1997 Limited, 3.4 5VZ, Auto, 4.30, E-Locker
Last trip, July 10 2021 : Whipsaw Trail, BC
Intro
Bought in 2019 for $7,000 with 320,000kms (~200,000 miles) from 2nd owner, who had it for +10 years. The owner had recently started to modify it for off-roading since about 2017, so it had a 3" lift, a home built steel bumper w/ warn winch, and the roof rack. The reason I bought this particular 4Runner was the stack of service records and receipts though, dating back to and including the original bill of sale in '97. Dont have many pictures to document first couple years of mods, but I'm going to start documenting the changes and progress going forward. This is my main vehicle, but I only drive it when I want to (mostly only for wheeling trips) as I mostly drive vehicles from work. I'm in the mountains of BC and the truck is for a mix of more relaxed overland exploring and proper wheeling, mostly rock crawling and water crossings around here.
Maintenance done 2018 before purchasing @ 300,000kms;
- OEM timing belt
- OEM thermostat
- OEM trans filter/strainer
- OEM valve cover gaskets, half moons, cam plugs, plenum gasket, PCV gasket, oil pan gasket
- OEM rear axle bearings & seals
- Rear brake shoes
Maintenance done since purchasing @ 320,000kms;
- L&R Front wheel bearings (Koyo)
- L&R Lower ball joints (Sankei 555)
- Akebono rotors w/ new pads (should've done Tundra brakes)
- Rebuilt starter pads
- NGK plug wires & spark plugs
- New air filter
- Lube all grease points
Armour & Body
- Firewall/Wheel well chop & tub
- Front fenders trimmed ~1.5"
- High clearance steel front bumper (custom)
- RA Motorsports "Element" front and trans aluminum skid plates *pics below*
- Trimmed/gutted fender flares
Next : TG Sliders, RA Motorsports transfer case skid
Drivetrain
- Diff & trans breathers
- B&M external trans cooler
- A pillar Trans. temp gauge
- Factory rear E - Locker
Next : 5.29 gears | Crawl box if I can hit the lotto
Electrical
- GM CS130 Alternator conversion
- Blue Sea fuse block/busbar w/ ignition relay *pics below*
- "BIG 3" wiring mod *pics below*
- Dual battery + Solar w/ MPPT DCDC Charger *coming soon*
Next ; Second battery 50-100ah
Exterior & Lighting
- Rola roof rack (custom low-pro mounts)
- Warn 9000lbs winch
- NightRider 4.5" led fogs *pics below*
- NightRider 3" led rear chase/work light
- E46 Xenon HID Projectors (custom) w/ relay harness *pics below*
Interior
- Front & Rear RGB LED footwell lighting *pics below*
- Leave in storage box/sleeping platform (in progress)
- Baofeng UV-5R Dual Band UHF/VHF
- TOYOTA 2MK Rescueman (JDM fanboy accessory) *pics below*
- 2kW ACDC Inverter *coming soon*
Next : Double DIN head unit, replace A pillar and reinstall driver oh shit handle
Suspension
Front
- Toytec Eibach 3" front springs
- Bilstein 5100 adjustable front shocks
- All Pro UCA 1" uniball w/ dust cap
- ReadyLift sway bar drop bracket
- Wheelers Off Road diff drop
- Energy Suspension sway bar bushings
- Energy Suspension control arm bushings
- Energy Suspension steering rack bushings
- Extended brake lines
Rear
- Toytec SuperFlex 3" rear springs
- Bilstein 5100 rear shocks
- 3rd gen front endlinks
- Eimkeith panhard correction kit
- Strongflex panhard bushings
- Energy Suspension sway bar bushings
- Extended brake lines
Next ; Durobumps | 2.5" remote res. front coils, 2.0 10" smoothie rear shocks w/ OSR (no rush, when budget allows)
Wheels & Tires
-ION Alloy 171 Wheels - 16x8 -5 (4.3" BS)
-315/75R16 Firestone Destination MT2
Next ; 1 - 1.25" Front spacers (Tires rub at full lock)