Panman's Build & Adventures- A lot of "Crap, I hope this works" & "Eh, close enough"

Panman's Build & Adventures- A lot of "Crap, I hope this works" & "Eh, close enough"

Background on my 4Runner (Jenny):
I got my 3rd Gen 4Runner in early 2015. It had just under 186k miles on it, came with an e-locker, and was bone stock except for the really nice rust mod on the rear right fender and an aftermarket exhaust. Cutting off the fender mod and undoing that was one of the first modifications I did to it. Many more have come since then, most of them thanks to this forum.

It was originally licensed in Missouri, but was changed to Kansas tags a while back, my new plate number was 867 JCN, so it earned the name Jenny. (Thanks Tommy Tutone)

I've lurked around here since I got it, finally made an account in July, and more recently have decided to become more active.

How it came:


Below is what I have managed to stumble through, and not blow anything up or seriously injure myself. All while only riding in the back of a cop car once.

If you see something I'm doing wrong, or have a suggestion for improvements, feel free to tell me. I have no idea what I'm doing, it will be welcome.

About 10 months after starting the journey with my 4Runner, my brother got jealous and bought one. It's also a '98, but he bought it with a SAS already installed, front bumper, rock sliders, and a rear bumper with tire swing out. Our 4Runners together:

I'll be updating this thread with pictures of my gallivanting, adventuring, mods, and other things.

How it sits, as of early May '16:


Upgrades & Modifications:
In progress: Means I have started or at least have the parts.
Future: Means I will do these, money and time allowing.



Suspension:

Front:
Toytec Boss Front 650 lb Coilovers
1" Differential Drop

Rear:
Toytec Superflex 024RCB Springs
Bilstein 9602R703 5100 Series Long Travel
Custom(ish) Extended Rear Sway Bar Links Credit to Nathana92


Wheels & Tires:

Dick Cepek Matte Black DC.1 (x4) and Dick Cepek Matte Black DC.2 (x1)
Super Swampers (x4) and Cooper ST MAXX (x1)


Engines & Performance:
Stock


Brakes:

In progress: Braided steel brake lines
Future: Tundra brake updgrade


Drive Train:
Stock


Armour:


Addicted Offroad Winch Tube Bumper
Stubbs HKO-SD Rock Sliders
In progress: RAT Products 3 piece Skid Plates
Future: Lil skips (or RAT) gas tank skid


Electrical:

'99 4Runner Alternator ('98 only had less amps, and died)
<strike>A tangle of wires & inline fuses</strike> Thanks to:
Blue Sea 12 circuit Fuse Box
X2Power AGM Battery (Rebranded Northstar)
Future: Second X2Power AGM Battery
In progress: Stinger Battery Isolator

Interior:

Scanguage
Husky Liners
Future: Viair Compressor
LED Map/Dome/Instrument Cluster/ Climate Lights
In progress::Rear Window Switch Credit to Tphocker
Future: Rear Storage Compartment Mod Credit to BrianSD_42
Indel B TB51a
Partner Steel 18" Stove


Audio:

Pioneer MVH-X560BT
Sound Ordinance B-8PT Powered Sub
USB/AUX inputs in Center Console
Kicker 40CS674 6-3/4" Front Speakers
Kicker 41DSC54 5 1/4" Rear Speakers
Future: Sound Deadening


Exterior:

Baja Rack (Purchased from T4R member)
<strike>(x2) Roof top bike racks</strike> Removed to make room for the Baja Rack
Future: Detours Off-Road Knucklebone Spare tire carrier?
KC HiLiTES 490 Rally 400 4" 55w
Auxbeam 4" 18w LED Lights


CB Radio:

Uniden 520XL (Installed in place of ash tray)
Firestik 4'
Drifter CB Antenna Mount Made by Mtsudt

Right after getting the rear front bumper, winch, suspension, and wheels on in two days in before rushing back to school.


With my roommate's Tacoma, I'm parked half off the driveway because we can't (or we'll get ticketed/towed) park in our road or block the sidewalks on football game days, because we are so close to the stadium. (My third roommate drives Heep):


+5 hp:


Some pictures of me & Jenny out and about:

Reserved for later Content #2

I haven't been on a whole lot since thanksgiving, due to the end of the semester, then the holidays.

I've managed to accomplish a few small things though:

Install LED map lights
Install LED dome lights
Replace a burnt out bulb in the console and shifter light
Buy and install a Baja Rack from a fellow forum member
Buy an AGM battery and install it (the old one had seen much better days)

On the way back from picking the roof rack up, I discovered that my steering rack, which I knew needed to be replaced, had gotten even worse. So, I'm in the middle of tearing it down (the pressure fittings were being a huge pain). I'll finally get the LBJs that I've had since August, and I figured I might as well replace the outer tie rods, since the rack comes with inner tie rods, and it wouldn't make a whole lot of sense to leave the link in the chain of brand new parts old. I'm also obviously replacing the rack bushings, and I'm doing the sway bar bushings while I have it out to work down there.

I picked up a brand new Atlantic rack, which is who supplies Safari with their racks, from AutohausAZ for $350, which seemed like a good deal in comparison to a lot of the reman racks. It did come with a torn boot, and they wanted me to ship the whole rack back to have them send a new rack out, with a new boot. I opted to run to Advance Auto Parts and pick one up for $8 instead of wait a couple weeks for them to sort that out.

Christmas!

I also got a few Christmas goodies for the Runner that will be going on this week:

Blue sea fuse box (I can finally get rid of the mess of in line fuses)
Battery isolator
LED lights for the back, I'm sick of backing up blindly.
New rear speakers (along with PVC mounting brackets!)

I also still need to get my Stubs rock sliders welded on that I got last month, and just painted last week finally. After ignored messages from a local off road shop, I'm just taking it to a welding shop down the road.

Good lookin Runner! Nice job so far.

Little Apple.. is that Wilson Lake? Where do you go around there? The Jeep people here like to go down to Perry Lake.

michaelj said:

Good lookin Runner! Nice job so far.

Click to expand...

Thanks! It's been fun, I've never really cared about a car so much, and simultaneously driving it as harsh, and in as bad of conditions as the 4Runner. I love it!

repo said:

Little Apple.. is that Wilson Lake? Where do you go around there? The Jeep people here like to go down to Perry Lake.

Click to expand...

It's Tuttle Creek Lake, Wilson is just under two hours west of me. Those pictures are just on the shore line, which I have fun driving when the water level is down. There are a couple of minimum maintenance roads that turn into shoreline access. There is also Tuttle Creek ORV Area, I'm currently in Kansas City on break though. I may go out there this weekend with a group from IH8MUD. I keep meaning to take a trip out to School Creek ORV area (Wilson Lake), but I haven't made it yet.

Wow nice build and plans! She's off to a great start!

I haven't had much time to write a whole lot since my last post, I've gotten quite a bit done since then.

My steering rack was leaking pretty badly, one of my LBJs was in really bad shape. So I ended up replacing my steering rack. After some digging around, I figured out that Safari's rack and pinions are manufactured by Atlantic, I got a good deal on one from Autohaus AZ.
I replaced the lower ball joints, outer tie rods, and the inner tie rods came with the rack. I also used polyurethane bushings from energy suspension for the rack. While I was down there, I removed the sway bar, while I bought new bar end links, but I honestly haven't felt the need to buy them.
Front end torn apart:


I've also got a Baka rack, from a fellow forum member.
Installed:


My battery was failing, so I went to sears to get a Diehard Platinum, but all the Sears around here had none left (in any size), and I was told they won't be restocking them. So. I went to batteries plus, where they sell rebranded Northstar AGM batteries (which was started by some of the same people that started odyssey). I've liked it a lot so far.

I got Blue Seas Fuse panel for christmas and got it installed, so that got put in, and it definitely cleans up the engine bay a lot. I replaced the rear speakers, and it now sounds a lot better with completely replaced sound components.

I've had issues with welders recently, they haven't followed through on times or appointments, I'm finally getting them welded on on Thursday (fingers crossed).

I'll also replace the timing belt, water pump, and other associated parts this week. I got a kit from aircabinman on Ebay, as many have suggested.

And last, but not least, I have joined the group buy for skid plates from RAT Products to replace the very beat up stock skid plates.

I broke off the bead on one of my wheels in January, so I took it to walmart to get it mounted. But, while they had it the scratched it and put some pretty deep gauges in it. To my surprise, after 4 or 5 days, they gave me cash to cover the cost of a new wheel at a local truck accessory store, which was about three times the online price, which allowed me to buy a new wheel, and I got a great deal on a tire ($90 for a brand new Cooper ST Maxx). All in all it was a good deal for me, I got a full size spare, plus some extra cash out of it.

Random Pictures

These are just some pictures of some driving I've done.

Picture dump

Uh oh:


Traversing my parent's, fairly new to them, property to clear a lot of dead wood and brush. There's a lot more than it looks like in the picture, and there's so much still to get. The PO kind of let the property go to pot. (Also, I got to pull out 5 overgrown shrubs blocking the front porch, and starting to grow roots under the sidewalk. No pictures though.)





New timing belt, water pump, idler roller, tensioner roller, crankshaft seal, camshaft seals, PCV valve, thermostat, and three new accessory belts.
TB was last done at just under 60k miles, to my knowledge, so it was time to do it since I'm about to hit 150k miles since that time.



Light switches. I really like OTRATTW switches, but when I can get five for $14, I would rather put that money to something else.



Blindingly bright LED dome lights, for only $10 I can actually find things in my cargo area and rear bench.



The damage that Walmart did to my wheel. Props to them for giving me the cash for a new one.



Firestik on a CB Drifter Mount by MStudt.

Finally got my Stubbs rock sliders on!

Exploring after class

Lookin' Good! Tell Jenny I want her number!

Scramble said:

Lookin' Good! Tell Jenny I want her number!

Click to expand...

Thanks! She's mine though, I'm not very good at sharing her. You can have the plate number, and maybe her milage, but that's it.

Driving after my test today

I went exploring after my test this afternoon.

In the first one, you can see the passenger taillight is no longer broken, they both got upgraded to 99+ lights.

Nice!

Tuttle Creek ORV Park

I noticed some oil on my rear driver side wheel. Which of course means I have a blown rear axle seal. :ybrick: I just ordered parts; I'm leaving on a couple thousand mile road trip in less than two weeks, so the pressure is on to get it done efficiently as soon as the parts get here.

I also purchased tires earlier in the day, before I noticed the seal was shot. Those should arrive on Tuesday. I got some Cooper st maxx to match my spare.