[montijo505]

Installed my exhaust cam gears and intake plenum spacer last night. Overall not too bad as long as you stay organized. Lots of bolts to remove.

While I had everything apart, I installed fresh valve cover gaskets, plenum gasket, throttle body gasket and PCV valve.

Very pleasantly surprised at how clean everything was at 155k. No sludge or grime.

Feels peppier and idles much smoother. Will report back on MPG's after a few tanks.

[rdruss]

Look at those brake backing plates (drool!!) no rust, the rolled edges still on them, no perforations! Pass the salt please.

[montijo505]

Originally Posted by rdruss

Look at those brake backing plates (drool!!) no rust, the rolled edges still on them, no perforations! Pass the salt please.

I really feel for you guys haha. I chucked them in the trash because I butchered one trying to get it to fit with the spindle gussets to no avail.

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[himeeto69]

Originally Posted by montijo505

So I finally feel like I've done enough to the rig that it merits a "build thread" of sorts.

I've been on this forum since about 2014 when I bought the thing and came across it by accident searching for cheap strut replacements. Yeah that back fired big time. I don't have photos from real early on, just a few from when I got my first wheels and tires. Anyway, here goes:

2008 4Runner SR5 4x4, plain Jane and bone stock. Purchased May of 2013 with 89k on the clock for in the neighborhood of $19k. Unlike some of you, I bought this vehicle not knowing a thing about it. Never owned a Toyota, never off roaded, didn't care it was 4x4 except for driving in snow once twice a year, just caught my eye on the lot. Ichalk it up to sheer luck that everything worked, including the 4x4.

List of mods

Suspension:
Icon 2.5 front coilovers 3"
SPC UCA's
Icon 2.5 with resis and adjusters rear shocks
Icon 2" springs in rear
@eimkeith panhard correction kit welded on
Toytec 1" body lift
+2 stainless steel braided lines


To be installed:

Total Chaos spindle gussets
All-Pro cam tab gussets
Poly Performance Taco Tabs cam delete kit
Whiteline Bushings
Moog ball joints
Moog tie rod ends.


Wheels/tires:

Previously ran Pro Comp 17x9 -6 with 285/70/17 Nitro Trail Grapplers. Never got stuck or flat.
Now on Stealth Custom Series Ray 10's 17x9 -38 with Falken Wildpeak AT3W in 285/70/17. Drive great, much lighter.

Armor:

Coastal Off-road plate bumper with single hoop.
Coastal Off-road skid plates
White Knuckle Off-road sliders.

Exterior:

Rigd Ultraswing hitch tire carrier with Rago Fab molle panel and fold down camp table/cutting board.
Satoshi grill (pain in the rear)

Performance (lol who are we kidding):

K&N intake that I hate the noise it makes recently.
Flowmaster 50 muffler with rerouted black ABRP tip.

Awaiting install:

Exhaust cam gears with 3° retard
Intake plenum spacer (1/2")

Lighting:

Baja Designs squadron sport X2 in bumper. One pair spots in white, one wide cornering in amber (which is really selective yellow)
Auxiliary back up lights, random 6" off brand lights off a guy at TW.
Auxbeam LED headlights.
Most all interior is LED except door pockets and unfortunately the dash/climate etc

Wishlist:

Sherpa roof rack
Some variation of a RTT
Cargo drawers build
Fridge w/ slide
Solar panel
On board air
Dobinson 701 springs to support the extra weight eventually
Katzkin leather seats w/ warmers.
Get around to buying a winch, Probably Warn 8k w/ synthetic line.

It's taken me six years to get it where I'm happy with it. Still loads to do!

I love me a Toyota. Fell in love after Back to the Future.

[montijo505]

Oil change and tire rotation at 155k. Still going strong, runs like a top.

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[montijo505]

A little early for the fall beers, but alas......

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[montijo505]

Picking up my son from preschool today I had to try two or three times to get the old girl out of park. At first I thought it was just me as I had not driven it in a few days.

On the way home, the VSC and ABS lights came on. If I researched correctly I need a stop lamp switch (brake pedal thingamabobber). I ordered one from McGeorge for $23 shipped, I've had great experiences with them. Hopefully that fixes my issue.

[montijo505]

Got the switch in, took 2 seconds to replace. Unplug blue connector above gas pedal, twist counter clockwise, pulk down. Replacement is opposite with new switch. Issue fixed.

Part number in case someone has the same issue.

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[montijo505]

Scored a 48" hi lift for $50 locally on OfferUp. Looks brand new, older gentleman said he never used it just sat in his garage. Now gotta find a way to put it on the Ultraswing. Gonna make my own, not gonna pay $190 for the Rigd accessory that's nuts!

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[montijo505]

I had been meaning to get some SAE compliant fogs for a while. I initially wanted the Rigid, then BD put some out (have two pairs of their squadron sports currently) but I heard there was issues with heat and the pattern wasn't great.

So for black Friday I treated myself to the Diode Dynamics SS3 Sport SAE fogs in yellow.

The cutoff is killer and the constructions seems very nice. I'm impressed so far!

Now waiting on DuroBumps to finally upgrade the crappy stockers.

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[TLar25]

Originally Posted by montijo505

I had been meaning to get some SAE compliant fogs for a while. I initially wanted the Rigid, then BD put some out (have two pairs of their squadron sports currently) but I heard there was issues with heat and the pattern wasn't great.

So for black Friday I treated myself to the Diode Dynamics SS3 Sport SAE fogs in yellow.

The cutoff is killer and the constructions seems very nice. I'm impressed so far!

Now waiting on DuroBumps to finally upgrade the crappy stockers.

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Dang those things are bright!

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[montijo505]

Originally Posted by TLar25

Dang those things are bright!

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They really are, I almost got the pros but from what I've read the cutoff isn't as sharp and they're REALLY bright lol. I'm happy with my choice and that I got a good deal on them.

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[montijo505]

One more photo showing the difference between the SS3 Sport and a pair of Baja Squadron Sport.

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[mysticz]

The bottom is the Baja right? I can see it spreads all over so its not SAE. Thanks I will look into getting the DD S3 instead for my replacement.

[montijo505]

Originally Posted by mysticz

The bottom is the Baja right? I can see it spreads all over so its not SAE. Thanks I will look into getting the DD S3 instead for my replacement.

Yes correct, just to emphasize they are the "wide cornering" variety and not the SAE. The SS3 are in the SAE Sport flavor and are awesome. This is Hotshot Offroad has a black Friday sale until tonight if you're interested. One of the vendors on TW.

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