Blue Ribbon 4x4 Build Thread

I used that title for the keywords. Too many threads I have found that are useless because they can’t be found with the search function. I want people to type in “transfer case actuator” and get a list of my posts in succession showing the improvement of a faulty actuator. So many people post their problems but never come back to post the fix. The damn thing works great now, and I saved a freaking thousand bucks!!! Woo!

 

Why you gotta be all logical and stuff?

I think it's awesome that you were able to get it all recovered and not have to put in the expense of replacement parts. Looking forward to more pics in pretty places.

 

Yessir! Thanks!

 

This doesn’t get enough appreciation on the forum (or internet in general). Keep fighting the good fight, Geno.

 

Always!

 

Day 5 of the transfer case actuator chronicles. Everything seems to be working as it should. Shift is nice and smooth, and that clunk is gone that I would hear coming out of 4LO.

Merry Christmas folks! My wife is crazy amazing, so I have a few things to put on the truck. Hope y’all are safe and happy! Enjoy!

 

So here’s the haul. My wife basically emptied my Amazon wishlist. She’s crazy amazing. I was gonna install the head unit today, but we made a day date in the mountains. So either later today to tomorrow.

The list:
Amber and red side markers for the bumpers
400ft 18ga wire
New brighter rock lights in guess what color
40A relays
10T snatch block
Dasaita 9” head unit

 

Day 6 of the transfer case actuator chronicles. It’s working great! Took the wife up to Del Sur Ridge, perfect trail, super rutted out but pretty fun.

 

Day 7 and the last day I’ll report on the transfer case actuator. It works! That’s it! I think we’re good to go. I’ll keep it up the rest of the week but I’ll only report back if something is wrong.

 

Dasaita 9” unit is installed. I went with the Dasaita because of the plug and play features, carplay, (mostly for navigation) and large screen but keeps the stock look. The install was super easy. Pull all the plugs and plug it back in. The FRAC system still works, and the audio is very noticeably more crisp and clear. I did have to modify the unit slightly with a blade to match with the A/C unit a little better.
I have one gripe without doing any research yet. Turning the system on and off has a touchy issue reconnecting to Bluetooth. So I’ll do a little homework and report back.

 

Is it running wireless CarPlay or wired only? I've definitely seen some systems handle that BT->wireless connection better than others. My Kenwood works pretty well, whereas my old Pioneer was finicky.

 

I thought it was wired only, but carplay fires right up when connected to Bluetooth.

 

Well looks like I was just a Mr. impatient pants. If I had just waited a few seconds, the Bluetooth connects. Just took a little longer than expected, so I started messing with crap and not letting it do it’s thing.

 

Glad its working though!!

 

Some fun stuff. Installed some blue lights behind the grille. Just wired them to the rock light switch.

 

Day 13 of the transfer case actuator chronicles. This is the last day in sequence that I will check the transfer case actuator. It still works great, 4LO works, and it’s a weight lifted off my shoulders. Once a month I’ll make a point to use 4LO during my normal 4HI wheeling time.
The weather sucks here right now, so a few mods will have to wait. Still need to install some side markers on the front and rear bumpers and Raptor line the front bumper.

 

Ok story time!
A couple weeks ago, my good buddy rolled his truck. He’s ok. After pulling all the aftermarket stuff off his truck, we found the culprit- a snapped UCA bolt. The dudes that were with him said they heard a loud snap, and the wheel dropped and his truck went right over.
These are the UCAs, the Icon Billet UCAs with the Delta joint. It seems the joint is made from cast metal, as it just broke right in two. The old uniball joints have the grade 8 hardware underneath. So if ya got those UCAs with the Delta joint, ditch em.

 

That’ll make you pucker. Glad he’s ok. Has he been in contact with Icon about it?

 

No he hasn’t. He’s had bad experiences with their shit customer service, so he’s just throwing them away.

 

Holy crap! That's pretty scary. Glad he's okay.

 

Yeah he was pretty upset about it. One tiny part breaks (albeit important) and the truck flips. He drives his truck pretty hard, but he said he wasn’t doing anything crazy. Seems Icon’s quality issues aren’t limited to their leaky shocks.

 

Yo folks!! We’re putting a crew together for a Pismo trip. They keep threatening to close the dunes, so we’re getting out there as much as possible.
Feb 25th at 7am. We’re staying in town Friday night, then showing up early to grab a spot for basecamp cookouts on the sand. Bring enough food for the entire day, and your recovery gear. Get in line at the entrance around 6:30. Bring your GRMS radio, we’ll be on channel 17, and 416.600. We’ll try to grab a spot just past the Ranger station to the North in front of the bathrooms.
So far the group number is up to 16 Tundras, plus a few Tacomas and 4Runners.
Don’t hesitate to message me if you have questions about the terrain, schedule, food to bring, or whatever. Let’s go!!!

 

SABM time. There are lots of pics of this install, and couple videos for the 2nd gen box. So I took a bunch of pics. I couldn’t get the dang new intake tube to fit to the right of the OEM ground, the hole is drilled in the box as far to the rear as it could go. I made a new ground after sanding the paint to bare metal, then sprayed with Blue Ribbon. I traced the hole onto the metal while the box was reinstalled, cut it out, painted, and mounted the new intake port.
These pics are before I siliconed everything for airtightness, I figure that’s how to eliminate any whistles while on the throttle. There was quite a bit of trial and error to be able to get everything to fit snugly and cleanly, while being able to mount everything correctly.
It’s been installed for about an hour, and while bombing around a little, I noticed a definite deeper tone in the motor sound. I can’t say for sure, but it seems the shifts are smoother, but my butt dyno may be on the fritz.



Spectre Performance SPE-8148 8148...

$9 Spectre Performance SPE-8148 8148 Air Duct Mounting Plate

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Spectre Performance 8771 3-3/2.5"...

$14 Spectre Performance 8771 3-3/2.5" Intake Coupler, Black, 3 x 3" "

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Weather sucks today, yesterday was beautiful. I had a bunch of stuff planned for the truck, but I decided to stay inside and solder some pigtails for the side marker lights and eat pizza. Next week I need to remove the front and rear sway bars in preparation for the Pismo dunes. I’ll repaint the rear and paint the front since it’s visible after the new front bumper ends.

 

What color do you thinks he paints them???? Any wagers????
#LifesMysterys

 

Sans front sway bar! Got off work a little early, so I decided to take her off. Took a quick trip around the block, nice and squishy, roly-poly.

 

Rear sway removed!! Pretty banged up from crawling. Just needs a respray. After taking the truck for speed run, I’m really not sure if I want them back on. Letting that independent suspension do it’s job really makes a huge difference.

 

#noswaybarlife