aykalper's 2000 Limited build

[aykalper]

Howdy everyone!

I'm about to pull the trigger on a 2000 Limited 4wd in Texas, and I'll be flying down on Friday to get it. Any suggestions for things to see between Texas and Ohio? I'll have the camera so tons of pictures will be taken.

It'll be a big change for me as I'm used to lowered canyon carvers, but I cannot wait to go play on some trails!

 

[Friday88]

Howdy everyone!

I'm about to pull the trigger on a 2000 Limited 4wd in Texas, and I'll be flying down on Friday to get it. Any suggestions for things to see between Texas and Ohio? I'll have the camera so tons of pictures will be taken.

It'll be a big change for me as I'm used to lowered canyon carvers, but I cannot wait to go play on some trails!

Welcome. I've always been more interested in lowered sports cars myself. My wife was just mentioning how I used to lower my cars, now I want to lift them lol.

 

[aykalper]

Thank you!

I never thought I'd leave the lowered/canyon carver world. I suppose I haven't completely, but I certainly never expected to be in the off road world.

Pic of my last car: 2006 Civic Si, lowered 2 inches. Has been on Tail of the Dragon, to more autocrosses than I can remember, and on the track.

 

[Friday88]

I never thought I'd be interested in offroading either, but dumping cash into something I can take camping seems more reasonable than something I can take speeding lol

 

[aykalper]

Honestly, you're so right. Speed is great, but tickets are not.

I'm eagerly waiting for this week to end so I can go get the truck already. I'm going to be driving it back to Ohio and so far have planned this route:

Route home

If anyone has any suggestions for stopping places/sights/very mild trails, let me know, I'd love to experience them!

 

[aykalper]

Sooooo...I bought it. Finally. Flew down Friday, got it yesterday, wheeled it, did the first half of the drive home today. Man, what a great vehicle. I absolutely love every second of it. The dealer had to fix a few things, but, almost everything on the vehicle is perfect.

First, pics:

Two hours after I got it, my buddy and I hit up Xtreme Off Road in Houston last night.





I found out that I need better tires for mud. We almost got stuck, but, jimmied ourselves out. Luckily, there were tons of people with trucks and side by sides. That said, I was super impressed how it did on loose sand/mud on the tires it has.





I began the drive home today, from Houston to Columbus, Oh. Last week, I planned a number of small fire roads to explore and play on to break up the highway driving. Somehow, even with some exploring, I'm getting 22 miles per gallon, calculated by hand.





It's hilarious though, I have a massive wheel imbalance at 65 miles per hour, and packed mud created vibrations at 75. I've been going 60 or 70 miles per hour, almost exclusively under the speed limit. That's such a weird thing, coming from street cars. I don't think I've ever have had as much fun as the mild off roading I've been doing in a street car though, except maybe on track or autocross.

I've also found out that all of the lights on the center stack are donezo. The only remaining light is the "off" button on the HVAC.

Rest of Album

 

[Mark_BC]

Looks like you had full tire pressure in the sand, you get way better traction airing down to 15 or so, plus a way better ride.

 

[John7M7]

We have the same color for the truck and badges. I'm also in Columbus, OH and also got stuck in the mud right after buying the truck and taking it straight to the trail.

And I was coming from a BMW 325i and a Volvo C30

Do you know of some cool little trails around Columbus?

 

[zoombyu86]

We have the same color for the truck and badges. I'm also in Columbus, OH and also got stuck in the mud right after buying the truck and taking it straight to the trail.

And I was coming from a BMW 325i and a Volvo C30

Do you know of some cool little trails around Columbus?

I was just in cbus yesterday. I'd be down to come down from Toledo to ride some trails.

 

[John7M7]

I was just in cbus yesterday. I'd be down to come down from Toledo to ride some trails.

That'd be nice! I'm new to offroading, and new to the area too. Do you know some good spots around here?

 

[aykalper]

Today was the second half of the drive. I took a 9 hour drive and crammed it into 12 hours, exploring fire roads and state parks. Tennessee has some great ones:



The highway sections took soooo long, but I manage to average 22 mpg, windows down, at 70 mph. That power rear window is god's gift to windows, honestly.

I need to get another key made. A bunch of threads say that '00 has the immobilizer, some say it doesn't. Anyone know for sure?

 

[aykalper]

Looks like you had full tire pressure in the sand, you get way better traction airing down to 15 or so, plus a way better ride.

Yeah, I realized that after...I've been out with my Jeep buddies enough to know this but I forgot. Still, did pretty ok!

We have the same color for the truck and badges. I'm also in Columbus, OH and also got stuck in the mud right after buying the truck and taking it straight to the trail.

And I was coming from a BMW 325i and a Volvo C30

Do you know of some cool little trails around Columbus?

I only know of the "Walmart" one, but I'm not sure of it's legality/safety. Is the 4r your daily now? I'm definitely down to go with you, always better with a buddy!

To be honest, I may plastidip the badges. I always preferred the black badges over gold :sorry:

I was just in cbus yesterday. I'd be down to come down from Toledo to ride some trails.

That'd be nice! I'm new to offroading, and new to the area too. Do you know some good spots around here?

YESSSSS let's do this. I'm 100% ok with driving out of the area too.

 

[aykalper]

Welp, I've made a fool of myself.

I attempted to do the lower ball joints today. It almost worked perfectly. Sadly, the tie rod ball joints started spinning with the nut, so a bit of mangling had to be one.

Oh well, it needed new tie rods anyway...

Also, I think I'm going to get steering rack bushings soon. I have some slop I want to get rid of.

 

[aykalper]

Ball joints done. Also did tie rods while I was down there.

It drives sooo much better. No play in the steering anymore. I had been considering rack bushings, but I don't think i need to anymore

 

[aykalper]

Wow. It has been months since I have touched this thread.

To begin, I've done a couple of things since the last update:
New steering rack (sooo much better)
Lift - Bilstein 5100 and OME springs
Rear E locker axle - OEM style wiring, so it functions as it would in an OEM truck.

Some new pics:

There are big things coming for the 4Runner. I'm currently planning a V8 swap. 1UZ VVT, 5 speed manual, multimode transfer case. As far as I know, I don't think anyone else has this combination?

 

[128keaton]

Wow. It has been months since I have touched this thread.

To begin, I've done a couple of things since the last update:
New steering rack (sooo much better)
Lift - Bilstein 5100 and OME springs
Rear E locker axle - OEM style wiring, so it functions as it would in an OEM truck.

Some new pics:

There are big things coming for the 4Runner. I'm currently planning a V8 swap. 1UZ VVT, 5 speed manual, multimode transfer case. As far as I know, I don't think anyone else has this combination?

I haven't seen a 1UZ paired with a 5 speed in a 4Runner, much less with the multimode. Keep us tuned, I know I'd love to stuff a 1UZ in.

 

[aykalper]

Welp, turns out I'm really bad at doing build threads.

I've made my decision - it's going to be a 1UZ VVTi with a 5 speed automatic from the 99-00 Lexus LS400. I'll somehow affix that to the multimode transfer case to it.

I found a guy in South Africa that can make an adapter from an A650e to the multimode transfer that replaces the tailstock of the A650e. He also includes a spud shaft - a 26 spline -> 23 spline converter.

I've got a ton of research done that I can share, mainly for transmissions, transfer cases etc

 

[phattyduck]

Why not the Sequoia '05-'07 2UZ? Multi-mode, VVT-i, 5-speed auto... The transfer case is fully electrically shifted, which might be the only downside.

-Charlie

 

[aykalper]

Why not the Sequoia '05-'07 2UZ? Multi-mode, VVT-i, 5-speed auto... The transfer case is fully electrically shifted, which might be the only downside.

-Charlie

That's honestly the best idea, and I've looked into doing that. But, I hate the weight that comes with the 2UZ - 600 lbs (about) vs 390 from the 1UZ for similar power. I know the 4runner is no handling machine, but, I also like balance.

The electrically shifted transfer...well, it's not bad, but I like levers haha.

Basically, I'm making this difficult for myself on purpose

 

[Road Bull]

That's honestly the best idea, and I've looked into doing that. But, I hate the weight that comes with the 2UZ - 600 lbs (about) vs 390 from the 1UZ for similar power. I know the 4runner is no handling machine, but, I also like balance.

The electrically shifted transfer...well, it's not bad, but I like levers haha.

Basically, I'm making this difficult for myself on purpose

I love it when someone charges into uncharted territory with conviction. I only know a few that have done successful swaps, it seems mostly due to the complexity of such a task. I am looking forward to what you come up with for sure. Keep up the good work and good luck to you.:snacker: