On the bench

BuildsIn Progress

The truck is never finished, so the write-ups aren't either. Each build here is documented as it happens — what worked, what got ordered twice, and what it took to get it running.

01 — Electronics

Open
Projects

Two open builds right now. Each one gets written up as it happens, not tidied up afterwards.

Rev 3 Sep 2026
Running on hardware Board built Sensors reading Updates over Wi-Fi

Build 01 — Digital Gauge Cluster

An 8.8" screen behind the wheel and two round pods replace the factory gauges. A custom board we designed reads the truck's forty-year-old wiring, and the engine data comes straight off the engine computer. Six switchable looks, all three screens in sync, and you can watch the whole thing live from your phone — change settings and update every screen over Wi-Fi without pulling the dash apart. Try all three screens in your browser on the build page.

Read the build →
Cluster running the green matrix theme Cluster running the amber bar theme Engine pod screen showing vacuum and air-fuel ratio
The ROUND theme running on the 1920 by 480 cluster panel
Parts ordered Not started

Build 02 — Suspension

The biggest change this truck will have had. A JD Fabrication long travel front end replaces the 4" lift, a Wicked Creations 3-link replaces the Samurai springs out back, and King coilovers go on all four corners. Not a taller truck — a different way of moving. Everything's ordered; now it's waiting on boxes.

Read the plan →
A first-generation 4Runner on a lift with a 3-link rear and blue coilovers under it
Build 03 — nothing planned. Something will break first, and that will decide it.