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03Troutfinder Mild build Thread


03TroutFinder
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So I'm relatively new here and thought I'd post up a build thread for my 2003 R50 Pathy that I have dubbed the Troutfinder since that's the primary reason I bought her. To get back into the mountains of NE GA in search of some wild trout and take on road trips back home to FL for some inshore action in search of some Specks!

 

As I have stated in previous threads, I was drawn back to the R50 due to it's style and reliability. I had a 96 SE 4x4 about 15-20 years and really enjoyed it. My new "to me!" Pathy is an 03 SE model, also 4X4.

 

I hope you enjoy the journey as much as I am building her. Feel free to comment on the progress and deliver feedback/criticism!

 

 

Here's some pics early on when I bought her:

 

[/url]">http://Early1_zpsdgsu5mro.jpg

 

[/url]">http://Early2_zps44ayzftk.jpg

 

[/url]">http://Interior2_zps1dqhzdya.jpg

 

Interior1_zpsi2ve1ebf.jpg

 

My first "mod" was to label her:

 

TF2_zps1rmnr6px.jpg

 

TF1_zpst70not4s.jpg

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Next was roof Rack, Lights, grille, Temporary tinted lens(until new ones are purchased) Accessories, etc.:

 

[/url]">http://front_zps8hmt0cgw.jpg

 

[/url]">http://Front%20driver_zpsi81mfhea.jpg

 

[/url]">http://3778d1ac-c3f3-47d3-bff6-778119c8443b_zps

 

[/url]">http://grille_zpsvltpnqs4.jpg

 

d0d6f8b1-a0ae-46bd-8d98-25506256d62a_zps

 

[/url]">http://rearlights_zpseyqhdzih.jpg

 

[/url]">http://swithes_zpswub119uo.jpg

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And just this weekend....I put on the lift kit. 2" all around, all new springs, Rancho Rs5000 shocks, replaced CV axles and a ripped boot on one of the tie rods. Let's just say it was a LOOOONG weekend. And on top of that I had to change an alternator on another vehicle which just added to the fun!

 

Supplies:

 

[/url]">http://suspension_zpsg5pmrlib.jpg

 

Before:

 

[/url]">http://frontbefore_zpska7q5nxa.jpg

 

[/url]">http://rearbefore_zpsokwl3f0d.jpg

 

After:

 

[/url]">http://frontafter_zpsk72uy6zp.jpg

 

[/url]">http://http://s1356.photobucket.com/user/Geffellz18/media/rearafter_zpszilhmp9t.jpg.html'>rearafter_zpszilhmp9t.jpg

 

More pics on next post!

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Here are some before and after pics of the Pathy for comparison as well as the lift installed:

 

[/url]">http://frontlift_zpscfeowtya.jpg

 

[/url]">http://Rear%20shock_zpsfjdkfftn.jpg

 

Before pic from last week in the mountains:

 

[/url]">http://Mountain_zpsbqykvfnm.jpg

 

After from this afternoon:

 

[/url]">http://liftafter1_zpsslz8n8mb.jpg

 

Stay tuned..........Next month we add the Wheels/Tires and manual hubs!!!

 

Here's a stock pic of the wheels I'll be running: MB Chaos 6, 20x9, 0 offset wrapped in 275/55/20 Hankook Dynapro ATM tires &

AVM locking hubs.

 

[/url]">http://http://s1356.photobucket.com/user/Geffellz18/media/chaos_zpszxkepjmj.jpg.html'>chaos_zpszxkepjmj.jpg

 

Thanks for checking it out!

 

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Was that the AC 2" lift?

 

 

Hey!

 

No. I got the spacers off of Ebay. Fleurys was not making his when I was ordering them, so I found these and picked them up.

 

The springs are stock replacements. Moog medium duty springs and Rancho RS5000 shocks/struts.

 

It really only gave about 1.5" in the front, but nearly 3" in the rear based on the measurements in the pic. But I can definitely tell it's a good bit higher when looking at it and parking it next to my wife's Honda Pilot.

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Thanks for the reply. Rear springs seem to sag a lot over the years on these R50s. I know mine are really sagging.

No problem. Thanks for looking.

 

The rear springs were super easy to change out and very cheap for stock replacements if that's what your looking for. Got them at Rock Auto after researching prices. Didn't see the discount code on here until the day after I ordered though! So don't forget it if you order from them.

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The same guy made my spacer lift. I had to drill out my strut mounts to fit the upgraded hardware but no big deal. He's located in Illinois, really nice and knowledgeable fellow.

 

I went with 2" spacers up front for 2.5" lift and everytime I called with a question he was like oh crap 'custom guy again' BTW at full droop my CVS do bind but I can still turn them by hand.

 

I did the fronts and let the OME rears and fronts settle a couple weeks then ordered the rears. I wanted the rear .5"-.75" higher than the front.

 

Looking good. Going to upgrade meats? I had a harder time with my sway bar end links than compressing the spring and doing the rest of the lift.

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I had to do the same with my kit. Wasn't a really big deal, just a little time to get the holes on both sides of the housing to match up properly when re-assembling.

 

Very pleased overall with the height and ride. Definitely more stiff than stock, but not near as bad as I was expecting from the reviews of the Ranchos being too stiff. Not so IMHO.

 

By meats I take it your referencing Tires???

I got the Dynapro ATM's used for a good price so I went ahead and got them. They show 32.1" height on their site.

I'll probably get a year out of them max, so when they need replacing, I'll be getting something with a slightly more aggressive tread and possibly will go up to 33's if it doesn't take a ton of trimming to get them to fit.

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Yeah meats-tires. Lol. Or shoes I guess depends on where your from.

I did the 265/70r16 Goodyear Duratrac MTs. I had to trim front bumper, mud flap and relocate inner liner. 33's you would have to lose the mud flap, do some major trimming and move inner liner, no big deal, like 10min of work if that's what you want.

 

 

I was racking my brain as to why your truck didn't seem lifted much. It's the step bars!! Lol best thing I ever did was junk mine. If your my height or my wife's you can't actually use them plus 2" visual lift and sooo much cleaner. I took one off very cautiously, stepped back and loved it then zipped the other side off and started getting compliments on the lift.

 

Man you must drive a lot, these tires should last me 40k miles. That's like 5 years for me.

Edited by LittleFR
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Yeah meats-tires. Lol. Or shoes I guess depends on where your from.

I did the 265/70r16 Goodyear Duratrac MTs. I had to trim front bumper, mud flap and relocate inner liner. 33's you would have to lose the mud flap, do some major trimming and move inner liner, no big deal, like 10min of work if that's what you want.

 

 

I was racking my brain as to why your truck didn't seem lifted much. It's the step bars!! Lol best thing I ever did was junk mine. If your my height or my wife's you can't actually use them plus 2" visual lift and sooo much cleaner. I took one off very cautiously, stepped back and loved it then zipped the other side off and started getting compliments on the lift.

 

Man you must drive a lot, these tires should last me 40k miles. That's like 5 years for me.

 

I drove a 98 PF for 9 years..... ran 33s under it at stock height for about 2.... no fender wells, did manage to keep the rear mudflaps though

 

 

 

About to put 33's under this.....

there is no inner fender well, about an inch of each fender is trimmed back, and i removed the air box as i am going to be fitting a snorkel soon.

 

I will be posting pics when the new stuff is all on

14956561_10211375731975568_3662332839633

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Man you must drive a lot, these tires should last me 40k miles. That's like 5 years for me.

Nah, not really. Have put just 2k miles on her since March. I'll most likely need to replace within a year due the remaining tread left on the tires I got since they are used.

 

Will have wheels in hand tomorrow!!! Will have tires mounted and balanced this week most likely and we'll see if they fit without spacers. Went ahead and ordered 1.5" spacers anyways and locking hubs. Should get them next week too so I'll have some updated pics to share with new wheels and manual hubs installed by next weekend!

Next then will be the custom brush guard w/winch and rear bumper guard I'll have built. That won't be until early next year though.

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Got the wheels and Manual hubs installed this evening. I really like the way it all came together. Nice Aggressive stance. Will have to do some trimming on the front to allow for full turning radius. Nothing too major though.

The wheels and tires actually did fit without the need for spacers in the front. I had about 1/4" clear between the tire and strut housing. I installed the spacers only on the front anyways since I believe that if the tires were brand new spacers would be needed and plus, I bought them already so may as well use them!

 

Manual hubs were super simple to install and did not require for the original bolts to be changed out as I have read other brands needed. I got AVM hubs, made in Brazil, primarily to keep the color coordination intact, plus the reviews. I will say, they are much more heavy duty than I was thinking. All steel/aluminum construction. No plastic anywhere! Very pleased with them initially.

 

As always thanks for looking. Will post up some daytime pics in the next few days. May take it up to the Mountains this weekend for some nice offroad shots!

 

[/url]">http://WheelFront_zpsbftk1g37.jpg

 

[/url]">http://0d0e989f-f806-4350-a5a3-225ccf7ad27a_zps

 

[/url]">http://WheelRear_zpsbbm2laur.jpg

 

[/url]">http://http://s1356.photobucket.com/user/Geffellz18/media/ManualHub_zpsmdyblfnn.jpg.html'>ManualHub_zpsmdyblfnn.jpg

 

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Looking very good. I wouldn't have thought the black on silver would have came together so nicely.

 

The manual hubs make the steering better, it coasts better. The first time I drove mine in 2wd it was like a totally different vehicle.

 

I put 1" spacers on all 4. Still sling rocks pretty good.

 

I like your bug out gear.

Edited by LittleFR
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Wow, the stance looks great! :lmao: How much backspace do those wheels have?

 

Thanks mjo! The wheels have a 5" backspacing. They are 20"x9", 0 offset. However the front is technically 3.5" backspacing due to the 1.5" spacers. I didn't add the spacers on the rear. Took some trimming to get full clearance, but nothing major. 31" tires on the same wheels will definitely clear the struts and shouldn't need any trimming.

 

Looking very good. I wouldn't have thought the black on silver would have came together so nicely.

 

The manual hubs make the steering better, it coasts better. The first time I drove mine in 2wd it was like a totally different vehicle.

 

I put 1" spacers on all 4. Still sling rocks pretty good.

 

I like your bug out gear.

 

Thanks LittleFR Your completely right about the manual hubs. The truck does drive completely different.

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Thanks mjo! The wheels have a 5" backspacing. They are 20"x9", 0 offset. However the front is technically 3.5" backspacing due to the 1.5" spacers. I didn't add the spacers on the rear. Took some trimming to get full clearance, but nothing major. 31" tires on the same wheels will definitely clear the struts and shouldn't need any trimming.

 

Is there any chance you can get pictures straight on from the back, to show how the difference in stance looks? I'm thinking I may do this the same way (in terms of combining wheels and spacers) but I want to make sure it won't look too weird.

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Is there any chance you can get pictures straight on from the back, to show how the difference in stance looks? I'm thinking I may do this the same way (in terms of combining wheels and spacers) but I want to make sure it won't look too weird.

 

 

Sure thing. Here you go. Hopefully these show you what your looking for.

 

I didn't think the difference was excessive enough to add the spacers to the rear myself. When you start to flex, you want the tires to go into the wheel well which should not be an issue with the current stance. Add the spacers, well then that's a different story.

 

[/url]">http://rear%202_zpsko2jrxsu.jpg

 

[/url]">http://rearleft_zpsazem9s1z.jpg

 

[/url]">http://http://s1356.photobucket.com/user/Geffellz18/media/rearright_zpsq9zxkljq.jpg.html'>rearright_zpsq9zxkljq.jpg

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