After 20 years of ownership, I decided it was time to put a little bit of love back into my trusty 4R. I'm the original owner and as of writing this '98 SR5 4x4, she has 240k miles on the odometer. It's always been a NC truck and everything still works, except the lumbar bladder in the drivers seat.
Long term plan is to put a lift on it, probably some 285's, bumpers and maybe a RTT for some overlanding fun.
Here is how she sat before doing anything.. completely virgin, including dealer installed brush guard which they would not remove, so I just kept it.
Before:
Current:
MODS:
SS 1.2 lift
FN Five Star wheels in Anthracite Light Gunmetal
As you can see the interior was trashed. After getting a different daily driver, the 4Runner became a dog truck, in every sense of the word. I took the rear seats out so my Weimeraners could have free reign, which they loved... but the interior became just disgusting.
First step was to rip out the old carpeting. My sexy assistant
@
SlvrSupraSub
can be seen helping here. ;) She pulled ALL of the interior, and cleaned the hell out of it.. floorpan, panels, headliner, every-damn-thing. She did an amazing job and helps keep me motivated to get the project done so we can do some wheeling and camping.
She even spent all day Saturday with me rummaging through junk yards for 4Runner stuff. This is one awesome chick!
While the interior cleaning was taking place, I had a LOT of maintenance to get her caught up on. First step, was to flush the transmission which I don't have pictures of but just watch Tim's video on it and that's how it went.
Next up was to replace the O2 sensor. I took this lame picture while crawling around underneath even though you can't see the O2 sensor.
The truck immediately ran better after replacing what was more than likely the original O2 sensor. I "might" have changed it, but I can't remember doing it so more than likely it was original.
Same goes for the fuel filter which I also replaced. I can't emphasize enough how disgusting the fuel was that came out of it. It literally looked like black coffee.
This is with a flashlight shining into. Yeah... I know.
Out with the old and in with the new.
Random shots while under the truck.
Next up was to address the cooling system. Again, original 240k mile radiator which I decided to replace as preventative maintenance. I flushed the cooling system about 10 times (literally) to get as much crap out as I could, and there was plenty.
Before
Yes, I know the brake fluid is gross too, that too will be flushed.
I got the system flushed as well as it was going to get and then swapped in the new radiator, new hoses, new cap.
Purple Cat providing security for the new radiator.
God I love new parts!
Then flushed it twice more just for good measure once the radiator was in.