wits End Modded Fan Clutch

I am about tapped out of how much money I can throw at the Cruiser and I would be scared to add up all the money I have put into it, but I am in love with where it sits right now. I recently did a 5,000 mile road trip and was so impressed with how it ran and how comfy it was.


One month ago the Cruiser had 242,000 miles on it. As of yesterday It just hit 250,000. Besides changing the oil every 5,000 miles I have done nothing to the engine in recent memory. After baselining it all last year with a front axel rebuild, all new rubber hoses and belts, 100% redone cooling system, there really isn't a lot I worry about engine wise. I thought it was incredible too on the 5,000 mile road trip we took, the cruiser burned no considerable amount of oil. I was pleasantly surprised

I am about to go to CU Boulder for my freshman year and the Cruiser is coming with me. I don't expect to do anything to it besides maintenance but next summer my plans are to do the following

Mature stuff
Delta Arms
Front Rotors


Dreamer stuff
40s: 37s dare I say are starting to look to normal?
Wits End Turbo of course but I need to win the lottery first

Of course the update would not be complete without some pics

 

[baldilocks]

Which part number coils did you get? Heavies/medium/rate? Actual amount of lift. She’s looking good for sure.

 

[Andrew Bluemel]

Which part number coils did you get? Heavies/medium/rate? Actual amount of lift. She’s looking good for sure.

Thanks!

And fronts are C59-614V
Rears are C59-614V

I also have a 30mm spacer up front and I still have a little stink bug stance. I would get the heavy fronts if I could do it again

 

[baldilocks]

Thanks!

And fronts are C59-614V
Rears are C59-614V

I also have a 30mm spacer up front and I still have a little stink bug stance. I would get the heavy fronts if I could do it again

Same part number front and rear?

 

[Andrew Bluemel]

Same part number front and rear?

Oooops my bad rear C59-615V

 

[nukegoat]

If the hudd expo bumper required any welding by the proprietors, I'd worry

 

[Heckraiser]

I work up in Boulder, I'll keep an eye out for your rig. What kind of seat covers are those? Jonesing for some sheepskin on my keester.

 

[Andrew Bluemel]

Time to do my yearly update on the cruiser. The cruiser has been putting in the work. Since my last update I have put 23,000 more miles on it and for 3 months of the year, it was down being stored at home while I was up at school. It did another trip up to Oregon from Colorado with my girlfriend and ran great, multiple trips to Moab, Telluride, and stuff up in that area. Just rolled 273,000 on her and its still running really strong with not really burning a considerable amount of oil, and after pulling off the valve cover, I have even more confidence in it it was stupid clean. I guess turbo diesel oil and 5k intervals has been working pretty well for this motor. So after having that piece of mind, now it's time to reward it with a supercharger . I got my hands on a supercharger in sorta a stoke of luck sorta way, it got pulled off a used truck and I am about to send it off to Jon Bond performance for it to get rebuilt before throwing it on my truck. It's going to get a 3.0 pulley and I am going to run it this winter and then maybe add meth if it seems like it will need it for the warmer summer temps. Stupid excited for this I wish I coulda had the funds for Joeys turbo but this made to much sense not to do.

Other then that exciting news, I don't have a lot of big plans for the truck. The big plan is to do a huge 2 month Alaska trip with @ExpoMax summer 2021 so the plans are starting to be based more around that. I aim to make the cruiser as comfy and reliable and clean as possible before the trip. Besides doing the supercharger and keeping an eye on coolant temps and keeping oil in it I trust the motor its pretty well base lined. Most of my troubles are in the interior correcting stuff I did when I was 15-16 being a dork. Stuff like bad wiring, cutting up the interior for bigger speakers, a rattle in my sunroof that is driving me INSANE ect. Basically all of this stuff I was sorta content with having until I started seeing how @ExpoMax does things correctly .

So the spark notes summary of what has happened to the truck

Dobinson 12 inch travel shocks: Ride great, flex good really recommend
Dropped back to 4.88s with Harrop E locker in rear: NIGHT and DAY difference between the auto Aussie locker I had, the auto locker was stupid loud
Added a dorkle: I don't know if I am in love with the look of it yet but with being a black truck and having a supercharger I think I needed it for lower IT temps
Alpine ILX-650 with power pack amp: Sounds awesome! Truly love it and the anti glare screen is amazing


Spark Note future plans

Supercharger
Re do interior: Maybe find a wrecked Cruiser or LX450 and swap door cards, shifter, steering wheel, headliner ect
Insulate Interior
New seats up front
MAYBE repaint? My paint is such crap up close

And I think that is all for now. Thanks for listing to my first world problems. Thanks everyone!

Now time for picture overload

FJ60 I bought at the beginning of the year, so mad at myself for selling

First Moab trip with a RTT. Sold the RTT recently, I miss it but I have a new idea for a sleeping system

 

[ExpoMax]

Love you babe @Andrew Bluemel

 

[baldilocks]

I read about your AK trip last night on ExpoMax’s thread. I’ve been looking forward to seeing the Arctic Ocean for some years now. I think 2022 or 23 will be my year. Looking forward to reading all about your trip.

 

[ayowtf]

Wow that flex in that vid is insane! Im gonna go a similar route as yours whats your suspension setup exactly? And do you get any rubbing with those 37s? Thank you!

 

[asuddendeath]

Skip the Supercharger. By the time you find one used, you will be into for as much as a turbo setup. And a turbo setup will give you so much more.

 

[Andrew Bluemel]

Wow that flex in that vid is insane! Im gonna go a similar route as yours whats your suspension setup exactly? And do you get any rubbing with those 37s? Thank you!

Thanks! 4inch flexi coils front and rear and there 12 inch travel shocks. With some love from the hammer I don’t get a ton but there is definitely some. Thanks!

 

[Andrew Bluemel]

Skip the Supercharger. By the time you find one used, you will be into for as much as a turbo setup. And a turbo setup will give you so much more.

Typically yes but I got my hands on one for basically free just some luck and hunting for a few years. Thanks!