Upon High School graduation in 2002, I purchased a '99 Tacoma and the modding addiction was strong! I group up in western NC, wheeling with NCTTORA, Bud from BuidBuilt monthly in Kentucky, TN, and NC. I graduated from Appalachian State University in the Spring of '07 (GO MOUNTAINEERS!) and after an internship at a large format UV printer in NC, I was hired by a large commercial printer and was relocated to Seattle, WA. Upon relocation from the country to the city, I then decided to sell the Tacoma and purchase a sporty '03 VR6 6 speed GTI. Two years later, I couldn't take not being in a 4wd Toyota, so I searched for a 4Runner. December of 2010 I found my 4Runner and since then I have been enjoying the SUV. There is the condensed version. So before you get to the 4Runner, allow me to share the late, great Tacoma!
As close as before gets > After

Tacoma continued...









Pictures AFTER I modded and sold the GTI.

The 4Runner on the day of purchase, Dec 24, 2010.

As you are all familiar with, why not make the car your own?

Installed Yakima rack/in-channel vent visors, 20% tint


Drifter 33 antenna mount color matched to black metallic emblems


Midland CB w/NOAA in ash tray, relocated ash tray light to cubby, and wired in line outs for RCA jacks and 4ch amp from stock head unit.






Infinity KAPPA Component/Dyanmat install Fronts





More to follow....

I like what you've done so far. Any plans on lifting it or extra armor/protection? I've got new components in my door a while ago and i'm debating adding some sort of sound dampner. Is there a big difference for you in quietness and sound quality?

Very nice work man! That Taco was pretty Gnarly too!

Thank you.

As for lifting the 4Runner, my offroad days are limited to getting to a trail head for backpacking, mountaineering, snow shoeing or ice climbing. The days of beating on my rig are over. A good friend of mine is saving different wrap LC coils for me, and I'll pull the trigger on purchasing the the rear coils as soon as the front is decided.

Armor/Protection: I do plan on installing sliders and then plated front and rear bumpers. (I've already 180'd the 4Runner into a 8 foot snow bank at 40 mph. After pulling the bumper/grill off, using a come a long and other tools there is only a minor dent in the front bumper, and a busted turn signal.)

Sound proofing: I was able to take advantage of another friends employee discount, and purchased all of my audio equipment. Dynamat xtreme prevents a lot of rattles and dampens road noise, but I think off brand products would work equally as well. I plan to lay down Acoustic Floor Underlayment, foam/rubber sheets which will really block outside noise from being heard inside.

Thank you- I sure miss the truck and occasionally see it when driving south of Seattle.

You'll definitely remember that Taco as "the one that got away"

that thing was legit!

4Runner looks good so far...get her lifted and armored and kick the crap out of her!

That's a super clean looking 99 Limited!

Damn, that taco is sick!! Nice progress on the 4runner, its comin along nicely!! Keep up the good work!

Thanks guys- Today I'll be applying dynamat inside the rear door panels, installing these guys... Car-Speaker-Adapters - www.car-speaker-adapters.com - Call Us Today - 412-260-6835 and then swapping out the factory 4's for Infinity Kappa 5.25"s. The rca cables for the rear channels are already routed back to the amp, just need to run wire from the amp, through the doors and into the speakers!


I'll post pictures later. I'll then be on the hunt for an assembled front suspension kit. Not opposed to an installed spacer (not my preference) to match up to my LC coils for the rear.

Welcome and welcome to the PNW! There's a pretty good core of us around here who love wrenching on our rigs, so let us know if you ever want a group of guys to stand around you talking while you work on your Runner. We all need to get together this summer and hit some trails.

I also made the transition from Tacoma to 4Runner. Here's a shot of my old baby. I do miss it so sometimes. Not nearly as built as yours, but it was a great truck.

i can't imagine how the 4runner gunna look couple years from now. that taco was sick!

Sounds good and thank you for the welcome. Good to see another Taco turned T4R fellow!

More pics to follow. Yesterday I finished applying the Dynamat xtreme to the door panels, installing the speaker adapters and Infinity KAPPAS, placing the small long throw sub in the rear, as well as wiring to the amp for the rear channels.

Today was a creative day. Hanging with my Brother, we decided to pick him up a climbing harness and personal anchor system. We had a couple of hours to kill afterwards and decided to get creative. We sound proofed the floor of the rear cargo area. I get a kick out of using marketed pieces for other uses at over half the price of marketed sound proofing materials. Enjoy the pictures!

You ever put the harness down and boulder?