Adventures in 4Runner'ing
- Thread starter DouglasVB
- Start date
DouglasVB
Rising Sun Member
Only if I go too fast over a big bump! Not my plan
In the manuals I have, the drive shafts are actually called propellor shafts. It's strange, I know!
DouglasVB
Rising Sun Member
So I've been thinking about my time and skills availability over the next couple months of my life with regards to doing the full SAS swap and associated stuff. What are the options around here for me to take the truck to a shop with all of the parts I've collected and have them do some or all of the work? I'm aware of Addicted Offroad and Front Range Offroad who would work on a 1st gen 4runner.
Are there any other shops I should check into? Any thoughts on how much something like this might run?
This is precipitated by wanting to go 4x4 this summer with a built up truck, my horrible work schedule, and possibly having to move at the end of June depending on how much my rent raises.
Are there any other shops I should check into? Any thoughts on how much something like this might run?
This is precipitated by wanting to go 4x4 this summer with a built up truck, my horrible work schedule, and possibly having to move at the end of June depending on how much my rent raises.
I've seen a SAS done in a weekend. It was a very long weekend, but I've seen it done.
DouglasVB
Rising Sun Member
local shops?
I'm looking at local shops in the greater Denver area who can help me at least with the welding and perhaps with more of the follow-through on this project. I'm aware of the following places that may be able to help me out:
Are there any other shops in the area I should check into? First priority is a shop that does quality welding work for automotive. Second priority is a shop that's done a 1st gen 4runner SAS swap before. Third priority is not having to drive super far to have the work done.
I am thinking of having the project finished out by a shop rather than in my garage mainly because I don't know if I'm going to have the time to do it myself. I'm willing to spend the rest of my reserve 4x4 money (I saved up quite a bit over the last several years expecting to buy a much more expensive truck) so I can get rolling rather than have a long, drawn-out build.
I'm looking at local shops in the greater Denver area who can help me at least with the welding and perhaps with more of the follow-through on this project. I'm aware of the following places that may be able to help me out:
- Front Range Off Road - not sure if they do work on rigs in their shop. They're way north, too.
- Addicted Off Road - they have an example of a 2nd gen 4runner that looks pretty good. And a 1st gen 4runner with basically the same swaps that I want.
- Slee - they don't really work on 1st gen 4runners but can build up the diffs.
Are there any other shops in the area I should check into? First priority is a shop that does quality welding work for automotive. Second priority is a shop that's done a 1st gen 4runner SAS swap before. Third priority is not having to drive super far to have the work done.
I am thinking of having the project finished out by a shop rather than in my garage mainly because I don't know if I'm going to have the time to do it myself. I'm willing to spend the rest of my reserve 4x4 money (I saved up quite a bit over the last several years expecting to buy a much more expensive truck) so I can get rolling rather than have a long, drawn-out build.
ScaldedDog
Hard Core 4+
Scotty at Addicted does great work. If I wanted to have something done, I'd look to him first.
I don't think Brian does shop work, but someone will correct me if I'm wrong.
Mark
I don't think Brian does shop work, but someone will correct me if I'm wrong.
Mark
DouglasVB
Rising Sun Member
Is Joe on the forum? I've been so busy and it looks like I'll continue to be crazy busy for a while that I haven't been able to call during business hours.
Still waiting to hear back from Addicted Offroad. I need to shoot Christo over at Slee an email too.
Still waiting to hear back from Addicted Offroad. I need to shoot Christo over at Slee an email too.
DouglasVB
Rising Sun Member
I have a dash cam in my Subaru. Been meaning to install one in the 4runner... Maybe once I replace my windshield.
DouglasVB
Rising Sun Member
The funny thing is that the two times something interesting has happened, the dash cam malfunctioned moments earlier (endless restart loop) and I didn't capture the craziness. Now I use it as an indicator that something is about to go down.
White Stripe
Hard Core 4+
No Joe isn't on the forum. The shops name is CTS or Colorado Toyota Specialists. 303-838-4772. Yes he can do a solid axle swap. The last few years he has focused more on general Toyota repairs and maintenance because it's more steady. But he does heavy 4x4 fab work still from time to time on Toyotas. It just depends how busy he is with normal work. Joe has a solid axled 93 pickup with coilovers. He can do your diff too. He does diff work all the time. Here is a video I found of his rig: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=hO7YYNcKwjc
I'm related to him, that's how I know this stuff lol. I work on my cruiser their all the time.
DouglasVB
Rising Sun Member
Thanks for the details! I'll try and find time tomorrow to call him.
Someday my work won't be super crazy. Someday...
White Stripe
Hard Core 4+
No problem. Nice truck u got their.
DaveInDenver
Rising Sun Ham Guru
I've been saying this for 22 years but I just get more time crunched. Come on people, encourage those kids into STEM, we've been trying to hire a second PCB EE for 18 months to spread the work since it's really just me.
Thread title changed, I noticed. Wondering if it's 4Runner'ing or perhaps it could be 4Running?
DouglasVB
Rising Sun Member
Maybe I'll do a thread title change of the month... Next month: 4running for Fun and Profit!
How much experience are you looking for in a PCB EE? It's already past the career fair here at CSM but there are probably still EEs looking for jobs.
DaveInDenver
Rising Sun Ham Guru
Ideally already up and running with Mentor tools, but if someone has experience with Altium or Cadence it's not too difficult to figure out DxDesigner and PADS. And doing a 2-layer through hole in Eagle doesn't count as real experience. I don't know the experience level they'd be looking for on the engineering side. Probably not totally green but couldn't say for sure. Besides me there are two other EE and we're all at the same point, been around the block for 10 or 20 years.
AxleIke
Hard Core 4+
LOL. What you mean is 'TE'. That is where money is. No money in S and M (Oh man, here come the jokes,
).