[runnyrunnerton]

Where it is today:


Where it came from:

Here is runny. 98 Limited 4x4 V6 178,000 white with 97 taco rims and 285's STOCK. wtf? Bought it from a hippie who didn't know what wax was nor did he shower, cool dude as he handed me (4) 1997 3 spoke rims (restoring them now) and a run of the mill brush guard, but a hippie is still a hippie, had to polish the old boy for 4 hrs then lay down three coats of wax. PITA! well worth it as I get more compliments on this guy than I get in the 4x4 V-max Silverado I sold to get her. Cheby's break and suck gas in ridiculous amounts. Glad to be out from under it.

[IMG]~original[/IMG]

Called Toytec got the 3" Ultimate with the heavier springs up front for the Shrockworks bumper coming soon and the Bilstein 5150's in the back.



Pre lift


Post Lift


FYI Taco rims are NEGATIVE .5" offsett from stock 97 three spokes. UCA's began cutting grooves into the sidewalls after a long .3 mile trip around the property.



In come the Spidertracks 1.25" spacers!


Before Spidertracks



After Spidertracks



All Aligned and WHITE WALLS OUT! Political stickers added. Keep remarks to yourself, we're focusing on the whitewalls here hippies!





Done some other stuff like blacked out emblems, ISR, tranny cooler and Deck-plate mod.
Got a Taco Whip and Mount coming in the mail and Im waiting about 15 more days before we call Shrockworks. Prepare yourselves. PM me if you want the brush guard and live near g-ville Florida, time for her to go!

Got a long way to go but most people think I'm kidding when I say "...and Im only about 10% into the build!" I could go through my wish list but I feel the awesomeness of it is to much for civilians and I don't wanna junk up the search feature.

[xskydivingdudex]

looks good dude... wow those dont look like 285s in the first pic but if u say they are then ill believe u. Well lift looks good and will look even better once u get the shrockworks bumper on there too.

So r u planning to take off the running boards or are they staying?

[Shoke]

Looking good! Can't wait to see it with the Shrockworks Bumper.

Ditch the running boards and update your sig :P "Toytec 3.5 Lift - In the Mail!"

[FL-4runner]

How much are you looking to get for the bumper i live in jacksonville

[TFJ-4runner]

Off to a great start it looks really good. Like previously stated ditch the running boards. Save weight gain gas mileage haha.

[t4r92]

congrats on the find. Document your installs more if you don't mind. It'd be helpful for those of us who are looking into those same mods soon.

[runnyrunnerton]

Got a much needed update for you guys.

Lost the Running Boards. WOW what a difference.


Added a Taco Whip Mod.


And after MUCH research installed a DDM 35W 6000 HID Kit in the Stock 97 Housings. Freakin love it! Yes the light pattern is erratic, but they light up the road!

Before and After Side By Side


Before


After



However, It is apparent I need Some Driving Lights. That was going to be next however I just lost my tranny, so jump on the board and take a look, I think I want to do a valve body mod if It has to be replaced, but I need to get it all done at the same time, Never rebuilt a tranny before. Should be Fun! If you know a guy who can do the valve body work in North Florida Let me know!

[runnyrunnerton]

Just did my satoshi grille mod!
Before


Stuff I used, Tapping the Rockies is ESSENTIAL

Hacking out the corners was a pain. I recomend a saw not a dremel, the dremel tends to melt parts.

This is the grille all cut out.

I sanded the heck out of the chrome plating and used a self etching primer to try and get a good grip on the chrome. You can also see the Bondo Work, not bad for a first timer for EVERYHTING in this project. Also Chrome is for mall crawlers, Im 2 bumpers away from eliminating every shiny piece of silver there is.

I then cut out the screen. NO pics sorry, I was a little embarrassed that part took so long. Then I put pipe hangers on the back side to zip tie the mesh too. The Original instructions said to bolt these into the grille, I used the resin and fiber method, I prefer a smoother finished look and I don't dig fasteners everywhere.

Here it is preassembly

and here is the finished product.


I saw this site ( 4Runners.org - Maintain it. Mod it. ) when I first got my runner and I knew I would do this mod, just thought it was a bit overwhelming at first. Took me about a day and change. If I could do it over I would just push the mesh along the outside of the grille and epoxy and resin it together as one piece. Wouldnt need the pipe hangers. Let me know what you think, but I think its looks awesome!

[quicksilvr]

Awesome, everything looks really good. I like the Satoshi grill with your white truck....the old school white toyota letters always look best on light colored trucks.

[TacticalSR5]

Dope!! I love this runner, Almost makes me want a 98?? Im fixing to do a lift to my runner and add some of the same goodies. Satoshi grill looks very very well done, I just question if i have your level of skill to do it.

Congrats and well done!

P.S- that color Combo is Amazing and lets see some poser pics. I want to see how those emblems turned out.

[TRDCal]

Nice truck! love those tacoma wheels, grille is awesome too.

[BrianSD_42]

Looking great man. I plan on adding those same SpiderTraxx later this month.

[fightman80]

It all looks great man! Awesome work!

[Johnny Utah]

let the record show that i like your disdain for those smelly hippies.

[1985taylor1925]

Hey man, nice Tacoma wheels!