Builds The beamin build

[Willy beamin]

Once spring hit I drove down to The Red River Gorge and Daniel Boone National Forrest for some fun on the trails. Its about a 2 hour drive, awesome place for camping and climbing. I've been backpacking down there for years but I had never hit the trails in my cruiser before.
Daniel Boone National Forest - Home
Daniel Boone Backcountry Byway | CartoTracks

 

[Willy beamin]

Next up is to be able to stream my music and 08's don't do that naturally. I located and installed a VIAS tech module. Thread below.
Vais Technology SL3b Bluetooth interface adapter install for 08 lc200

 

[Willy beamin]

Now for offroad navigation and mapping. I secured and 1" ram mount ball to my passenger side center console plastic riser. Picked up a wifi only iPad, didn't want to add to my monthly bill, and a GPS puck. I purchased Hema maps and started downloading maps for the next trip out to Moab and Ouray!

 

[Willy beamin]

Packed up and rolling out to Moab pre-funk 16'. I took a different buddy, Nate, this time. For those who know, when you have to cross Kansas thats when you tag out and say "hey man it's your turn to drive". Then if you played your cards right you wake up somewhere in Colorado and then pull into Slee's to say hello and buy something. First time I met @Markuson was that day. I met up with him and others a few days later down in Ouray.

 

[Willy beamin]

Six of met up in Moab for the pre funk for a few days then shot down to Ouray.
2016 Moab pre-run for Ouray
Finally met @MScruiser - Its impossible to not make friends on these trips - might be due to the shared near death experiences .

 

[Willy beamin]

The fall after I returned from that trip I wanted to start working on my suspension. I was nearing 50,000 miles on it and I liked it but it felt soft to me. I tried swapping out my rear springs first. I was running OME 2722's and jumped up to 2723's. Gained a bit more height in the rear than I was expecting but it settled down about 1/2 - 3/4" after a month or so. First measurement is before the rear coil swap - still 2722, the second pic is after the 2723's were installed. The rear felt solid after that change out.

 

[Willy beamin]

Now to start trying to tune the front end to get it to pair with the rear. I communicated with Dylan @Iconvehicledynamics and he gave me a check list of things to do, weigh and try out. Finally between my data and his skills we had a winning combo. Right after Christmas of 16 my 200 went up on jack stands for about 15 days to have the front and rear suspension serviced by Icon. I UPS'd my gear to California and I waited. While the front end was taken apart I ordered all new bushings and hardware from @beno and he came through with the goods, plus some goodies. I pm'd @RS6tofj80 and took his cleaner than mine LCA's From his OEM stock pile. Ordered up the SPC cam bolt kit and that pretty much replaced everything suspension wise up front. I looked for excessive wear on the components seeing how I had running 35's for over 50,000 miles but didn't really find anything other than the sway bar bushings, frozen LCA cam bolts and bent forwar sway are end links, due to the sleep reload bracket and maybe a hard hit or two. Replaced that and more. When it came back and was all back on my rig its was well worth the wait. Dialed in!
Thread on the process below..
50,000+ miles on Icons

I change up the tires from the Nitto trail grappler 35x12.5x17's to the current Cooper STT Pro 315x70x17. The cooper Profile is not the same as the Nitto. The Nitto is more square and blocked. The Coopers side wall swells out a bit so I ordered some Bore 3/4" front spacers. After I fitted the Boras no more issues up front. No challenges with the rear tires.

 

[Willy beamin]

Fast forward to just a few weeks ago I took advantage of a 10% discount from @just differentials and purchased a front ARB air locker and 4:88 gears. Finally bit the bullet.

 

[Willy beamin]

So my 200 was in a local shop here in Louisville name Moab off-road. These guys mainly work on jeeps but they get some Toyotas in there every so often. Super nice and professional. Anyhow the day I pick up my truck the owner comes out and says I have good news and bad news...what? That morning one of the mechanics did the dreaded more than 3 turns on already opens KDSS valves....dumped the fluid on him and the shop floor. The mechanic was ok, no harm.
The owner made arrangements at Toyota of Louisville and the had the ability to recharge and pressurize my system. I had to wait three days for that though. Driving a 200 with bled kdss system is not fun, not horrible but not good either. On stock suspension it might be certain death. My tune suspension handled the weight of the cruiser in the turns but still pretty iffy. Nonetheless the Toyota dealership fixed it up and I paid nothing. Kdss holds 7 quarts as a whole. Drives great now I just need to keep working through this break in period for,the gears. I instantly noticed the beast is awakened with the gears now. Such an improvement in over all get up and go. Can't wait until I can lay into it!

View attachment 1515807

 

[Taco2Cruiser]

Glad you finally did a build thread, defineyly a good story and sure to help a lot of us out in building our own 200s.

Sooo.... when are we going wheeling?

 

[Willy beamin]

Thanks man. I looked at the A.T. round up but it's all booked up.

 

[KY Longhunter]

Subscribed. Nice work

 

[dnh1]

Very sick truck. And Willie Beamin is still the best username here.

 

[TonyP]

View attachment 1515806

 

[steenh]

I took a lot of inspiration from your truck Willie, as you know. Rear bumper has been fantastic, and went with the FR Rack as well. I'm not a keep up with the Jones's kind of guy which is a good thing... will never keep up with your rig! Damn close to the perfect setup now... what's next?

 

[Willy beamin]

Ha thank you for the kindwords. For now ill chill out, recoup some funds and see what strikes me as a must. I do have some DT lomg tube headers chillin on my workbench.

 

[Blasst]

Great rear bumper, nice and snug with great departure angle. Just what I wanted. Something relatively lightweight for my spare. (My aux fuel is underneath.) Funny how things appear sometimes right when you need them. I'll be ringing him tomorrow. Perfecto!!!!

 

[Reccymech]

Yarp, I'm hooked!

Subbed.

 

[Blasst]

I'm still trying to find a front bumper too....... Arb or TJM. I go through spells of extreme impatience. But I have other things to order. Might a well focus on that and get to the wrenching......

 

[Willy beamin]

To me the TJM has a better profile and less overhang. Each have their strong points I assume. Its really all preference. Good luck deciding. If you go the TJM route order it soon as the wait is forever long unless someone has it in stock.