4RunAmok Build Thread

[socal4x]

You got my creative juices flowing, well not really creative since I just replicated your layout using my cabinet software and used blind dadoes so you still have a clean front edge that we could even edgeband if wanted. For the wood I would probably use 9-ply baltic birch (not stuff you can get at Home Depot). The baltic birch is incredibly strong and lighter weight than some other materials. It's also typically very flat which makes for a strong and square cabinet.

I just threw this together and would probably change the dado depth and width and I would also add dadoes into the back panel for added strength. This would be one heck of a strong cabinet. If your interested let me know and we could work out the lid and hinges, I just need to know how you want it to open up.

Chuck Box.jpgChuck Box CNC Layout Detail.jpgChuck Box CNC Layout.jpgChuck Box Exploded.jpg

[socal4x]

Couple more images.
Chuck Box 2.jpgChuck Box Exploded 2.jpgChuck Box Exploded 3.jpgChuck Box Exploded 4.jpg

[4RunAmok]

Wow, what a cool program!

I've already got most of mine made, except for the drawers...which only need bottoms, and I chose to use polycarbonate for the bottoms.

I've made a huge move from LA to San Diego, so everything is a bit on hold, even though I work where I have access to a complete wood shop...

[4RunAmok]

Wow, there is a lot missing from this thread it would seem...

Off the top of my head, it is missing updates regarding our Edgestar 43qt fridge, info regarding the engine trouble we'd been having, some chuckbox info (but you can find that in the Storage Solutions forum and the Camping Equipment forum)...

Fast-forward to June 2012... Long story short, the engine was drinking water. Under pressure, the coolant was leaking into Cylinder #3, either via head gasket or cracked head. We have 229,393 miles on the 4runner... So what to do?

1. Say farewell to my 4runner and get the Tacoma/FlipPac we want? (What would I do with my vanity plate?!?!)
2. Rebuild the top end?
3. Rebuild the whole engine?
4. Get a replacement from a junkyard and swap it in?

Option 1 wasn't looking very likely with the finances...
Option 2 didn't make any sense because it was almost just as much in labor to do this as it was to just swap in another engine, and it REALLY didn't make any sense considering I'd have a low end with 230,000 miles on it still..
Option 3 would just take too long, and our situation wouldn't allow for it...
So we went with option 4...

We wound up with a motor from a junk yard with ~80K miles on it, from a rolled 4runner. The upper intake plenum was damaged, so the mechanic used my old one, making the new engine a great complete swap-in!

I'm also getting rid of the belt driven fan and putting on a Flex-a-Lite dual electric fans
51jdsxRe4jL._SS500_.jpg
They arrived Wednesday, and due to a glitch in the included mounting hardware, the mechanic was not able to install them with the swap. So I'm going to get on this later today and get them installed.

So... Mileage-wise, we're back to roughly where we were in 2002! We have been dealing with the water issue for about 2 years now. So couple the high mileage with the rough starts and having to keep water in the radiator, you can imagine the anxiety I endured while taking this truck deep in to the desert for camp trips, or on other long trips. I look forward to putting that behind me.


In other news... Thanks to a really good friend (You know who you are!), I have a second battery, another Odyssey PC1700!! So I will begin working on installing this sometime soon. This will help with the fridge and the other accessories. At the same time, I'll be relocating the Yaesu to the rear of the truck as well as building a power station back there for camping comforts

[TACODOC]

And the machine rolls on... Nice

[4RunAmok]

I got the fans installed this weekend with the help of barlowrs!

These are the vehicle specific fans by Flex-a-Lite, purchased through Amazon.com
Photo Jun 10, 5 47 08 PM.jpg


There's a lot more room in there now!
Photo Jun 10, 5 46 13 PM.jpg

I removed the studs from the pulley and put in bolts, otherwise you have to use washers up against the pulley setup..
Photo Jun 10, 5 46 50 PM.jpg

The control unit is on the back firewall
Photo Jun 10, 5 46 03 PM.jpg

Pretty straight forward controller, wires easy
Photo Jun 10, 5 46 29 PM.jpg

Ran power and ground wires over to the fuse box on top of my battery
Photo Jun 10, 5 47 48 PM.jpg

I have it set to come on at about 195-200, it runs for short periods. It's kind of loud, so I'll be either replacing the controller with a variable speed controller or putting in a resistor of some kind to slow the fans down to reduce noise. It's not so loud that it's annoying, it's just louder than I'd like it...

So far so good!

[Redline]

Very nice update!

[TACODOC]

Very nice update!

X2!

[crismateski]

great to hear it is back on the road and ready for some fun

[washington taco]

Why did you change to the electric fans?