7 years and 3 4Runners later build thread

[ralatkins]

Okay, well here goes my first build thread........ First my current ride:
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it's a 1997, 3.4 ltr., no locker with the following mods:
- OME 881's with Tacoma 5100's (second perch) up front
- OME 891's with 5100's out back
- ISR removal
- 5" deckplate mod
- "Big 3" mod
- Hayden Trans Cooler with new Denso radiator
- Revtek Diff drop
- Autometer trans temp gauge
- Ebay Uniball upper control arms

Started like this:
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***** I APOLOGIZE IN ADVANCE FOR LACK OF PROGRESS / ACTUAL WORK PICS BUT I TEND TO WORK ALONE ON MY BACK IN MY CARPORT. AND I REALLY JUST WANT TO GET THE SHIT DONE AND NOT HAVE TO KEEP RUNING INSIDE TO WASH MY HANDS SO I CAN TAKE PICS!!! ******************

 

[ralatkins]

I bought my first 4Runner in November of 2009 (notice my join date, found this forum about 10 minutes after buying it). the first one was a 1997 as well, base model with a 3RZ and a five speed. I loved this truck, and almost immediately threw on some KYB shocks and 99 "tall" springs. She went from this:
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to this:
<a href="http://s359.photobucket.com/user/Kelly_Simmons_Ray_Atkins/media/DSC01717_zpsgqjhlyng.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i359.photobucket.com/albums/oo33/Kelly_Simmons_Ray_Atkins/DSC01717_zpsgqjhlyng.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo DSC01717_zpsgqjhlyng.jpg"/></a>
also added the obligatory Hella lights and some later model 4Runner wheels with 265 75R 16 Toyo Open Countrys.

One of the best vehicles I had ever owned, absolutely loved that truck. But..... was married at the time and the wife couldn't drive, wouldn't learn to drive and constantly *****ed about the 5 speed, so I sold it.

 

[ralatkins]

After making a little profit from the first 4Runner and needing another vehicle, I entered a VERY dark time in my life and bought a 2 door Tahoe because I thought they looked cool when I was younger. I won't even include pic of that truck, but I owned it for a couple of years and did a lot of work to it and made it as cool as a 2 door piece of shit Tahoe could be. A guy I knew made an offer on it, that put some money in my pocket and I got rid of that thing as quickly as i could. With money to spend and about 4 years lurking and reading on this forum (and no longer needing a daily driver), I decided I wanted to buy a 2nd Gen 4Runner and build it a little more extreme than my first 4Runner. So I found this little gem on Craigslist and started to work:
<a href="http://s359.photobucket.com/user/Kelly_Simmons_Ray_Atkins/media/4runner_zpssp7yfbq6.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i359.photobucket.com/albums/oo33/Kelly_Simmons_Ray_Atkins/4runner_zpssp7yfbq6.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 4runner_zpssp7yfbq6.jpg"/></a>

This was a 1994, 3.0 with leather. The PO had absolutely trashed the Runner, but I bought it for next to nothing and began the maintenance required to put it back together. Motor seized up on me and after a call to Dennis Machine in Baltimore, a new 3.0 was dropped in with Thorley headers and multihole injectors for fun. after a shitload of work later, the 4Runner ended up looking like this:
<a href="http://s359.photobucket.com/user/Kelly_Simmons_Ray_Atkins/media/IMG_0145%202_zpsmymwxixa.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i359.photobucket.com/albums/oo33/Kelly_Simmons_Ray_Atkins/IMG_0145%202_zpsmymwxixa.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_0145 2_zpsmymwxixa.jpg"/></a>

Still not built the way I wanted, had BJ spacers and LC spring sitting in the basement ready for install when this little guy showed up:
<a href="http://s359.photobucket.com/user/Kelly_Simmons_Ray_Atkins/media/IMG_2858%201_zps0djxsnzs.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i359.photobucket.com/albums/oo33/Kelly_Simmons_Ray_Atkins/IMG_2858%201_zps0djxsnzs.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_2858 1_zps0djxsnzs.jpg"/></a>

Oh yeah, and that pic with the dog is an old one...... lost the dog in the divorce..... what a ***** lol

 

[ralatkins]

Little guy hated the 94..... it was loud, and it rode terrible and little baby's scream like a banshee when they are unhappy..... who knew? So I let the 94 walk away and immediately began looking for what got me hooked on 4Runners in the first place. A 3rd Gen was what I had to have. And my list of needs was really quite small: 4wd (of course), 3.4 ltr, reasonable miles, little to no rust with an auto. Of course, I wanted a 99 with a locker, but not a one to be found in my price range with the mileage and in the condition I wanted.
While I'm at this point in the story, let me open my soul a bit and admit that I am a total poser. I don't really wheel, at least not yet, and that the harshest situation I've put any of these vehicles in is rush hour traffic while visiting Atlanta. Phew, I feel better now that I've gotten that off my chest.

So, I found this 4Runner in Richmond VA at a dealership. It had recently been traded in, I found it parked out back awaiting a trip to an auction. it was unlocked, so I went snooping. It had a HUGE stack of receipts from all the maintenance work ever done on it. Two previous owners, both from the Richmond area and both had seemingly done all the maintenance at the dealership. Timing belt had been done 5k miles earlier, but it seems like a lot of the easy shit had been overlooked. The truck was SPOTLESS, I searched and searched and only found a lone Cheeto under the drivers seat. No stains, no leftover food, no dried soda all over the place. I couldn't believe it. I strolled on in and went straight to the office area and started talking with the sales manager. He acted like he didn't want to sell me the truck, but after some discussion we were able to make the deal happen and I walked out paying too much for it (5,000) but happy with 178k and what appeared to be the entire maintenance history since new AND it had brand new BFG AT's on it in 265 75R 16.

After getting it home, immediately started on maintenance first.
<a href="http://s359.photobucket.com/user/Kelly_Simmons_Ray_Atkins/media/IMG_2857_zpsjyymfdky.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i359.photobucket.com/albums/oo33/Kelly_Simmons_Ray_Atkins/IMG_2857_zpsjyymfdky.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_2857_zpsjyymfdky.jpg"/></a>

and snatched the running boards off for instalift. The suspension had COMPLETELY shit the bed, but I didn't care because I knew I had plans there. It would smack the bumpstops on a speed bump. I mean painful.

 

[ralatkins]

I went ahead and changed the inner and outer tie rod ends, lower ball joints (all Toyota parts), all the fluids, radiator, did a trans flush, added a Hayden trans cooler and an Autometer trans temp gauge for piece of mind.
<a href="http://s359.photobucket.com/user/Kelly_Simmons_Ray_Atkins/media/IMG_2882_zpsqsexoinp.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i359.photobucket.com/albums/oo33/Kelly_Simmons_Ray_Atkins/IMG_2882_zpsqsexoinp.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_2882_zpsqsexoinp.jpg"/></a>
<a href="http://s359.photobucket.com/user/Kelly_Simmons_Ray_Atkins/media/IMG_2858_zpsnqkveupc.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i359.photobucket.com/albums/oo33/Kelly_Simmons_Ray_Atkins/IMG_2858_zpsnqkveupc.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_2858_zpsnqkveupc.jpg"/></a>
and the prerequisite poser light bar too with a little white paint on the Toyota emblem:
<a href="http://s359.photobucket.com/user/Kelly_Simmons_Ray_Atkins/media/IMG_2955_zpsgt5fui29.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i359.photobucket.com/albums/oo33/Kelly_Simmons_Ray_Atkins/IMG_2955_zpsgt5fui29.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_2955_zpsgt5fui29.jpg"/></a>

Was thinking of doing a Satoshi mod while I was waiting on my suspension parts to come in, but my license plate surround was trashed and I wanted something a little different so I did this:
<a href="http://s359.photobucket.com/user/Kelly_Simmons_Ray_Atkins/media/IMG_2989_zpslb6fefnd.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i359.photobucket.com/albums/oo33/Kelly_Simmons_Ray_Atkins/IMG_2989_zpslb6fefnd.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_2989_zpslb6fefnd.jpg"/></a>
let me go on record as saying that I dislike the chive but I LOVE Bill Murray, hence the sticker.

 

[ralatkins]

After throwing some cash to Wheeler's OffRoad (thanks to [MENTION=87036]YotaDan[/MENTION]), I had some real work to do. Like I mentioned, the suspension was completely trashed. Here's a rear pic for reference:<a href="http://s359.photobucket.com/user/Kelly_Simmons_Ray_Atkins/media/IMG_2931_zpsanp1q0sp.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i359.photobucket.com/albums/oo33/Kelly_Simmons_Ray_Atkins/IMG_2931_zpsanp1q0sp.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_2931_zpsanp1q0sp.jpg"/></a>
that's sitting unloaded in my carport.

So I got to work.
<a href="http://s359.photobucket.com/user/Kelly_Simmons_Ray_Atkins/media/IMG_2932_zpsi75kos8m.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i359.photobucket.com/albums/oo33/Kelly_Simmons_Ray_Atkins/IMG_2932_zpsi75kos8m.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_2932_zpsi75kos8m.jpg"/></a>
OME 891's with Bilstein 5100's out back

Just the rear done:
<a href="http://s359.photobucket.com/user/Kelly_Simmons_Ray_Atkins/media/IMG_2933_zpsyee8d6dw.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i359.photobucket.com/albums/oo33/Kelly_Simmons_Ray_Atkins/IMG_2933_zpsyee8d6dw.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_2933_zpsyee8d6dw.jpg"/></a>

<a href="http://s359.photobucket.com/user/Kelly_Simmons_Ray_Atkins/media/IMG_2954_zpsapdpxhjx.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i359.photobucket.com/albums/oo33/Kelly_Simmons_Ray_Atkins/IMG_2954_zpsapdpxhjx.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_2954_zpsapdpxhjx.jpg"/></a>
OME 881's on Tacoma 5100's lowest perch.

I ran it this way for about 3 months, but the rake was too much for my liking.
<a href="http://s359.photobucket.com/user/Kelly_Simmons_Ray_Atkins/media/IMG_2982_zpsopket2ot.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i359.photobucket.com/albums/oo33/Kelly_Simmons_Ray_Atkins/IMG_2982_zpsopket2ot.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_2982_zpsopket2ot.jpg"/></a>

 

[ralatkins]

Decided I wanted some Uniball UCA's but I'm on a budget man, and after reading some reviews on here I thought I'd give the Ebay ones a try. I bought them after some other folks had problems and when mine showed up, they needed nothing. The spacers were cut correct and the zerk fittings appeared to be decent quality. While I was installing the UCA's, I decided to move those 5100's up front to the second perch.
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I also went ahead and changed out the steering rack guide to the newer version. It really tightened my steering up nicely.
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Here's a pic of a couple of nicer rides than mine, at a meet up in Raleigh for the Carolina 4Runners OffRoad Group (https://www.facebook.com/groups/C4R.ORG).<ahref="http://s359.photobucket.com/user/Kelly_Simmons_Ray_Atkins/media/IMG_3138_zpshiunl7tb.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i359.photobucket.com/albums/oo33/Kelly_Simmons_Ray_Atkins/IMG_3138_zpshiunl7tb.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_3138_zpshiunl7tb.jpg"/></a>

 

[ralatkins]

Oh and then this. I got bored in between waiting for parts to arrive and decided to build a trailer. And by build I mean that I bought an already built trailer, did the research and picked out parts and then paid someone to weld the stuff on. I did all the work besides the welding. But I can't weld lol
<ahref="http://s359.photobucket.com/user/Kelly_Simmons_Ray_Atkins/media/IMG_2810_zpskulyfpxg.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i359.photobucket.com/albums/oo33/Kelly_Simmons_Ray_Atkins/IMG_2810_zpskulyfpxg.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_2810_zpskulyfpxg.jpg"/></a>

Used leafs and shocks from a 97 TJ Wrangler, bought the shackles from Quadratec and had it all welded up.
<ahref="http://s359.photobucket.com/user/Kelly_Simmons_Ray_Atkins/media/IMG_2809_zpsgvw4u4ym.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i359.photobucket.com/albums/oo33/Kelly_Simmons_Ray_Atkins/IMG_2809_zpsgvw4u4ym.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_2809_zpsgvw4u4ym.jpg"/></a>

Had some spacers that converted the lugs over so that it matched the 4Runner's and added some old wheels I had laying around with tired 31X10.50's to the trailer.
<ahref="http://s359.photobucket.com/user/Kelly_Simmons_Ray_Atkins/media/IMG_2990_zpsn2xxgepu.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i359.photobucket.com/albums/oo33/Kelly_Simmons_Ray_Atkins/IMG_2990_zpsn2xxgepu.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMG_2990_zpsn2xxgepu.jpg"/></a>

Turned out pretty cool I think, but still have quite of work left. Have to add airbags because the Wrangler springs are wicked soft, I have lights and a winch to add to the front because this trailer will double as a yard work trailer and hopefully one day an overlanding trailer for the family. gotta enclose the sides and figure out what I'll be putting on the bottom.

 

[ralatkins]

Well, thats where I sit as of now. Almost 6 years after buying my first 4Runner and joining this forum. I would really like to say THANK YOU to all the folks whose ideas that I have blatantly stolen and used as well as for all the good advice that you guys regularly provide. I am a horrible mechanic with limited tools and zero skill, but thanks to this forum, the occasional youtube video and sheer dumbass luck I have been able to piece together a 4Runner that I am pretty damn proud of.

 

[Scramble]

I'm sad about you selling the 3RZ 5-Speed, love that Anthracite color too. The 2nd gen came out nice.

There's a guy here who's signature reads:

"My Ex said it was me or the 4Runner".

LOL, He's my hero & my current GF understands her place. She gets me tools for Christmas & B-day... I'll keep her.

 

[Chuckles89]

So, how does the 2.7 vs 3.0 vs 3.4 compare?

 

[ralatkins]

I'm sad about you selling the 3RZ 5-Speed, love that Anthracite color too. The 2nd gen came out nice.

There's a guy here who's signature reads:

"My Ex said it was me or the 4Runner".

LOL, He's my hero & my current GF understands her place. She gets me tools for Christmas & B-day... I'll keep her.

yeah, i wish i had that attitude too! I should have never gotten rid of that first one. the anthracite is my favorite color.

So, how does the 2.7 vs 3.0 vs 3.4 compare?

apples to prunes to oranges lol. The 2.7 with the manual was good, fun and i really enjoyed it. The 3.0 before the new one was not good at all, but the rebuilt one with the headers, intake and multihole injectors wasn't bad. the 3.4 is awesome, of course. I couldn't be happier with it.

 

[ralatkins]

Yeah, these just shipped! Part of a group buy with the Carolina 4Runners Offroad group.

Holy shit, I'm excited lol.

 

[ralatkins]

Well the sliders from Hot Metal Fab are in and they are bad ass. Super stout, really pretty welds too. Couldn't be happier.