DAY 2
UPDATE 2006-02-12 11:30AM

We're back for round 2. The webcam is back online today, so check it outl. Hopefully we can get some new u-bolts from NAPA so we can get the axles hung today.

Mike holds a team meeting to make sure everyone is on the same page, and everyone has specific tasks to do.

Joe Dirt gets to work on hanging the front springs, and getting some custom shackles built.

Kyle's rear spring hangers turned out pretty sweet.

Todd and camo finish up installing steel braided brake lines on the rear axle.

Gerbil prepares to insall the Inchworm dual case assembly in the truck. Check out that sweet All Pro ebrake on the back.

Gerb has to cut the exhaust out of the rig to make room for the new Inchworm unit.

UPDATE - 2006-02-12 12:30PM

Jason cuts off the old IFS torsion bar brackets before Gerb can mount up the tcases.

Phillip silicones a Stazworks beadlock to ensure it does not leak.

Todd is the only smart one in the group, and took his work outside. He is putting the front axle assembly back together with Longfield Superaxles, Detroit Locker, and 5.29 Superior Axle & Gear ring & pinion.

Gerbil is hard at work nibbling on a piece of cheese.

Yours truly hammering away at the keyboard.

While they grind and cut below, Todd gets reassigned to removing the steering box above.

While outside on a beer break, I caught a picture of this SOR project - a Dodge RAM 1500 with Dynatrac Dana 60's, 42" Swampers, and a Viper motor. SWEET!!!!

UPDATE - 2006-02-12 1:10PM

I wandered over to the far end of the shop to see what was going on over there. Joe Dirt was over there all by himself building the new shackles from scratch, since it seems we forgot to source some.

At the other end of the shop sits Josh Bureau's Subaru powered Sidewinder. Truly a sick rig.

Lunch time!!!

UPDATE - 2006-02-12 1:30PM

The front springs are hung!

Mike is fabbing up frame braces for the new Rock Logic steering box. The added stress of the 35" Swampers and rock crawling are too much for the stock Toyota frame around the steering box, and require a plate(s) to be welded on the frame to beef it up a bit.

D'OH!!!! Izzy forgot to put the valve stem in the Stazworks beadlock, so now he has to take it all apart and put the valve stem back in. Dumb ass!!!

UPDATE - 2006-02-12 3:50PM

Feelin' a little lazy after lunch, the SOR crew took a little bit to get back into the groove. We're back into full swing, and the shop is bustling with activity again.

Mel and Jake are kickin' back after lunch. What's goin' awwwwwn!?!?

Kyle is whipping up some new tube shackles for the rear of the 4Runner.

Camo is cleaning up the front axle hubs, and installing the new rotors from NAPA.

UPDATE - 2006-02-12 4:30PM

Joe Dirt welded up the steering box plates on both sides of the frame. The steering box is now ready to mount up!

UPDATE - 2006-02-12 5:45PM

Most of the crew is still hard at work. The rest have run out of steam, or went home. Things are moving a little slower now, but there is still progress being made.

The Inchworm/Advance Adapters/All Pro Offroad/Front Range Offroad tcase unit is mounted in the rig, and ready to rumble.

Kyle is still working on his custom tube shackles for the rear of the 4Runner. With all the time he is putting into them, I'm sure they will be sweet.

UPDATE - 2006-02-12 6:20PM

Dirt hangs the steering box, and hooks up the hydraulic lines and steering shaft.

Camo and Todd wrap up the front axle and tighten up the locking hubs and prepare it for installation in the front of the 'Runner.

UPDATE - 2006-02-12 6:33PM

The new rock sliders are installed!

UPDATE - 2006-02-12 7:00PM

The front axle finally gets mounted in the Runner. Since we couldn't come up with u-bolts, we are using some temporary used ones until we can get a new flip kit.

Kyle finally finished the rear shackles. They are definitely sick.

UPDATE - 2006-02-12 7:40PM

The Trail Gear Hi-Steer kit (steering arms, tie rod, and drag link) is all installed and ready to go.

UPDATE - 2006-02-12 7:46PM

The front tires are mounted!

UPDATE - 2006-02-12 8:00PM

We recieved a few emails today requesting more pictures of Kyle's project Toyota here at SOR. Here are the stats - '98 LS1 with about 400hp, turbo 400, Atlas II, Dana 60 front with Superior shafts and CTMs, 14 Bolt rear with a spool in the rear, and a Detroit up front. Suspension consists of Walker Evans racing coil overs, Y-link/3 link rear, and 3 link with panhard up front.

UPDATE - 2006-02-12 8:20PM

The rear axle is hung. Check out those bling bling Kyle-built shackles, and Sky's disk brake conversion.

FINAL UPDATE - 2006-02-12 8:45PM

It's a roller! We made our goal for the day which was to make it a roller. There is still quite a bit of work to do on the rig, but all the hard work is done. We will be doing a followup on this article in the next week or two to show you the final product. We will also take it out for a shake down wheelin' run before we hand it back over to the Sheriff's Dept.

Thanks to all the vendors who contributed to this project, and special thanks to the Shaffers Offroad team for working their butts off all weekend for free to get this project done!

[DAY 1 COVERAGE]