Fortise Runner Build

[TxBxSx]

Well after a week long struggle, I am finally a registered member!. I wanted to bring by build over to these boards and share it with everyone. There is alot of really good vintage tech over here.

I will be adding on to this over the next few days to get everyone up to speed on where the build is and where it is headed. Enjoy.

Specs:

88 4Runner SAS'ed with moddified RUF's

Mod'ed chevy 63's in the rear

4cy 22re w/ dual cases and BudBuilt X-member skid and stock gears.

I build all of the armor for it. Front/rear bumpers and sliders.

....This is as far as the truck got before i rolled it.

 

[liljlandon]

Pretty! To bad you rolled it...

 

[TxBxSx]

OHH no, you break it you get the chance to build it better. I acctually rolled it a couple weeks ago at hogans on the GM Stair Case.

 

[liljlandon]

Sometimes thats true, but that thing is straight! You wheel hogans alot? Its been a while since ive been, in fact... I dont think ive had the chance to run my truck there since ive locked it!

 

[TxBxSx]

Nope, that was my first run there, and the first real run in the truck since i built it. Stay tuned and you'll see the turn out.

 

[liljlandon]

Wow, for sake of coolness, how bout a special section on that bumper??, looks pretty good!

 

[TxBxSx]

I'll start with the armor. The sliders and front were build after the truck was decided to be a trail rig, and the rear was one of my first tube projects back when it was strictly DD.

 

[TxBxSx]

more of the sliders and front....

 

[2ndGenToyotaFan]

Were you trying to make me cry? That's a bummer man!!! I hope Phoenix will be better than Beta.... Maybe a little lower, or wider....??? Hehehe

 

[TxBxSx]

Were you trying to make me cry? That's a bummer man!!! I hope Phoenix will be better than Beta.... Maybe a little lower, or wider....??? Hehehe

I guess i missin something as far as the phoenix/beta, but lower and wider would be great.

With the truck being originally IFS the frame cause some interferance with the steering linkage and box. I got it as low as i could by making my own spring hangers (2" less drop than most aftermarket sas hangers) and mounting the shackles through the frame rather than under.

If I can find a way to drop the front down i will go back and french the rear hangers like i did on my last truck.

4runner chevy hangers

Frenched hangers from my last truck

 

[TxBxSx]

the drivetrain.

Motor- 22r converted to a 22re. The original motor was a 22re and i replace it with a 'rebuilt' 22r block and head from an 85. That motor had a little work done to it ie: bored .30 over, low range cam and port/plolished head. My advise, dont spend your money on that stuff, it really didnt make a noticeable difference and was prob close to 1K in parts and labor. BUT, i got about 3K miles out of that one when all of the oil just seemed to dissappear after a 200 mile trip and started knocking like crazy.

So, i pulled another "rebuilt" 85 22r from my last truck, stock specs, and that is what is in there now. Soon to be replaced with a 7mgte (3.0 Turbo I6 from an early supra)

Trans/t-case - stock w56 mated to a forward shift stock geared t-case, fallowed by a stock geared crawler. The original t-case was a top shift which has caused an ugly mess in my floor board since all of the shifters have moved and dont line up any longer. i have yet to do anything about that.

Drive shafts- Rear is a front cv cut down and retubed. front is a rear single square tube of my own make

Axles - front is from an 85 w/ 1.5" wheel spacers and the rear is the stock IFS rear. i have done nothing to them other than some diff armor i made but i do have some 5.29's and lockrites i haven't had a chance to put in. Oh, and the rear spiders were welded (awful on the street but does the job on the trail)

my buddy steve givin me a hand...

 

[2ndGenToyotaFan]

Phoenix as in rise from the ashes, and beta as in test phase... Nice pics!

 

[TxBxSx]

and that pretty much sums up the build to date, now for some wheelin pics...then onto the rebuild

Moments before we went over

Evacuation!

Evaluating the damage...just had to put the battery back in!

Lining up for round 2

waterfall trail...took 3 shots but i made it. Front locker next time.

With all the hopping and banging around my keys fell throught the shifter hole in the floor board, luckily they were spoted

Makin way for some guys running a trail backward

Little blue...

All photos from hogans off-road park in disney, ok.

 

[liljlandon]

Waterfall has gotten so easy. I can remember when it was a straight 8ft climb! That last pick, i know where it is but i cant remeber what to call it... We got an Fzj 80 up it on 33's with no scratchs, took a while but it was pretty damn sweet. Im hoping for a short day trip over there soon!

 

[NorCalBorn]

Cage time?

 

[TxBxSx]

Cage time?

Fixing to go work on that right now

 

[TxBxSx]

the past week i used duplicolor bed liner to coat the floor and bed area of the runner, its really cheap but we will so how well it holds up. I like how smooth it is so hopefully it wont hold the dirt in as bad as my last job using hurculiner. I coated it really as thick as i could with a gallon in the high traffic areas like the foot areas and the bed.

On sunday i reinstalled the cage feet in the front and started my "FOE cage", its just a mach up so i can get my measurements while im waiting on DOM. its turning out pretty decent, there will be some slight alterations but this is how its comming together.

 

[M1GZ]

where are you located at man, do you do side welding jobs.

 

[TxBxSx]

I am in Houston. I have done stuff in the past for friends but i am by no means a 'custom shop'. What did you have in mind?

 

[M1GZ]

I'm in Houston also and wheel about once a month out at BVORR.

I have a 40 that needs some things.