[meRockboost]

So, I finally get a hobby again.

My name's Rock (nickname of course) and this is my build of my daily driver and hobby. I've always been into cars and modifying them, my last build was an 04 Ram 2500 with a Cummins (built auto, injectors, 3" lift, gauges, etc) but that was sold when the kids started coming and the wife no longer worked. So I got a beater 96 Honda to commute to work for a few years. Fast forward, we sold the house in Oregon for a small profit and I picked up a 98 Limited with e-lock from the classifieds. I sent my friend in Chicago the money, he picked it up and held on to it. I loaded the van with my father-in-law and we made it to Chicago from Oregon in 36 hours. I picked up the 4Runner and drove to Maine in 26 hours. So here it is...




Its pretty clean, originally a California car, in Chicago for 6-7 years, rust isn't anything bad and easily fixed...later. It ran like crap, rode like crap, stops like crap, smells like crap and it needs a coat of wax.

I started with the usual, plugs, wires, pcv, O2, cleaned the maf, it runs better, starts quicker but i still need to clean the IAC. No, i did not take pictures of my spark plugs...we've all seen them. However, my assistant helped me change them, she's only 3 but good with a wrench already.



Thanks to Jicko and the group buys, I decided to get something other than a Toytec Ultimate or SS 1.2 since i got a good deal.



Next call was to Toytec for the rear



And wheels, Five Stars -20. I got five so i could have a spare and due a 5 tire rotation so they last longer. Seemed like a good idea at the time except now i need a CBI rear bumper lol.





Kids are waking up, need more coffee, ill get the rest up later.

-Rock

[thebrandon]

Great start!

[meRockboost]

Found this for $6. awesome.



Got the tires mounted on the rims (285's) and went from stock





To this. Its a tank, i love it.




I started about 10-11PM and finished around 4am. Took a shower and went to bed for a few hours. My work schedule is hectic and the kids just add to it so i had to make the time to install the suspension.

[habanero]

Nice start. Kids always make the work more interesting and you can interpret that in all the ways possible.

[derpiful]

Love the start on this! Looks incredibly clean, near spotless...

Love those wheels also. They're just so fitting and look amazing.

Can't wait to see how this progresses!

[absalom]

Well, sweet jesus, you have amazing tastes in upgrades. I bet that thing rides like an absolute peach with those monster shocks up front! Can't wait to see what's next. I feel you on the kid(s) part; I constantly have to find ways to entertain my 10 month old so I can squeeze in some wrenching. I'll start him out with 20 mins on tumble in the dryer, then chasing feral cats in the alley, and finally sorting broken glass by color. Needless to say, he's a very busy kid!

[meRockboost]

Originally Posted by derpiful

Love the start on this! Looks incredibly clean, near spotless...

Love those wheels also. They're just so fitting and look amazing.

Can't wait to see how this progresses!

When looking at FN's website i always skipped over the grey ones but MenaceCustoms had a white/gray 4runner with grey wheels and it looked perfect. it just matches so well, black or gold would have just looked out of place. too bad he wrecked his rig though, it was clean.

[meRockboost]

Originally Posted by absalom

Well, sweet jesus, you have amazing tastes in upgrades. I bet that thing rides like an absolute peach with those monster shocks up front! Can't wait to see what's next. I feel you on the kid(s) part; I constantly have to find ways to entertain my 10 month old so I can squeeze in some wrenching. I'll start him out with 20 mins on tumble in the dryer, then chasing feral cats in the alley, and finally sorting broken glass by color. Needless to say, he's a very busy kid!

Thanks man, i've modded a lot of cars over the years and learned to research and spend the money on what you want rather than wishing for it later when the funds are dry. My 3 yr old is a help in the garage, my 11 month old is a raccoon and just gets into everything, usually the rusty nails, hypodermic needle disposal jug and my viper pit that i keep in the laundry room.

[meRockboost]

So stopped by the power line trail just to see how it rode off the road and quickly remembered i didn't install my bump stop drop lol.

[ranbar02]

Those wheels look great. Good looking wheel and tire combo. I understand the kid thing myself. My two younger boys are always playing sports. Have to make time for the 4runner.

[meRockboost]

Thanks to Mstudt for the double disco end links!

[meRockboost]

Finally hit the trail. This thing is a tank. Got bogged down in some soggy stuff and barely made it out, glad I had the e-locker. The end links come off super quick which is nice. The closest trail overlooks Rockland harbor. It was nice to get out blow off some steam.

[jstim]

This is a great build so far, I am interested to see where you go. Great find, and great rig man!

[meRockboost]

Timing belt and water pump are now done. This stupid spacer behind the tensioner pulley was stuck to the block and fell off while we were messing with the AC and bracket so we thought it was part of that. We installed everything and realized the belt was coming off the pulley. We moved back to my wife's hometown and her friends husband was a Toyota tech so he came over and said the spacer should be behind the pulley. Well, the new tensioner already had the pin pulled and the AC compressor installed so shows me the "flat rate" trick to get the belt off without removing the tensioner. You put a long breaker on each cam gear and push both towards the center of the vehicle to slack the upper idler pulley and do the same to put it back on. Took 15 minutes to remove and install the timing belt with tensioner still on. Yay.

[Quadsbc]

Looks great! We have to go wheeling some time soon