Builds Steel City Racing: King of the Hammers 2019 Toyota 4Runner IFS 4600 Build Thread (3 Viewers)

[cody c]

Myself and the community at Ih8Mud are excited to see the new sponsor to the team with Steel city racing: Pro Eagle Jacks with which you'll be running their 2 Ton "The Beast" Big Wheel Jack and Bed Mount on the your car at KOH.

We look forward to more exciting project news and sponsor updates as you and your Co-Driver for EMC, Matt Tatum (a Professional Firefighter and Paramedic) progress your way to the big race!


Wishing you all the best!









(does it sound corny when I talk this way? should I go post the exact same thing over in your pirate thread now as well? haha Don't take the comment personally )

 

[Charles4x4]

Myself and the community at Ih8Mud are excited to see the new sponsor to the team with Steel city racing: Pro Eagle Jacks with which you'll be running their 2 Ton "The Beast" Big Wheel Jack and Bed Mount on the your car at KOH.

We look forward to more exciting project news and sponsor updates as you and your Co-Driver for EMC, Matt Tatum (a Professional Firefighter and Paramedic) progress your way to the big race!


Wishing you all the best!









(does it sound corny when I talk this way? should I go post the exact same thing over in your pirate thread now as well? haha Don't take the comment personally )

I’m confused...

 

[cruisermatt]

Where is there a center console? Why are the doors not completely gutted?
looks like there’s still glass in the rear 1/4s? It’s getting Lexan all around right?

The whole dash should be gutted down to a tubular steering column and a few gauges.

You pulled the whole AC and heater system out, right?

 

[BMThiker]

He's going back to stock after the race?

 

[Charles4x4]

Where is there a center console? Why are the doors not completely gutted?
looks like there’s still glass in the rear 1/4s? It’s getting Lexan all around right?

The whole dash should be gutted down to a tubular steering column and a few gauges.

The center console is staying. It holds our intercom, switches, USBs, etc. It weights nothing...

Doors are on the list for next week.

All glass will be coming out except the 3rd row. The 3rd row glass isn't made to be removed, so if the Hammers removes it for us, so be it.

The dash is staying. I have ways to access all electrical and know it intimately at this point. The risk of screwing up the electrical by stripping the dash/components outweighs the inconvenience of having it in there. It holds our electrical wiring, fuse panels, instruments, switches, master kill switch, etc in a nice, clean, compact package today designed well by Toyota. The dash weighs nothing. I'm not up for risking an electrical issue during the race trying to save a pound.

 

[Charles4x4]

He's going back to stock after the race?

There is no going back to stock...ever.

 

[cruisermatt]

There are no weightless parts. And weight matters!

You didn’t answer on the AC and heater, I know it’s all still in there though. The heater is an extra two coolant hoses to fail plus the weight of the heater core and fluid inside it, AC compressor is heavy and another bearing to seize. Climate control should not be in a race car.

 

[Charles4x4]

There are no weightless parts. And weight matters!

You didn’t answer on the AC and heater, I know it’s all still in there though. The heater is an extra two coolant hoses to fail plus the weight of the heater core and fluid inside it, AC compressor is heavy and another bearing to seize. Climate control should not be in a race car.

Understood. We just only have a certain amount of time before the race and are doing all we can to get the the Suspension, Drivetrain, and Cage ready. It's low on the list of priorities.

 

[Charles4x4]

Shot Update on Yesterday's Progress:

The A-Team as there yesterday working on the 4Runner. Matt with RockSolidToys, Wyatt with RockSolidToys, BigMike with Marlin Crawler, and Robert with Otwell Welding and Fabrication.

Robert Otwell doing what he does best:

Artec Jaz Pro Sport Fuel Cell Mount being integrated:

Fuel Cell Test Fitting:

I'll be working on the final fuel cell hook-up next week along with some Aeromotive Phantom enhancements. Per a call with JT this morning, I need to add a ball valve on the Supply line. I ordered one that will be there on Mon.

 

[matzell]

And the Atlas is where?
Rear axle is where?

 

[Charles4x4]

And the Atlas is where?
Rear axle is where?

RockSolidToys spent all day on them. More work tomorrow.

Wyatt and Matt were checking things off all day!

 

[BMThiker]

I know it seems like we're busting your balls at every update, but we REALLY want to see you guys run.

 

[Charles4x4]

I know it seems like we're busting your balls at every update, but we REALLY want to see you guys run.

Much appreciated. We will be on the starting line!

If anyone is following us on FB / IG, RockSolidToys posted a few pics of the Atlas II shifters in the cab for the first time.

 

[matzell]

I remember taking my car from a roller to race ready in 2 months. I worked on it every night after work, all weekend and worked till after midnight when I could. I also had a few friends that came by to help when they could. This car needs 12-18 hour days to get done, 7 days a week. You still have soo much to do. I hope you can get out there and help or have someone else do it. Taking the weekend and nights off time has passed. Now it is about dedication and $$ is you have to pay someone to work extra.

Picks of shifters are great but case needs to be in and rear axle and suspension need to be in and cycled.

Good luck, I really want to see this on the lakebed and racing.

 

[Charles4x4]

Update:
Starting Monday, I will have less and less time to update this build thread since I'll finally be on site in CA helping the team. I know not all of you like Facebook or Instagram, but it much simply more efficient for me to post quick pictures there while we are in the final stretch crunch of the build. So, if you can, follow us on FB/IG to stay up to date.

Also, these build threads will likely lag from now until race day, so don't panic if you don't see regular updates. We'll be working hard and will be on the start line on Wed Feb 6th!

Update on Otwell's Work:
Here's where we decided the spare will go for KOH:

Note that we test fit a ton of potential locations in both the Cargo and Passenger area, but ultimately decided this is the best spot for weight, COG, and visibility reasons.

Fuel Firewall per Ultra4 Rules is Done except for metallic tape we'll apply to perimeter:

And here is the Top Half of the B-Pillar Triangulation. I spoke with Otwell tonight and we decided to get rid of the middle vertical brace - it was overkill, weight, and hurt visibility/accessibility. So it'll just be an X when the Bottom Half is done:

 

[Charles4x4]

Continued from above...
Update on RockSolidToys Work:
The team has been crushing it the past few weeks. Matt and Wyatt put in 2-days last week and 3-days this week. Wyatt brought the Full RST Team out today to stay on schedule.

Per the posts above, last week they stripped the rear end and pull the Toyota T-Case. Then they started working on the Atlas II.

Atlas II Shifter positioning:

If you look closely through the cage bars, you can see the Shifter Base they fabricated:

Today the Dynatrac ProRock 60 finally got some attention - it's a beast!

Here is a "KOH Proof" reinforced version of RockSolidToys Rear 4-Link brackets:

Upper and Lower Frame Mounts are Done:

Dynatrac ProRock 60 is Slid into Place and you can also see the Atlas II in position in this pic:

Lower Axle Mounts are Done:

Action shot of RockSolidToys and Otwell doing what they do best:

We also got to check out the Icon 2.5" Rear Shocks (12" Travel) with RR and CDCV (on the fly tuning). They are impressive!

The team is taking off tomorrow, but we'll be hitting it hard on Monday and RST is back at Otwell's on Wednesday.

 

[Charles4x4]

I remember taking my car from a roller to race ready in 2 months. I worked on it every night after work, all weekend and worked till after midnight when I could. I also had a few friends that came by to help when they could. This car needs 12-18 hour days to get done, 7 days a week. You still have soo much to do. I hope you can get out there and help or have someone else do it. Taking the weekend and nights off time has passed. Now it is about dedication and $$ is you have to pay someone to work extra.

Picks of shifters are great but case needs to be in and rear axle and suspension need to be in and cycled.

Hey, thanks for the reply. Check out all the posts above...

Also, I'm sure you know, but the 4Runner has been with professional shops since Mid-September. A TON of 15-17 days, nights, and weekends have been put in - more than they or I would want to admit, including Christmas Day and New Years. The team is as DEDICATED as anyone can be and I am proud of all they have accomplished. I arrive on Mon and can't wait to dive in and help out. As mentioned above, we have more helping hands arriving late next week with @RustyNailJustin and crew.

We're still on schedule!

Good luck, I really want to see this on the lakebed and racing.

Thanks again. We will be on the starting line come Wed Feb 6th!

 

[matzell]

Please keep the vertical bar on the B pilar center. It will help keep the roof from crumbling on your head. I was in a really bad wreck as a co-driver in a U4 race and the roof crushed in and hit me in the head. I had 12 cracked vertibra, 5 broken ribs and broke my scapula. I still have a plate in it now. I was also out of work for 2 months! And I feel it every day.

Please leave the tube in , never skimp on saftey!

 

[Charles4x4]

Please keep the vertical bar on the B pilar center. It will help keep the roof from crumbling on your head. I was in a really bad wreck as a co-driver in a U4 race and the roof crushed in and hit me in the head. I had 12 cracked vertibra, 5 broken ribs and broke my scapula. I still have a plate in it now. I was also out of work for 2 months! And I feel it every day.

Please leave the tube in , never skimp on saftey!

Well, that’s a compelling post! I spoke with otwell and we’re leaving it.

Thanks for helping make our build safer!

 

[Charles4x4]

Quick No-Pictures Update:
- Otwell finished the cage completely yesterday. Pics on FB/IG.
- After my flight got in and I drove over from LAX, Otwell and I spent all of Monday night inventorying all the parts and To-Do's left on the car.
- Today I finished gutting the final components of the 4Runner (Doors, Glass, Random wiring, etc).
- Otwell got the Passenger Seat completely done - it's in position, mounted to the frame, harnesses done, etc.
- Otwell is 50% done filling in the sunroof and finished a quick Air Pumper mount.
- I finished also making all Aeromotive upgrades to our fuel cell including their new Apex siphon system to ensure no fuel starvation during the race.
- I also got the PowerTank filled and picked up all the random parts we will need from the hardware store (hose clamps, grade 8 hardware, light blue paint for number plates) etc.)

Tomorrow RockSolidToys and Otwell are both in the shop working on final fabrication and I'm working on more random stuff.

I admit that I was exhausted from the trip and time zone change today and simply forgot to take a bunch of pictures today. I'll try to do better tomorrow.

I wake up early to pick up all our spare Tires/Wheels - they have been at one of Marlin and BigMike's friends houses for a few months now.