Small write up on the 4runner I bought in June for my wife, just finished it up!
Short story:
I was looking around on the used sections for a 4runner for my wife, then i found this 2000 limited, factory e-locker, original paint (never worked on), I know this because i work in a bodyshop, I took our mil thickness gauge, and you can tell because there are no paint cutoffs on the edges of any panels. And no rust! Beauty i thought, here was the catch, it was wrecked, collision in the front right corner, good thing i manage the body shop! So i took my two weeks holidays, and spent it working on this vehicle, and getting everything ready for paint, and mods, suspension. That took me right to the end of my two weeks! I am very happy with the outcome, and hope that the trail grappler are ok in winter for her! She is coming out of a rav4 with no abs, so the abs will help the going sideways part at least. So it will be her daily driver, and my trail rig. Super pumped about that. I did all the work myself, all the parts install, painting, prepping, fixing, frame gauge. I'm 22, but i got some experience around cars ;), have a built up a couple! As you can see by the pictures, the only way to do it properly is to take everything out, if ever you bring your car in for a paint job, and they are going to mask off all your handles, and glass, walk away. ....that paint job wont last you more than 2 years before the edges start peeling. I dont care how good you prep it.
Parts that were installed Starting from front to back to suspension and wheels, then interior.
-Outdoor Logic front bumper (great fit, great customer support, would recommend**!)
-XRC8 Smitty Winch, remote mounted the solenoid in the bumper by access hole
-Hella 500's with white covers to match
-Ebay intake, aem replica (factory air box was broken in collision), fit great, i'd recommend it for 50 bucks
-Did the timing belt and water pump while it was apart
-New Sport hood, and hood scoop fixings (3 parts to make the scoop happen other than the hood)
-Toytec ultimate lift, easy install, took no longer than an afternoon by myself! Recommended**
-Xd Wheels (17x9, with 4.5" backspace) - bought from SD wheel corp (i recommend them for customer service!)
-Nitto Trail Grapplers, 295/70R17
-Eclipse Navigation system with bluetooth add-on.
-Swapped leather covers in the front for better condition ones
-Changed out rear speakers, sony, they were blown
-Shampoo the whole inside and conditioned the seats
-Painted the whole outside to a pearl white with three top coats of pearl, first pearl coat is white pearl, second pearl is blue pearl, third is a mix of the two, makes for a very diamond like look. at night it has blue edges where ever the light hits, and the rest looks white. in the day it shines a very creamy white, except where the sun hits it, it looks blue. very hard to explain, pics do not do justice.
After seeing all the pictures, take a guess at the mileage on this thing....you wont beleive it!
This is how i found it:
This is how i got it home:
After the repairs, getting ready for paint:
Hanging all the many parts in the booth:
The mess of one man after a few days of prepping:
Painted, and assembled except front bumper:
Shows the tire and how it can still flex:
Will have to just remove the mudgaurds when going into the rocks:
The interior as it sits, shampoo'd, the leather was very worn and i had to replace the covers, navigation deck is awesome and fun to use!:
Pictures of the front bumper on and together, and up on a manitoba cliff:
sitting pretty:
Linear Mode
