1997 Desert Dune Final Owner

[BlackIceWAP]

I have finally found my baby. She's a 1997 Desert Dune 4Runner. She has approx. 130K miles and has been kept in a garage most of her life. I am coming from a 2001 Saab 9-3Viggen and finally making the switch to the 4Runner I have always wanted.

The 4Runner is only 2WD but I have high expectations. I will have roughly $400 to start the mods and was wondering what I should go for. I am in need of much help and feel like an idiot posting this request.

My ideas include:

iPod integration
2"-3" of lift
BFG All-Terrain's
Brush Guard
Exhaust.

On the note of exhaust- I simply want a deeper sound- nothing ricey and nothing that sounds like I'm a GMC 3500HD. I just want a more aggressive sound achieved at the lowest possible price. Probably just a bolt on muffler if possible.

I am in desperate need of answers. I am clueless as to where I should start and appreciate any help you may have to offer. Thanks in advance!

PS I have a webserver with unlimited bandwidth and 100gb of storage- let me know if you need me to hold any videos or pictures for you to post.

Thanks!!!

 

[lee]

well when you do the ipod integration, might as well get a new head unit. when you get a new head unit, might as well get new speakers. once you do that, might as well get a sub

trust me, do the sound system first and take your time doing research on the rest (lift, tires, exhaust).

you have waaaay too much to learn about those than the sound system... plus the sound system offers immediate satisfaction, rather than stock piling the parts you need.

just my opinion.

congrats & welcome.

 

[Kramer420]

welcome to the forum! I own a '98 desert dune, and lee is right once you buy the deck and get the ipod hooked up you want speakers...then you think a sub would be nice and get 1 or 2...but its one of the best mods i got in my truck...I also got a exhaust put on mine...bought a 2.5 dia. Center/offset Flowmaster Delta 40 series ,and a buddy of mine at a muffler shop welded it up and made my own cat back basicly...(and alot cheaper then the TRD one =P). Only thing that can get annoying about the exhast is highway drone, dosent bother me to much anymore but it is what it is. Still worth it imo..as far as tires go i had a set off allterrians on my old chevy pickup..great tires but relly friggin loud. when i bought my truck i went up to goodyear and get a set off the new wrangler "silent armor's". Just as a aggressive as the Bfgoodie's but there made of kevlar and absorb so much road noise its nice. what relly sold me on the things was with the road hazard insurance thing it Includes "off road assistance" where they can yank you out if you get stuck (within reason) they got me out of a dune this summer up here on long island No problem. anyway good luck with the truck !

 

[BlackIceWAP]

That's interesting. I work at Best Buy and can get an entire Alpine Type S speaker system and an Infinity Bass Link sub for under $400 installed. That includes the Alpine CDA9855 HU. I am very excited about my 4Runner.

Lee- you have one of the nicest 3rd gen's I have ever seen. It's almost perfect man- props.

 

[lee]

nice bro. thanks for the compliment.

let me tell ya, my system sounds really good, better than expected. i got everything on sale one way or another... head unit from tweeter as a discontinued item (retailed i think around 350, bought for 225 or so), type s alpine components cheaper off crutchfield due to an error on their end, amp off hookedontronics for about 50 bucks off, rears from a local shop having a closeout, and sub off ebay for about 50 bucks less than anywhere else.

im buying sliders tomorrow... etc... etc... etc

good luck.

also, fyi, theres another board called yotatech (yotatech.com)... lots of 3rd gen info there.

 

[RunnerUp]

you know you have to take pic's of your sliders lee, im about to do mine before any trips up north, wanna see what your doing.

yeah, i believe i would do the system first, unless you dont have tint, in which case, that should also be on your list.

i have an old westin brush guard i will let go for cheap if you want it, not in perfect condition, but not bad

if you have a 2wd, you should go with the revo's. i love the bfg AT's but the revo is just a better street tire.

lift, well, you can do a performance products kit like lee's do spacers, or do a lift like OME.

i really like the sound of borla exhaust, but its kinda pricey, i had a flow master on my old 2wd 4runner and im glad i totalled that truck! i dont know what kind i had, but it was uber loud. good luck on mod'n your truck, and ive been waiting along time to do this


:worthless

 

[BlackIceWAP]

Yea I'll post my mug and a few shots of the beast in a few days. Thanks for all the input- more to come soon...

 

[lee]

you know you have to take pic's of your sliders lee, im about to do mine before any trips up north, wanna see what your doing.

yea, someone from NE4ROC actually bought the sliders i want to get but he says they look short.. so im gonna wait till i see them at our wrench-a-thon this saturday before i buy.

im psyched.

 

[BlackIceWAP]

What is the biggest BFG All-Terrain I can comfortably fit on a stock 4Runner? I might just get those for now and do a lift later on down the path.

 

[lee]

265/75/16

but do a little research to be sure thats the tire for you