Overland meme machine 99' Isuzu Rodeo

TRDrodeo

Fireroad pussy
Joined
Oct 15, 2018
Messages
72
Age
33
Location
Lake Forest, CA
Current status: RUNNING
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*Status subject to change based on how hard I beat it*


Grew up with my dad taking me on camping trips and off-roading constantly. Vehicle of choice was a 98' Isuzu Trooper 4x4 with 33's BFG A/Ts, an OEM LSD and nothing else. When I grew up and was allowed to drive it, many years would pass but I eventually did something dumb and rolled it going too fast in the dirt.


So I bought my own 4x4 to beat on. $1,200, 4.5 quarts low on ATF and banging into gear.

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Used 33" Cooper A/Ts from some guy getting rid of Excursion wheels: $160

I didn't ask, "cAn I fIt 33's wItH nO liFt", I just did it. I also removed the sway bars at the same time, because fck it.


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It rubbed and wasn't any fun off-road. But I had 33's, mission accomplished.

Next up, 1" body lift using skateboard wheels. And 2" lift OEM Trooper coils for the rear.

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'

Bueno!


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Told the exhaust shop to cut off whatever was on there, and weld on whatever muffler they had lying around. One flowmaster 40(?) and $75 later, I could now hear my engine running.

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There's a lot of cheap crap on here that contributes to the 'OVERLAND' aesthetic I'm going for, but it's just a 2nd gen Rodeo with the right supporting mods to be an extremely capable weekend warrior.


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LIMITATIONS:

1. My steering rack is located higher than a typical Toyota, and forward , just under the radiator. With a bottom mount for the outer tie-rod. While I have what I might say above average front droop, for a late 90's BOF SUV, my droop is currently limited by my inners contacting the rack, and my outers maxing out. I have an extra spacer under my front shock top mount, to give me a little more extension travel, but ultimately I'm limited by steering angles.

2. Rear OEM LSD is a clutch pack type, and it's fried to hell and back. Rear axle is a Dana 44HD with Trak-lok or whatever it's called. Works flawlessly when healthy, hinders you when fried. An auto locker needs to go in ASAP to get me in with the big boys on real trails.

3. 4.10 gearing on 33" M/Ts SUCKS. long distance highway trips are all but out of the question, driving up a slight grade requires dropping down a gear or two and monitoring trans temps. I have a rear 4.56 R&P, but no time or money to pay for an install of that, and the inevitable locker. Until I do, its 15-20MPG highway and 10 city.

4. The front diff can only be dropped about 1" before the front 2 mounting bolt heads contact my steering rack body. Full removal and modification of the diff mounting brackets is required for more drop.

5. Rear upper mounting for my shocks is less than ideal, and is currently limiting me from running longer shocks. The top mounting hats need to be cut off and spaced up at least 2" at the very least, I could then run a 26" extended shock, instead of my current 23". I am not against any removal of floor in the rear cargo area, just to run longer shocks.

6. Driver side mounted gas tank needs to go. The OEM skids on this truck are fantastic, and save my ass, but having a giant tank where I want rocks to go, sucks.



TL;DR
Hi, I have a 4x4 Rodeo with nothing but eBay parts and I off-road as much as possible knowing I have to go to work the next day. I use the 3rd gen T4R platform as inspiration. I live next to COB, a moderator on the T4R forum and my BFF with an armored green 3rd gen that was my inspiration to start my own green 4x4 build.

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Last edited:

4runner DOA

Hold my beer
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Messages
15,882
Location
OC
Fuck yeah. I don't know much about your power train but going from 3.73 to 4.88s in my runner made a world of difference for long distance. I hated it with 33s, but it's damned near perfect for the 35s. 4.56 always seems to be a good compromise.
 

AssBurns

will wheel for beer
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Location
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Hell Yeah! Looking forward to seeing more progress on this thread. If you ever have any ideas or questions, I'm sure we can all brainstorm and help come up with some cool ideas to make that thing perform awesome. Definitely work on getting the locker situation taken care of. Toss in a front locker while you are at it too. The best thing I've done to help capability.
 

TRDrodeo

Fireroad pussy
Joined
Oct 15, 2018
Messages
72
Age
33
Location
Lake Forest, CA
3.73 to 4.88s

3.73? DAMN!! That must have been BRUTAL

If you ever have any ideas or questions, I'm sure we can all brainstorm and help come up with some cool ideas to make that thing perform awesome.

Thank you Sir! Appreciate the warm welcome. Re-gear and rear locker is on the top of the to-do list. Front locker will follow suite...
 

4runner DOA

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3.73? DAMN!! That must have been BRUTAL



Thank you Sir! Appreciate the warm welcome. Re-gear and rear locker is on the top of the to-do list. Front locker will follow suite...

Or 3.93 I don't remember what it is stock. It wasn't terrible on 33s but there was an obvious loss of power as I was adding armor.
 

4runner DOA

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There's a reason why OC Overland will disappear, while idpor.com will thrive. I wouldn't waste my time with them. They're as bad as overland bound.

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TRDrodeo

Fireroad pussy
Joined
Oct 15, 2018
Messages
72
Age
33
Location
Lake Forest, CA
Always treated me like dirt, I've been kissing ass for a while to see if he'll ever just "be nice", haha but I doubt it. Those guys are on a whole different level of living than me. I can't compete or fit into that crowd.
 

4runner DOA

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Always treated me like dirt, I've been kissing ass for a while to see if he'll ever just "be nice", haha but I doubt it. Those guys are on a whole different level of living than me. I can't compete or fit into that crowd.

Most of them are elitist assholes. KC had the nerve to call me fake as fuck, but he really needs to look in the mirror. Kunaal was cool. Haven't talked to him in awhile though. They all started wheeling with our t4r group before they split off and started OCO. Their whole group is a fucking sham.

Especially when they allow shit like this to happen.

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AssBurns

will wheel for beer
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Most of them are elitist assholes. KC had the nerve to call me fake as fuck, but he really needs to look in the mirror. Kunaal was cool. Haven't talked to him in awhile though. They all started wheeling with our t4r group before they split off and started OCO. Their whole group is a fucking sham.

Especially when they allow shit like this to happen.

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I don't see that as THAT big of a deal. Yes, it's dumb and yes someone should have told him not to do that, but in reality it's not that big of a deal. Some asshole drive his truck into some water. We drive through creeks all the time, boats drive in water all the time with the exhaust going straight into the water. I think it's dumb but we've probably all done worse somewhere down the line.
 

4runner DOA

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I don't see that as THAT big of a deal. Yes, it's dumb and yes someone should have told him not to do that, but in reality it's not that big of a deal. Some asshole drive his truck into some water. We drive through creeks all the time, boats drive in water all the time with the exhaust going straight into the water. I think it's dumb but we've probably all done worse somewhere down the line.

Difference between us and them is that those pictures above are OFF trail. The one in the lake is literally a lake (I believe @theesotericone said it was Coyote Lake) that he never should have been in, and before they locked down their "chat board" not a single one of them was talking about how that was a terrible idea. That is how we lose access to trails. They do it for the gram, we do it because we love the hobby.
 

AssBurns

will wheel for beer
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Messages
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Difference between us and them is that those pictures above are OFF trail. The one in the lake is literally a lake (I believe @theesotericone said it was Coyote Lake) that he never should have been in, and before they locked down their "chat board" not a single one of them was talking about how that was a terrible idea. That is how we lose access to trails. They do it for the gram, we do it because we love the hobby.
Agreed, that stuff is BS and how the trails get trails closed forsure. Also agree about that last statement!!
 

DuroBumps

You love my bumps, My bumps, My lovely Yota Bumps!
Official Vendor
Joined
Oct 3, 2018
Messages
327
Location
AZ
Who thinks I can fit a @Plastics Guy bump on my knockoff Toyota?

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Different design, but I'm going to do some measuring and see if I can make it work...

How tall is your OEM bump stop?

what is the gap in-between the OEM Bump stop and the LCA??

All my front Durobumps have a 3/16" steel base plate. You could easily tack weld it to the oem location
 

DuroBumps

You love my bumps, My bumps, My lovely Yota Bumps!
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Messages
327
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Yessir! My bump stop is 2" tall for the 3rd gen 4runner and it looks like that would work perfect for you. Its even angled to make even contact on the LCA...1st gen tacoma front bump stop comparisson OEM vs TBS side shot.jpg
 

TRDrodeo

Fireroad pussy
Joined
Oct 15, 2018
Messages
72
Age
33
Location
Lake Forest, CA
Fuck Treadwright. I searched long and hard for a D rated M/T in 16".

Purchased 4 in July. One arrived with a flaw, requested a replacement.

Before the replacement could even ship, my left rear split at the crown. Requested another.

I received ONE correct replacement, which I used for the split tire.

3 times they sent me tires, 3 times they fucked up.

Sent me 2 E range M/Ts that I didn't want. Gave them to a friend.

Sent me one E range A/T, no use for it, gave it to a friend.

Sent me 1 E range M/T, needed to replace a flat so I put it on the front passenger.

Many months later, after contacting them for the whothefuckknows time, I'm told they essentially don't make D range anymore, and I'm fucked.

No warning, no heads up. Sorry sir, you're driving on tires that we don't make anymore.

I don't want E rated on this truck yet, I never wanted E rated.

FUCK you TW. Fuck you with a dry rubber E M/T dildo. I'm getting a refund.



****
If anyone knows of a D range M/T in 16", I'm all ears.
 

AssBurns

will wheel for beer
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Messages
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Fuck Treadwright. I searched long and hard for a D rated M/T in 16".

Purchased 4 in July. One arrived with a flaw, requested a replacement.

Before the replacement could even ship, my left rear split at the crown. Requested another.

I received ONE correct replacement, which I used for the split tire.

3 times they sent me tires, 3 times they fucked up.

Sent me 2 E range M/Ts that I didn't want. Gave them to a friend.

Sent me one E range A/T, no use for it, gave it to a friend.

Sent me 1 E range M/T, needed to replace a flat so I put it on the front passenger.

Many months later, after contacting them for the whothefuckknows time, I'm told they essentially don't make D range anymore, and I'm fucked.

No warning, no heads up. Sorry sir, you're driving on tires that we don't make anymore.

I don't want E rated on this truck yet, I never wanted E rated.

FUCK you TW. Fuck you with a dry rubber E M/T dildo. I'm getting a refund.



****
If anyone knows of a D range M/T in 16", I'm all ears.
MTR's & Pro-Comp MT2's to name a couple. I had both in D rating. I have no reason for E rated tires either. Those are for full size rigs IMO.

I'm sure you can find plenty of others as well.
 
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