[TXST8SR5]

I am starting this thread on behalf of my son and his 2006 SR5, 2wd that we will be working on together.

For Christmas this year, my mother-in-law passed down the vehicle to him. He won't be 16 until August, but she wanted him to have the vehicle early so he could do his driver's ed with it...and momma didn't want him learning to drive with her Caddy

I am a Jeep guy myself, but have always loved Toyotas, so this will be fun to work on with him.

The reason for the thread title is unfortunately it is 2wd. However, it isn't going to stop me from throwing good money at it so my boy has a fun vehicle.
He is excited to learn to turn wrenches with me, and if that means putting a bunch of offroad gear on a 2wd...well, I'm all aboard.

[TXST8SR5]

We are working with a bone stock '06. Leather interior and a sunroof top off the 'upgrades'. Grandma was the original owner and has taken excellent care of it.

The paint is decent overall, but shows its age. There are not many dings (surprisingly) but a few deep scratches. We will be looking at either a paint job or a wrap.

The tires have a little life left, but perfect timing to install a lift and upgrade.

[TXST8SR5]

I have always enjoyed the forums for researching and learning, but also documenting my own projects (Jeeps mainly).

We have some plans laid out for this. The goal is to have most everything completed by August. This is essentially our contribution (aside from insurance and fuel) to providing a vehicle for him.

I have a spreadsheet that I keep track of the parts we are going to use and the cost. Not including any body work, I am at about $8k. We (my wife) uses the 30% rule to any plans I have, so let's call it $10k...ish


To get things started, it was decided that we would upgrade the headunit to one with Apple CarPlay, Bluetooth, and a backup camera. All makes complete sense as any one of us would have enjoyed those comforts when we first learned to drive.
So with that direction, I ordered up a full stereo system lol.

I went with an Alpine iLX-W650. My preference in h/u has always been Alpine. This is their least expensive unit with CarPlay and will do everything we need it to. I ordered it from Crutchfield and packaged it with all of the harnesses and brackets needed.

I'm pretty sure I heard some crackling in the 17 year old speakers, so I ordered a JL C1-650 component set for the front, and pair of JL C1-650x coaxials for the rear doors. These are part of their entry level line of speakers and I think they will do just fine.

I already had in possession some other brand new gear. A JL 4-channel amp, Alpine mono channel, JL 10w3 sub, and the backup camera.

We ordered a Proclip phone bracket and mount. I use their brackets in all of our vehicles. Also ordered an amp wiring kit (not pictured). The small black envelope on the bottom right corner of the table is a set of LEDs to swap in for all of the interior dome/map lights.

My son and I will build the sub enclosure, so he will not only get to learn stereo install, but he will get to help with some wood.


Total investment so far: $1035 (not including amps and sub)

[TXST8SR5]

The rest of the build plans that better explain the "Overbuilt" part include:

3" lift
1" body lift (possibly)
upper control arms
33" or 35" tires
wheels

front bumper
rear bumper/tire carrier
rock sliders
roof rack
snorkel/dorkel

various LED lights
Headlight mods of some sort

floor liners


There isn’t anything that I can’t install or build, so all work will be done by us. I picked DIY bumper and slider kits that we will weld. Considering building our own rear bumper. There are few on the market that I really like and most I would want to modify anyway.

All in all, I am looking forward to this process and hope he takes pride in his vehicle with all of the hard work he is going to put into it.

[TXST8SR5]

We hope to get started on the stereo install this weekend; however, we may jump over that and install what's below first. Either way, I plan to post some pictures of the process. Should be a fun time.

I ordered the lift today. It is the Rough Country 3" kit with the M1 monotube loaded struts and rear shocks and coils.
For my price, I think it is going to be hard to beat. Without going too far down this road, RC gets beat up for their entry level Nitro level of shocks, which in truth are the same as any other nitro shock out there. However, I think this upgraded monotube shock will ride quite nice.
I will be transparent with my actual opinion after we get some seat time with them.

Stay tuned

[TXST8SR5]

The rear coil springs showed up today.

[bigtimeweb]

Originally Posted by TXST8SR5

The paint is decent overall, but shows its age. There are not many dings (surprisingly) but a few deep scratches. We will be looking at either a paint job or a wrap.

Hello neighbor! You can bring that paint back to like new with just a buff and polish and Dr Color Chip sells a fantastic paint chip kit. I have been working on mine a panel at a time because I have a broken shoulder, but heres my before and after of my hood, that's a one and done turtle wax on an orange foam pad and griots garage buffer, paint chips then turtle wax max wax on a black pad. the two of you together could prob do in a weekend no problem.





Also I have an aftermarket grille that will fit your car if you are interested. Its new in the open box. Were i-10 and beltway - ish

[TXST8SR5]

Originally Posted by bigtimeweb

Hello neighbor! You can bring that paint back to like new with just a buff and polish and Dr Color Chip sells a fantastic paint chip kit. I have been working on mine a panel at a time because I have a broken shoulder, but heres my before and after of my hood, that's a one and done turtle wax on an orange foam pad and griots garage buffer, paint chips then turtle wax max wax on a black pad. the two of you together could prob do in a weekend no problem.

Also I have an aftermarket grille that will fit your car if you are interested. It’s new in the open box. Were i-10 and beltway - ish

A buff and polish is certainly not a bad idea. That would certainly help in the meantime.

How much are you asking for the grille? What brand is it?

[bigtimeweb]

Originally Posted by TXST8SR5

How much are you asking for the grille? What brand is it?

The grille is from china. Its fairly straight forward install, as with all you will take some parts off your existing for the latching mech. you run the wires through the hood insulator down to driver side firewall. ground off a screw inside there at the kickpanel, attach an add a fuse to the positive and put it in your accessory fuse slot. I have the add a fuse as well. Im asking 150

[TXST8SR5]

We installed the CaliRaised low profile brackets and ditch lights yesterday. No telling what the actual angle of the lights will ultimately be, but that lined up with the angle on the top side of the brackets.

[Bl4ck4rm4]

Nice 4Runner, your son must be really excited. Very interested in seeing how the wheels work out.


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[TXST8SR5]

Originally Posted by Bl4ck4rm4

Nice 4Runner, your son must be really excited. Very interested in seeing how the wheels work out.

Thanks! He is definitely excited. We are kinda back to the drawing board on the wheels. I am looking for something with less offset. It is quite the balance to find something that will clear the UCAs but not stick out so far they cause other rubbing issues. I definitely do not want to buy new wheels just to run wheel spacers as well.

[Bl4ck4rm4]

Originally Posted by TXST8SR5

Thanks! He is definitely excited. We are kinda back to the drawing board on the wheels. I am looking for something with less offset. It is quite the balance to find something that will clear the UCAs but not stick out so far they cause other rubbing issues. I definitely do not want to buy new wheels just to run wheel spacers as well.

I hear ya. I’m kinda in that same boat. I’m very skeptical on wheel spacers. It was a definite no no in the ford crowd due to possible breakage and losing your wheel.


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