Looking for something in particular? Try the Table of Contents for this thread, located at the top of Post #2.

How it sits as of May 2019...











Upgrades & Modifications:

Engine:

5VZ-FE 3.4L V6
TRD 2nd Gen Supercharger
URD 2.2" Pulley
TRD 7th Injector
URD AIC/FTC
Denso IK22 Plugs
TRD Dynamic Tensioner
TRD S.S. Headers
TRD S.S. Cat Back Exhaust
High Flow Catalytic Converter
TRD Oil Cap
TRD 1.3 Bar Radiator Cap
AFE Stage 2 Pro-Dry S Intake
Stant 170 Degree T-stat
Zerex Asian Vehicle AntiFreeze/Coolant
Redline Water Wetter
Depending on tuning needs, may install: Walbro 190LPH Fuel Pump

Transmission:

A340F 4 Speed Automatic
Import Performance Transmissions (IPT) Valve Body Upgrade
TRD Transmission Cooler & B&M 70264 Transmission Cooler in Series
OEM In-Radiator Transmission Cooler bypassed
NAPA Premium Performance Dex III ATF

Differentials/Transfer Case:

Front Diff:Nitro 4.88 Ring & Pinion w/ARB RD-90
ARB CKSA-12 Air Compressor
75w90 Lucas Synthetic Gear Oil
Setup by East Coast Gear Supply

Rear Diff:Toyota E-locker w/Yukon 4.88 Ring & Pinion
100% OEM E-Locker Retrofit (OEM ECU, Switch, Pigtails, w/Custom Harness)
80w90 Valvoline Dino Gear Oil
Setup by Advanced 4x4 of S.L.C., UT

Stock Multi-Mode Transfer Case w/Locking Center Differential (2.566:1 low range)
Redline Synthetic 75w90 in T-Case
T-Case balance weight removed
1" Differential Drop up front
Extended Rear Differential Breather

35.1:1 Crawl Ratio with the 2.804:1 1st gear in the Auto (look out now!)

Lift/Suspension & Chassis:

Front: ICON V.S. 2.5 Series Ext. Travel Coilovers (Icon Part #58615)
14" 700lb Icon Coils
Specialty Products Company (SPC/Light Racing) UCAs w/updated UBJs
Poly Performance Quad Wrapped Limit Straps w/Synergy Clevises
Sonoran Steel Limit Strap Mounts
DuroBumps bump stops

Rear: OME 861 LC Coils
OEM Tokico Black FZJ80 LC Shocks (Toyota Pt.# 48531-69417)
SS Adjustable Panhard Bar
Eimkeith PCK (Panhard Correction Kit)
SS Extended Bump Stops
SS Sway Bar Lift Brackets
Custom Rear UCA's (made by ME!) -1.125" OD x 0.125" Wall HREW, 3/16" longer than stock for improved pinion angle
Rokmen Trail Series RLCA's

Wheels & Tires:

16 x 8 Konig Countersteer Type X in Graphite Gunmetal, -20mm Offset, 3.7" Backspacing
285/75r16 Cooper Discoverer STT Pro Load Range E
Gorilla # 41138ET Lug Nuts
McGard # 24557 Cone Seat Wheel Locks
Full Size Matching Spare

Brakes:

13WL 231mm Tundra Brake Upgrade
Toyota OEM Tundra Rotors
Toyota OEM Tundra Pads & Shim Kit
NAPA Remanufactured Calipers
Dot 4 Brake Fluid Flush
Wheelers S.S. Brake Lines up front
Sonoran Steel S.S. Extended Brake Lines @ the rear axle

Armor & things made of steel:

Addicted Off Road Front Plate Bumper (modified by ME!)
CBI Off Road Rear Plate Bumper w/Custom Built Tire Carrier (tire carrier built by ME!)
Stubbs Welding HD-SKO Sliders
Custom 3/16" Steel Front/IFS Skid (Made by ME!)
Custom 3/16" Steel Belly Pan (Made by ME!)
Custom 3/16" Steel Gas Tank Skid (Made by ME!)
Custom 3/16" Steel Rear LCA Mount Skids (Made by ME!)
Inchworm Gear E-Locker Motor Guard
Frame Endcap Mod
Custom lower shock bolt protectors (Dirtco copies)
Custom Flat Roof Rack, full length (Made by ME!)
Custom Brushed Aluminum Wind Fairing (Made by ME!)
Custom Pet/Cargo Barrier separating rear cargo area (Made by ME!)

Instrumentation:

Lotek A-Pillar Dual Gauge Pod (Color Matched)
Innovate Motorsports DB Wideband AFR Gauge
Autometer UltraLite Boost Gauge
Autometer UltraLite Transmission Temp. Gauge (In shifter console)
ScanGauge 2 OBDII Interface
Lev-O-Gage Inclinometers for F>B & S>S axes

Electrical:

130A Alternator from BamaToys on TW (MarionBumper2Bumper)
Die Hard Platinum P-1, Group 34 Battery (Equivalent to Odyssey 34R-PC1500)
"Big 3" Mod w/4GA Leads ALT>Batt(+), Batt(-)>Chassis, Engine Block>Chassis

Recovery:

Warn M8000s w/synthetic line
Factor 55 FlatLink
In Cab winch control using OEM Power Mirror Switch
Wireless winch controller w/2 remotes
Remote Mounted Winch Contactor
Aluminum Hawse Fairlead

Lighting Upgrades:

Sylvania Silverstar Ultra Headlight Bulbs
IPF 968's w/DDM Tuning 55W 4500K HID Retrofit
SuperBright LEDs 10W Cree LED Pods wired to OEM Fog Switch w/Amber Lamin-X covers
Anytime Fog Light Wiring Mod
6-LED License Plate Light
Nilight Cree LED Back-Up Lights (flood pattern)
LED Dome lights
Amber LED Front Corner Lights

Exterior Appearance Mods:

Color Matched "Satoshi" based Grille w/Custom Mesh
Carbon Fiber B-Pillars
Color Matched Rhino Lining on Fender Flares
Color Matched Rear License Plate Garnish
OEM "TRD Supercharged" Badging on Front Doors
Plasti-Dipped Emblems
Removed "TOYOTA" emblem on Lower RH side of Tailgage
Handmade Matte Black Retro Graphics

Interior & Coms Upgrades:

Uniden Pro520XL CB Radio (installed in the ashtray location)
Everhardt Tiger 4ft Fiberglass CB Antenna w/Tuned Tip
Kenwood Excelon Head Unit & MP3 player loaded w/tunes
Kenwood KSC-SW11 Powered Subwoofer (under front D/S seat)
WeatherTech Digital Fit Floor Liners & Cargo Liner
2nd Driver's Side Grab Handle Added
Custom made Cargo Box over the D/S wheel well
D.E.I. 2-Way Alarm & Remote Start with multiple surprises for would be theives...

Odds and Ends:

1/2" Body Lift
Sonoran Steel Polyurethane Rear Body Mounts
AndyMod 2.0 Trac/VSC Disable
Cadillac 4-Note Horns
Tack Welded Steering Column Slip Joint
Energy Suspension Polyurethane Steering Rack Bushings
AVS In-Channel Ventvisors
Grip Tape on the Sliders
Grip Tape on the Door Sills
3M Paint Protection Film on leading edge of roof & headlights
Highland Contura front Mud Flaps (model #11051, Style G)
Rally Armor rear Mud Flaps on custom mounts for CBI bumper
OD Green Trasharoo
Redline Tuning Hood Struts
Tinted Windshield - SolarGard Ultra Performance Plus 80 Ceramic
Mini Windshield Washer Reservoir with custom mount / 1.5L tank



Things I carry because I might need 'em someday:

Recovery:

48" Hi-Lift Jack
3" x 30' Snatch Strap
4" x 20' Tree Strap
5 X 3/4" D-Ring Shackles (ARB/Warn, 4 3/4 Ton WLL)
10' 5/16" Grade 7 Choker Chain w/Hooks
50' of 3/8" Polyester Rope, 300lb WLL
Snatch Block (17,600lbs capacity)
Gerber NATO Folding Shovel
48" D-Handle Full Size Shovel
26" Full Size Axe
Leather Gloves

Survival & Safety:

Modified Superflow MV-50 Air Compressor
Heavy Duty 8GA Jumper Cables
Lots of Bungee Cords
3D LED MagLight
3 X D-Cell Batteries
2A Mini LED MagLight
4 x AA-Cell Batteries
3X Road Flares
First Aid Kit
Fire Extinguisher
2 Lighters
Small Candle
Large fixed blade knife & folding serrated pocket knife
Space Blanket
Wool Blanket
Emergency Rain Poncho

Parts & Trail Repair:

Duct Tape & Electrical Tape
1 x Roll of Self-Fusing Silicon Tape
6' of 10AWG & 15' of 16AWG wire
A selection of electrical connectors
Zip Ties (4", 6", 8", 12", and 24")
Roll of Baling Wire
Selection of Cotter Pins
Blue Loc-Tite
Super Glue
Permatex Ultra Black RTV Silicone Adhesive/Sealant
JB Weld Steel Reinforced Epoxy
5' of 1/8", 1/4", and 3/8" ID Vacuum Tubing
3' of 1/2" Heater Hose
10' of 3/8" Transmission Cooler Hose
ATM Fuses (various amperages) + Circuit Tester
1 x Spare 30/40A Relay
Valve Stem Parts (Valve Stem Tool, 4x Extra Valve Stems, Valve Cores, Caps)
ARB Tire Repair Kit
ARB Tire Deflator
Supercharger Belt, P/S Belt, A/C Belt
Spark Plug Wire (longest of the 3) + Extra Spark Plug
Spare Headlight Bulb
2 x Spare OEM Front CV Axle w/fresh boots, spare axle nuts, cotter pins, dust caps, etc.
Set of 8 spare LBJ bolts
1 Small can of WD40
Printed List of all OBDII Trouble Codes (+SG2 to pull the codes)
Bag of Misc. Hardware (M6/8/10/12 nuts, bolts, washers, spare lugnuts, hose clamps, etc)

If far from home, add:

1 set of OEM LBJ's (L+R)
1 set of OEM OTRE's (L+R)
1 set of OEM Rear Upper Axle Links
1 OEM ITRE (works for either side)
2 QT. 75w90 Gear Oil
3 QT. 10w40 Motor Oil
1 QT. Dexron 3 Transmission Fluid
1 Gallon Zerex Asian Vehicle A/F
1 Can CRC MAF Sensor Cleaner

Tools to handle most common problems: (1/2" Ratchet, 3/8" Ratchet, Universal Joints, 3"/ 6"/ 12" extensions, 1/2" > 3/8" drive adapter, 10mm-19mm Sockets [deep & regular], 35mm & 36mm socket for CV's, 24mm socket for RR Diff/T-Case fill plugs, 21/22mm sockets, 10mm hex bit for F Diff fill plug, 3/4" Socket for Wheel Lugs, Spark Plug Socket, 6mm-19mm Combination Wrenches, Flathead & Phillips Screwdrivers (S/M/L), Vice Grip Pliers, 8"/10" Crescent Wrench, 10" Channel Lock Pliers, 8" Needle Nose Pliers, Utility Knife, 18" 1/2" drive Breaker Bar, 20" pry bar, 18" Crow Bar, hex keys, torx bits/sockets, line wrenches, and more...)



The "Been There, Done That" List

Colorado

-Black Bear Pass
-Imogene Pass
-Mineral Creek
-Engineer Pass
-Cinnamon Pass
-Corkscrew Gulch (up & down)
-California Gulch / Pass
-Hurricane Pass
-Ophir Pass
-Alta Lakes
-Gold King Basin
-Chinamans Gulch
-Iron Chest
-Pomeroy Lakes
-Wheeler Lake
-Billings Lake
-Cottonwood Pass
-Summitville Trail
-Stony Pass
-Clear Lake
-Mosquito Pass
-FourMile (375, 373, 311, 309, 300, 185)
-Bonanza Mining District (Toll Road Gulch, Etc.)
-Wheeler Geologic Area

Utah

-Poison Spider Mesa
-Golden Spike
-Gold Bar Rim
-Fins & Things
-Hells Revenge
-Kane Creek
-7 Mile Rim
-WipeOut Hill
-Top of the World
-Geyser Pass (in the snow)
-La Sal Pass (in the snow)
-Thompson Mesa
-Onion Creek
-Willow Flats (Arches Nt'l Park)
-Tusher Tunnel

New Mexico

-Tank Trap
-La Bajada
-Glorieta Mesa
-Caja Del Rio Plateau
-Chokecherry Canyon (small portions, but enough to break a CV)
-Dome Road
-Goose Lake
-Paliza Canyon
-Cedro Peak
-Montessa Park
-Cerro Pedernal
-Monticello Box Canyon
-San Lorenzo Canyon
-Elk Mountain
-Mt. Taylor / La Mosca Fire Lookout
-Glorieta Baldy
-Mills Canyon
-Mt. Withington
-Pioneer Creek
-Gallinas Peak
-Mt. Sedgewick
-Rinconada Canyon

...............

July 7th, 2010 - The beginning

I love my '97 T4R, but there are certain things about it that have prevented me from making the commitment to going all out with the mods.

I've been looking for a 4Runner that I can go nuts with, and one that will give me a good platform to start building on. Well, I found one, and I bought it today.

It's a 2001 4wd Sport Edition. Bigger brakes. 4.10's, Sunroof, the silver interior trim (which I've always liked), a nice kenwood deck, and most importantly it's a one owner, dealer maintained, completely up to date, rust free ride. The previous owner was even more meticulous about the record keeping than I am and provided me with a 3 ring binder containing every record possibly available on the truck, all neatly arranged by date. I've got the original window sticker, the dealer brochure for the 2001 T4R, it's all there.





Original Window Sticker...



The previous owner had a really nice add on installed at the local Toyota dealer before they took it home on day one.



Then they decided that wasn't enough... so they went a little further...

Genuine TRD Headers... I didn't even know these existed.



TRD Catback...



7th Injector....



TRD Transmission Cooler...



JAOS Skid...



The 7th Injector kit from TRD includes what is essentially the "Remove Elbow" mod....



Not a speck of rust anywhere on the truck...







Interior & Stereo....









I had to go out and take one last look at it before it got dark... It sure looks good in the driveway..

looks really nice man a s/c would be nice but the cost to make it right ill pass

You weren't kidding when you said that it doesn't have any rust! Even mine has a few specks of rust here and there and it's never been near salt (except at the beach)

Very nice find overall I'd say. The previous owner appeared to do a good job at taking care of it...noticed the rubber isolation mounts on the transmission cooler and the hurculined (?) bumpers and flares.

Beautiful and done right. What did you have to give for it. E-locker in the future?

Elton,

That's one of the reasons I jumped on this one. I've always wanted to do a S/C on my '97, but when you figure at least $1000 for a nice, complete E-bay supercharger, then another $1000 for the 7th injector, then the $600 transmission work, and the URD stuff to really wring it out, it gets costly.

This once has been done perfectly for daily driving. It has zero ping whatsoever, and I could drive it like it is with no problems. Of course, I wont. The first thing Im going to do is pull the valve body and send it off to IPT to have the upgrade done.

Then I'll get the URD kit to tune the TRD 7th, the smaller pulley, and I'm done w/that part of things.

96743Runner,

This truck has one of the cleanest undercarraiges I've ever seen. I was amazed when I got under there and looked at it. The previous owner was meticulous about taking care of this thing and it shows. I was really impressed.

As I mentioned, the bumpers & flares are Rhino-Lined, but I'll prob get rid of most of that over time.

Rockdawg,

I paid $10,000 for this one. I priced it on NADA, Edmunds, and KBB. Private party values were between $8k and $9.5K and retail was $10k-$11k. Remember, that's for a stock vehicle. So being that I could pull the SC, Headers, Exhaust, 7th Injector, Jaos skid, etc. and sell it all for at least $2,000, I basically paid $8,000 for the vehicle itself, which is at the very bottom of all the value ranges, but for an excellent condition vehicle.

I feel like I did pretty good. Also, nice 4Runners are few and far between where I live. I've been watching craigslist/ebay/autotrader/etc everyday for over a year and this is the first one I've seen for sale locally that was up to snuff.

RE the E-Locker, my fiance is willing to let me swap rear axles with her 2000, which is E-locked, but I want to stay with the 4.10's or lower gearing (eventually this thing is getting lifted), so I'm not sure if I'll go that route or just ARB it.

Nice find.

I wish mine had been that clean underneath, and supercharged of course..

Looks really clean. You got lucky to find one that had all that TRD and Jaos stuff on it.

Good price too.

That is a reaaaallly clean vehicle with some great upgrades on it. Definitely a great find and should be a great truck really awesome.

I'd say that 10,000 is a great deal with all the upgrades and it's super clean. Very nice find. Congrats

Great find! I'm doing the same thing now, as a matter of fact. I love my '96, but some of the mid-gen upgrades were great additions to the 3rd Gen that I would love to have. However, I have to have my 5spd! Hard to find a 5spd these days, it seems....

Was this in Arizona?

I saw one just like it on C's list there.
I think I posted a link in the classifieds section a while back....

Very nice ride Congrats!

Wow. TRD headers. How does the exhaust sound? I haven't really heard any mufflers on stock exhaust manifolds that I liked.

Nice Truck!!! Keep us posted on the MODS!

The front bumper was thrashed up with chips from rocks from the highway, and thats why it was Rhinolined, and the flares and rear bumper were done too match, i can't say that its in my taste, but i guess its a solution.