Hey guys,

Sharing the latest mods done to my 4Runner. One is not new stuff, the other - a total mind bend!

Since it's a pandemic here too, and I have plenty of stuff to do home, I decided that for every 6 hours working on the house, I must do 1 hour of work on the "bug-out Runner"... if all hell breaks loose, it will be the VOC.

The mod was (since I plan on putting a rear bumper with swing out) a rear tail gate from Hilux Surf. One lucky morgue guy happen to have a dead one in the yard, and lots of organs still up for grabs. Apparently, I happen to be the only patient during these pandemic few months, and happen to suffer from a bent, cracked up, worn down, rusted rear tail gate, and lucky me, I called at the right time!

Here is what is looked like before bleeching it in my Ethiopian UN 4runner color.



I stripped it down of all the hardware and mailed to next door to the paint guys, and 3 days later...



The rear spoiler has a much wider stop LED light. I really shines back compared to the original lamp.



Here is a pic of the spoiler on pegs on the roof baking under the scorching sun. I rough and water sanded and used glossy spray paint.
It took about 10 minutes to dry and went working on the tailgate.





I had to replace all the good stuff from both gates, although my old one, had almost nothing to be reused.





I paid about 170 dollars shipped to my house across country, and about 115 for paint. Also the paint cans were about $10, and maybe a day's work to install everything in the new one.

I used my original wiring and had to relocate two plugs on it for the plate light and window master switch on the key lock, because the key lock and light are located on the black bezel above the license plate.

I unwelded the chrome plastic Hilux Surf emblem on that bezel and maybe will place my original 4Runner one right above it, painted black. Pics soon.

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For the second mod...
I had the idea long ago, but there wasn't any decent enough pandemics, to offset my mind from trying to survive everyday under the lower standard of living here, and start to loose my sanity at home.



At one point, I ran out of space for switches in the cabin! I remembered the bezel above the shift levers on an automatic, was different and was more plastic and less soft leather ergonomics. I saw someone here, who added a switch on it, and figured that I can maybe add lots of more switches.

Got the bezel from a dead unicorn in a different morgue this time. It was probably the only one in the whole country with one.

It fit where it should, but the shift lever couldn't shift into all front gears and the transfer lever couldn't move all the way back. So...

I took out the gear shifter and pinched it in a wise and tried advising it with a hammer, then a bigger hammer, then my biggest hammer. It was a stubborn SOB. It didn't even bent a millimeter! Then it was a time to meet the 20 ton advisor!

Well, let's say the 20ton press turned out to be like US foreign policy - you only know it works if you go there and check it out!

It took about two tries to bend the lever to be just right. The smaller lever was bent at the vice, as it was much thinner. It didn't crack or soften at the bends. I only bent the original bends in the same direction.

I did thought for a second, that it might explode like a ball bearing under the pressure, but it wasn't that much of a tampered steel.

I have to take off my auto shift knob and re-drill the holes, because now it doesn't point forward. Also, I ordered some fake UV resistant leather to make a similar cover for the 4x4 lever, and am waiting for it in the mail.

Then it was just replacement of the CDL and RDL switches from left to the right on top of the new bezel. I might have to look for a new bezel now, as it turns out that there is space to cut three slots instead of 2 in front of the 4x4 lever. The 110V switch in the back of the bezel sticks up, as there is no space under it. I didn't want to cut the metal plate that covers the shifters' opening, so I will decide what I'll do with that slot.

Also, long time ago I installed 2 more power outlets in the hole under the cigarette lighter, but since I didn't need that many power outlets, I replaced the original two outlets with 2 switches for seat heaters, and 2 more for future projects, and a Land Cruiser 80 diff lock switch in the cigarette lighter spot, as I don't smoke, which I plan to use for which battery to charge when driving.

I will post a pic when I illuminate all of the buttons and sew the leather cover for a complete look.

Fun stuff...

Nice work. Is the BG on your license plate Bulgaria?

Yes. These are the EU requirement. Only latin equivalent letters are allowed to be on the new plates, so when you get pulled over, the officer can comprehend what's on your plate...and write you a ticket.

Is that an auto shift lever on a manual trans? Or what exactly is going on there?

can't see the pics. however, i look at the pics in the link of your signature and the antenna switch caught my eye. is that a stock antenna switch that came with your 4Runner or is that a mod?

No, but the knob from the auto shift lever is bolted to the manual shifter. I use the OD switch on the side as a PTT switch for the Yaesu. It's just really convenient...and stock. and gives a little extra height and my hand is closer to the radio controls.

It's a stock Toyota switch from TLC90 or 80. I cut 4 additional slots where the original power outlets used to be, and just installed it there. It is supposed to be the tune switch for the screw-driver antenna for the Yaesu, but haven't built the antenna yet!

So that means you effectively have "all wheel drive" (4WD with unlocked center diff) and a manual transmission, right? How did you go about doing that? Did the multi mode transfer case bolt right up with the 5spd? Did you just need the wiring from the auto donor vehicle?

Yes, it bolted right to the manual transmission, and yes, i have both lockers center and rear, but here is the catch - mine is a diesel.

A forum member here, @Tyler James Inc , has done it on his 3.4 gasoline. His is plug and play. His has the best of every Toyota option for the 4Runner. His thread is excellent work on the topic.

You can see his thread if you want to mount the AWD transfer case behind a R manual on the 3.4. The electrical system that controls the transfer, can be entirely independent of the other systems, as I did it on my car. His thread has everything you need.

Mounting an AWD transfer behind the R transmission, when there is a 1KZ in the bay, is a different story, unless you want to cut the shifter tunnel hole aft longer, and have your transfer lever come out of the cup holder, a friend did it on his diesel, and it degraded noise levels in the Runner.

Only recommendation is to buy the 3.4 with manual not auto. It is easier to change the transfer, than to change the transmission.

If you do happen to have diesel in hand, let me know! That would be interesting.

Other than that, Tyler is your guy.

Thanks for the info! Fortunately I have a 5VZ (gas) 5spd manual so in theory that makes the swap the easiest, going to check out his posts now.