2001 Beach Runner SR5 Slow Build

[Skinfaxi]

Ugh. So jealous of Thundercloud. It's the only thing I'd change about mine. Looks great!

 

[BoarderDave]

I really like your build so far! I miss living in California so much! Good choice on a radio, I had one of those in my old tacoma. The only complaint I have about it is that it was really bright at night.

Thanks! Yeah, this newer 720BT version has a dimming feature.. So I lowered the dimmer level down at the night sync setting (when my lights are turned on) and it's just a little bit brighter than the stock gauges and such.

Nice build so far! I wish I would have thought about that location when I mounted my microphone. I might go move mine now. It's currently mounted on the center of the steering column. I like that yours is out of sight.

Thanks! hah. Yeah, I sat there setting in all the normal locations I saw pics of people putting theirs and it was just bugging me too much. hah. So I scoped out this side part and it seems decent.
However, have you talked to anyone on the phone that mentioned they got the echo effect? I'm concerned that maybe my mic location is causing some sort of reverb echo..? My wife says when she calls me during my drive home she hears her own voice coming back to her after she speaks. So the mic must be picking up her sound coming from the speakers.. I wonder if this is normal or maybe something with my setup?

Ugh. So jealous of Thundercloud. It's the only thing I'd change about mine. Looks great!

Thanks for the kind words! hah. I agree. I'm a big fan of this color.. in direct sunlight, you get all the different shades as the shadows get cast on it.

:wof:

 

[Unner]

Thanks! hah. Yeah, I sat there setting in all the normal locations I saw pics of people putting theirs and it was just bugging me too much. hah. So I scoped out this side part and it seems decent.
However, have you talked to anyone on the phone that mentioned they got the echo effect? I'm concerned that maybe my mic location is causing some sort of reverb echo..? My wife says when she calls me during my drive home she hears her own voice coming back to her after she speaks. So the mic must be picking up her sound coming from the speakers.. I wonder if this is normal or maybe something with my setup?

I think that is semi normal. I think it has to do with how loud you have the speakers turned up. The louder, the more it will pick it up. It shouldn't be so bad that they are unable to have a conversation with you though.

 

[BoarderDave]

I think that is semi normal. I think it has to do with how loud you have the speakers turned up. The louder, the more it will pick it up. It shouldn't be so bad that they are unable to have a conversation with you though.

Okay, that makes sense. Thanks for the information on that. I'll be leaving it where it's mounted and just seeing how it goes. I'm more interested in music during my drives than I am in talking on the phone anyway. hah. :yo:

 

[W3LCH]

Super clean ride!:thumb:

 

[BoarderDave]

Super clean ride!:thumb:

Thank you, thank you. :yo:

I'm hoping to hear soon from my work to see if I'm going to be receiving a bonus this next month. If so, I might be getting some new tires on the ol gal. :driving: We shall see..

Until then.. she's being a good running commuter and beach runner.

 

[BoarderDave]

So, nothing major.. but I'm just working on cleaning up small loose ends and the little cleanliness things that pick at me. hah.

I had boring stock no-nothing headlight bulbs and I hate them. hah. So I upgraded last night to Philips CrystalVision Ultra's. I looooove them. So nice. Bright. A nice white light bulb.. I'm a big fan.

Stock photo:

Then next up today, I got some new center caps. The original ones that came from the factory were all faded off and looking like junk.

Old vs. New:

And an old up top, new on bottom.

Next up.. in the mail currently are some WeatherTech floor mats and new rear hatch shocks (the current ones are really struggling to keep the hatch up these days).

Thanks for checking it out.
:yo:

 

[BoarderDave]

Well.. continuing on my "cleaning" things up.. I removed these old, tired, stained carpet mats..

And dropped in a full set of these beauty's. I love these things..

I also replaced the well used and fading stock rear hatch struts with new StrongArm ones. They work great when the window is rolled up. Way better than stock. Once I roll the rear window down though, they struggle to get the hatch all the way up. They get about 80-85% the way up then stop and need a little assistance to get to the top. Oh well though.. usually if the window is down, I'm reaching inside anyways instead of opening the hatch. It'll do.

Next up which should arrive in the mail any day now is a new K&N drop in air filter, new parking light bulbs (my cheap Chinese knock off LED's already faded out after a few months), and some new Rain-X windshield wipers. :yo:

 

[MattJakobs]

Just a little heads up... A lot of your images aren't working anymore (at least on my computer)

 

[BoarderDave]

Just a little heads up... A lot of your images aren't working anymore (at least on my computer)

Thanks bud. Yeah, I just updated permissions on some of my flickr stuff, and unbeknownst to me, changing privacy on an image also changes it's hosted URL location.

I need to find time to go through it and update most the pics with their new URL's. :doh:

Thanks for the heads up though. :yo: Should be fixed by tonight.

 

[BoarderDave]

Alright, so.. Amazon box arrived last night with some additional maintenance items. Any car parts are always fun.. hah. Even if its just small stuff.

New Rain-X Latitude windshield wipers, K&N drop in filter, and some new parking light LED bulbs (Philips) to replace my previously installed cheapo Chinese knock off bulbs.. :yo:

 

[BoarderDave]

So ever since I put in my Pioneer deck a while back, the antenna is always up no matter if Im listening to the radio, or CD, or my iPod, or Bluetooth from my phone.. Antenna always goes up. :frusty:

So.. my buddy gave me one of these:

So, I removed everything, pulled my wiring harness out and re-did things to add the new wires for it:

And I decided the best place for it would be here:

Works great and I'm SO happy now that I can get in my car, turn on my radio, and my antenna wont go up unless I need it to! :yo:

 

[BoarderDave]

Minor update.. Yesterday I dropped her off at my local mechanic to get some fresh blood.

Had the oil changed back at 151k miles so now just over 152k miles, had my mechanic do the following:

- Transmission service: new filter and fluid change
- Coolant flush and change
- Brake fluid flush and change
- Power Steering fluid flush and change

Trying to keep her up to date as close as I could to the 150k service interval. :bigok:

 

[absalom]

Minor update.. Yesterday I dropped her off at my local mechanic to get some fresh blood.

Had the oil changed back at 151k miles so now just over 152k miles, had my mechanic do the following:

- Transmission service: new filter and fluid change
- Coolant flush and change
- Brake fluid flush and change
- Power Steering fluid flush and change

Trying to keep her up to date as close as I could to the 150k service interval. :bigok:

Hell ya man, good on you for staying on top of maintenance. Let's hope they actually changed the fluid! Not all mechanics do what they say

 

[BoarderDave]

Hell ya man, good on you for staying on top of maintenance. Let's hope they actually changed the fluid! Not all mechanics do what they say

Agh.. I hate to hear about stuff like that. So terrible. :yuck:
Yeah, I don't use the Jiffy-Quick, 15 minute, get you in and out ASAP type of places.. Never felt good about the rush they have. I dont care if it takes longer.. Id rather have it done right.
I have a mechanic guy who owns an independent shop I'm always around. He's a great guy and always helps me out so much, so I take any repair work that I don't have the time or expertise to do to him. Plus, I checked all the fluid quality of everything before and after. He definitely changed it. hah. :yo: I've always felt he did great work for me, luckily, I know it's not just me either.. Yelp reviews say the same thing I've always felt about Roberto's work as well.

My oil changes though, I do trust a drive through spot but its not a "quicky" place. They take their time and do a really good job. I only started trusting them after going through it a couple of times with my wife in her car and realizing that they were actually taking their time, checking everything, explaining all the things accurately to her (I was just sitting there quietly listening while they told her everything), not trying to scam her (she isn't very versed in all the mechanical stuff), and I looked over their whole 33 point inspection and sure enough.. they hit it all consistently.
Each time I sort of go in expecting that they are going to slip up and short-cut me someday.. but now having gone there for a couple years with 3 different vehicles.. no slip ups! So I'll keep doing it. Chevron Oil Stop; don't fail me now. hah. Plus they are right close to my place.. so real easy to swing through.

 

[absalom]

Words

That's great man, sounds like you've really done your research!

 

[BoarderDave]

Updating everyone to let you know there is no update... :dance:

hah. I've just been driving her around. Enjoying everything she is and can do.
I got the oil changed last week. New 10W-40 oil in to keep with usual 3-5k oil changes.

Just rolled over 156k yesterday evening.

All is good.. and now back to your regularly scheduled program of reading actual modifying threads. :yo:

 

[BoarderDave]

Pulled out my Owners Manual from the glovebox yesterday to do some research on my Traction Control, Overdrive Off, and ECT buttons. Wanted to make sure my understanding of them and proper usage was all up to snuff.

I forgot the original owner had provided me with the original dealer sticker from when she picked it up from the dealership brand new. :yo: I always love having all of the documentation and history on my vehicles..

And since I havent taken many shots of it recently... had to take a no nothin shot of her just hanging out.

One of these days Ill actually have a real update and mods to post for you guys. hah. Someday.. :blah:

 

[BoarderDave]

More non-mod mods.. :naughty:
Rolled through the 157k mile-marker then Plastidipped my rear emblems. Well, I guess by definition that would be a mod, but you know what I'm saying. :yo:

I'm also going to need to do some maintenance soon - Looking at plugs, wires, and maybe valve cover gaskets. Still TBD though on funding for that stuff. But I need to do a little mini tune up for her soon; get her running as smooth as butter again.

 

[BoarderDave]

Mid way through 158k miles on the odometer and my wife got me a few tune up parts for my Christmas gifts. So stoked.

Finally got in there today to officially do the first bit of engine work I have actually done myself on the 4Runner (unless you count changing an air filter.. hah - which I dont).

New NGK plugs and wires from all the quality recommendations on the forum here. Thanks everyone.
BKR5EKB-11 NGK plugs and NGK RC-TE66 wires. :yo:

Pulled some older looking Denso's from it:

All in all, replacement well easily and fairly smoothly. I was happy for that. I will be swapping out the fuel filter probably tomorrow.
The 4Runner definitely has a little quicker response and pickup now. I'm glad I changed these out.

And just for the fun of it.. here's a couple little shots I took the other day at the park.

Thanks for reading along.. :yo: