406LOVE
New member
Hey all,
I figured I'd start a thread discussing my 4runner adventures. I hesitate to call it a build thread because I don't intend on doing any write ups since mine would look pretty lame compared to the great work many of you have done on the forum. Unless I come up with something unique Ill let you all have the glory you deserve.
Huge thanks to everyone on here that puts in the time to make this forum worth coming back to more times than Id like to admit. It really makes our stupid cars more like a lifestyle and hobby than just a stupid car than can make it over a bump and carry a tent.
Have I made it clear that i cant tell you all how much I appreciate the writeups, how-tos, and input?
THANK YOU!!! YOU ****ING LEGENDS YOU!!!
Anyway. In 2014 My ex and I bought a stock 1998 Azure Blue Pearl SR5 4runner with 189k that was is great condition for $3000 for a coworker of hers. Nothing wrong with it other than sun damaged paint. Screaming deal IMO. Thats the year I discovered T4R.org. Since then much money and time has gone by the wayside thanks to T4R.org.
After some time I realized the suspension needed to be replaced. Well I guess we'll give it a bit of lift while Im at it. Hmmm thats weird that the steering wheel shakes at highway speeds when braking. The brakes needed to be replaced. I guess we'll do the Tundra Brake Upgrade while Im at it. Whats that babe? You cant see shit at night with those headlights? Let me see what the folks on the forum have done for that. In come the HID Retrofit Headlights. That's how my first 4runner became modded. Modded by necessity. I dont take my ride wheeling to the extreme like some do. I do like to hit the fire roads in the mountains to go backpacking in the summer along with cruising the snowy roads to ski in the winter. I grew up in Montana so that's what I know. What better way to make those adventures come true that with a worthy SUV like our beloved 4runners. I digress.
In 2015 the ex and I went our separate ways and I got the 4runner from her $1500 dollars later. Early 2016 my 4runner was rear ended while parked on a residential street during my work day. I was not pleased. Purely cosmetic damage but totaled by definition. I ended up getting $6000 from the insurance company and decided pocket the money and keep driving my blue pearl baby, scars and all.
Since then Ive been trying to decided whether to shell out and get a dreamy new 5th gen or find another 3rd gen and transfer some of the good parts over. Turns out its hard to find a worthy 3rd gen and also Im (relatively) cheap and dont wanna spend $45k.
Fast forward to March 2019. My roommates and I get kicked out of our house because the owners want to flip it and sell. Fair I guess. But BOO! We end up moving to another house 2 towns up the peninsula in the bay area. Soon I realized that we have a neighbor with a 2017 Cement TRD Pro in his driveway and a 2002 Thundercloud Grey Sport Edition on the street. I start licking my chops thinking, "guy doesn't need two does he?". Also the 02 SE looked like it was in immaculate condition. For weeks I run past this house and drool. I end up (not creepily or stalker like at all) talking to him as he pulled up into his driveway one day and ask if he was selling his 3rd gen. Sure enough he was getting ready to sell. I told him Id leave a note with my contact info and that I was ready to buy if everything checks out. That's what I did and after 4 weeks of waiting I see that beauty pop up on craigslist. I email him immediately and ensures me he was texting me that minute to let me know it was up for sale. I decided to post on the forum to get a feel for the price he was asking ($9K). See post titled, "Fair price for the unicorn?"
Thanks again Optimum!
That was last Monday and here I am now proud owner of a beat up 98 and a sweet 02 Sport.
Let the games begin....
I figured I'd start a thread discussing my 4runner adventures. I hesitate to call it a build thread because I don't intend on doing any write ups since mine would look pretty lame compared to the great work many of you have done on the forum. Unless I come up with something unique Ill let you all have the glory you deserve.
Huge thanks to everyone on here that puts in the time to make this forum worth coming back to more times than Id like to admit. It really makes our stupid cars more like a lifestyle and hobby than just a stupid car than can make it over a bump and carry a tent.
Have I made it clear that i cant tell you all how much I appreciate the writeups, how-tos, and input?
THANK YOU!!! YOU ****ING LEGENDS YOU!!!
Anyway. In 2014 My ex and I bought a stock 1998 Azure Blue Pearl SR5 4runner with 189k that was is great condition for $3000 for a coworker of hers. Nothing wrong with it other than sun damaged paint. Screaming deal IMO. Thats the year I discovered T4R.org. Since then much money and time has gone by the wayside thanks to T4R.org.
After some time I realized the suspension needed to be replaced. Well I guess we'll give it a bit of lift while Im at it. Hmmm thats weird that the steering wheel shakes at highway speeds when braking. The brakes needed to be replaced. I guess we'll do the Tundra Brake Upgrade while Im at it. Whats that babe? You cant see shit at night with those headlights? Let me see what the folks on the forum have done for that. In come the HID Retrofit Headlights. That's how my first 4runner became modded. Modded by necessity. I dont take my ride wheeling to the extreme like some do. I do like to hit the fire roads in the mountains to go backpacking in the summer along with cruising the snowy roads to ski in the winter. I grew up in Montana so that's what I know. What better way to make those adventures come true that with a worthy SUV like our beloved 4runners. I digress.
In 2015 the ex and I went our separate ways and I got the 4runner from her $1500 dollars later. Early 2016 my 4runner was rear ended while parked on a residential street during my work day. I was not pleased. Purely cosmetic damage but totaled by definition. I ended up getting $6000 from the insurance company and decided pocket the money and keep driving my blue pearl baby, scars and all.
Since then Ive been trying to decided whether to shell out and get a dreamy new 5th gen or find another 3rd gen and transfer some of the good parts over. Turns out its hard to find a worthy 3rd gen and also Im (relatively) cheap and dont wanna spend $45k.
Fast forward to March 2019. My roommates and I get kicked out of our house because the owners want to flip it and sell. Fair I guess. But BOO! We end up moving to another house 2 towns up the peninsula in the bay area. Soon I realized that we have a neighbor with a 2017 Cement TRD Pro in his driveway and a 2002 Thundercloud Grey Sport Edition on the street. I start licking my chops thinking, "guy doesn't need two does he?". Also the 02 SE looked like it was in immaculate condition. For weeks I run past this house and drool. I end up (not creepily or stalker like at all) talking to him as he pulled up into his driveway one day and ask if he was selling his 3rd gen. Sure enough he was getting ready to sell. I told him Id leave a note with my contact info and that I was ready to buy if everything checks out. That's what I did and after 4 weeks of waiting I see that beauty pop up on craigslist. I email him immediately and ensures me he was texting me that minute to let me know it was up for sale. I decided to post on the forum to get a feel for the price he was asking ($9K). See post titled, "Fair price for the unicorn?"
Thanks again Optimum!
That was last Monday and here I am now proud owner of a beat up 98 and a sweet 02 Sport.
Let the games begin....
