Blue Ribbon 4x4 Build Thread

Really? I never even thought about how it would ride without them attached...

 

Yep! They eliminate a lot of the roll in the truck, and limit the travel. They’re great for on the road, twisty roads, and highway driving, especially with a trailer. But with them off, offroad becomes much smoother. I’m sure someone can articulate much better than I can.

 

Took her on a speed run and got some shots sans sway bars. Really bashed around, and the truck is so much more fun to drive.
Also, 4LO is good to go!!!

 

Those color match UCAs and your custom splash guards are just incredible in those action shots!

 

You should see the video!

 

15 minute peace of mind DIY. I never did the brake line/ABS extension kit. I just took some aluminum I had laying around and drilled some holes about 1-1/4” apart. Then flipped the two stock brake line brackets to the side.

 

Verdict is already in. The sway bars gotta go back on after Pismo. Wife wasn’t happy with the handling on the road and she’s ultimately gotta be happy. I’m good with it. The blue gets to go back on the truck and it’s safer on the highway.

 

Already getting to work. Had a list of things to do today, it’s nasty outside, so tomorrow the list gets done. Damn my shop is a mess.

 

Not too upset that these are going back on.

 

Extreme close up for @GODZILLA

 

Are you mocking me?






Looks good, Geno!

 

You said you wanted a bat on it!

 

Yes, a bat. Not a baby bat.







I'm just being contrary.

 

@GODZILLA you’ll take what you get and like it!

 

Finally built a quick inflation system. Used a Flexzilla hose, a bunch of connections and clamps. This is the first time I’ve used these single ear hose clamps. They’re pretty awesome. Easy to install and won’t come loose. Just a simple valve to splitter, with an air gauge and air chucks. I filled all 4 tires from 18 psi to 38 psi in 7min, 50 sec. I used to do each tire separately and it would take around 3 minutes per tire, probably more. I never timed it. But now I don’t have to be out in the cold, or heat kneeling by a tire. Kinda dig it. Only issue is that I accidentally bought open valve air chucks, so the air comes out when they’re not all installed. So I’ll have to replace them with closed ones. But it works!!

 

Replaced all the chucks with closed flow chucks. Didn’t even know they had open ones.

 

Definitely had to be careful when I was shopping for mine lol. I tried a different set first but they wouldn’t latch on the Toyota TPMS stems.

 

Learn something every day!

 

Well, Pismo got rescheduled to April 15 due to rain. What a shit. Sun should be shining at that time. So now I got two months to decide on the sway bars staying on or off.

 

Whose cruel idea was it to put Pismo so far from Jersey?

 

Now ya got plenty of time to plan that road trip!

 

Let’s see, 2500 miles divide by 16 mpg, times $3.25ish per gallon…It’s actually not as much as I thought. Hardest part would be getting the time off right now. Maybe when they do a “dune day” in Ohio or Pennsylvania I’ll make it work!

 

Just wait till you get here and see that $3.25 per gallon thinking vanish like a fart in the wind!

 

Next project underway. The silver trim on the door panels still bother me. Just never enough to want to disassemble them and paint. But I saw a post where someone upholstered the soft panel as well. My plan is to later do something big with some faux black suede. This is just a precursor. The circles in red will be SEM black, and the blue circle will be black suede. I really considered blue, but on a large part I felt it would look cheap, so in tune with the rest of the interior, it stays black.
I disassembled the rear door panels to release the silver strip and the upholstered panel. So far I’ve sanded down the sheen of the handles and strips, and sprayed with primer. The upholstered panels came out pretty much the same way, by drilling out the melted plastic rivets. My plan is to install the suede right over the faux leather, since the suede is so thin and the current stuff will act as padding. I used faux suede because real suede doesn’t stretch at all, and isn’t interior upholstery friendly. I think the best part of this so far is once my wife saw the suede, and I told her the plan, she’s on board. The change will be drastic later. The pictures so far are without suede on the panels.

 

SEM paint down, suede glued up.

 

Had to get a quick morning pic before work.

 

Wicked!