And So it Begins:) 99 Runner build

[Rockdawg84]

So I picked up my first 3rd Gen. A 99 SR5, 3.4 with a 5speed. This is a replacement for my 94 SR5 that was going to get a SAS and RSS as well as a motor swap. With a 6 month old Son I realized that project was more than I have time for. So sold that with all the pieces and picked up the 99. So far the plan is to do S.S. 1.2 with 4crawler 1.5 BL and 35x12.50R17 mud's. I am open to any and all suggestions. I've only had this runner for a couple of weeks and so far all I've done is a new windshield and a super clutch from Marlin Crawler.

The reason I am going to go to 17inch wheels is because I already have the wheels off of my 95 which have a 3.5 bs so that should keep the 35's from rubbing on the suspension.

Then tonight my wife and I stopped by my in-laws and i saw this.

a little horse trading and its mine:dancin: its the rear end from a FJ Cruiser so it has E-locker and Disk brakes. I think it will be a nice little addition to our project. I fear that this may get out of control pretty quick :gun6: but that really is the fun of it :driving:

 

[Rockdawg84]

Ok guys I have a question? The rear track of our 3rd gen is basically 60" WMS to WMS correct? The FJ rear end is 63.x" WMS to WMS? I will have to look at and measure the mounting brackets on the TJ rear end and make sure they will line up with the runner. Is there a down side to swapping in this rear end to my 99? I get a Elocker and rear disc brakes. I know I will have to regear it since it won't match the front but I need to do that anyway since I am going to 35's any way. Or should I sell the TJ axle and use the money to find a 3rd gen elocker and mod my housing? Thanks in Advace

Sam

 

[techno]

Ok, this is confusing. Are you making some sort of FJ Cruiser/TJ Wrangler hybrid or what? Plus, you can't simply swap to rear disc brakes just like that. The 3rd gen master cylinder and BPV are specifically designed for rear drums and will produce bad results if rear discs suddenly appear. Not sure if you are aware of those issues but if not I recommend looking into it a little further.

 

[brian2sun]

Driffter33 did a disc brake conversion and he told me don't bother - it's way too much trouble than what it's worth, it took forever to dial it in, and he had major issues with the ABS. The Tundra brake upgrade is much less work, much cheaper, and works great. I don't think that the FJ axle would line up on the 4runner, any reason to think it would? Different vehicle, different width.

You would be much better off just doing an elocker 3rd member retro-fit, swap in an elocked 4runner axle, or get an ARB.

 

[Rockdawg84]

Ok guys I have a question? The rear track of our 3rd gen is basically 60" WMS to WMS correct? The FJ rear end is 63.x" WMS to WMS? I will have to look at and measure the mounting brackets on the TJ rear end and make sure they will line up with the runner. Is there a down side to swapping in this rear end to my 99? I get a Elocker and rear disc brakes. I know I will have to regear it since it won't match the front but I need to do that anyway since I am going to 35's any way. Or should I sell the TJ axle and use the money to find a 3rd gen elocker and mod my housing? Thanks in Advace

Sam

OOP's thanks Techno, both those should read FJ. I would never put a jeep part on my Runner. I have the FJ cruiser axle already. it is 1.5" wider on each side than the current rear axle. I don't mind the extra track width and the link brackets aren't any harder to move than modding my rear housing and then putting the Elocker into it. Brian I do realize I may have to play with the Brake master cylinder to have the rear disc work effectively. When doing the tundra front upgrade are guys not having to move up in size of Master cylinder? I have done 2nd Gen rear axle swaps into 1st Gen to get the extra width and bigger brakes. This would be the first time dealing with ABS which is why I am asking. I figured toyota axle with ABS into Toyota Rig with ABS and figured that other than some of the connectors having to be changed it should work, but I will begin to do more reading and get into that aspect deeper. I don't think it would be hard to sell the FJ axle and use the money to find a runner e-locker axle. I appreciate the responses guys.

 

[rusm]

OOP's thanks Techno, both those should read FJ. I would never put a jeep part on my Runner. I have the FJ cruiser axle already. it is 1.5" wider on each side than the current rear axle. I don't mind the extra track width and the link brackets aren't any harder to move than modding my rear housing and then putting the Elocker into it. Brian I do realize I may have to play with the Brake master cylinder to have the rear disc work effectively. When doing the tundra front upgrade are guys not having to move up in size of Master cylinder? I have done 2nd Gen rear axle swaps into 1st Gen to get the extra width and bigger brakes. This would be the first time dealing with ABS which is why I am asking. I figured toyota axle with ABS into Toyota Rig with ABS and figured that other than some of the connectors having to be changed it should work, but I will begin to do more reading and get into that aspect deeper. I don't think it would be hard to sell the FJ axle and use the money to find a runner e-locker axle. I appreciate the responses guys.

Or sell the FJ axle and buy an AUssie Locker! :girl: --> They're about that cool!
If you've got the skills to do all of this, why are you putting a body lift on your truck? You should just tub the firewall, theoretically you can cut the body up enough that you wouldn't even need a lift to fit 35's. Search; TTORA.com/forums; trailslesstraveled.com, these guys even have templates you can print out for cutting.

 

[Rockdawg84]

Or sell the FJ axle and buy an AUssie Locker! :girl: --> They're about that cool!
If you've got the skills to do all of this, why are you putting a body lift on your truck? You should just tub the firewall, theoretically you can cut the body up enough that you wouldn't even need a lift to fit 35's. Search; TTORA.com/forums; trailslesstraveled.com, these guys even have templates you can print out for cutting.

Aussie Lockers are nice I have one in the front of my 84 love it. Matches the rear spool great but this is going to stay a daily driver that can still drive "behind the rocks" in Moab and still drive home. OK maybe not White Knuckle but you get the idea I drove a auto locker for a long time and really didn't like it as I kept breaking both the locker and the carrier. I am going to tub the runner but a 1-1.5 BL makes things a little easier. Honestly I will prob start with the tubing and then if needed a BL. Im on yotatech, WheelingAZ, and Pirate4x4, I don't go fast any more so I search TTORA but am not a member. I was way excited to find T4R.org since it is runner specific. I have already learned a load on here and want to keep learning.

by the way here is my 84 just for fun

 

[Rockdawg84]

Found these on craigslist

"King Coilovers 500 obo
i have bolt in tacoma or tundra king shocks with springs for taco or tundra . will fit 96 to 04 taco or tacoma . just rebuilt with new seals and fluid.
500 obo trades for other parts or guns and apparel ,gun safe etc.

this will add 1.5 to 3.0 in lift to your truck . will allso fit 96- 04 4-runners "

Original URL: http://tucson.craigslist.org/pts/1799475213.html

Any thoughts about these. they are literally down the street from me and looks like they have an extra set of coils. I also found a set of front LC coils for free:guitar3:

 

[haddix]

Id say pull the trigger on those king coilovers. Probably not gonna find a better deal. Then snatch those lc coils up and start searching for your 35's!

 

[Rockdawg84]

Id say pull the trigger on those king coil-overs. Probably not gonna find a better deal. Then snatch those lc coils up and start searching for your 35's!

Well I got them, Front King Coil-overs with two sets of springs 550 and 650. I will start with the 550's then when the front bumper is done maybe change to the 650's. Its coming together. Oh and I got them for $400:hungry:

 

[Duhockey]

You get the LC coils?? what year did they come off of? what color codes??

 

[Rockdawg84]

You get the LC coils?? what year did they come off of? what color codes??

my buddy has to dig them out of his brothers shed. I should have them this week. they came off of a 40th anniversary Fjz80 so I think that makes them a 97. As soon as I have them I will post up pics and be sure to clean the color codes.

 

[Rockdawg84]

So here is the newest additions to my lift. I still need rear shocks, and the time to install all of it. Maybe this weekend:frog: Took the runner out into the Gap near Tucson this last week and it did pretty well for bone stock. I need this lift on soon.

If I go with the Bilstein 5125's for the rear, does anyone know what travel I will need to order? I would rather have them here to put on rather than install the springs and then flex it out and measure. I found them for $80 each online. Anybody know of a better deal?

 

[Mauzer]

If your going with the LC coils in the rear then go with the F4-BE5-A014-H7 bilies.

 

[99yota4]

Mauzer, what application Bilsteins are those? are they the 5100 series? How did you get the part number

 

[Rockdawg84]

If your going with the LC coils in the rear then go with the F4-BE5-A014-H7 bilies.

What shocks are those? I can't find a matching part number in either the 5100 or 5125 series.

 

[Rockdawg84]

Lift is On but Camera is Gone

Well I got up this morning and got going on installing my lift. I took about 25 pictures of the install so I could document it and when it was all over and I took the runner for a drive came back to take a nice after picture and couldn't find my camera. Looks like when I took the last pic on the passenger rear spring I set the camera on the running board and forgot about it. Went for a test drive and lost it somewhere. Ive retraced my route at least 5 times and its no where to be found. Sucks :bash:

 

[haddix]

Well I got up this morning and got going on installing my lift. I took about 25 pictures of the install so I could document it and when it was all over and I took the runner for a drive came back to take a nice after picture and couldn't find my camera. Looks like when I took the last pic on the passenger rear spring I set the camera on the running board and forgot about it. Went for a test drive and lost it somewhere. Ive retraced my route at least 5 times and its no where to be found. Sucks :bash:

Damn man that sucks. This just gives you an ''excuse'' to upgrade to a better camera lol. Atleast that's how I look at it.

What kind of tires you going with?

 

[Rockdawg84]

With that said. The lift went on great. The King Coil-Overs went on smooth as soon as I got out my stock bottle jack out to push down the UCA. I think it was the first time the jack has ever been used. I ran down and got the front end aligned because it was getting late in the day and I didn't want to wait till next week. When I got back I started with the rear springs. I started on the drivers side and jacked the axle up and put a Jack stand under the frame just in front of the lower control arm. I then removed the tire, lower shock bolt, and sway bar. I then dropped the axle and things were tight but I got the spring out but getting it back in was another story. I had to use my jack again to separate the suspension to get the new 8 wrap in. I reinstalled the shock and put the tire back on and then went to the other side. Did the same thing except that I didn't need the jack on the passenger side. As I was looking over everything on the passengers side I noticed that the bushing was totally gone from the axle end of the upper control arm. Bolt is there but no rubber at all. Totally weird. I buttoned everything back together and it looks and rides great.

I need to get a new upper control arm or the bushings Anybody know where I can source that? Also, as soon as Steve at SS gets back from vacation I am going to get an adjustable Panhard bar, Bump stops, and some shocks.

I am very happy so far with the lift. the Front rides better than before and once the upper link and the shocks are in the rear it will be incredibly great. Now I gotta lose the running boards and bumpers and build some sliders and plate bumpers. This little rig is coming along nicely.

 

[Rockdawg84]

I agree a better camera is in the works I'm pretty torn on the tires. Definitely going to be a 35x12.50R17. I fortunately have a wife who will be happy with any tire I pick. She is a rare one. two years ago for Valentines day she got me a set of longs for my 84arty: I have been looking at Mickey Thompson MTZ's, or the new Radial Pittbull Rockers. I have 39.5 bias rockers on the 84 and love them. I have run Wrangler MTR's in the past and love them as well. It will be a mud terrain for sure. I just this week saw the Tirewright.com mud's and they are pretty much a MTR tread. I've never run a retread but truckers and Airplanes can't be all wrong. Besides they cost half what any of the others do. So I'm still looking and thinking. Honestly this is part of the fun for me:jump: