[TonyB66]

Originally Posted by brian2sun

... I installed a cop style spotlight in the A pillar last summer. It’s nice to have a point-able high power light, especially when trying to find campsites in the middle of nowhere at night!

I too very much like the flexibility of having a spotlight and even started a thread on such a while back... The one you selected seems to fit well on the A-pillar. Might you have a link to it?

[Endlessblockades]

Originally Posted by TonyB66

I too very much like the flexibility of having a spotlight and even started a thread on such a while back... The one you selected seems to fit well on the A-pillar. Might you have a link to it?

I might be a pillar-driller, too, if the quality was good and the price was right. I had one on a surplus cop car I had in the late 80's and liked it a lot. I did a quick search and the sites that cater to LE agencies have a lot of cool (LED, etc) options that can get expensive real fast.

A standard halogen with a good moisture sealing system on the pillar would be cool enough for me.....

[Endlessblockades]

Originally Posted by TonyB66

I too very much like the flexibility of having a spotlight and even started a thread on such a while back... The one you selected seems to fit well on the A-pillar. Might you have a link to it?

I might be a pillar-driller, too, if the quality was good and the price was right. I had one on a surplus cop car I had from the late 80's and liked it a lot. I did a quick search and the sites that cater to LE agencies have a lot of cool (LED, etc) options that can get expensive real fast.

A standard halogen with a good moisture sealing system on the pillar would be cool enough for me.....

[brian2sun]

Originally Posted by TonyB66

I too very much like the flexibility of having a spotlight and even started a thread on such a while back... The one you selected seems to fit well on the A-pillar. Might you have a link to it?

Originally Posted by Endlessblockades

I might be a pillar-driller, too, if the quality was good and the price was right. I had one on a surplus cop car I had in the late 80's and liked it a lot. I did a quick search and the sites that cater to LE agencies have a lot of cool (LED, etc) options that can get expensive real fast.

A standard halogen with a good moisture sealing system on the pillar would be cool enough for me.....

Mine is a Unity brand, same that supplies LE and it’s very nice quality. They make them in lots of different lengths and models (including LED). Mine is the standard halogen and it’s very bright. They sell vehicle specific kits as well, which is what I bought for mine directly from them. IIRC, I got the model # for a 3rd gen from the Unity site, but then found it cheaper through one of their suppliers online. I wish I kept the model # because I tried to look it up on the Unity site, and it was erroring out. Your best bet would probably be to call them and get the model and kit #s.

Installation wasn’t as bas as I thought it was going to be. Took about 1.5-2 hours being careful. Just had to get a long 1/2” drill bit, charge up and extra battery for my drill, add a lot of oil while drilling, and be patient. The mounting kit comes with a gasket to seal and I put a little silicone around it afterwards just to be safe, but I believe the gasket would've been enough on it’s own to keep any water out.

[Endlessblockades]

Originally Posted by brian2sun

Mine is a Unity brand, same that supplies LE and it’s very nice quality. They make them in lots of different lengths and models (including LED). Mine is the standard halogen and it’s very bright. They sell vehicle specific kits as well, which is what I bought for mine directly from them. IIRC, I got the model # for a 3rd gen from the Unity site, but then found it cheaper through one of their suppliers online. I wish I kept the model # because I tried to look it up on the Unity site, and it was erroring out. Your best bet would probably be to call them and get the model and kit #s.

Installation wasn’t as bas as I thought it was going to be. Took about 1.5-2 hours being careful. Just had to get a long 1/2” drill bit, charge up and extra battery for my drill, add a lot of oil while drilling, and be patient. The mounting kit comes with a gasket to seal and I put a little silicone around it afterwards just to be safe, but I believe the gasket would've been enough on it’s own to keep any water out.

Thanks for the info - does it seem to leak into the door at all when it's wet/raining?

[brian2sun]

Originally Posted by Endlessblockades

Thanks for the info - does it seem to leak into the door at all when it's wet/raining?

It’s been raining here the last 2 days and there are no leaks at all.

[Fishwerks]

Awesome to see this thread pop up and that you still have the truck! I spent a lot of time looking at your build back in the day.

[brian2sun]

Originally Posted by Fishwerks

Awesome to see this thread pop up and that you still have the truck! I spent a lot of time looking at your build back in the day.

Thanks!

Now I’m overhauling the suspension on this thing. I just bought the Toytec/Boss 2.0 Aluma Series coilovers for the the front to replace my 10 year old OME 883s and OME shocks (haven’t installed them yet). For the rear, I’m keeping my nice and worn in OME 861 coils because they’re great, but I ordered new OEM Tokico Landcruiser rear shocks, which are the same as the 9 year old ones I’m running now, just a fresh set (and they were only $45 ea.!). Can’t wait to feel the difference between these new coilovers and the old, stiff 883s! Here’s a link to them...

TTLK9604-P - Toytec Boss 2.0 Front Aluma Series Coilovers (96-02 4Runner / 95-04 Tacoma)

I also bought a new stereo head unit today. I still have the ‘97 stock stereo believe it or not! Mine actually took a crap years ago and my friend J-money gave me the one out of his ‘97 4runner, and the only thing that works anymore is the AM/FM (and my antenna is broken, haha)! It doesn’t light up or anything anymore! The new stereo is just a Boss CD/AM/FM/USB/AUX deck for $100, but it has bluetooth for calling and audio, so that’s all I really need. I figure since I just use the nav on my phone, I didn’t need a more expensive double DIN head unit with nav or DVD, etc... So I just got a cheap but decent single DIN deck with a pocket insert underneath to fill up the extra space. I was tempted to get a double DIN and mount a backup camera, but ultimately I’ve had this thing for 20 years without a camera, so I’d rather spend the money on other things (or better yet, just save money!).

Anyway, little by little over I’m finally getting this old beast perfect for me again and waaay better than ever!

[brian2sun]

Put my new Boss/Toytec Aluma 2.0 coilovers in today! Man they ride wonderful and sit just right from the factory. Hoping they don’t settle too much cuz they’re pretty level with my 861s in the back. If so, I still have room to adjust them up a bit.

[brian2sun]

After 20 years of strapping my kayaks to my factory roof rack, I finally upgraded to a new rack. I went with a Yakima Skyline with the 48” round bars. I plan to get an ARB awning soon to mount to it also.

[JBurt]

Very nice! I like how those mount to the factory rails.

[brian2sun]

Another little update... I got the Yakima rack a few months ago because my factory rack had finally broken after almost 25 years. I also wanted a means to mount an awning. I really didn’t want a basket on the roof because the Yakima bars work better for strapping my kayak to than a basket (and I don’t want to store a lot of stuff on my roof anyways since it makes the truck easier to tip). I got around to installing the awning last week...

[BrianSD_42]

Hey man,
I'm very glad to see that things are still going well and you still have the truck and are posting. I don't come on here as much because I've been busy with job and a kiddo. But I saw this thread today and my email and I just wanted to mention that yours was one of the very first builds that I read when I came to T4R. I've owned my 97 4Runner since 2001 so coming up on 20 years myself.

[brian2sun]

Originally Posted by BrianSD_42

Hey man,
I'm very glad to see that things are still going well and you still have the truck and are posting. I don't come on here as much because I've been busy with job and a kiddo. But I saw this thread today and my email and I just wanted to mention that yours was one of the very first builds that I read when I came to T4R. I've owned my 97 4Runner since 2001 so coming up on 20 years myself.

Good to see you’re still on here and still have your truck too Brian! I’m the same way... busy with 2 little girls and lots of work lately. I play bass full time in 2 different bands these days, as well as restoring and fixing old instruments in my little home workshop, so now that the country is finally starting to emerge from this virus, my work has picked up about 10 fold! And it’s wonderful!

I was pretty inactive on here for several years as I got the 4Runner to a point that I was content and I stopped doing anything to it for a long time. But a lot of my previous mods were getting old and wore out, so over this past year I did a bunch of stuff to it while I wasn’t working much... New suspension, tires, wheels, drawer system/sleeping platform, roof rack, awning, stereo, backup camera, A pillar spotlight, lots of mechanical work and maintenance, headlight upgrade, etc... I’ve totally fallen back in love with this truck, and it runs and drives better than ever now! I’m going camping for a week up in Mammoth/June Lake/Yosemite next month and can’t wait to really enjoy the new and improved runner!

On a side note, I also bought a 2021 TRD Off Road 4x4 Tacoma last November (thankfully right before all the prices on vehicles skyrocketed), so I’m really enjoying this new truck as my DD. Life is good! Happy Father’s Day!!

[Dahlken]

Originally Posted by brian2sun

Put my new Boss/Toytec Aluma 2.0 coilovers in today! Man they ride wonderful and sit just right from the factory. Hoping they don’t settle too much cuz they’re pretty level with my 861s in the back. If so, I still have room to adjust them up a bit.

I am wondering how those Toytec Aluma coilovers are holding up? I've got a 99 3rd gen with the Coastal High Clearance bumper, Coastal full skids, and a smitty 12k winch with the Coastal rear bumper with dual swingouts in the near future. I'm looking at those aluma coils myself but concerned with the 550lb spring being too light for all the extras I've thrown at mine. So have also been tossing back and forth with the Toytec Ultimate coilovers as they have the 650lb option. I haven't talked to them yet, but I know the Aluma's are rebuildable, not sure on the Ultimate's. Plus they need be pretty much bulletproof up here as can end up pretty far out into nowhere in Alaska quicker than you'd realize, so getting home is a bit of a priority...usually.

So what say you with yours? Nice truck by the way!