1999 4runner build highschool/college edition

[Iron duke]

As of August 2024:

Specs:
Model - 1999 SR5 V6 5 speed 4wd
Mileage - 264,xxx
Rust - Essentially none

Exterior:
Mini 2.5 LED Retrofit Headlights
Por-15 frame inside and out
20% ceramic tint
Snorkel

Performance:
Champion Racing Aluminum High Capacity Radiator
K&N High flow intake filter

Interior:
Wideview mirror
CB radio w/3' antenna
Raceface waterproof front seat covers
Weathertech Floormats and cargo mat
Custom wood shift knobs

Suspension/Wheels/Tires
Bilstein 5100's w/OME 881/891 on 12” fox 2.0 shocks with resis
265/75r16 BF Goodrich AT2
Toyota Tacoma steel wheel

Armor
Stock 96-98 top bumper with LED turn signals
Custom front skid plate
Custom rear tube bumper

Instagram
4_running99





Hi all, new to T4R and forums in general. I have had a passion for 4runners, especially 3rd gen 4runners ever since i drove my granddads 97 4runner in 8th grade. My dad taught me to drive manual and that is the only kind of vehicle I want to drive now. For my first car I bought a 96 5 speed 4runner that I loved but had so much rust it fell apart on me. I traded what was left of it for a Silverado, but soon the itch for another 4runner hit me. After 6 months i sold it and was on the hunt for another 5 speed 4runner. After exhausting Facebook Marketplace, AutoTrader and all the other sites, my mom found a gem on Craigslist. Less than 48 hours later we were driving home in my new 1999 Toyota 4runner sr5 v6 4wd and 5 speed, without rust! As a highschooler going to college next fall, I do not have much money to dump into it. I tried to no avail finding threads that were not blown budget vehicles. I also could not find capable off-roaders while still maintaining reliability and cheapness. I pay 100% of everything so keeping things inexpensive is a priority. I hope that this will help people like me with a strict budget still have a sweet build.

When I got it:
3" Rancho lift with extended travel rear shocks/struts
285/75r16 toyo open country at ii
211K miles
Interior 9/10 - exterior 8/10
NO RUST

This will be a relatively simple, slow thread because I have school and work, but will update when I do anything to it. Let me know what yall think and if you have suggestions on what i should do!

 

[FD7683]

What a gem, no rust is a huge bonus. I would get the lower ball joints and the other critical maintenance done first before mods.

______________
2000 Toyota 4Runner 4x4 Limited Sport Edition V6

 

[sportscarfan]

Nice find & I tip my hat to you on your financial priorities

 

[5VZ-FE]

Good luck with your new rig! I’m from CA so I’m not super knowledgeable about rust treatment, but my T4R lived in Ohio for a while. It has a petroleum coating on the frame that has kept it rust-free. I’d highly recommend you coat your frame and keep it in tip too shape. Enjoy!

 

[Iron duke]

Thanks all! The guy I bought it from was a doctor and he put $6000 into it and only 30k miles in over 5 years of owning it. He gave me 10-15 pages of service records. He did a full frame sand blast and treated it with por-15(it lived in Pennsylvania before I bought it from Palm beach). Valve cover gaskets, all drive belts, ball joints, suspension obviously, extended break lines, new rotors and pads, new clutch, and new speakers were the things he did. He told me he gets into things, spends a bunch of money on it, and gets out of it lol. His loss is my gain though, I’m really thankful to have it!

 

[SlicT4R]

Amazing find! Congrats, looking forward to following this thread

 

[Iron duke]

https://www.toyota-4runner.org/memb...els-red-toyota-masked-off-bolts-11-2-20-a.jpg

https://www.toyota-4runner.org/memb...fogged-tail-lights-all-together-11-9-20-a.jpg

matte black spray paint and hand painted TRD red emblem.

https://www.toyota-4runner.org/memb...duke-s-99-4runner-picture59405-img-6349-a.jpg

https://www.toyota-4runner.org/memb...duke-s-99-4runner-picture59404-img-6348-a.jpg

Fogged the tail lights with one thick coat of nite shade. Taped off the top turn signal and the reflectors just to be extra.

Total cost:
5000 for the runner
16 bucks on nite shade
3 bucks on a can of rustoleum matte black spray paint
$5019

 

[thegipper]

She looks like a very nice rig.

A couple other things I would do is replace the radiator if it's more than 5 years old (search pink milkshake if you don't know why) and look into doing the extended rear diff breather mod. I also like to change out all fluids in a new to me vehicle unless I have a record of them being done recently.

Enjoy!

 

[Iron duke]

She looks like a very nice rig.

A couple other things I would do is replace the radiator if it's more than 5 years old (search pink milkshake if you don't know why) and look into doing the extended rear diff breather mod. I also like to change out all fluids in a new to me vehicle unless I have a record of them being done recently.

Enjoy!

Good idea, I will definitely be doing the extended rear diff breather mod. Also will be inspecting the radiator although it is a 5 speed so that is one less place to worry about the radiator leaking into(right?). Thanks for the advise!

 

[RomanSchnobrich]

Looks and sounds like you found an awesome platform to begin with! I'd agree with the others, it's hard to put a value on a rust-free rig, don't take that for granted. Mine is from Minnesota so it's got some frame rust and I've broken too many rusty bolts to count. I got my 2000 after my senior year of high school and I'm now in my senior year of college so I've been in your shoes before. My best advice I could give would be (after maintenance items of course!) to constantly peruse Craigslist and FB Marketplace for parts when you can afford to. I've gotten some of my favorite modifications very affordably from Craigslist.

 

[electroCrunch]

Nice. Great platform for you to enjoy, nice job finding a clean vehicle in good condition.

"I also could not find capable off-roaders while still maintaining reliability and cheapness"....

Uh, you already found it dude. No need to build it up too much beyond this. Just make sure the maintenance is up to date, and use OEM parts while doing it. Otherwise, enjoy it as it sits now and don't focus on modifications beyond what you got for the time being.

 

[thegipper]

Good idea, I will definitely be doing the extended rear diff breather mod. Also will be inspecting the radiator although it is a 5 speed so that is one less place to worry about the radiator leaking into(right?). Thanks for the advise!

Yes, no need to worry about a pink milkshake. Sorry, I missed that it was a 5 speed.

If the radiator looks old, it wouldn't hurt to replace it if you have a little extra money.

 

[Iron duke]

First real offroad test! Never got stuck going up large wet sandy hills or sloshy mud. Believe it or not the pictures below are on top of about a 50' sand hill and it road right on top of it like nothing. I have some videos I will send the links to when I get them posted up on youtube but here's a couple shots for now:

I did end up losing a hub cap though unfortunately, so it will be a junkyard run for me in the near future.

 

[Iron duke]

Just found a 2000 parts 4runner near me and he is basically giving away everything. Good condition, basically everything is there. It has only been posted on Fb for a few days. I am getting fenders, grill (to practice the satoshi grill mod!!), and antenna. Also, at highway speeds it sways pretty badly, so I am assuming it is either the panhard or sway bars, so I'm getting those too. If anyone has experienced the swaying as well and knows something I don't, let me know for sure. I've been reading up on it and from what I've researched, it is either one of those things with my situation.

 

[Iron duke]

Hope everyone had a happy Thanksgiving and now happy holidays! It's been a crazy couple of weeks but here's a couple of updates.

I was able to do the satoshi grill mod on my 99 grill! Now before you lambast me for using 1/4" chicken wire and the fact that it's a 99+ grill, I just wanted to play around with what I had and I have an extra grill, but I like it.

I got a roof rack basket and basic recovery gear. I had a basket on my other rust runner and loved how it looked and the utility of it. I bought some basic recovery gear and can now use these if I get stuck without having to put them, all muddy, in the trunk.

Went on my first camping trip in it! Had a twin air mattress and sleeping bag and it fit perfectly. I am 6' even and was almost cramped but not quite. I had to bend a little bit to not touch my head or feet against the car. It was a lot of fun and i will definitely be doing it more as the weather in south Georgia and thereabouts cools down.

Things I hope to accomplish over Christmas break:
-Hopefully get a snorkel for Christmas (unless y'all talk me out of it lol)
-Rear diff breather mod
-Por-15 minor rust on the rear crossmember and front frame rails
-Replace the panhard or get a panhard correction kit
-Take another adventure!

 

[Iron duke]

Got my photographer friend to get some pictures...if I could send them in their real size (25mb per picture:lmao they would look really good.

 

[RunningToys]

Nice truck!

I just picked up a ’96 4runner. I am swapping out the front and rear differentials and tackling a lot of other things at the same time.

I would put priority on the water pump, radiator (hoses included), and thermostat. If they have not been changed out lately. They can be the main cause of a blown head gasket.

 

[Iron duke]

Nice truck!

I just picked up a ’96 4runner. I am swapping out the front and rear differentials and tackling a lot of other things at the same time.

I would put priority on the water pump, radiator (hoses included), and thermostat. If they have not been changed out lately. They can be the main cause of a blown head gasket.

Thanks! I need to do a radiator flush, but the rest is pretty much new. My brother has a old subaru which needed the head gaskets replaced and my dad had an old mustang which blew head gasket so I've had more than my fair share dealing with that. Especially with miles racking up, that's good to know.

 

[Iron duke]

Went mudding with a couple buddies and the runner was the only one not to get stuck and I was doing some extra credit lines too.

The the next day went down for a weekend trip to Saint Augustine.

Finally I have a break so I'm going to catch up on some maintenance and soon to come Christmas upgrades that are pretty exciting!

Cost update:
4runner - 5000
spray paint for rims - 10
1/4 chicken wire - 15
rack basket - 50
shovel - 8
traction boards - 60
farm jack - 40
recovery strap - 30
recovery shackles - 10
TOTAL - 5223

 

[Iron duke]

Hey all, hope everyone had a good Christmas and New Years! Got some goodies for Christmas...

The largest upgrade is the snorkel. I live in Savannah, Ga and unfortunately it's either mudding or traveling to get to good trails, so that's my defense against the mall crawling...and yes, it is connected!

Next is the lightbar. Wanted it lower, like in the bumper, but the brackets wouldn't fit. I will probably put some amber lights down there.

Finally, my grandma got me a cb radio of all things so I will be installing that in the future.

A few weeks ago i bought the panhard correction kit and it's coming in tomorrow, so it will be interesting to feel the handling difference then. Also got a Trail Gear differential breather kit so I'll be installing that shortly as well. I still have some touch up POR-15 to do on some rails and then the first oil change since i bought it, so I'll be staying busy with all that.