'98 2.7L 4x4 Starter Project

[M.r Yan]

Greatings - I've always been checking in on the 1998 thread but never was I member. I joined up to hopefully get some mod info and ideas on how I can upgrade and update my 4runner. I've already done some small style mods; Cold-air Intake, slotted and polished brakes and pads, swapped the stock deck for a cd player. That was only the start. I hope to really dig deep into exploring all aspects of upgrades and updates.
I'm looking to update the exterior lights all round from front to back, the interior lighting could also use an upgrade; LED's, key slot, dash lights, ect. I'm hoping that the vets of this side of the forums can lend some insight into what works, what doesn't, where to shop and where to look. The engine of course would be the next step in mods; Headers perhaps? I hope to hear from you guys.
-M.r Yan

 

[UnderFire]

Imo any bolt on power adders on the 3rz are pointless, really the only way it will ever gain anything significant is with boost, either a turbo or supercharger.

Welcome to the forums though. Good to see another new 3RZ owner, were pretty few and far between.

 

[M.r Yan]

starter?

polaris sportsman 500 4x4 1998 98 starter This starter is in great condition with normal wear. There is no damage, good mounts. good splines spins ...

So, your saying maybe some newer lines? Would be awesome to find some sweet lines and cables that really make it look clean and nice. Nothing flashy.

If your talking about new starter, i already had to replace mine; dug around and found out it was actually another replacement or even rebuild of the stock one. But before i did that i thought it might have just been the six year old battery and connectors. Now when it starts it sounds so nice.

 

[M.r Yan]

Speakers and LEDs

Slight new update:

Today I just got finished swapping out the stock factory front door speakers for some fresh new Kenwood KFC-1665S 6 1/2" Sport Series. Removing the door wasn't so bad except for putting the handle back on its hook. I also didn't realize that the factory speakers were glued into the bracket, just needed a good prying.

Before the speaker swap I ordered up some LED's for my AC cluster and two LED's for my broken license plate lights. Like a dummy I forgot to order some green ones other then just the bright white lights. For me, I like the factory green. Its just so damn dim.

My next mini swap job I have in mind is to remove the stock headlights for some Eagle Eyes that are ment for 99-02 4Runners. Thanks to a tip from user UnderFire for telling me these are my best bet on a bolt-on swap. Any other users have this same swap set-up? Any tips or Headlights Swaps I should know is always welcome. I also figure on ordering some more LEDs for the cargo area and dome light, maybe even the glove box. I'll post some pics soon of the swaps.

All feed back Welcome!

 

[UnderFire]

I always just turn the door panel sideways and slide the handle through the hole, fits perfectly and you don't have to mess with the goofy clips that way.

 

[M.r Yan]

Updates: Painted grill, lose the running boards.

Today was such a beautiful day in Alaska that I decided to take of the stock running boards and paint over the stock grill with some sweet black acrylic to really bring out the front end. Of course, now that the running boards are removed that means more dirt and rocks flying upwards. I figure I'll look into buying either some flairs or some flaps. Haven't really come across either that catches my eye.

Anyone with some suggestions to fill me in would be much appreciated.

 

[M.r Yan]

Update: Newest upgrades; its been awhile.

Hello, Fellow 4Runner enthusiasts.

I haven't been on the forums posting but now I've come back yet again to showoff and hopefully get some good feedback from the community. I've been hard at work on the 4runner. Small upgrades here and there with dreams and a budget for newer and greater. I'm always keeping an eye on the forums for how and what people are doing to their day-to-day runners. Since my last post I've added some new front brakes and pads (Power Stop K1236 Front Ceramic Brake Pad and Cross Drilled/Slotted Combo Rotor Brake Kit), New Spark Plugs (NGK BKR5EIX Iridium IX), Full set of KYB Gas-a-Just Monotube's for the rear and front shocks, also replaced a host of power steering components that didn't seem to help fix the original problem. Those fixes included a completely new rack and pion with a new OEM power steering pump. The power steering did return for a few days but slowly started to wind back down to no power at all (still trying to figure out the problem; must be a leaky hose?). As any Toyota 4runner owner does I've upgraded the battery as well as the connection terminals and a completely new OEM starter that cranks real nice. Full LED swap out for the interior. I'm on the hunt at the moment for some ideas on what kind of shift knob I can swap. Right now I'm rocking the original 4runner stock shifter knobs. I always see such nice red TRD ones or even just some nice white lined ones. WHERE ARE YOU FINDING THEM???
I hope to hear some really great suggestions on what my options are for keeping my 4runner ALASKA tough! (keep in mind there is no junk yards in my hometown)

I'm always adding to my expanding list of new and awesome upgrades/part updates. That list includes -

-New headers (haven't decided what kind or what type or even where to find it)
-Swap the old sway bar links with something newer but not beefier.
-Replace the two front seats with newer ones. (lots of butt wear tore into the bottom seat)
-Swap the stock center console/right arm rest for a newer one (adding and even moving the cup holders to the parking brake area)
-A set of '01-'02 OEM tail lights (heard that they fit '98?)
-Flex-a-lite 675 '95-'01 Toyota Tacoma Dual Electric Fan (heard these are actually crap?)
-Matching set of Kenwood speakers for the two rear doors
-Full Prothane Bushing Kit overhaul (actually heard Prothane is really squeaky after a few hundred miles?)
-Set of nice Toyota OEM rims.
-Affordable, maybe even fabricated, roof rack.
-Replacement 4runner front floor mats.
-Storage box/compartment for the cargo area
-Replace the exhaust system (nothing fancy, maybe just newer like from a Tacoma or similar)

Of course some smaller minor maintenance things I would love to get to. Things such as a bad squeak every time I lower the clutch. A small noticeable puut-puut every time I go 30 up a slanted hill. Replace the broken antenna motor. Somehow when I was fixing a few rear flats I snapped off the part that connects the lug nuts to the rim. Can't think of the part but I know it can be fixed.

 

[UnderFire]

A few companies make aftermarket long tube headers for the 3RZ, Doug Thorley and LCE come to mind, there's also the Tacoma Mini-Header for an OEm upgrade.

01-02 Taillights fit but if I recall something's different in the harness.

Electric fans are a waste on basically any Toyota, the clutch fan set-up works flawlessly when maintained, and is a comparatively simple system. Waste of time, money and it over-complicates things IMO.

Urethane bushings do get squesky and stiffen things up a lot, OEM rubber type bushings are the way to go IMO.

For the exhaust pre-fab stuff from the V6 4Runners will fit, I've been eyeing the JBA stainless set-up for quite some time.

Also highly recommend checking out the Tacoma whip antenna mod, bolts right on and gets rid of the unreliable power antenna for good!

 

[SactownYOTA]

Loving the front grill in black. I need to repaint mine as well, getting pretty faded. Not sure about all the symptoms you are having with your power steering, but if the fluid level in the pump keeps going down and you are not finding any leaks, take a look at the idle up air Control valve. It is located on the high pressure line fitting right on the pump. It has two hoses connected to it, one going to manifold vacuum, and the other to the throttle body. I discovered mine went bad after replacing the pump and both pressure and return hoses and still having issues. Turns out the valve failed and the fluid was being sucked into the manifold and burned off through the engine. I was having to add fluid every other day or so to keep the pump from screaming. Fixing this also cured an intermittent O2 sensor code. (ATF was saturating the probe). Anyways hope you get it all sorted. Cheers.

 

[M.r Yan]

Out and About

Love seeing new feedback. I just got my front KYB's in the mail, hoping to get them in sometime this or next week. Hope to hear more feedback.