The last 24 hours or so have treated me pretty well. I turn 16 in 4 days and, lucky for me, My father bought a 1999 4Runner limited 2wd and surprised me with it last night. As it stands its mostly stock, except the addition of a set of 265/70/r16 Michelin Radial LT tires, which are larger than the stock (not SR5) 4Runner. I've been looking into3rd gen 4Runners for a while now because my father seemed to really like the 3rd gen 4runners, and because I really enjoying modifying/customizing things and wanted to know what people were doing to their third gens. Seeing that I'm still in high school and my father won't spend any money on modifications, I don't have a ton of money to spend, but I do have roughly $800-$1000 I've saved up and I'm willing to spend on mods. I'll go ahead and say it now, My father isn't in favor of a lift (just for now, I hope), but he seems to be open to everything else. I intend on taking off the running boards soon, which seems to be the easiest modification as far as better aesthetics. After that, I would like to put on a brushguard/bullbar or maybe a new front bumper, if I could find a good one for a good deal. Right now I'm looking at this Hunter bull bar

http://www.truckgeardirect.com/?ITEMID=QT-805

Which is just a little over $100 and seems to be a great deal. I'd like to hear what anyone who has purchased/heard about this bull bar has to say, or if anyone would recommend a different bullbar/brushguard or a new front bumper. I'd also like to have a new muffler installed, specifically this magnaflow 18" muffler

MagnaFlow Performance Mufflers 11255 - Free Shipping on Orders Over $99 at Summit Racing

I'd like to hear what you guys have to say about this or any other mufflers you all might recommend instead as well. After these, the next realistic modification is a small LED light bar (8"-10") to go on a brushguard/bullbar/bumper. Of course, like everything else, I'd like to find a good deal on one, but I'm willing to pay the right price for the right light. For this, I really don't know where to start so if you all could point me in the right direction for my situation, it would be greatly appreciated.

The attached photos are the 4Runner as it stands now. They were taken on an iphone 5 so they aren't amazing quality, but the truck's paint is in pretty good shape for 15 years.

I'd also like to note that this particular 4Runner has 170,00 miles on it, and the timing belt/water pump had never been replaced before my father had it done, along with a list of other things I Don't have right now, but will be sure to post soon.

Attached Images

               

Nice clean 4runner......Read into FAQ @ top

Maintenance....maintenance.......maintenance b4 MODS

You're in high school.... You have a nice 4runner.... You're so totally going to get laid!...... That's how it goes

Haha We'll see. Either way, Everybody still loves 4Runners

Also from what I understand all maintenance has been taken care of. I didn't ask particularly when I got the car because of my excitement, but father made it clear he'd taken care of things and it was ready for whatever lies ahead.

Also, has anyone heard anything about LED light bars off eBay? You can find a pretty good deal on them and apparently they're just as good as those $200 more.

Just use your money for gas so you can enjoy it and learn how to drive. Just because you got your license doesn't mean you know how to drive.

Good advice above. These things aren't really gas friendly.

Stay away from bull bars. They're known to cause more damage to the frame should you get into an accident.

If you want front end protection, get an aftermarket bumper.

There's a million mods that can be done to these. Read the FAQ, and look through build threads.

That's your best bet.

I would recommend taking that $800-1000 and getting yourself and good set of wrenches, sockets, and the Chiltons/Haynes manual as your first purchase. Get yourself familiar with the maintenance schedule and get the basics done first. You have a nice rig and keeping it that way should be your number 1 priority before modding it up.