Toyota Racer #4611: KOH Stock Class Build

[desertPOS]

So... Let's start from the beginning here. Around February I completely rebuilt my 4Runner after a pretty decent high-speed rollover - every stick of tube on it was cut out and replaced. New cage, moved fuel tank, plated the frame, tubed out the front, pulled dash/heater, stripped down the wiring, etc. Pretty happy with how it all turned out.

Munched after the roll:


Pics of the rebuild before KOH:




Had a blast out at KOH for the week:






Tubing out the front end after KOH:

Started by plating the frame:




Got the front tubed out,


Primed,

[desertPOS]

and painted:


All of the work took place in about a month and a half, and very happy with how it all turned out:






Fast forward a month or two, and Dave announces that there will be Stock and Stock Modified classes at KOH '12. FAWK

Fast forward to today, and I'm stripping down the 4Runner to build an '85 Toyota Xcab for the stock class. Engine/tranny/cases/axles/wiring/etc. is all getting pulled to be used on the race truck. I figure it will be a good excuse later on down the road to add a few extra cylinders and bigger axles in the 4Runner

[desertPOS]

Here it is: #4611, starting 15th



The build is happening at my buddy's shop in Bakersfield, so I'm looking at close to 10 hour round trip every time I go up to work on it. So far we've really just spent the time to get it all cleaned up and ready to get worked on. Here's some shots of the progress so far.

Stripping it down:






Pressure washed the frame and cab




and got the frame all wire wheeled and cleaned up


Previous owner had taken it in the mud a time or two, and it had a decent amount of surface rust covering the frame, so feels good to have a nice clean base to work from. Also went ahead and cut off any bracketry we won't be needing:


So here's how it sits today. I've got a new spring hanger and springs from All Pro Off Road tacked in place, and that's about it. I'm heading up there in a couple days to keep working on it, and will post progress here as we get work done. KOH is coming up pretty quick

[desertPOS]

Also should mention that we've got a couple sponsors. Adam over at 4xInnovations ( www.4xInnovations.com ) is hooking us up in a big way with a bunch of his product. More on that later... Todd over at Custom Splice ( www.CustomSplice.com ) is providing us with some of his winch rope and a fairlead Now I just have to beg/borrow/steal a winch to run it on...

If anyone else is interested in discussing sponsoring us and having their logo on the truck (as well as exposure in this thread), feel free to PM or email me at Chris.Schutt@gmail.com

This is a true low-budget build, and I predict a lot of long nights in the shop getting it all done in time. The end result should be a strong, well-built truck that is ready to haul some ass in Feb.

I'd also like to mention that Jon over at All Pro Off Road ( www.allprooffroad.com ) has been very helpful by letting me pick his brain a bit and discuss build ideas. All of the front suspension and steering parts are from All Pro - I've always been happy running their springs in the past. I'm not 100% on what I'm doing for the rear suspension yet, but if I decide to buy new springs, they will be coming from All Pro as well. Thanks goes to Camo as well, for letting me pick his brain a bit and discuss build ideas.

Tires: I'm trying to decide what tires I want to run. Looking at 35" KM2s and MTRs, which will probably be what most people run in the stock class. I'm leaning more towards 35x12.5 R15 LTBs though - the only issue I see is that they are load range D, and I'm not sure if they'd be too stiff? Open to suggestions on tires - I'd rather lean toward a more aggressive tread...

[SKULLYOTA]

this is gonna be sweet.

bet your HOA was pissy at you for doing tube work in the driveway

[kdub0013]

I'll be watching this one!

[desertPOS]

Originally Posted by SKULLYOTA

this is gonna be sweet.

bet your HOA was pissy at you for doing tube work in the driveway

No HOA, but city code enforcement stopped by numerous times - turned into a complete pain in the ass.

It's awesome having a shop building to work in...

[DJ404564X4]

Get it on!!!

[mobil1syn]

Originally Posted by desertPOS

Tires: I'm trying to decide what tires I want to run. Looking at 35" KM2s and MTRs, which will probably be what most people run in the stock class. I'm leaning more towards 35x12.5 R15 LTBs though - the only issue I see is that they are load range D, and I'm not sure if they'd be too stiff? Open to suggestions on tires - I'd rather lean toward a more aggressive tread...

try sticking with something light, mtrs would be my choice. youre drivetrain will be happier, with limited shocks they wont be working as hard and youre going to need all the power you can get.

damn, youre far more dedicated than i am. i hated my 20 minute drive to work on my truck. screw driving to bakersfield.

[yotee]

subscribing to this one

weren't you hit or cut off on the road to cause the rollover?

[desertPOS]

Originally Posted by mobil1syn

try sticking with something light, mtrs would be my choice. youre drivetrain will be happier, with limited shocks they wont be working as hard and youre going to need all the power you can get.

Here is the tire breakdown as far as I can tell:

KM2 35x12.5 R15: 61 lbs. load c 34.8 diameter 20/32 tread depth
MTR 35x12.5 R15: 67 lbs. load c 34.8 diameter 21/32 tread depth
LTB 35x12.5 R17: 67 lbs. load d 35.2 diameter 24/32 tread depth

I looked into the Treps briefly, but at over $500/pop that ain't happening. I'll do a little more searching around when I'm closer to being ready to buy.

Btw, Chris, I'll call or text you tomorrow at some point - planning on stopping by to get those seats...

[PHATIM]

[kiyul4130]

your gunna beat on that thing! dont forget to put some knuckle ball gussets in!

[SKULLYOTA]

i wonder if there's a more "off brand" (less commonly used) tire that'll bork for you? i wonder what the sidewall ratings on say Coopers. Dayton Timberlines etc. are?

just a thought if ya wanted to stand apart a little

[desertPOS]

Originally Posted by yotee

weren't you hit or cut off on the road to cause the rollover?

Cut off - there are a lot of old people floating around on the roads down here

Originally Posted by kiyul4130

your gunna beat on that thing! dont forget to put some knuckle ball gussets in!

I think that axle's already bent (it has gussets on top, but not the bottom) - I'll find out when I pull it apart to rebuild. Depending on time, I have another stock housing that I'd like to shave/brace/gusset. At this point, I'm just going to throw stuff on and try to get the basic build done, then go back and rebuild or upgrade parts as time and money allows. I have a feeling Feb will be here pretty quick

Originally Posted by SKULLYOTA

i wonder if there's a more "off brand" (less commonly used) tire that'll bork for you? i wonder what the sidewall ratings on say Coopers. Dayton Timberlines etc. are?

just a thought if ya wanted to stand apart a little

I'll look those up later, but I don't know that I have time/money to try out a tire that isn't proven, if that makes sense. For what it's worth though, I'd rather go with the best tire for the rocks - could care less about how it acts in the desert.

Originally Posted by DJ404564X4

Get it on!!!

Better watch your back, I'm looking forward to nerfin the hell out of some mod classers

[gp_frk]

I'm excited as hell to see a Toy being built for this

[mobil1syn]

i know a guy with a pair of kick ass diamond axles and the hardware to get it drivers drop ... just saying

[smewhtguy]

Sweet go kick some jeep ass.

[desertPOS]

Originally Posted by mobil1syn

i know a guy with a pair of kick ass diamond axles and the hardware to get it drivers drop ... just saying

'this guy' that you know - you should ask him if he's interested in sponsoring a stock-class KOH team

[RusM]

Originally Posted by desertPOS

I'll look those up later, but I don't know that I have time/money to try out a tire that isn't proven, if that makes sense. For what it's worth though, I'd rather go with the best tire for the rocks - could care less about how it acts in the desert.

What about some 35/12.5 Pitbull Rockers?

[desertPOS]

Originally Posted by RusM

What about some 35/12.5 Pitbull Rockers?

That would be great, but that size does not exist, as far as I can tell. If you know something different I'd love to hear it... I'd rather run those than the other tires I listed.

[mrboyle]

Kick ass! I was hopeing someone would build a Toyota for KOH.

[desertPOS]

I guarantee you there will be other Toyotas running in stock. I think everyones laying low, especially since it's the first race for stock and mod. Posting a build thread just shows other people what they have to one-up. I thought about it quite a bit, but decided to post up for two reasons:

1) I've been lucky enough to snag a couple sponsors, and I don't take that lightly. Posting the build allows more people to see their product and how it's being used - more exposure for them. It's really the least I can do...

2) If I can get part of the Toyota forum in my corner, I'm way better off. If I do something that doesn't look right or would be done better a different way, I'm counting on you guys to tell me I'm an idiot, or to drink bleach, or maybe even suggest a better way to do something. There's a lot of knowledge here on Pirate. There are other racers in the stock class with names like John & Casey Currie, Rod Hall, etc. that will have some great rigs, I'm sure. I want to beat them.

I figure if I can keep even one jeep off the podium, I've done ok hopefully this will keep us motivated to get more work done as well, so I can post updates...FYI, VirgilWalker1 here on the boards is my codriver, and helping me get this sucker done in time...

[2stroke rider7]

The build is looking good so far and I bet that was a buzz kill on the 4runner realizing you couldn't use it anymore after all the work you'd done.

Anything and everything is motivation for others like me, working on their trucks, so keep up the hard work.

[jstoll]

I wish I were closer Id volunteer time to get it done quicker Im a decent welder fabricator and have been a mecnanic for almost 30 years, can run a mill and a lathe too I think bakersfield is about 3.5 hours from here
just new to the toyota modding scene .... repairing them in the mid to late 90s was my bread and butter back then Im hard to reach no cell reception unless Im in town
Im in the santa cruz area 5o39158o85
I could make myself free on the weekends and will probably learn allot
take care
JAK