Project "Rockcrawler" - Toyota 4Runner

[51WillysJeep]

Hey Guys, I figured it was finally time to unleash this build thread, so here goes nothing..."thumbsup"

Before I go any further, a Big THANK-YOU goes out to my buddy Rich (Pardonmyn00b), for without his talents, time and willingness to do things "right" this build never would have taken place.

I have always loved Toyota trucks,truggys and 4Runners and when I first saw Rich's SCX-10 4Runner build, I was in shock at how AWESOME and spot on it turned out. I then realized how bad I wanted my own mid 80's 4Runner. A few months after seeing his original build thread, I saw he had built a duplicate 4Runner body for "Eddievedder" and right then, I HAD to see if he would be willing to build one for me as well. After a few PM's back and forth we had struck up a deal and he agreed to the build and the rest as they say is history..!!

At that same time I had just started to build a Hilux Hybrid roller, that just so happened to be the PERFECT doner truck for this project.

Here is the parts rundown -

Original Tamiya Bruiser Chassis ( with leafs on ALL 4 corners :mrgreen
Locked and loaded TLT axles
Locked Traxxas Stampede tranny with 55turn Integy lathe motor
Chino tranny mount/skidplate
NIB Hilux body
(much more to come as the build progresses)

This is how the build originally started out -

The truck was then boxed up and away it went to Rich's shop for a few months of really hard work ,and pretty intense labor on his part.

Here was the first meeting of the "Original" 4Runner and the "new kid on the block" :mrgreen:

Rich started the transformation by cutting off the stock tailgate and wheel well openings - NO turning back now..!!! :shock::shock:

Then he started filling in the hood and upper roof with styrene panels. ( also notice the door handle is gone - we'll be needing that later down the line..:mrgreen

Fender flares anyone..? :shock:

After getting everything to fit correctly, they were glued on permanently. Then came the countless hours of sanding them down to the correct shape

Here you can also see the cab and bed have been joined together and the stock body lines have been filled in as well

After sanding them to shape

Here is the filler panel that has now become the rear taligate

Front and rear fenders sanded down and test painted with primer

It was about at this point when I then learned that he was ALSO building one of these insane bodys for another good friend of mine , Mike ( 1BadJeepBruiser) :shock::shock:.

Just think for a second how much time has gone into BOTH of these bodys below to get them to this point... Just amazing..!!! My Hats off to you Rich..!! "thumbsup"

Next up was the construction of the rear cap ( what really makes this a true 4Runner)

Rear cap completed. The WAY cool thing about this is that it is attatched/held to the body via super strong mini earth magnets.

Heres the basic shell pretty much completed

Rich then asked me what style grill I wanted him to make for this truck and I picked this one because I think it looks Awesome, and will really make the front end look "complete" when its all said and done.

Here we are deciding on the proper ride height

Compared with the original - just right "thumbsup"

Test fit of the new grill - Its really starting to look like something now..!! :mrgreen:

I then asked Rich to braze up some rock sliders and bumpers for the truck, which he did no problem, and they came out really SWEET..!!

This was about the point we both decided to call it "DONE" on his end, and it was boxed back up and headed back my way. This afternoon it finally showed up at my door, I couldn't wait to see all his hard work in person..!

I've been building with styrene for quite a while now, and I can honestly say that I know what he had to put into this body to make it turn out as awesome as it did, and I still can't Thank him enough..! Truly amazing work "thumbsup"

Here she sits complete, as a roller

However those wheels/tires didn't stick around for too much longer ( I've got another custom set I've been saving that will end up on this truck when its totally DONE :twisted

Now Its time for me to start adding my own personal touches and details to this piece of art which will include a full interior packed with scale goodies, and much, much more..

Stay Tuned..!!!! "thumbsup"

 

[neoakaj]

Awesome, seeing this makes me want to buy a 4runner haha:mrgreen:

 

[crunky]

wow, very cool.
great work on that body too.

tuned in "thumbsup"

 

[blakeski]

ho-le-cowwwww! im so jealous of these 4 runners starting to pop up! those bumpers really set it of! and im tottally digging leafs in all 4 corners, like a true 85 runner! "thumbsup" deffinatly watching this one for sure

 

[Jester666]

You lucky SOB:shock:, so this is what you have been hiding. It looks amazing, Rich did an outstanding job on the body. I cannot wait to see what you do with it now.

Don't keep us waiting in the dark like you did with the extreme JK:?, I demand daily pic updates:mrgreen:"thumbsup".

 

[Tremelle]

Sweet.

 

[bmx_ican92]

time for a 4runner! Looks Great!

 

[G-crawler]

Damn! That looks amazing, dude can sure make those runners! Lucky you!

 

[Robbob]

"thumbsup"Subscribed ................ !

 

[nhjohnny1]

the skill involved in this is just mind boggling, to say im jealous is an understatement :shock:

 

[eddievedder]

And then there were 4.

Looks AWESOME Chris. Rich did a great job on all four bodies including his original!!!! Mike is building mine along side his as we worked a trade deal for the Isuzu pickup. Once they are done, we must get a 4runner meet together!!! All 4 of them LOL. Anyway it looks great and not only can Rich build a sick body but the kids got some tubework skills too! His yota truggy is insane and the bumpers and slider he made for your 4runn are sick!!

Congrats. Now onto the big question. Color???

 

[crunky]

i vote for loud paint !
multicolored hockey stripes... something very 80's ?
something straight off an early 90's mini trucking cover ?
:mrgreen:

 

[rcjeepbuilder]

impressive to say the least!! Congrats on the progress to date..

 

[pardonmyn00b]

So many fender pieces....48 to be exact. Glad that part is over. Thanks for the good words Chris.

And then there were 4.

Looks AWESOME Chris. Rich did a great job on all four bodies including his original!!!! Mike is building mine along side his as we worked a trade deal for the Isuzu pickup. Once they are done, we must get a 4runner meet together!!! All 4 of them LOL. Anyway it looks great and not only can Rich build a sick body but the kids got some tubework skills too! His yota truggy is insane and the bumpers and slider he made for your 4runn are sick!!

Congrats. Now onto the big question. Color???

Thanks Bob, very kind.

And there will only be 4.:twisted:

A 4 4Runner meet would be insane. I'd be game if that ever happened.

Oh, and I've been told the color choice. 8) It will be pretty sweet.

 

[1BadJeepBruiser]

Nice, I am sure you will do it justice"thumbsup" Mine is on stand by until I get EddieV's up to the point which mine is at. I am basically building 2 identical trucks, same chassis, same axles, same armor and eventually a fully replicated 86 interior :mrgreen: Can't wait to see the color choice

 

[big bronco]

awsome! i wish i had the skill to make one!

 

[scalecrazy]

Ok i keep seeing these sick a$$ bodies how much is this going to cost me i want one!

 

[twisted concept]

awesome looking 4runner....everytime i see one on the road it makes me want to get one

...keep us posted

 

[51WillysJeep]

Hey Guys, Thanks for all the great compliments on the truck , but up until now I can take NO credit for this build, it ALL goes to Rich ( pardonmyn00b) for the FANTASTIC job he did on building this 4runner body/ bumpers and sliders. "thumbsup"

Now its my turn to start playing with styrene again and build up a full interior, and then get the chassis running/driveable.

And for everybody thats asked about where to get one of these bodys, Heres the BAD news - you can't..! Rich built only 4 of these awesome 4Runner bodys, and thats it. He's not building anymore, so the 4 you see out there, is all you are going to see..!

However, a fellow member on here "BigBird" does have a sweet ABS 4Runner body for sale, but it just doesn't have anywhere near the detail as these bodys do, and thats what makes them SO damn cool..!

You lucky SOB:shock:, so this is what you have been hiding. It looks amazing, Rich did an outstanding job on the body. I cannot wait to see what you do with it now.

Don't keep us waiting in the dark like you did with the extreme JK:?, I demand daily pic updates:mrgreen:"thumbsup".

Yes Justin, I will not leave ya hangin' in the dark on this one like I did with the JK Whenever I get a chance to get something done, it will be posted..! "thumbsup"

And then there were 4.

Looks AWESOME Chris. Rich did a great job on all four bodies including his original!!!! Mike is building mine along side his as we worked a trade deal for the Isuzu pickup. Once they are done, we must get a 4runner meet together!!! All 4 of them LOL. Anyway it looks great and not only can Rich build a sick body but the kids got some tubework skills too! His yota truggy is insane and the bumpers and slider he made for your 4runn are sick!!

Congrats. Now onto the big question. Color???

Hey Bob, Yes Sir- NOW there are 4 (and as far as my understanding, there will ONLY be 4..! :twisted Rich's skills are 100% TOP Notch, ( as you know and have seen firsthand) and I am glad to now be a part of the "Elite" Northeast 4Runner Club..! LOL :mrgreen:

I hope that we can pull off the 4 - 4Runner meet maybe sometime this spring/early summer. Don't know if you and Mike can make it out to Skinner Mt. ( in Western Mass) but I believe we are planning on having another BIG scaler GTG up there when the warm weather hits, and it swould be a GREAT opportunity to get everyone all together. ( I will PM you and Mike the details when I hear anything more.."thumbsup")

And - as far as color, Its not going to be anything crazy, flashy, OR fancy, just your typical mid 80's 4runner that has been converted to weekend warrior/trail machine..:lol: time will tell on the true final color choice, but I think everyone will like it..!

So many fender pieces....48 to be exact. Glad that part is over. Thanks for the good words Chris.

Thanks Bob, very kind.

And there will only be 4.:twisted:

A 4 4Runner meet would be insane. I'd be game if that ever happened.

Oh, and I've been told the color choice. 8) It will be pretty sweet.

Dude, you've got some MAD Skillz..!! ;-)

If you don't mind heading out to Western Mass this spring/early summer, we are having a BIG scaler GTG, that your more than welcome to come too man..! ( I will PM you, Bob and Mike with all the details as it gets closer"thumbsup" so we can get ALL 4 of them together :shock

Thanks again for building me such a SICK ass yota body..!!

Nice, I am sure you will do it justice"thumbsup" Mine is on stand by until I get EddieV's up to the point which mine is at. I am basically building 2 identical trucks, same chassis, same axles, same armor and eventually a fully replicated 86 interior :mrgreen: Can't wait to see the color choice

Thanks Mike, YES - I've got a few tricks up my sleeve planned for this one as well..!! :twisted: I can't wait to see both yours and Bobs runners all done and out wheelin'..! As I've said above, we are planning on having another BIG scaler GTG at Skinner Mt. this spring/early summer - we NEED to make the 4- 4Runner meet happen man, that would be THE shiz :lol:..!! I will PM everybody with details as soon as they are available.

 

[85toycrawler]

that thing is awesome! great craftsmanship!!!!