99 sr5 highlander's other 4runner build.

99 sr5 highlander

New member
So, after constantly searching craigslist, I found a great deal on a 1997 4runner limited 2wd for my dad. This will be a primarily city runner that will be receiving a nice facelift. It has 290,000 on the body, but a newer engine with only 127,000. It has the normal wear and tear of a 17 year old vehicle, but was not that bad for the price. The undercarriage is incredibly clean with no rust at all. It spent most of its life in California, and it shows! The Idea behind it is to get the best bang for the buck. We are going through all the local junkyards and putting in lots of elbow grease to freshen it up substantially.

Things we've done:
-Replaced cracked interior quarter panel + wire rear power outlet.
-New gas door (old one was pried open at one point)
-Sandblast and repaint wheels.
-Small mechanical issues (loose/missing bolts)
-New fan shroud (didn't have one)
-New shocks/struts
-1.25 front top plate spacer lift / 1.5 inch rear spacer
-99 & newer headlights

Still to do:
-Alignment
-New windshield
-Good condition leather seats
-New carpet
-99 & newer center console
-Dark charcoal cladding & bumpers
-99 front bumper
-Rear axle deals
-Valve cover gaskets

Signing the papers.



Back in the driveway, coming up with a list of projects.







First project was to paint the wheels.





I masked off the tires and sand blasted them at my work.



Will be painting them tomorrow at work with dark charcoal and matt clear.




Interior needs some work, were looking for nice leather seats and new carpet. Door panels are in incredibly good shape for being 17 years old with almost 300,000 miles.







Lift came in the mail today from [MENTION=80392]Wheeler[/MENTION]s Offroad. Thanks again for great service. Waiting on the shocks, so we can get this thing at the right height.

 
Last edited:
Register to hide this ad
Also, we noticed that there seems to be a cover missing on the front of the bell housing, does anybody have a picture of the cover, or one they want to sell?

 
Got the wheels on! I ended up using gloss clear,. I think it looks way better and we will be using the same thing on the flares and bumpers.

<a href="http://s1092.photobucket.com/user/topbanana1114/media/Mobile%20Uploads/2014-07/37BD0C0A-B4E0-4913-8FB4-83255AEEDBB4_zpsbgpcrite.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1092.photobucket.com/albums/i406/topbanana1114/Mobile%20Uploads/2014-07/37BD0C0A-B4E0-4913-8FB4-83255AEEDBB4_zpsbgpcrite.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 37BD0C0A-B4E0-4913-8FB4-83255AEEDBB4_zpsbgpcrite.jpg"/></a>

<a href="http://s1092.photobucket.com/user/topbanana1114/media/Mobile%20Uploads/2014-07/4CCC6FAF-08FE-4ADA-B5A1-C67B6E6A62F5_zpsx6wtbjm9.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1092.photobucket.com/albums/i406/topbanana1114/Mobile%20Uploads/2014-07/4CCC6FAF-08FE-4ADA-B5A1-C67B6E6A62F5_zpsx6wtbjm9.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 4CCC6FAF-08FE-4ADA-B5A1-C67B6E6A62F5_zpsx6wtbjm9.jpg"/></a>

<a href="http://s1092.photobucket.com/user/topbanana1114/media/Mobile%20Uploads/2014-07/63D5A9EC-AF0B-4839-8099-C68CA35AE7C7_zps46xjabc0.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1092.photobucket.com/albums/i406/topbanana1114/Mobile%20Uploads/2014-07/63D5A9EC-AF0B-4839-8099-C68CA35AE7C7_zps46xjabc0.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 63D5A9EC-AF0B-4839-8099-C68CA35AE7C7_zps46xjabc0.jpg"/></a>

<a href="http://s1092.photobucket.com/user/topbanana1114/media/Mobile%20Uploads/2014-07/74D973D2-821E-48DC-98BE-FD4B640CC211_zpsf7n5k4zf.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1092.photobucket.com/albums/i406/topbanana1114/Mobile%20Uploads/2014-07/74D973D2-821E-48DC-98BE-FD4B640CC211_zpsf7n5k4zf.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 74D973D2-821E-48DC-98BE-FD4B640CC211_zpsf7n5k4zf.jpg"/></a>

Now we're waiting on the shocks, so we can install the lift. In the meantime we're checking out more salvage yards for parts.
 
Also, we noticed that there seems to be a cover missing on the front of the bell housing, does anybody have a picture of the cover, or one they want to sell?


I SHOULD have one around somewhere. However, I doubt I have the bolts for it anymore. I'll try to remember to check tonight.
 
Got the spacers installed on the rear yesterday. I was originally planning on installing the 1.5" spacers with my sagged 99 springs, but that was a full 3.5" of lift, which doesn't really make sense. Anyway, I ended up just using the spacers with the stock 2wd springs and it's sitting at 22" from hub to fender, so I'm pretty happy. Hopefully I can get the front spacers on today and get some more pictures.

I took a bunch of pics during the install, but they all got erased, so here's the finished product.
<a href="http://s1092.photobucket.com/user/topbanana1114/media/Mobile%20Uploads/2014-07/FDB205B8-05B5-46EF-BB8C-5C9077EBEB25_zpsllfzt7td.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1092.photobucket.com/albums/i406/topbanana1114/Mobile%20Uploads/2014-07/FDB205B8-05B5-46EF-BB8C-5C9077EBEB25_zpsllfzt7td.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo FDB205B8-05B5-46EF-BB8C-5C9077EBEB25_zpsllfzt7td.jpg"/></a>

<a href="http://s1092.photobucket.com/user/topbanana1114/media/Mobile%20Uploads/2014-07/38E95D5A-FEAC-4D41-BC24-73DEB3745F5A_zpsrmmyte3r.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1092.photobucket.com/albums/i406/topbanana1114/Mobile%20Uploads/2014-07/38E95D5A-FEAC-4D41-BC24-73DEB3745F5A_zpsrmmyte3r.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 38E95D5A-FEAC-4D41-BC24-73DEB3745F5A_zpsrmmyte3r.jpg"/></a>
 
Got the front lift on last week! i sits almost perfectly with about a half inch rake. It ended up being the perfect lift I think for looks and tire clearance.







Also got the 99 headlights and corner lights installed, they make such a big difference! Cant wait to see it with my stock 99 bumper!





Will be tackling rear axle shortly.

Still on the lookout for 99+ front bumper flares, nice tan seats (cloth or leather)
 

Members online

Forum statistics

Threads
278,312
Messages
3,554,089
Members
248,016
Latest member
Advally Service

Trending content

Back
Top