4th Gen 4Runner v8 IFS Ultra4 Build - Opinions Needed

Only one update:
I spoke with John at Unichips. He confirmed the product below will work for a '06-09 4Runner:

Unichip - 2006 Toyota Tundra tuning chip | car tuning


2006 TOYOTA TUNDRA 4.7L
Add's up to 25hp & 25ft-lb

Easily plugs into the stock ECU & ECU harness in minutes , no programming necessary

Realizes the full potential of Aftermarket add-on's like Cold-Air-Intakes & exhaust systems , as each kit comes pre-mapped for the exact set-up of each car or truck.

No end-user tuning necessary , just plug the kit into the car & you're ready to go.

Easily upgradeable for future add-on's.

Each kit comes with two maps : a low octane performance map & a high octane performance map, switchable from within the vehicle.

Fully tuneable by a Unichip Custom Tuner for customized add-on's . This basically means that the Engine Management System in your ride is now as tuner friendly as the most advanced Standalone systems in the world , without sacrificing any of the factory features. This feature is unmatched by any reflash-tuning or other similar product.

Plug 'n Play harnesses are fully Flux capable - purchase Flux when you purchase the Plug 'n Play kit or upgrade later - Flux simply plugs into the Unichip Plug 'n Play harness.

Plug 'n Play kits are removed from the vehicle in minutes , returning the vehicle to stock tuning , without leaving a footprint of ever having been modified (a feature which reflash-tuning cannot match).

The Plug 'n Play kit that comes pre-mapped to optimize your bolt-on accessories

Installs in minutes, ready to roll!
$525.00 USD

Reviews:
UniChip Performance Chip Engine Tuner | Tundra Headquarters Blog

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/4th-gen-t4rs/160628-who-has-used-unichip-their-4runner-2.html

Reviews are all over the board... Any opinions? Do these chips actually work?

OR...

Do I just stick with this instead and save some $:
https://www.urdusa.com/urd-maf-sensor-calibrator/

Wonder if both would work together?
 
Last edited:
I have no uni-chip exp.

I do like the URD stuff.
I would e-mail them and ask the horse instead of the mouth.

The URD MAF is probably dated...I guess our T4R's are too...SplitSecond...https://splitsec.com/
You can hook it to a laptop and 'tune' it. RS232
 
I have no uni-chip exp.

I do like the URD stuff.
I would e-mail them and ask the horse instead of the mouth.

The URD MAF is probably dated...I guess our T4R's are too...SplitSecond...https://splitsec.com/
You can hook it to a laptop and 'tune' it. RS232

Yeah I asked URD about their MAF Calibrator a while back here is what Gadget told me:

Yes, the MAF Cal will work great on your truck. If you have the stock intake I might even have map I can preload in it for you.

The MAF Cal controls the fueling exactly the same way the unichip does. The plus side is our units are 100% reliable. We have never had one fail on a customer and be returned to us. 100% of the unichips we handled had failed.

Steve (Gadget) Dopler

My novice advice on the subject:

Really I'm not sure what HP gains will do during a race except spin the tires faster on the dirt. Lower gearing with an aftermarket T-Case or crawlbox will do wonders for your low-end torque. High end power won't matter when your suspension will be your limiting factor anyway, right?
 
My novice advice on the subject:

Really I'm not sure what HP gains will do during a race except spin the tires faster on the dirt. Lower gearing with an aftermarket T-Case or crawlbox will do wonders for your low-end torque. High end power won't matter when your suspension will be your limiting factor anyway, right?

HP will matter on Lap 1 where most go out. Big desert sections, passing zones, large sand hill climbs. Won't matter in the rocks, but you have to make it to the rocks which are usually Laps 2 and 3.

We're just trying to get to 300 HP / 325 Torque or so. UAF MAF Calibrator, Air Intake, Headers, Y-Pipe, Exhaust should get us there.

I'm skeptical on Unichip - and I trust Gadget's advice (I've been listening to him since the late 90's) and won't waste my $.
 
I do like the URD stuff.
I would e-mail them and ask the horse instead of the mouth.

The URD MAF is probably dated...I guess our T4R's are too...SplitSecond...https://splitsec.com/
You can hook it to a laptop and 'tune' it. RS232

Thanks. I'll reach out to URD direct.

Splitsec stuff looks interesting, but the Race Only disclaimer is a bit frightening since this 4Runner will be driven on the roads some in addition to Ultra4.
 
I would love to see a dyno test proving that there is actually a horsepower increase from stock with nothing more than a "tuning" chip... I doubt it will do anything at all except piss off the factory ECU and shift the powerband slightly.
 
I would love to see a dyno test proving that there is actually a horsepower increase from stock with nothing more than a "tuning" chip... I doubt it will do anything at all except piss off the factory ECU and shift the powerband slightly.

Gadget has stated a stock Camry got 15hp, and other yotas get 10-15hp.

URD Maf calibrator installed. - Page 2 - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums


This guy got 8hp over exhaust/intake numbers with the calibrator with a v8 4runner.

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/engin...e-1-transformation-exhaust-chip-intake-3.html

Not a whole lot but there is some to be gained, especially with how cheap it is.
 
[MENTION=162495]Charles4x4[/MENTION]

My brother was telling me about this thread he read. Somewhere in it Marlin Crawler is working on a beefy IFS steering kit, and they say the stock front gears are strong enough for 40" tires... I haven't read it myself but I'm sure it will be valuable info for you.

BigMike's Big Journey: A 2016 Tacoma Build Thread
 
[MENTION=162495]Charles4x4[/MENTION]

My brother was telling me about this thread he read. Somewhere in it Marlin Crawler is working on a beefy IFS steering kit, and they say the stock front gears are strong enough for 40" tires... I haven't read it myself but I'm sure it will be valuable info for you.

BigMike's Big Journey: A 2016 Tacoma Build Thread
Wow, amazing build thread by BigMike at Marlin!

I couldn't find the part about the IFS steering kit?

I did read the part about 4.88s in the stock tacoma IFS front diff. Unfortunately I don't think surviving ultra-low crawling on the Rubicon is close to the same level of abuse I'll see at KOH, so I want to stick with the custom Diamond IFS front end for now.

I love All Pro Offroad, but also think his IFS front suspension wouldn't work for KOH (strength and travel are both lacking). We're going ultra-HD on Steering, IFS Suspension, and Differentials/Shafts!

Loved seeing the RCV shafts - we'll be running them too!

Thanks so much for passing this along.
 
Wow, amazing build thread by BigMike at Marlin!

I couldn't find the part about the IFS steering kit?

I did read the part about 4.88s in the stock tacoma IFS front diff. Unfortunately I don't think surviving ultra-low crawling on the Rubicon is close to the same level of abuse I'll see at KOH, so I want to stick with the custom Diamond IFS front end for now.

I love All Pro Offroad, but also think his IFS front suspension wouldn't work for KOH (strength and travel are both lacking). We're going ultra-HD on Steering, IFS Suspension, and Differentials/Shafts!

Loved seeing the RCV shafts - we'll be running them too!

Thanks so much for passing this along.

Post 621 and 628 on this page: BigMike's Big Journey: A 2016 Tacoma Build Thread - Page 21

#641 on this page: BigMike's Big Journey: A 2016 Tacoma Build Thread - Page 22
 
Good luck! I have a 4500 80 series I've been building and raced a few times. My original plan was to do a 4600 4Runner but then plans changed, so curious to see how yours comes along.

<a href="https://imgur.com/6Zm07S7"><img src="https://i.imgur.com/6Zm07S7l.jpg" title="source: imgur.com" /></a>
 

Found it. Pasting below:

#621
I'm still waiting on a few machined parts to complete what I believe to be the strongest street-legal steering upgrade for the 2nd and 3rd gen Tacoma platform (hopefully also compatible with early FJ C and 4th gen 4R). To illustrate, my Tie Rod Ends have gone from their factory spec 15mm up to now 23mm (135% STRONGER!!!), the diameter of the inner tie rod where it commonly fails has gone from 13.97mm to 21.75mm (142% STRONGER!!!!!!!).....................guys that is over 2.4 times stronger than stock :sheerterror:, and my steering rack is now 49% heavier and massively stronger than stock :o

My steering has been upgraded so beyond a night and day difference that I need a new idiom to describe it. At this point I'd be willing to stress-test it through a trail with my 40s aired down to 1 PSI in 1st gear 4WD with the rear drive line removed. That is how confident I am about it. It won't break, which means other things will break, which is great because I'm continuing to push the IFS envelop further and further where it hasn't gone before. To this end, I am already anticipating the next failure and am well underway in developing additional components, especially now with a certain company no longer in business I have zero reservations holding me back.

#628
I must develop IFS steering strong enough (as I will find out through my own testing with 40" tires) for the serious Rock Crawler thereby creating the World's First Actual Rock Crawling-Specific Tacoma IFS solution on the market.


#641
And finally, Ladies and Gentlemen, I present to you the MarRack, soon to be the Strongest Street-legal Steering Upgrade Kit for the 6cyl 3rd gen Tacoma!!

Hopefully also (test-fit pending): All 2005+ Tacomas, 2003-09 4Runners, 2003-09 Lexus GX, and 2007-09 FJ Cruiser. In theory, it should be compatible with all these models, however, because I don't know the shapes and placement of the 2TR/1GR/2UZ oil pans/oil cooler lines/air conditioning lines/automatic transmission lines, we will need to test fit each application one-at-a-time to know what is and is not compatible. I'll say this much: It is a very tight fit beneath the 2GR.

The MarRack is being designed as the de facto IFS Steering Upgrade Kit for the daily driven serious IFS Rock Crawler:
The internal rack itself is 54% stronger
It has a much Larger Pinion Gear
It is beefy at 49% heavier
It has 142% Stronger Inner Tie Rods(!!)
The Frame Mount Bolts are 63% Stronger(!!)
It holds more fluid for a larger cooling capacity
It has a full aluminum body for improved strength and heat dissipation
It's body is also wider, providing increased support for when the rack is at it's furthest extension / full steering lock in either direction
Both bushing mounts are part of the large, one-piece aluminum body
No more silly half-welded stamped steel bushing clamps
Because it is wider, it has 15% further rack movement for our choice of either increasing the maximum steering angle or reduced steering wheel effort

I'm claiming for it to be "at least" as good as the numbers say because when you consider all points as a complete system it is going to be night-and-day stronger than the factory setup. Moreover, I am leveraging to the Rock Crawler's advantage multiple geometry changes that otherwise cannot be done to really put together a package, as you will see, that blows the doors off anything on the road today.

Seriously guys the MarRack is not playing around. I fully expect it to be more than strong enough for 40" tires in the rocks and I'll be beating the hell out of it to verify my claim :shades:

-------------------------------------------------------------

Love it! I'm going to ping Big Mike on it now. Thanks for finding this - that thread is huge and I simply missed it.
 
Good luck! I have a 4500 80 series I've been building and raced a few times. My original plan was to do a 4600 4Runner but then plans changed, so curious to see how yours comes along.

<a href="https://imgur.com/6Zm07S7"><img src="https://i.imgur.com/6Zm07S7l.jpg" title="source: imgur.com" /></a>

Thanks! Your bulid and race last year was one of the triggers that made me say "I can do it". My wife and I loved watching you live on the 2017 feed. Excited to see what you come up with next year and we should definitely meet up in Feb!
 
Help Needed:
I’m working with a wheel sponsor for the 17” beadlocks and need to provide:

Width: 17x8.5” or 17x9.5”?
Bolt Pattern: 6x5.5" (or 6x139.7mm)
Backspace: ?
Beadlock Ring: Steel or Aluminum
Material: Forged Aliminum or Cast (They recommend Cast)
Stud Size:

Any opinions?
 
Last edited:
Help Needed:
I’m working with a wheel sponsor for the 17” beadlocks and need to provide:

Width: 17x8.5” or 17x9.5”?
Bolt Pattern: 6x5.5" (or 6x139.7mm)
Backspace: ?
Beadlock Ring: Steel or Aluminum
Material: Forged Aliminum or Cast (They recommend Cast)
Stud Size:

Any opinions?



I would get together with your sponsor and speak with them. They will have the most knowledge on their wheels as to what works the best. Chances are they have others running their wheels at KOH and Ultra4.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
I'm excited to say that this Steel City Racing: King of the Hammers 2019 Toyota 4Runner IFS 4600 Build has officially commenced! Thank you to everyone who contributed to this post - it laid the ground work of what is going to be an awesome build and an amazing adventure.

Follow our progress on Instagram and Facebook:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SteelCityRacing4x4/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/steelcityracing4x4/

And check out the official build thread here:
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/4th-g...019-toyota-4runner-ifs-4600-build-thread.html
 
Help Needed:
I’m working with a wheel sponsor for the 17” beadlocks and need to provide:

Width: 17x8.5” or 17x9.5”?
Bolt Pattern: 6x5.5" (or 6x139.7mm)
Backspace: ?
Beadlock Ring: Steel or Aluminum
Material: Forged Aliminum or Cast (They recommend Cast)
Stud Size:

Any opinions?

You want all aluminum and 0 offset, I would get the 9.5 width for larger tires that you will need. Also you will need to install extended studs on your front hubs for most beadlocks. I always thought forged aluminum was better for high impact but could be wrong.
 

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