Allow Myself to Introduce... myself

[scootermcrad]

Hey everyone! New guy from So. Cal. here! Long time 4Runner owner and only lurking here for a short time. I've been thinking more and more about putting some energy into my 4th generation T4R, so I'm here to learn and share.

My first 4Runner was a 3rd gen Limited. Never did anything to it except change the tires and drive the wheels off it. Loved that thing!

Eventually I got too far behind on maintenance (life happens) and decided to trade up for something new. In '07 I traded the limited for an SR5 V6. Was amazed how much got changed.

Up to now, I haven't been too sure about what to do with this thing. Something has always bugged me about it. I decided to dig in and figure out what it was going to take to overcome the feelings I was having about it. I started digging around this forum and realized it was the STANCE! What's up with this nose-down stuff?? Then I started looking at the gallery of everyone's mods and WOW! I'm sold! This will be a long-term project, but here's what I'm thinking:

- Tire upgrade right off the bat! (I'm due)
- 2.5/1.5 lift and level
- sway bar bushings to help out with some of this roll and handling
- eventually shocks and maybe springs (researching that)
- powdercoated the stock wheels black
- upgrade the sound system (head unit, lose the cargo space mirrors and add speakers, upgrade doors speakers)
- tint front side windows
- aaaaannnnddddd.... I'm sure I'll think of other stuff.

Besides all that... I just want to learn my vehicle more. I'm a fabricator at heart, so I'm sure I'll find something to scratch-build at some point. But I'm not looking to go too crazy with this thing. Just mostly want to improve the drivability and stance.

Anyway! Glad to be here! I'm ready to learn and be schooled! This is all new stuff to me. My background has been hot rods and restorations up to this point. Anything newer than 1953 is all a mystery to me! HAHA!

OH! And I have to try out some of these cool "smiles" you guys have over here!! HAHA! I really like these two! :flamethrwoer2::beer:

Cheers!
Scott

 

[kylebacc]

Welcome to the forums! Sounds like you know what you wanna do. Now put some nike's on and just do it! Then post pics for us all to see. Then receive praise. haha anyway glad your here, there is some good info on these boards, and good people. You will learn much, and then you "not wanting to go crazy" will turn into you "wanting to go crazy" :happens:

arty:

 

[scootermcrad]

Welcome to the forums! Sounds like you know what you wanna do. Now put some nike's on and just do it! Then post pics for us all to see. Then receive praise. haha anyway glad your here, there is some good info on these boards, and good people. You will learn much, and then you "not wanting to go crazy" will turn into you "wanting to go crazy" :happens:

arty:

HAHA! Thanks!

Have to get tires in the next couple weeks or I'm going to have Toyota 4Slicker instead of a Toyota 4Runner! :wow: Looking at Yokohama Geolandar A/T-S tires.

Researching the lift-level kits. Seems the Daystar 2.5/1.5 is a popular choice. Not sure if the aluminum spacers or poly spacers are better, though. Noticed some kit makes are aluminum instead of Poly. Have some reading to do.

Not sure about this whole spring thing either, but I definitely like the idea of poly bushing for the sway bars to get the handling under control.

 

[kylebacc]

HAHA! Thanks!

Have to get tires in the next couple weeks or I'm going to have Toyota 4Slicker instead of a Toyota 4Runner! :wow: Looking at Yokohama Geolandar A/T-S tires.

Ya there are about a billion good threads on tires. I'm sure there are a few on that particular tire too. I would say you may try to hold out until you get your daystar kit though, because you may find that the tires look a little small for your liking afterwards.

Researching the lift-level kits. Seems the Daystar 2.5/1.5 is a popular choice. Not sure if the aluminum spacers or poly spacers are better, though. Noticed some kit makes are aluminum instead of Poly. Have some reading to do.

There was a good thread on this just the other day. The general consensus seemed to be that poly or aluminum doesn't make a difference. They both do the exact same thing, and you can't really tell the difference. So either way, you're good to go! :bigok:

Not sure about this whole spring thing either, but I definitely like the idea of poly bushing for the sway bars to get the handling under control.

I'm in the same boat as your right now. Currently saving up for some springs/shocks/bushings, but I haven't really nailed down what exactly I'm going to get. Although if money wasn't an issue, I'd probably go Overland Warehouse as my first choice for shocks and springs. Then maybe Sway-A-Way or ICON.

Good Luck!!

 

[scootermcrad]

Ya there are about a billion good threads on tires. I'm sure there are a few on that particular tire too. I would say you may try to hold out until you get your daystar kit though, because you may find that the tires look a little small for your liking afterwards.

There was a good thread on this just the other day. The general consensus seemed to be that poly or aluminum doesn't make a difference. They both do the exact same thing, and you can't really tell the difference. So either way, you're good to go! :bigok:

I'm in the same boat as your right now. Currently saving up for some springs/shocks/bushings, but I haven't really nailed down what exactly I'm going to get. Although if money wasn't an issue, I'd probably go Overland Warehouse as my first choice for shocks and springs. Then maybe Sway-A-Way or ICON.

Good Luck!!

Great! Thanks for the reply! Good point about waiting until I have the kit... Hmmmm... Some thinking to do.

That's great info about the spacer kit. Thanks!

And yeah... If money were no issue...

 

[kylebacc]

No prob buddy.

 

[Uneek]

Welcome to T4R.org.

Where was the pic of your 3rd gen taken at?

 

[kylebacc]

Where was the pic of your 3rd gen taken at?

I meant to ask this as well. It's a really cool picture.

 

[scootermcrad]

Hey guys! Sorry, got side-tracked and didn't get back to this thread...

The 3rd gen pic was taken at Zion, Utah. If you go during middle of February, or so, you will see a lot of snow melt which mean water falls. Some even frozen. Pretty cool! Zion is a great place to explore and hike and simply just drive through.