[Brian757]

Originally Posted by MattJakobs

I really like that idea, I haven't seen or heard on anything like that. Don't really need anything for fishing until next summer so I'll have some time to look into that option. I've read through your build and have been looking around for your rig. I'm in an off campus apartment right off Hampton BLVD in Larchmont so I get to have my vehicle and work on it.

I've been spotted by a few 4th genners, but rarely if any 3rd gens. I've been going off the grid with my T100 for the past week working on the brakes on the Runner. Eventually I'll swing by and introduce myself. I'm in class MWF from 8AM-3PM, so try and find me in any commuter garage between then. I'm usually tucked up in either garage of the Ted Constant Center. Happy hunting!

[MattJakobs]

Originally Posted by Brian757

I've been spotted by a few 4th genners, but rarely if any 3rd gens. I've been going off the grid with my T100 for the past week working on the brakes on the Runner. Eventually I'll swing by and introduce myself. I'm in class MWF from 8AM-3PM, so try and find me in any commuter garage between then. I'm usually tucked up in either garage of the Ted Constant Center. Happy hunting!

You can probably find my exact location off of some of the pictures I uploaded earlier today. I get out at 11:00 a.m. tomorrow and would go hunting for it weren't for the football game, I have a feeling everyone's going to be getting ready early tomorrow. Does this mean you're a commuter? I've seen a few 3rd gens around campus but I think I'll know when I spot yours haha. I'd like to bet I'm the only Stellar Blue Pearl on campus so I shouldn't be too hard to find. When I find your 4R, you'll see it here
And how do you like your tundra break upgrade, I need to get mine done before I put bigger shoes on mine.

[MattJakobs]

So I just returned from a successful little trip, I picked up a rear tube bumper. It's made for a 2nd gen but I'm getting the brackets altered this weekend to fit my 3rd gen. It's the Rock Defense Rear Bumper made by Trail Gear. It needs a good cleaning but getting this bumper means there's officially no turning back on this build.

[SURF RUNNER]

Congrats on your purchase from a fellow Stellar Blue owner. Be sure to post some pics on the official Stellar Blue Photo Thread.

POST PICTURES OF YOUR 3rd GEN STELLAR BLUE 4RUNNER

[MattJakobs]

Originally Posted by SURF RUNNER

Congrats on your purchase from a fellow Stellar Blue owner. Be sure to post some pics on the official Stellar Blue Photo Thread.

Thanks, I've already posted one in the photo thread but hopefully more coming as she gets built up. Really looking forward to your build, can't wait to see those bumpers on it

[MattJakobs]

Yesterday and today were spent doing some maintenance and work on Stella. Yesterday we topped all fluids off as well as a light engine compartment cleaning, taking off running boards and most of the stock rear bumper. I kept the back piece on just so I wouldn't get a hard time for driving without a rear bumper.



Today, I got the brackets of the rear tube bumper I picked up earlier this week, altered. The bumper was made for a 2nd gen but after a little cutting, we got it to fit pretty well. With install, I'm into the bumper for $220 which was well worth it.

[MattJakobs]

Just a small update:
I've been looking for clear corners and tail lights. I can't seem to find the 99-02 clear corners without the clear blinkers, anyone know where I can find some? And clear tail lights?

Also have a surf/camp trip scheduled in Cape Hatteras this weekend. Plan on leaving here around 3a.m. on Saturday in order to catch the sunrise down there. It's about a 3 hour drive depending where on the islands you're going but that'll get me to most of the northern breaks. Need new tires soon so probably won't take Stella on the sand but we'll see... Will upload some pictures when we get down there and set everything up but it'll look a little something like this, just trying out a different tent. I'll try and get the 4Runner in some of the pictures.



This is me and my buddy heading down earlier this year in the old Runner. My other friend got a new fish eye, unfortunately he isn't coming, would've loved to get some new shots in the current 4Runner with the new lens.

[Asaspades93]

The bumper looks good!

[MattJakobs]

Originally Posted by Asaspades93

The bumper looks good!

Very pleased with how it turned out, thanks for all the help. Now the front needs a make over, still deciding what I want to do but leaning towards the Addicted Offroad Front Plate Bumper.

[MattJakobs]

So we logged a little more than 400 miles this trip. There will be many more of these to come and we will get better pictures of her. Didn't do too much driving on the beach with the front two tires being in the condition that they're in but will definitely have some fun as next summer approaches.



Packing her back up after camping for the night. I really wish we got more pictures but my phone was quickly dying. We had an interesting time getting to the camp ground. It was me and my friend Michael in my vehicle, following four of our other friends in another truck. We were going about 60 mph down highway 12(which can be more of a back road) when I spot 2 deer to the right of us and Michael sees about 8 running in a yard to the left of us. There's about a 30 foot gap in between us and all the sudden on of the deer tries to shoot the gap... Slamming the brakes, I avoid hitting the one jumping in front of us. I start speeding back up and when we hit about 30, we hear a huge thump. Quickly check my driver side mirror and see a deer just ran into us... It almost seemed like the deer bounced off of us and started running next to us. Luckily there wasn't any damage. We're unsure on what exactly it hit but it was somewhere behind the backseat door.





This is the view we had when walk down the path from the camp site leading to the beach.


Home alas!

[MattJakobs]

After the road trip, I noticed she was running a little rough. I took her to the local dealership to get a check up and they said I should consider new spark plugs, wires, and PCV valve. They wanted to charge me over $400 to do this which didn't sound to appealing for a relatively simple job. While under the hood, we replaced the plugs, wires, PCV valve, air filter and cleaned the MAF. She still felt like she was running a little weird so we dropped her off at the family mechanic to get a full check out. Inspection is due this month so hopefully we will have her up and running at full strength soon by the end of the month. While I save up for a new front bumper, I found a great deal on a brush guard. I know there's some controversy over whether they help or hurt in an accident but I like the look and it'll bridge the gap between stock bumper to a new bumper. I got it on late last night so I don't have any pictures yet. With the deal, I got rear tail light guards that I really liked. Picked the package up for $125 which I thought was a great deal

The joys of buying a used vehicle from someone that doesn't take proper care of it. These were the old plugs that desperately needed replacing. After the maintenance we did, she was running 10x better.


When we finished up, I decided to paint the bottom parts of the rear panels that the new rear bumper exposed. The passenger side looked fine but the vent on the driver side was yellow and was very noticeable. I also removed the spare tire from under and put her in the back. Not sure whether I like that or not but the paint was much needed.

[sterbenlicht]

Haha, so you're the one who got that brush guard. I was emailing them about it too and planned on using the brush guard, but throwing the tail light covers in a closet somewhere. Oh well, it'll look good on your truck man. Give me a shout if you ever decide to part with it, I may very well be interested. Nice progress on the truck. It's coming along nicely. Keep it up.

[MattJakobs]

Originally Posted by sterbenlicht

Haha, so you're the one who got that brush guard. I was emailing them about it too and planned on using the brush guard, but throwing the tail light covers in a closet somewhere. Oh well, it'll look good on your truck man. Give me a shout if you ever decide to part with it, I may very well be interested. Nice progress on the truck. It's coming along nicely. Keep it up.

Once I saw it for that price, I knew I wanted it haha, I considered getting one for my last but never did. The only problem with it is the bottom bar has a dent in it and the brackets were a pain in the ass to get on(which is probably a good thing.) I've been eyeing an ARB bumper but don't want to pull the trigger till I have a lift on her. The brush guard is nice because it already has holes for mounting a light bar/off road lights. I'll hopefully uploading some pictures later this week depending on what the mechanic tells me and since this is only filling the gap between stock and new bumper, I'll shoot you a PM when I'm ready to sell

[sterbenlicht]

Originally Posted by MattJakobs

Once I saw it for that price, I knew I wanted it haha, I considered getting one for my last but never did. The only problem with it is the bottom bar has a dent in it and the brackets were a pain in the ass to get on(which is probably a good thing.) I've been eyeing an ARB bumper but don't want to pull the trigger till I have a lift on her. The brush guard is nice because it already has holes for mounting a light bar/off road lights. I'll hopefully uploading some pictures later this week depending on what the mechanic tells me and since this is only filling the gap between stock and new bumper, I'll shoot you a PM when I'm ready to sell

Sounds good. And if you ever have any issues, you're welcome to give me a shout. There's a lift in my garage and just about every Toyota resource you can dream of. Good luck with the truck man

[MattJakobs]

Originally Posted by sterbenlicht

Sounds good. And if you ever have any issues, you're welcome to give me a shout. There's a lift in my garage and just about every Toyota resource you can dream of. Good luck with the truck man

Thanks man, and same for you. Do you own a local shop? Our family mechanic called today and said they didn't have time to check it out today due to others with scheduled appointments and ours was more of a drop off but they're taking a look first thing tomorrow morning. Fingers crossed that nothing to serious is going on...
What year/series do you have? And are you in the Hampton Roads area?