[generalee7]

Well shit, I guess I'll put up some pictures Started out like this...

It is ridiculous how clean this truck used to be :shaking:

I ran some bald 31" TSL's on it while it was stock and that was it. Never lifted it or anything before cutting time Contracted AJ at Bentup to do the swap in my driveway...

Success!

Then I bought a welder off craigslist for cheap and learned how to weld. First project was a front bumper out of square tube. Nevermind the gas door

 

[generalee7]

Wanted to step up tire size and try out some radial TSL's in the 36" flavor. Sold the old MT/R's for cheap to a friend

Wheeled the Rubicon for the first time with no front locker or crawl box I think it was this trip that killed the spider gears up front but they didn't really let go until I was wheeling one night with some friends. Installed a Lockright soon after...

Picked up a Bentup front bumper from a friend, traded the horrible/loud/rough TSL Radials for some used 35" MT/R's again, installed a crawl box and did some more wheeling in Moab on a bent rim (ride sucked there and back :laughing: ) Also built some side protection on the truck...

 

[generalee7]

Forgot to mention I had some Beard racing seats in the truck prior to going to Moab, they weren't all that comfy for the 18 hour drive there and back :grinpimp:

Got home, sold the Bentup rear bumper and build my own out of round tube. I just like how round tube looks on these trucks so I changed everything over to round over a period of time :shaking:

Built a bed bar out of round to hold the hi-lift

And a T-case skid...

Then went wheeling in AZ

 

[generalee7]

Got home, decided it was time to build a front bumper out of round tube

I found a piece of aluminum in my garage that ended up being the PERFECT size to fit where I wanted it to without cutting, on it went

I wanted a removable top plate for some odd reason so I made some extra supports for it

Picked a Softopper for camping (I'm not one to set up tents, usually just sleep in my truck if I can ), found some practically new 37" MT/R's on this board for a good price, had them shipped over from Kentucky or something.

Went on a work weekend on the Rubicon...

Did some driveway crawling :shaking:

 

[generalee7]

Turn signal mod with some LED lights...

Tubbed the firewall a little and swapped to crossover steering so I could drill the perches and move the axle an inch forward to fit the bigger tires...

 

[generalee7]

At this point, I think I got a dent from somewhere, decided to fix the dent but didn't want to deal with painting the area black again so time for some green :laughing:

Also picked up a camper shell for 100 bucks

Roomy

Also decided it was time for some round sliders, sold the squares with hoops to Kyle (thread starter)

 

[generalee7]

Then the TRD rear end decided to call it quits so I picked up some bling.

Here is why the TRD rear third members are shite...

Installing...

Made a hoop for the front bumper, I wanted to move the KC lights up to the hoop area just for something different.

Also built some frame plates to save the rear portion of the frame from bending with the extra weight from the shell.

Welded...

 

[generalee7]

Recessed the LED turn signals more since they stuck out further than I wanted them to.

Made a spike for tailgaters :laughing:

Installed some Celica seats (WAY better than the Beards)

Just an overall shot at this point...

Picked up some aluminum wheels because I thought that would solve the bent wheel issue I had with the steelies

Testing..

Soup bowl...yes I made it!

 

[generalee7]

Broke the steering box on that trip, thanks goes out to grumpy in AZ for letting me borrow his steering box to get out of the trail!

Installed a snorkel and painted the wheels black...

Went on a camping trip, sold the camper shell because I wanted to bob the bed.

Marked the cut lines..

Chop chop!

Nice lines!

 

[generalee7]

Weld 'er up!

Little body work...

Cap the frame end

Modify the bumper..

Its so cute now!

Cut down the Bed Rug

Bed cage time!

Done!

 

[generalee7]

Got another set of steel wheels (8" wide this time) and put some rock rings on to save them from bending...

Lame ass Hollister...

Thought about putting the spare up top, never happened...

Decided I never wanted to break a steering box again so I built a panhard (definitely recommend even on a leaf sprung truck), steering box brace and added a crossmember under the front end.

Also needed to fix my battery tray since it was turning to shit real fast..

Built a sweet battery strap too

Everything installed and ready to go..

 

[generalee7]

Enclosed the spring perches since my front ones were starting to bend (oops too late)

At this point, the green paint was fading real bad on the roof and hood from being outside all the time and I wanted a nice paint job again. I saw some people online were doing roll on paint jobs with boat paint so I picked up some black and went to work.

Looks decent I suppose. Sold the bed cage for some quick cash...

Also sold my RC rock crawler for some money to fund this project...

You can read more about the cage build up in this thread...
http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=682878
Figured it was time to figure out how to carry my spare and keep some bed space still; tire gate!

 

[generalee7]

More tire gate..

All from scratch

Plate mount

Wheeled, I definitely need to get away from SVRA's soon!!

Sold the snorkel for some money...

 

[generalee7]

Picked up some new 37" MT/R's for a KILLER price (179 each), bought a set for a friend and myself...

Too many tires? Most are gone now

Here is how this goes, I got a dent in the cab and bed while out on a work weekend (FOE work weekend to be exact), the black paint pretty much flaked off and water got in between which quite literally made the black paint come off by itself. I don't deal with shitty stuff too often so I decided to take the black off. Tried using paint stripper on the front passenger fender and it was extremely messy and not worth my time. Ended up peeling the black paint off the entire truck, what a joke! I spent countless hours making the black look good and I removed it all in about a weeks time :laughing:

I've always liked khaki or desert tan rigs (doesn't scream "Army" like flat green, IMO) so I tested out a panel to see how I'd like it...

Took the girlfriend out wheeling for her first time, she loved it! She is definitely a keeper!

Not bad on the color! It should stay for a while, I hope :shaking:

And here I am today; that took a while! I suppose I'll continue updating this thread as I change more shit :laughing:

 

[generalee7]

Some of the stuff is out of order, I didn't realize I went to standard crossover when I did

 

[generalee7]

Lookin' bad ass bro...I've always liked your rig.

Thanks!! Your rig is definitely an inspiration for me and my truck, someday mine will be as badass as yours!

 

[generalee7]

youll appreciate the extra room under thefront when you link it nice truck, always liked it...the desert tan color would look great...you didnt like the suspension seats? not comfy enough on long hauls? i was looking to replace my factory taco velour buckets...there not anything like the power/heated seats in my exwifes 4runner

Definitely planning on links and 60's, possibly 40" iroks when I start making more money and wheeling more often.

The suspension seats were alright, they weren't too comfy for long drives. I wanted something with adjustability too since I am always throwing shit in the extra cab.

 

[generalee7]

You can say that again! :homer:

Are you going back to the military paint with the kaki?

I guess you could call it military paint, it's just Krylon Camouflage paint

 

[generalee7]

really cool transformation!! I like how the tire gate also doubled as corner protection. great work!

Thanks! I'm actually going to end up selling the tire gate in favor of a tailgate again with a soft top and a Poison Spyder Customs tire gate that flips down

Any chance you could get some better pics of your panhard? I'm thinking about building one for my leaf sprung rig but space is limited. How long is it?

I'll get some better pictures tomorrow. It's a little easier to build a panhard with standard crossover steering compared to high-steer. It is 28" eye to eye and hasn't let me down since I installed it...

Hey Brian, You going to make it out to AZRocks in 09?

Possibly! I'm looking to pick up a new job fairly soon with vacation time so I may see you guys again!

Nice rig. Diggin the tire gate.

why 3 different licence plates?

Spur the moment type of thing, always thought of something "cooler" that didn't end up being that much cooler than just having a regular license place. Plus I got a new job that didn't pay as much and paying the extra 40 per year for custom plates wasn't cutting it

very cool brian, i remember when you sas'd your truck, i sas'd mine right before you, and we were talking back and forth on ttora.
i should do a thread like this with mine, i just gotta put all the pics together.
btw, i think the green paint was the best of all.
later,

Oz.

I remember! You're truck was pretty much just like mine except standard cab not an extra cab. Oh how times have changed since then! :laughing:

 

[generalee7]

Nice Bri Nice!!!!!

maybe one day i'll do a write up......NAhhhhhhhhhh fock that lol

-David

David, thanks! You should do a write up on yours when you get your truck all setup again! Can't wait to see it with a 60 up front