Project 'red van' (says the 4 year old) build thread

[Finiterex]

So... @Beau and @Shayne... Sorry for delayed response

Where there was once body there was a lot of rust. Then along came the angle grinder and cut it all out. Now instead of body it is box section (80mm I think) seam welded to the gusset work / body strengthening... Strong enough that josh said he reckoned he could lift the truck with the fork lift off the steps... I Hvent taken him up on the suggestion yet but we may well give it a go after we've chopped the steps off and shortened them as after feedback (yours included) we've decided to raise them up.

 

[chapel gate]

Yet more progress today. Now have a rear chassis. Rear lights all wired in fully and brakes bled and working.

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Come the nuclear holocaust. All that will remain will be cock roaches and that section of chassis...

 

[Finiterex]

Been a busy few weeks work wise and the truck hasn't moved... But watch this space as big plans over Christmas!

 

[Finiterex]

Trans cooler fitting completed

And ironman roof rack finally arrived from aus

 

[Finiterex]

So we finally got a day when we weren't up to our backsides in alligators and spent the day in the workshop.

Roofrack fitted fully, ready for lights to be mounted and wired up.

Side steps re-worked. We took on everyone's feedback and shortened them. We then picked the truck up on the forklift one side to see how strong they were... Epic... Wish I'd taken a photo! What that did prove is not only the side steps are strong as an ox but that the a sense of ARB at the rear means the centre brake line is holding the axle up on articulation. I'm having a think about whether to refit the ARB or just get a longer hose made up (have a feeling even with the ARB in it will be too short due to the body and suspension lifts.

We then finished up by raptoring the side steps/sliders, box sills, new rear inner arches and refitting the fuel tank.



The plan had been to. Try and start her up so we started to fill the coolant only to end up with it pouring out of the ATF port on the n/s (now has no hose on it as the Atf cooler has been fitted). So it would appear the dreaded rad failure has occured! Very surprised as when we drained the gearbox there was no evidence of mayonnaise. My guess is that draining the coolant system dislodged whatever muck was keeping the two systems separated (albeit only just!). So new rad on order from roughtrax unless anyone has suggestions for an upgrade?

 

[karl webster]

Steps look alot better mate.

Trucks getting there now. It's looking good.

The smiles of driving it are getting close

 

[clivehorridge]

What a beast!
You’re gonna have loads of fun in that when you’ve sorted out the niggles.
I’d be inclined to just get a longer braided hose for the rear brakes, just long enough for full droop, you don’t want it tangling up with branches and whatnot when off road.
Have you extended the breathers yet to match the ability of the snorkel?
Great job mate, start to finish.

 

[Shayne]

Steps do look a lot better and i'm curios to know how you will finish the arches .

 

[Finiterex]

Arches will be occurring this Christmas... Think Mitsubishi Evo is all I will say .

Breathers are also on the very long list.... Got the bits just not fitted yet.

Thinking along with extended brake line we may need to make a new handbrake cable bracket.

She's gonna be epic... I hope!

 

[Beau]

If you were in a hotter climate or tow a lot I'd say ditch the rad cooler and run the trans on a separate circuit (This is what I did) but you might be best keeping it to help heat the trans up in colder climates.

Over here in the states, the 4runner people use extended lines for the rear. They sell them for these trucks but should be fairly easy to make up/buy from anywhere.

 

[Finiterex]

If you were in a hotter climate or tow a lot I'd say ditch the rad cooler and run the trans on a separate circuit (This is what I did) but you might be best keeping it to help heat the trans up in colder climates.

Over here in the states, the 4runner people use extended lines for the rear. They sell them for these trucks but should be fairly easy to make up/buy from anywhere.

Going to get a custom line made up by HEL I think... Only £26!

I'm running a separate trans cooler as have cooked a few autos in the past and don't fancy trying to find a good one when I blow this one

 

[nick_the_fish]

Going to get a custom line made up by HEL I think... Only £26!

@Finiterex do NOT go to HEL for your brake hose, they are not the company they used to be. I've now been waiting for a set of brake hoses from them for 8 weeks, and keep being given different reasons why its not being made. They never communicate with me, never answer e-mails/return calls, and keep promising me delivery dates and then failing to deliver without any communication. It's been, and is incredibly frustrating. I'll do a separate thread on it to warn others. There are plenty of other company out there who specialise in making brake hoses.

 

[Finiterex]

@Finiterex do NOT go to HEL for your brake hose, they are not the company they used to be. I've now been waiting for a set of brake hoses from them for 8 weeks, and keep being given different reasons why its not being made. They never communicate with me, never answer e-mails/return calls, and keep promising me delivery dates and then failing to deliver without any communication. It's been, and is incredibly frustrating. I'll do a separate thread on it to warn others. There are plenty of other company out there who specialise in making brake hoses.

Thanks for the heads up @nick_the_fish! Think I'll get merlin to do em then!

 

[Finiterex]

Oh look another roughtrax invoice!



Honestly there's going to be no original truck left!

 

[Gr8Yota]

I wonder what happened with Hel. I ordered extended lines for mine and they arrived in a couple of days, likewise they sent a set to Aus for me and they arrived in days.

 

[Finiterex]

Christmas update time... Problem 1 we've been mad busy! Normally the guys at Metal Products are a bit quieter this time of year, but not this year! So a massive thanks to the guys and Josh for making the extra time!

So tofay we replaced the rad, topped up coolant, changed tx box oil, refitted the fuel lines to the tank and Josh started arch fab. More to come tomorrow....

 

[Shayne]

Cool arch flares

 

[Finiterex]

Cool arch flares

Cheers @Shayne! You wouldn't believe how difficult they were to do. Big props to Josh on the fab work.

 

[Finiterex]

Some more fab work on the arches today, and fitted the water temp sensor and guage. Tried to service front diff but some tw*t has rounded the hex bolt drain plug so need to work out how I'm attacking that (if anyone knows of any tools like the irwin knackered bolt extractors please let me know). Also had a look at changing the upper ball joint rubbers (don't ask but the rubbers on the new joints got err you know... Fooed) but couldn't get the ball joints apart so again any suggestions for a good ball joint splitter let me know.

 

[AndycruiserguyLomas]

Should be just about done in time for the next Terminator film.