[Ironback]

Hello all,

This is going to be my "Build" thread. I'll start with a short history and then go into pics. Mother-in-law purchased SR5 new from a Texan dealer back in 98'. After a few years she handed it over to my brother-in-law. He and his wife traveled around in it with their dog for a couple years. Then my wife and I discovered we were to have twins. At the time I drove a 98 GT Mustang, a 77' CJ-7 and the wife drove a Miata. It was time to grow up and get something that I could put 2 baby seats in.

Mother-in-law "gifted" us the truck. After cleaning all the spilled soda stains from the apolstry and dog hairs it turned out to be a nice truck and I've grown very attached to it since. I've had it for about 5 years now. It is my daily driver and I average 16 miles a day as I hop onto a Van Pool to ride down to the city most days. My boys are now 5 years old and getting to the age for scouts. I would like to be able to do so in this rig.

I realize that it is a 2wd and has some limitations. So I won't be doing anything crazy in it. At least not until the boys grow a little older...

I'm more concerned for performance and maintenance than cool factor. I'm open and more than willing to listen to what suggestions or comments any of you may have. I may have had this for a few years, but I'm new to the mod scene.

Things I have done:
-Paint job (origionaly Sunfire Red Pearl)
-Brush Guard (Steel Horse)
-WeatherTech Window Vents
-WeatherTech digital floor liners for front & back
-WeatherTech Bug Guard
-Fixed the alarm (Buddy System, thanks Steve!)
-90k tune up (all new belts/ fluids)
-replaced water pump, timing belt and pulleys, spark plugs and wires


*Changed some of my wants/needs as I will be keeping this for about a year more before buying a 4wd. Hoping for a n 08' Sport model with a V8.

Things I'd like to do in no particular order:
-Plasti-Dip Emblems/Trim/Wheels
-Tires (thinking 265/75/15 Duratracs, open to suggestions. Time to rip those running boards off!)
-Rocker panels (Time to rip those running boards off!)
-Economical roof rack
-Keyless start
-Horn (got a WOLO, still need to install)
-Mod front grill (take plastic out and place mesh in)
-Lights for the brush guard
-CB
-Did I mention time to rip those running boards off!?

I'd appreciate any tips on what should be done prior to another mod and what to look out for. I've been looking over the site and have read a lot of Ripcord's postings. Thank you all in advance for emptying my pockets and denying my children their inheritance (I'll will them the rig).

Parked at work.


Front View

[Ironback]

And before anybody says it...

I will be taking the running boards off as soon as I do the lift/tires!
Until then they are protecting the paint from highway chips. I have a few in the hood already and just got the Weather Tech Bug Guard that I'll be putting on as soon as I prime and paint those chips.

v/r
Ironback

[Ironback]

Okay,

Nothing new on the 4runner except a WetherTech Bug Guard to stop the rocks on the highway.

I did have an epiphany and realized that I will never be able to work on my rig with the garage in the condition it is in. According to Maslow I will need a decent place to work if I want good results right? Currently this is what my garage looks like. I have been working on it this weekend and it should be done by the end of next weekend.

I still need a few items, most notably a lift and at least a couple of 6 ton jack stands. I've been using the search function and have some ideas of what to get. On a totaly different note; while taking the twins to BK for ice cream, I noticed a local Marine Shop. I'll be going there this coming Friday so that I can make the deckplate mod my first true mod once the garage is completed. Wish me luck!



And a close up of the carnage. Take note of the bug guard atop the rest o' the mess.

[SantaCruzRunner]

ahh come on, why the change in color? got something against the sunfire red?? haha just teasing, nice truck.

[Illicitdream]

I can't wait to see how your truck grows... I saw the garage and thought hey looks like mine ha ha ha. Congrats and the modding begins.

[Sams4Runner]

Nice 4runner. Thank you for your service.

[Hepar]

Looks great. Also looking forward to your list of future mods.

And you should see my garage. You can't even get a car in it. It's my summer project to clear it out.

[Ironback]

Got the alarm to work again. Well... I should say that my buddy Steve got it to work again. It was a mess. After doing some research I discovered that the majority of dealers in Texas had these intalled. Now I just need to find a replacement cover for the LED light that is also the vallet button. That's it next to the panel dimmer switch. Any ideas?



And another:


It works now. Now to finnish up the garage and get a pic of it in here.

[Ironback]

Got the new floor mats today. They fit like a glove and look better than the old worn origional mats. If anybody wants the old ones they can have em. Just let me know before I trash them. There is one condition, you come to pick them up.

[Ironback]

Finished up (is it ever?) and the garage is ready for me to get to work. I went and got:
2 6ton floor jacks
2.5 ton lift
shop vac
2 saw horses
and lots of other goodies.







LET THE MODDING BEGIN!!!

[ChildrenOfBodom]

Looking great! I love that you actually had it painted correctly. Your door jambs match! I'm thinking that truck is worth quite a bit in its current condition.

If there's any suggestions that I can give you... take a look at your future mod list. Not that there's anything wrong with it, but are you sure you want to make those types of modifications to your truck? Though you mentioned you're aware of the 2WD limitations, your current 4Runner (minus a few of your keep-for-the-new-rig goodies) is in such good shape that you may want to consider selling it for a 4x4. You may not plan to do anything too demanding in it, though I think that 4WD is useful in so many other ways than insane rock crawling/body bashing. Mentioning this only because your ideal rig may change down the line and it would be heartbreaking to sell your 2WD by then.

It seems like you've had your share of cool rides, so you know what 4WD can do.

Only a suggestion before you end up being bored with the truck, at least I was that way. 4WD is just such a world of difference...

Good luck with the truck, subscribed!

[BrianSD_42]

Originally Posted by SantaCruzRunner

ahh come on, why the change in color? got something against the sunfire red?? haha just teasing, nice truck.

Dude I love Sunfire Red Pearl, WTF ? JK!


BTW, your garage workspace and tool setup looks awesome. Very jealous.

[Ironback]

Originally Posted by brianemc2_42

Dude I love Sunfire Red Pearl, WTF ? JK!


BTW, your garage workspace and tool setup looks awesome. Very jealous.

Sorry for the color change. But I looove black rigs. This was origionaly my mother in law's DD. I had to change it so she would stop thinking of it as "her" old truck. Now she smiles when she sees it and compliments me on how it looks.

And thanks for the comps for the workspace. FYI, the fridge is full of Corona Extra, limes and ribs and has a stereo on top. The BBQ is sitting right outside that screen door.

CoB,

I do plan on selling it one day. Before I do that I want to save up the money to buy a 4wd beforehand. Then whatever I get for this truck wil be used to buy goodies for the 4wd. I'm thinking 2k for front and back bumpers, 1k for rack, 1.5k for winch... So I may have about .75 cents left over. I have about 15k in the bank just to buy right now. I'm actually leaning towards a 08' Sport.

You are right though. I was about to go nuts and buy a Ultimate lift kit and slap it on then follow with new wheels and tires. I'm now thinking of just plasti-dippin my current wheels and ripping those steppers off. But I still want Duratracs dang it. Besides that I'll just do some minor mods; deckplate, etc.

Thanks for the slap in the face. If I hadn't gotten it from you now I would have gotten it from myself later. Thanks brother!

[Ironback]

Hello all,

I'm back from deployment and have had yet another change of heart concerning my 4runner. I am going to sell it... one of these days.

I spent the entire deployment doing nothing but thinking of camping and going offroad with the family. To do that the right way I'm going to need a 4x4.

I've decided on a SE or Limited 2005-09 model. I'm going to be transfering next year so I'll be at home a lot more than I am now and that means more time with the wife, kids and dogs. It also means I get to reclaim my garage.

As I said, I plan on going camping and will most likely be pulling a trailer because the dogs will be in the back cargo area. I do not plan on doing any hard core offroading as the wife will be in the passenger seat telling me how to drive.

I plan on getting either a Shrockworks or an ARB front bumper along with a lot of other stuff I'll not really need. So I'm open to suggestions as to what model to get and what to look for.

It's good to be home and to see you all active. I look forward to catching up with all your goin ons.

[Ironback]

Wow...
It's bean almost 10 years. So much has changed. And yet, some things haven't.

I still have the truck. The only real thing that has changed on it is I slapped on the largest tires I could w/o having to mod anything.

The boys are 13 y/o now. We were involved with Scouting. But with the current pandemic and political climate we do our own camping/ outdoors activities now.

I retired out of the military. Just shy of 30 years. Living comfortably in Arkansas down a gravel road in the middle of nowhere. Bought a little piece of land and living on it. I'm loving it! I go to town 2-4 x a month for supplies as needed.

Miss all you peeps. Is anybody still here from before?