'04 face lift complete with bumper

[Jembrmstr]

I just finished installing the face lift on my runner. I know quite a few people have done these but there are a few things I have noticed missing or incomplete.

First off, the grille and lights will bolt up just fine, however I found the emblem on the newer grille is bigger so your old existing one will not transfer over. same with your "v8" badge if applicable.

on the inside your hood hook will not transfer over as the rod from the handle to the hook latch is too short.

If you're like me and decided to do the face lift after a front end collision you will be tempted to replace your front bumper with an 06-09 bumper. This can be done but it doesn't quite line up. After my front end collision my wheel well liners were flopping all over and needed to be trimmed, I had planned to put a shrockworks front bumper on so I trimmed high. Once I settled on the decision to update the front bumper instead of a shrockworks ($1700 vs. approx $400) I started to get all the pieces I needed. Ebay has a lot of package deals for good prices, autosdepot had a package deal for the bumper supports which helped get most of the pieces that you dont see.

The "second revision" of the fourth gen 4runner added quite a few different things to hold this bumper in place, something like an skeleton under the bumper cover.





as you can see on the disassembly lists the reinforcement plates are a new addition on the 06-09 runners. I couldn't figure out how the side reinforcement plates attached to the fender so I had to take a trip to the local junk yard. I found a new addition to the fenders. there is a bracket spot welded to the fender.



There are six spot welds you can remove with a drill. Four on the fender and two on the inner fender liner. I made new holes in the bracket and mounted it behind my fender on my runner between the headlight mount and the fender.

with this complete I was able to put on the bumper cover. the cover will bolt to a few of the spots underneath but I am not sure about the wheel well liner as I don't have one. I have a big suspicion the 03-05 liner will not line up to the bumper cover as well as the 06-09 wheel well liner will not line up to the fender/ body. as for the top of the bumper as long as you ordered all 06-09 brackets they will line up just fine. they all clip into place and stay firmly, with the addition of three push clips in the middle.




Now for the bad.....

As some might know, the 06-09 fenders are a bit "bubbly" which causes issues. The bumper sticks out and is longer than the 03-05 runner.




This I thought could be remedied by installing 06-09 front fenders but once I got my runner next to an 07 I noticed the fenders are bubbly throughout so back to the drawing board. I'm thinking of possibly fiber glassing the existing fender out to match the bumper and then of course, paint.

Hopefully this helps anyone who might be thinking about doing a full front face lift. If anyone knows of a fender fabricator or something to fix this line up problem let me know!

 

[LTDSC]

you could make a quick tape line and cut that to match pretty damn close and no one would know but you.

 

[cpark_12]

you could make a quick tape line and cut that to match pretty damn close and no one would know but you.

I was thinking the same thing. I'd cut the bumper to match the existing fender line.

 

[Jembrmstr]

that was my thought too, unfortunately were looking at about an inch and a half or so difference. That spot that protrudes is the area that clips and holds the bumper on the corners..... no trimming is possible if you still want the sides of the bumper to hold. unless you have lots of glue I guess....

 

[K_Labs]

Should have just switched to a off road bumper and win every head on collision from now on.

 

[Jembrmstr]

haha yes I agree, however the pricing is a bit different. couldn't see investing so much on an 11 year old vehicle. maybe if it was brand new. I keep hoping they will come out with a v8 4runner.

 

[LTDSC]

that was my thought too, unfortunately were looking at about an inch and a half or so difference. That spot that protrudes is the area that clips and holds the bumper on the corners..... no trimming is possible if you still want the sides of the bumper to hold. unless you have lots of glue I guess....

drill a hole in the upper lip and put the bolts where its supposed to go into the fender so itll hold.

or small hole and zip tie the end up to where the bolts supposed to be.

 

[28.]

Looks good.. Always wondered why so many folks change the front end though. I actually like the 03 front end better. Especially the grill.

 

[Jembrmstr]

thnaks man, the design is nice but I had the opportunity to change it up. plus i prefer the grille of the 06-09. and the 04 bumper did not quite work with it.

 

[Quantum1]

Great write up! I Can understand trimming to achieve the correct arc, and as the guys said in earlier posts you can try getting creative with drilling holes and zip ties and such. But it seems like the edge of the bumper might also be too wide, right? I'm not sure you'd be able to fix that unless you're able to really pull in that corner and secure it tightly.

I personally have an 04 and am looking to trade up to an 06+ mostly due to cosmetic reasons. Sounds silly but I can't stand the 04 front end.

 

[Jembrmstr]

Its not silly at all, if I would have done more research on 4th gen 4runners I would have gotten on 06-09 for sure. Not just for cosmetic reasons that vvti sure does sound good too!

 

[alia176]

I have a Sport with the ABS plastic dark (fading) grey flares, bumpers and trim pieces that I wouldn't mind getting rid of in favor of same grey color as the body color. I'll start gathering up parts and pieces from folks who are going to aftermarket bumpers and such. My paint code is ID4 in case anyone has parts laying around!!!

The hood has been swapped over with another ID4 grey color hood minus the hood scoop. The V8 badge has been tossed so it's coming along bit by bit.

I must say, I do like the newer headlights and fog lights, they're very sharp looking. My GF bought a '08 and I see what you mean about the bulging fenders.

Curious, do the newer headlights, marker and fog lights simply PnP with the existing wiring or did you have to mod anything? Sorry, if I missed it previously.