So after owning three different cars and one sports bike over the years...I decided to get a 4runner..just last August with the mileage of 131,000k's, I decided to give the truck world a try..trucks in a real good shape w/o any claims, local and no rust anywhere..sold my 92 integra and my 01 honda 929 erion edition just to get her..the sales guy told me about the RR Diff feature...I didn't have a clue what it was for at the time...

here she is all cleaned and waxed..



picked up a set of 17" rims which I didn't know the name of..all i know is that I wanted 'em the first time I saw them..Actually started a thread about it last year to see if anyone knows anything about them..no one knew..It was finished in chrome but with severe pitting so I had them refinised in polished aluminum. Had them sitting for 6 months since December.


In the meantime I installed a Field Monitor Unit which I got from JDM New Zealand..Here's my write-up on YotaTech..
http://www.yotatech.com/f2/field-mon...?highlight=fmu


Went mudding sporting my newly acquired 02 wheels and tires, chrome sidesteps and roof rack my brothers gave me...really nice to have brothers who both owns 3rd gens too. Deep mud was when I had full use of the RR Diff Lockers.
]


Did the deckplate and ISR mod using TrueFlow air filter and Airraid MIT tubing from Burtman Industries. Also adjusted the throttle cable and did seafoam..I lost the pictures of the deckplate mod. The timing belt, ac, alternator and so forth were also changed along with the water pump and thermostat using original Toyota parts..Got a substantial discount off of a friend who works at a dealership...

Modified my lower valance to accomodate my Hella Micro De Xenons..Got it painted to match the body color..also changed my grill to a 01-02 version.




Went on a 15 hour trip to my brothers place in California with 2 of my other brothers and my in-law in his 99 Limited to pick up a few much needed accesories for my truck..It was our second trip in 4 months.
I got my lift kit at last..

They are OME 881, 890, N86 and N91.. I also ordered Toytec top plate spacers and Cornfed rears. In order for me to use the wheels I need to use wheel spacers as the backspacing is 5 1/4..So I went ahead and get Spidertrax hub-centrics...I noticed that when I tighten the spacers nuts, I only get a few tread engagement, almost another 1/4 inch is not treading so for peace of mind, I decided to change the studs on the wheel hub with a longer ones..Now the spacers nuts are flushed with the wheels studs when tightened.

One Saturday was all it took for me and a friend to put the lift kit together and installed on the truck, the rear struts were a pain to remove but we managed. We found out that the passenger rear shock was already shot so lifting the truck couldn't have come at a better time. Lift installed without the running boards and chrome wheel trims.

I planned on using 33" tires plus the Spidertrax 1.25" spacers, and I knew If i went that route I'd have to find a set of fender flares that gives better wheel coverage that a Sport, SR5 and Limited models only offers. Finding a set of SR5 flares wasn't easy but in return I gained a friend in the process.
here's my SR5 fender flares..courtesy of a good friend(Ron) from Denver Metro...

Dry-fitting on my '97.


here are my fenders filled with holes I made to accept the push-in clips I bought at a local parts store..Not even 2 of the body shops I took the flares to, said it'd be impossible to mount 'em up using the clips and without the actual template...I took it as a challenge. As I have no real template to use to mark the locations of the holes, I had to improvise and use the 'paint transfer" method. Did it twice for each fender and they matched. I used rust inhibitor for the drilled holes..




clips I used to secure the flares...in addition to the clips I used "gloozit"..an automotive adhesive and sealant..it dries hard yet remains flexible...very good product.


had the flares' scratches repaired then painted..even my rear bumpers..I also ordered the rubber gasket from Toyota...matching black.


time to see if the holes I drilled on my fenders lined up...




it's as if my truck came with them to begin with.

The truck wouldn't be complete without the tires so after much debate I opted with BFG M/T km2 285 70 17's

Mounted on the rims and on the rig




I have a set of PIAA 520's sitting in the closet(another freebie from my brother) ones that I've always wanted to mount on my bumper but having the 01-02 grill presented a set back as it sticks further out compared to my stock 97 ones, let alone the fact that 97's have short bumper...there was nowhere to mount the lights onto..So I resorted back to using the original 97 grill..While I'm at it I thought of doin' the Satoshi mod thinking It'll give me more room so the lights don't stick out...so I did...

I went the extra mile and modify my chrome grill to better flush fit the lights, fab up a bracket in front of the rad to hold the lights secure.





Lastly, I ordered the TRD sticker and slapped 'em on, cleaned and painted the wheel wells, frame, rear axle and undercarriage with flat Rustoleum black rust paint...now it looks like it just rolled off the production line...well sort of.





My truck came a long way and I couldn't be happier with the purchase...This ones a keeper!

looks awesome ! some 99 headlights and clears and a set of 01-02 led tails would make it really pop

nice work! those rims look really good! I personally wouldn't have drilled holes into my fenders and probably would have done what LINY did if i went with limited flares. like ELTON said, change out those lights in the front and back and you'll have good lookin rig!

Great looking ride, I love what you have done to her!! Mine looked almost identical to your start when I got her, the fogs in the valence are sweet!

Great Mods man! I really like the stance!

One of the best I've seen! Well done. The attention to detail is noticeable...nice touches.

It's actually LINY4Runner who I asked how he mounted the flares, and he suggested the use of FIPG--very similar to what i used, but for extra security, I used the push-in clips, he said he wouldn't recommend drilling holes unless you're confident in what you're doin. Two of the body shops I took the flares to, said it would be impossible to mount 'em up using just the clips without the actual template...I took it as a challenge.


Thanks alot guys for the nice comments, I'm also just a starter and I've still alot to learn.

Good work, lots of great improvements!

Looks great. I like all the small details. What's next?

I thought maybe a hood scoop would compliment the looks even more..In time.

Damn man...that runner looks really good! Congrats!

Sick! looks great! Those flares do indeed look like the truck was born with 'em.You have to be really confident to start drilling on your ride like that.

Lift looks great also. And the tires. Like that grill but I would have gone black out myself on the chrome but that's me. Unique and distinctive very classy.

Hood scoop oh yeah. Clear corners and turn signal lenses yep. 01/02 tail lights yep... almost done...nah we are never done.

I can get the hood for pretty cheap but its the inserts and attachments that costs..not so much the painting..clear corners and bumper lens have been on my wish list for so long..