2strokeTRush
New member
So I have been on Tacomaworld for awhile now and recently bought a 4runner and made a thread over there, so I figure Ill be a member here as well 
Remember I have been working at this for a month now, so some post are past tense and done.
Alright so first a little back story, My names Tyler, Im a Marine Mechanic in Baltimore Md. This will be my first 4Runner but not my first Toyota. I consider myself actually very familiar with Toyotas as we have 7 in the family. First build thread as well.
I got my start in Toyotas in 2011 when my older brother bought his 87 4Runner while living in Tennessee, since then its been a obsession within our family and has actually brought us closer as a family. Since we are all very " Outdoorsy " its surprising we never had a Toyota truck until then. I personally got my start in 2012 as a senior in High School when I bought my 1997 Tacoma. Its been my Pride and Joy ever since. A few pictures to start out with:
My Tacoma
My dads 2004 Tacoma, welded the rot on his frame and I did the Arb for him:
My Brothers 1997 Tacoma I also did the Arb for his:
And his 87 4Runner he painted in our backyard:
Then one day about 2 months ago one of my good friends asked me to come take a look at the frame on his wifes 3rd Gen 4Runner. I deemed his frame unrepairable and he got rid of it, but before he did I got a chance to check it out, thats when I realized I had never been in a 3rd Gen and I loved it. Kind of like the best of both worlds. I new I had to get myself one. I started looking and sold my daily driver, a 2001 Honda civic that gave me 35 MPG. Then yesterday I found my new to me 4Runner.....
Found her through a friend of a friend and settled the deal for 1500$ 2001 V6 4x4 Sr5 with 200K miles and in decent shape. Hoping I did well. Sorry I don't have to many pictures yet, basically haven't had time to even touch it yet, I will soon, Crazy couple of days...
My budget is limited right now, as my Fiance and I are looking for our first house and thats taking most of my funds. But my long term goals are a mild lift with armor and lights and a nice set of all terrains, but nowhere near to the degree what my Tacoma has become.
For right now I want to get it back to the best shape a truck with 200K miles can be and do it safely.
I will be updating this thread regularly so feel free to help out in anyway. I regret never making a thread for my Tacoma but this Forum has been a invaluable source of Information and has helped me time and time again.
Pulled the scan gauge out of my tacoma and put in on the 4runner tonight, pulled a P1135 code which according to online research means its the A/F Sensor. Apparently this is the number 1 most common code and the easy fix seams to be replacing the A/F Sensor obviously. Which is good because I don't like guess work, or Mechanics who guess on the customers dime, so knowing that my CEL is not going to be EVAP related is good. 80$ on Amazon no big deal. Got the bellows kit for the power steering rack an should have that done this week. Never removed Ti-Rods before but it doesn't look that hard.
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS OUT!! Replaced the forward Fuel/Air sensor and the code cleared instantly on startup. Old one looks pretty rough.
Installed LED kit from Low Range Off Road in the door lights and wow what a difference! Ordering 2 more kits for the front and rear to, my dad and brother want one now to after seeing how much light this things put out its really ridiculous. Wish shipping from Low Range wasn't 14$ standard since the kits are only like 5$.
The last issue I'm dealing with is the spark plugs, After trying to remove two of them and both being VERY tight I stopped. Didn't get either one of them out. The truck was cold but still worries me that I was using all of my strength on a 3/8 ratchet. I have sprayed penetrating oil in the plugs bores for now and I'm gonna wait until after inspection to try and change them, Maybe Ill use 1/2 and heat the truck up a little.
Well I took the 4Runner in for inspection and she didn't pass
No biggie nothing major. Failed for a few reasons:
-Front brake pads
-Both inner Tie Rods worn
-Tie Rod Bellows ( Which I knew about )
-Driver side Lower Ball Joint
-Rack and Pinion Bushings
-Hatch Tail Light
....And some total BS. about the flange coming off the back of the muffler. Its rusty but I can't feel any leaks whatsoever.
So far this week I have done the front pads, the bushings on the rack and Pinion, Which by the way Is a job I NEVER want to do again. What a pain in the rear. Also did the inner tie rods and tomorrow I plan to do the driver LBJ. I may do the outer tie rods as well since they're so easy to do and I can see some free play in them even though the inspection didn't say anything. I had no clue hot to do any of this but after watching a few youtube videos I saved myself the money of having a shop do the work!
New Tires! Went with a set of Falken AT3s All Terrains and got a smoking deal from discount tire direct. They ride great and look awesome. Just wish they would have come with White Letters.
Spent most of yesterday doing lots of painting on the 4Runner. Started with the wheels, I had never painted rims before and I think they turned out pretty good. I had to remove LOTS of flakes and oxidation in the rims and doing so I went to deep in a few spots and you can tell. But Ill get over it. Used VHT Wheel Paint primer, paint, and gloss. Degreased and cleaned before hand and let 30 minutes between coats in the sun.
Then went to change my rear bumper over from the rusted original to the nicer one I found last week. But the mounts where different, so I had to modify and weld The old mounts to the new bumper and it ended up working. What made me more mad was when I went to install I see there are some offset holes that may have worked! I assume Toyota changed the mounts but not the body for these few years. Also Cut and installed some flush mounted LED's for backing up and light at night. Ill wire them to a switch on the dash somewhere.Cleaned up the rusted hitch while I was in there and painted the bumper but it didnt turn out as nice as I would have liked.
Not really much happening recently I have been busy building a motor for my boat so it doesnt carry over into the winter. Still working on the 4Runner though. This week I converted the interior dash lighting to LED and I love it. Half of my climate controls and right hand buttons were out anyway. Pretty easy to do, just a little time consuming.
Also wired up the rear LEd's but I dont have a picture, simple wiring with a red light rocker switch in a factory blank. Looks good.
-I bought front sway bar links and frame bushings but have not gotten around to it yet, will most likely paint the sway bar to. while I have the paint out Im planning to hit the roof rack and spoiler to, they have been killing me with there faded, sunburned, flaking look! I have Been driving it everyday for 2weeks now and over that period I averaged 17mpg 90% off highway driving. Hard to complain about those numbers.
-Im headed to Up State PA week after thanksgiving for hunting camp an for the first time in 5 years the Tacoma wont be headed up with me, Gonna give the 4Runner a shot and see how she does. My fiance's father thinks Im crazy taking a truck with 200k+ miles on a 400 mile trip through some sketchy mountain roads. I think ill be okay
Removed and painted the roof rack since it was so chipped and faded:
Just got back from my 300 mile trip and the truck did great, I averaged 22mpg with engine temps never getting above 198 and trans temps jumping between 150 and 190 degrees. Cant complain there:
Remember I have been working at this for a month now, so some post are past tense and done.Alright so first a little back story, My names Tyler, Im a Marine Mechanic in Baltimore Md. This will be my first 4Runner but not my first Toyota. I consider myself actually very familiar with Toyotas as we have 7 in the family. First build thread as well.
I got my start in Toyotas in 2011 when my older brother bought his 87 4Runner while living in Tennessee, since then its been a obsession within our family and has actually brought us closer as a family. Since we are all very " Outdoorsy " its surprising we never had a Toyota truck until then. I personally got my start in 2012 as a senior in High School when I bought my 1997 Tacoma. Its been my Pride and Joy ever since. A few pictures to start out with:
My Tacoma
My dads 2004 Tacoma, welded the rot on his frame and I did the Arb for him:
My Brothers 1997 Tacoma I also did the Arb for his:
And his 87 4Runner he painted in our backyard:
Then one day about 2 months ago one of my good friends asked me to come take a look at the frame on his wifes 3rd Gen 4Runner. I deemed his frame unrepairable and he got rid of it, but before he did I got a chance to check it out, thats when I realized I had never been in a 3rd Gen and I loved it. Kind of like the best of both worlds. I new I had to get myself one. I started looking and sold my daily driver, a 2001 Honda civic that gave me 35 MPG. Then yesterday I found my new to me 4Runner.....
Found her through a friend of a friend and settled the deal for 1500$ 2001 V6 4x4 Sr5 with 200K miles and in decent shape. Hoping I did well. Sorry I don't have to many pictures yet, basically haven't had time to even touch it yet, I will soon, Crazy couple of days...
My budget is limited right now, as my Fiance and I are looking for our first house and thats taking most of my funds. But my long term goals are a mild lift with armor and lights and a nice set of all terrains, but nowhere near to the degree what my Tacoma has become.
For right now I want to get it back to the best shape a truck with 200K miles can be and do it safely.
I will be updating this thread regularly so feel free to help out in anyway. I regret never making a thread for my Tacoma but this Forum has been a invaluable source of Information and has helped me time and time again.
Pulled the scan gauge out of my tacoma and put in on the 4runner tonight, pulled a P1135 code which according to online research means its the A/F Sensor. Apparently this is the number 1 most common code and the easy fix seams to be replacing the A/F Sensor obviously. Which is good because I don't like guess work, or Mechanics who guess on the customers dime, so knowing that my CEL is not going to be EVAP related is good. 80$ on Amazon no big deal. Got the bellows kit for the power steering rack an should have that done this week. Never removed Ti-Rods before but it doesn't look that hard.
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS OUT!! Replaced the forward Fuel/Air sensor and the code cleared instantly on startup. Old one looks pretty rough.
Installed LED kit from Low Range Off Road in the door lights and wow what a difference! Ordering 2 more kits for the front and rear to, my dad and brother want one now to after seeing how much light this things put out its really ridiculous. Wish shipping from Low Range wasn't 14$ standard since the kits are only like 5$.
The last issue I'm dealing with is the spark plugs, After trying to remove two of them and both being VERY tight I stopped. Didn't get either one of them out. The truck was cold but still worries me that I was using all of my strength on a 3/8 ratchet. I have sprayed penetrating oil in the plugs bores for now and I'm gonna wait until after inspection to try and change them, Maybe Ill use 1/2 and heat the truck up a little.
Well I took the 4Runner in for inspection and she didn't pass
No biggie nothing major. Failed for a few reasons:-Front brake pads
-Both inner Tie Rods worn
-Tie Rod Bellows ( Which I knew about )
-Driver side Lower Ball Joint
-Rack and Pinion Bushings
-Hatch Tail Light
....And some total BS. about the flange coming off the back of the muffler. Its rusty but I can't feel any leaks whatsoever.
So far this week I have done the front pads, the bushings on the rack and Pinion, Which by the way Is a job I NEVER want to do again. What a pain in the rear. Also did the inner tie rods and tomorrow I plan to do the driver LBJ. I may do the outer tie rods as well since they're so easy to do and I can see some free play in them even though the inspection didn't say anything. I had no clue hot to do any of this but after watching a few youtube videos I saved myself the money of having a shop do the work!
New Tires! Went with a set of Falken AT3s All Terrains and got a smoking deal from discount tire direct. They ride great and look awesome. Just wish they would have come with White Letters.
Spent most of yesterday doing lots of painting on the 4Runner. Started with the wheels, I had never painted rims before and I think they turned out pretty good. I had to remove LOTS of flakes and oxidation in the rims and doing so I went to deep in a few spots and you can tell. But Ill get over it. Used VHT Wheel Paint primer, paint, and gloss. Degreased and cleaned before hand and let 30 minutes between coats in the sun.
Then went to change my rear bumper over from the rusted original to the nicer one I found last week. But the mounts where different, so I had to modify and weld The old mounts to the new bumper and it ended up working. What made me more mad was when I went to install I see there are some offset holes that may have worked! I assume Toyota changed the mounts but not the body for these few years. Also Cut and installed some flush mounted LED's for backing up and light at night. Ill wire them to a switch on the dash somewhere.Cleaned up the rusted hitch while I was in there and painted the bumper but it didnt turn out as nice as I would have liked.
Not really much happening recently I have been busy building a motor for my boat so it doesnt carry over into the winter. Still working on the 4Runner though. This week I converted the interior dash lighting to LED and I love it. Half of my climate controls and right hand buttons were out anyway. Pretty easy to do, just a little time consuming.
Also wired up the rear LEd's but I dont have a picture, simple wiring with a red light rocker switch in a factory blank. Looks good.
-I bought front sway bar links and frame bushings but have not gotten around to it yet, will most likely paint the sway bar to. while I have the paint out Im planning to hit the roof rack and spoiler to, they have been killing me with there faded, sunburned, flaking look! I have Been driving it everyday for 2weeks now and over that period I averaged 17mpg 90% off highway driving. Hard to complain about those numbers.
-Im headed to Up State PA week after thanksgiving for hunting camp an for the first time in 5 years the Tacoma wont be headed up with me, Gonna give the 4Runner a shot and see how she does. My fiance's father thinks Im crazy taking a truck with 200k+ miles on a 400 mile trip through some sketchy mountain roads. I think ill be okay
Removed and painted the roof rack since it was so chipped and faded:
Just got back from my 300 mile trip and the truck did great, I averaged 22mpg with engine temps never getting above 198 and trans temps jumping between 150 and 190 degrees. Cant complain there:
Last edited:
