matzell's 4runner "mod class" build

[matzell]

Well after going to KOH and seeing the new EMC classes I was convinced I could turn my 85 4runner into a mod class racer and finish the race. I know it will never be the fastest, especially on leaf springs but the f-toys have been doing it for years, look at Hobie.
I got to co-drive with David Smiley last fall in the Badlands quailifier. We did good in prerunning and the car was doing great. Once the race started the rush was on! Unfortunalty we had a bad wreck and did not finish the race. One of my wifes first questions was "Do you still want to race?" While laying in the hosptial bed I said "yes" She said OK!
For Christmas this past year she bought me some PRP Comp highback seats and new PRP harness. She said you better get busy if you want to race this season. So I started to think about how to re-do the truck to handle the speeds and how to meet the rules for Mod class. The first thing I knew I had to do was take off my 39 red labels and buy some dot 37's. Well this may sound easier than it is but how to you take off red labels? I started focusing on other aspects of the truck like mounting my new seats in.
I printed off all the rules for Ultra 4, stock, modifed and Rausch Creek. I figured I could race at RC with the 39's because they did not have classes. Well recently they anounced they would follow the Ultra 4 rules and have stock and mod classes as well as unlimited. So the decision was made to try to race.

I know this is not too much more than a trail rig but I think that is what Dave had in mind when he made the new classes. I plan to still drive this on the road to prerun and tune, now that I have dot tires back on it. It will never be the high end Poison Spider car or the stock Savvy/Currie build but I hope that it proves to be reliable and able to finish races and still be a fun weekend trail ride rig.

The truck started out bone stock when I bought it back in 1997 and had been wheeled all over the country ever since, coast to coast. It competed in the Safari Triathlon in Ocola in 1999, 2000 and the Tennessee Off-Road challenge in 2000, 2001. It has taken a beating over the years and has gone through many stages and changes to what it is today. I wanted to take all the good parts and build a new rig this year but my wife said" you can not take Ole Bessy and put her out in the field, she has been too good to you for all these years. You should modify her and go racing" Now you would have to know my wife and her horse background. She has a show horse and would never think of putting it down. So I took her advise and started to change things up.

Here are some specs on the truck. There are still changes to be made.

1985 Toyota 4runner
Chevy 4.3 built by Progressive Performance est 280 hp, 300 ft
4l60 trans built by Patrick GMC
NWF Blackbox
NP205 with 32 spline outputs, NWF triple shifters, HAD flanges
D60 front, 5:38's, ARB, Yukon/Branik shafts, Poly flanges
14b rear 5:38's, Detroit, disk
17" raceline monster beadlocks 37" blue label krawlers
Full exo cage 1 1/2, 1 3/4 dom
custom trailgear/allpro springs
PSC hydro assist
PRP comp highback seats and harness
Warn xd9000i winch

[matzell]

This is the truck that gave me inspiration at this years EMC race.

[matzell]

old seats out and new frame and seats going in.

[matzell]

Off with the 39's and new 37's installed. I picked up some old school Goodyears for spares. Nothing like using the parts truck from work to get the tires home.

[gostr8]

Good luck. The biggest advise I can give is get some good remote reservoir shocks and have someone tune them. It made a huge difference in the performance of my truck on leafs at koh this year.

[matzell]

I am going to lower the truck down a little but want to make sure I still have plenty of up travel. I would love to get some new air bumps to help with the suspension. Coil overs and links would be nice but not in the budget.
My wife got me a new Art Carr shifter for my birthday so now I can get solid shifts without missing one, nothing like going from 3rd-1st. I am hoping to be able to race the east coast races in 2:1 low range. I am sure I will run out of talent and suspenion before I reach top speed! If I need lower I can shift the black box (2:72) into low range and really crawl. My goal will to be to finish races then work on my speed/suspension. I know the 14b will be a big anchor but it is shaved smooth and slides over rocks pretty well, plus the RC races are going to be set up for min 35" tires.

I still have a lot of parts to install and get some window nets as well as build some new tube doors that will mount solid to the exo-cage for a smooth surface to slide across, having trees on the east coast they will help.

I do not have a date set for my first race but I want the truck ready first and see how it does, no since being a trail plug. If it goes well I will try to make it out to KOH 2013 and give it a run.

[matzell]

Originally Posted by gostr8

Good luck. The biggest advise I can give is get some good remote reservoir shocks and have someone tune them. It made a huge difference in the performance of my truck on leafs at koh this year.

I am looking into those now. Nothing but $$. I am thinking getting some that I can add coils to later if I decide to link it later on. It will all come down to what I can afford. Sponsors???

[jhama78]

Good Luck Rob!

[whypave]

Going from 39 reds to 37" blues should be illegal make sure the speedo works on this one looking good!

[gostr8]

I got some fox 2.0 smooth body remote reservoirs. The best part was that fox did free tuning on them before my EMC race.

Originally Posted by matzell

I am looking into those now. Nothing but $$. I am thinking getting some that I can add coils to later if I decide to link it later on. It will all come down to what I can afford. Sponsors???

[PAToyota]

Best of luck! Looking forward to seeing you up at the RCRocs races!

[matzell]

Originally Posted by whypave

Going from 39 reds to 37" blues should be illegal make sure the speedo works on this one looking good!

Tell me about it, it was a sad day when they left. Yes spedo works! I do not know if it is acurate yet. I don't need that there are no jumps at RC!!

[Mh4Runner]

Glad to see the old 4Runner is still going. - Matt

[BarrelRoll]

Nice build. Gota love it that some one is starting on a build before thanks giving. If there's one thing I've learned running Baja Pits at KOH it's Prep and spares is the differance between finishing and not.

[matzell]

Originally Posted by BarrelRoll

Nice build. Gota love it that some one is starting on a build before thanks giving. If there's one thing I've learned running Baja Pits at KOH it's Prep and spares is the differance between finishing and not.

Between already having a running rig and having 10 months to modify and fine tune I hope to have it ready. I will carry spare parts and it has a Premier Power welder onboard should I need to do some field repairs.

I hope to make a few races at RC to test things out at speed. I still have a lot of little things to do. I got a box from Summit with catch cans, locking oil and trans dipsticks that need to be installed. I am planning on removing the doors and adding removable sections to the exo-cage to cover those and then I need to order some window nets.

I finished up the new shifter mounts and welded in my tabs for the harnesses this weekend. I should have the interior back in and be able to test drive it in a few days.

[amatoer10]

Looks good, Rob. I hope to see this thing out at RC soon. Are you going to make it up to the Boulder Bash this weekend?

[broncolou]

Can't wait to see you out there! You have my # if I can help you out in any way! We need to keep those young fellers on their toes

[toyjoeta]

Highjack

anymore info on the orange truck?

[Rockhnd]

Looking good, get it ready so I have someone to race against at RC

[TurtleTruck]

All the best on the build and racing Rob!

You will be sorely missed as a KOH volunteer but it is great to see you racing. Thanks for all your help in the past with Film Crew/VIP transport!

I just realized, KOH will probably lose more than just you as a volunteer from VA since you will need a crew too. Time for you guys to move on and for others to step up. Enjoy!

Subscribed.

[toyotanuts]

looking good.

[ne14jpn]

Looking good Rob. I sent the cell with Scott this weekend.

[Hunt]

Mmm... those seats look familiar.

[matzell]

Thanks for the kind words. I got the shifters and mounts installed, seats reinstalled and realized I forgot to weld the taps in for the submerine belt so I need to pull the seats back out and weld them in. I need to rebuild the bushings in the front springs and it will be ready for a test drive. I did sit in it and make vrooom noises tonight and played with the new shifter!

I may try to take it up to Berryville this weekend at the boulderbash. I need to check it over good first and test drive it down some alleys or coblestone roads here in the city, gotto love old streets.

[matzell]

Originally Posted by TurtleTruck

All the best on the build and racing Rob!

You will be sorely missed as a KOH volunteer but it is great to see you racing. Thanks for all your help in the past with Film Crew/VIP transport!

I just realized, KOH will probably lose more than just you as a volunteer from VA since you will need a crew too. Time for you guys to move on and for others to step up. Enjoy!

Subscribed.

Mark,

If I race in the EMC then I should be free for the big race day! If the rig holds up??

It has been great being a volunteer for the past 3 years. I will try not to steal too many of the VA guys from you.