Speedy
Member
Are build threads still a thing? Anyway, I recently went through several and they were a big help so figured I'd throw one up on my 3rd gen. I've had it 20 years now so I'm probably forgetting some stuff. I call it Project SportRunner. It has been one of my all time favorite vehicles and in the 20 years I've owned it I have only had to make two repairs - one oxygen sensor and one rear axle seal leak.
A lot of the work I've done is on my Youtube channel: Speedy's Garage - YouTube
and my website: Speedy's Garage
To keep it short:
Bought a 2002 Xterra brand new. Nissan is local and through friends and family I got a huge discount. I wanted a 3rd gen 4Runner but couldn't really afford it at the time. I hated the Xterra and looked for a 3rd gen after a year of ownership. Found a low mile (10,000) used 2002 SR5 4WD 4Runner at a local dealer and traded the Xterra in on it. I couldn't believe this SR5 had leather. I loved it from the first drive. It was a Certified Toyota which came with a 100K mile bumper to bumper warranty if I remember correctly. Never had to use it though.
I've had it 20 years, so I'll try to remember all I've done.
How I got it in October 2003 with 10,248 miles
How it sits as of January 2024 with 158,246 miles
Performance
Detroit Truetrac installed in the rear
TRD SuperchargerStock Pulley, 2.2 Pulley, 2.1 Pulley
URD 7th Injector (only used way up in the boost range due to water/meth)
Kept stock fuel pump
Water/Meth Injection (highly recommended) custom mix using -20 washer fluid and HEET
Tuned by yours truly
Deck Plate Mod
AFe dry air filter
ISR Removal
Addco Sway Bar front and rear
Tundra Brake Upgrade with Power Slot rotors
Stainless brake lines
Transmission Cooler
(no valve body changes, no converter changes, stock fuel pump, etc)
Trans has been fine for 15 years and over 100K miles on this setup
This is BEFORE the 2.1" pulley or water/meth injection that allows me to run around 7° more timing
Suspension
Bilstein Tundra 5100 shocks front/rear
Tundra TRD Coils up front on the <s>first</s> second shock perch OME 906 Rear
Gave right about <s>2"</s> 2.5" of lift on my 2002 SR5 4WD on the front and 2.5" in the rear
Hub to center front <s>21.5"</s> 22"
Hub to center rear 22.25"
<s>Tires Bridgestone Revo 2 265/75R16 (that are shot with 60K miles on them)</s>
Toyo Open Country AT3 265/75R16
No diff drop, no torn CVs in over 100K miles with this setup
Exterior
<s>Ivan Stewart TRD Wheels</s> Level 8 MK6 16x8 0 offset Gunmetal Wheels
Factory Sport Hood painted to match
Sport skid plate
Removed factory running boards
Installed aftermarket tube steps custom powder coated gun metal
Satoshi Grill
Supercharged badging
Factory fog lights with factory stalk on the column (wiring was already there) rewired to work with parking lamps.
Motorized antennae failed (twice) replaced with Tacoma fixed antennae
HID retrofit headlamps with amber LED bezel rings and strips, bezel rings and strips wired to parking lights
All bulbs replaced with LED with adjustable relay for turn signal speed
LED Updated tail lights
Interior
Custom gauge panel and bezels for water/meth control and boost, AFR, trans temp. I had Autometer put green LEDs in the trans temp gauge to match factory dash a long with a dimmer to match illumination.
Gauges have bezels that aim them 10° at the driver
Green LED illuminated cup holders wired to come on with parking lights
Front/rear foot well lighting when doors open (bright)
Front/rear foot well lighting when parking lights are on (dim)
Updated head unit for bluetooth connectivity with mic for phone calls
Hard wired radar detector currently Uniden R3
Major Maintenance
Lots of oil changes
Spark plugs replaced 3 times currently running NGK Iridium
48,000 Miles 4/2006 - Lower ball joints replaced under SSC 50J Recall
60,000 Miles 1/2007 - trans fluid exchange service with Mobil 1 ATF, diffs/xfer case drained and filled with Mobil 1 75W90 synthetic, fuel filter changed
95,000 Miles - 10/2013 flushed brake fluid and replaced with Valvoline synthetic
148,000 Miles 3/2022 - Rear axle seals and rear wheel bearings replaced, rear brakes replaced, and axle retainers installed inverted to avoid future axle seal leaks.
149,000 Miles 4/2022 - Timing belt, water pump, all associated pulleys, radiator, t-stat, upper/lower radiator hoses, coolant flush/fill, all drive belts replaced including supercharger using all Toyota OEM parts.
153,000 2/2023 - Lower Ball Joints replaced for the second time
153,465 2/2023 - Diffs, Xfer case, Transmission, and power steering fluids all changed and cleaned power steering reservoir.
153,804 4/2023 - Valve cover gaskets, half moons, cam plugs, spark plug tube seals, and PCV grommet replaced. Painted valve covers wrinkle red. Cleaned AFE air filter. Changed supercharger oil. Cleaned throttle body.
154,443 5/2023 - Detailed cleaned and painted all undercarriage items, skid plates, spare wheel, suspension, and chassis and replaced any bolts that didn't look great with new ones. Used anti-seize on new bolts.
155,720 8/2023 - Custom Katzkin leather installed with heated seat elements.
157,248 11/11/23 - Full detail, decon wash, fallout remover, clay bar, paint correction, ceramic coating applied, restore and repaint fender flares
Upcoming Projects
<s>Rear axle seals, rear wheel bearings, rear brakes</s> Complete 3/2022 148,359 miles
<s>Timing belt, water pump, associated pulleys/idlers, and all accessory belts including supercharger</s> Complete 4/2022 148,632 miles
<s>Replace radiator, thermostat (170°), upper/lower radiator hoses, coolant flush with Toyota coolant</s> Complete 4/2022 148,632 miles
<s>Replace lower ball joints</s> Complete 2/2023 153,285 miles
<s>Adjust TRD/Bilstein suspension</s> Complete 2/2023 153,285 miles
<s>Replace rear sway bar end links</s> Complete 2/2023 153,285 and reused original front end links which worked great with the lift
<s>Alignment</s> Complete 2/2023 153,340 miles
<s>New tires Toyo Open Country AT3</s> Complete 2/2023 153,403 miles
<s>Diff/Xfer case fluid change with Mobil 1 75W90 / upgrade front diff plugs to Lexus with nut instead of hex</s> Complete 2/2023 153,465 miles
<s>Trans fluid exchange with Mobil 1 ATF</s> Complete 2/2023 153,465 miles
<s>Power Steering fluid exchange with Mobil 1 ATF / clean PS reservoir</s> Complete 2/2023 153,465 miles
Replace fuel filter
<s>Clean AFe air filter</s> Complete 4/2023 153,804 miles
<s>Valve Cover Gaskets</s> Complete 4/2023 153,804 miles
<s>Paint Valve Covers</s> Complete 4/2023 153,804 miles
<s>Change supercharger oil</s> Complete 4/2023 153,804 miles
<s>Clean throttle body</s> Complete 4/2023 153,804 miles
<s>Detail engine bay</s> Complete 4/2023 153,916 miles
<s>Paint frame and chassis</s> Complete 5/2023 154,443
<s>Recondition bumpers</s> Complete 5/2023 154,443
<s>Recondition trailer hitch</s> Complete 5/2023 154,223
<s>Recondition spare tire wheel</s> Complete 5/2023 154,223
<s>Recondition all skid plates</s> Complete 5/2023 154,223
<s>Recondition arm rest/console cover</s> Complete 6/2023 154,989
<s>Install new leather steering wheel cover</s> Complete 6/2023 155,078
<s>Replace Gauge Cluster Lens with new OEM Toyota</s> Complete 7/2023 155,680
<s>Recondition leather seats (maybe custom Katskinz?)</s> Complete custom Katzkins with heated seats installed 8/2023 155,720
<s>New OEM 4Runner Carpet floor mats</s> Complete 8/2023 155,720
<s>New OEM rear hatch struts</s> Complete 8/2023 155,720
<s>New Front Extended Sway Bar End Links</s> Complete 9/2023 156,940
<s>New Steering Rack Boots</s> Complete 9/2023 156,940
<s>Fresh Paint in Solar Octane or Inferno Orange?</s> Cost prohibitive, re-paint was more than vehicle value. Going with plan B.
<s>Full Detail, Decon Wash, Fallout Remover, Clay Bar, Paint Correction, Ceramic Coat</s> Complete 11/11/23 157,248
<s>Restore and Repaint Fender Flares</s> Complete 11/11/23 157,248
<s>Some Kind of Graphic</s> Complete 11/11/23 157,248
<s>Black out badges</s> Complete 11/11/23 157,248
<s>Extended Rear Diff Breather</s> Complete 11/11/23 157,248
<s>Install TrakMotive extended travel CV axles and OEM axle seals</s> Complete 4/26/25 165,221 miles
.
A lot of the work I've done is on my Youtube channel: Speedy's Garage - YouTube
and my website: Speedy's Garage
To keep it short:
Bought a 2002 Xterra brand new. Nissan is local and through friends and family I got a huge discount. I wanted a 3rd gen 4Runner but couldn't really afford it at the time. I hated the Xterra and looked for a 3rd gen after a year of ownership. Found a low mile (10,000) used 2002 SR5 4WD 4Runner at a local dealer and traded the Xterra in on it. I couldn't believe this SR5 had leather. I loved it from the first drive. It was a Certified Toyota which came with a 100K mile bumper to bumper warranty if I remember correctly. Never had to use it though.
I've had it 20 years, so I'll try to remember all I've done.
How I got it in October 2003 with 10,248 miles
How it sits as of January 2024 with 158,246 miles
Performance
Detroit Truetrac installed in the rear
TRD Supercharger
URD 7th Injector (only used way up in the boost range due to water/meth)
Kept stock fuel pump
Water/Meth Injection (highly recommended) custom mix using -20 washer fluid and HEET
Tuned by yours truly
Deck Plate Mod
AFe dry air filter
ISR Removal
Addco Sway Bar front and rear
Tundra Brake Upgrade with Power Slot rotors
Stainless brake lines
Transmission Cooler
(no valve body changes, no converter changes, stock fuel pump, etc)
Trans has been fine for 15 years and over 100K miles on this setup
This is BEFORE the 2.1" pulley or water/meth injection that allows me to run around 7° more timing
Suspension
Bilstein Tundra 5100 shocks front/rear
Tundra TRD Coils up front on the <s>first</s> second shock perch OME 906 Rear
Gave right about <s>2"</s> 2.5" of lift on my 2002 SR5 4WD on the front and 2.5" in the rear
Hub to center front <s>21.5"</s> 22"
Hub to center rear 22.25"
<s>Tires Bridgestone Revo 2 265/75R16 (that are shot with 60K miles on them)</s>
Toyo Open Country AT3 265/75R16
No diff drop, no torn CVs in over 100K miles with this setup
Exterior
<s>Ivan Stewart TRD Wheels</s> Level 8 MK6 16x8 0 offset Gunmetal Wheels
Factory Sport Hood painted to match
Sport skid plate
Removed factory running boards
Installed aftermarket tube steps custom powder coated gun metal
Satoshi Grill
Supercharged badging
Factory fog lights with factory stalk on the column (wiring was already there) rewired to work with parking lamps.
Motorized antennae failed (twice) replaced with Tacoma fixed antennae
HID retrofit headlamps with amber LED bezel rings and strips, bezel rings and strips wired to parking lights
All bulbs replaced with LED with adjustable relay for turn signal speed
LED Updated tail lights
Interior
Custom gauge panel and bezels for water/meth control and boost, AFR, trans temp. I had Autometer put green LEDs in the trans temp gauge to match factory dash a long with a dimmer to match illumination.
Gauges have bezels that aim them 10° at the driver
Green LED illuminated cup holders wired to come on with parking lights
Front/rear foot well lighting when doors open (bright)
Front/rear foot well lighting when parking lights are on (dim)
Updated head unit for bluetooth connectivity with mic for phone calls
Hard wired radar detector currently Uniden R3
Major Maintenance
Lots of oil changes
Spark plugs replaced 3 times currently running NGK Iridium
48,000 Miles 4/2006 - Lower ball joints replaced under SSC 50J Recall
60,000 Miles 1/2007 - trans fluid exchange service with Mobil 1 ATF, diffs/xfer case drained and filled with Mobil 1 75W90 synthetic, fuel filter changed
95,000 Miles - 10/2013 flushed brake fluid and replaced with Valvoline synthetic
148,000 Miles 3/2022 - Rear axle seals and rear wheel bearings replaced, rear brakes replaced, and axle retainers installed inverted to avoid future axle seal leaks.
149,000 Miles 4/2022 - Timing belt, water pump, all associated pulleys, radiator, t-stat, upper/lower radiator hoses, coolant flush/fill, all drive belts replaced including supercharger using all Toyota OEM parts.
153,000 2/2023 - Lower Ball Joints replaced for the second time
153,465 2/2023 - Diffs, Xfer case, Transmission, and power steering fluids all changed and cleaned power steering reservoir.
153,804 4/2023 - Valve cover gaskets, half moons, cam plugs, spark plug tube seals, and PCV grommet replaced. Painted valve covers wrinkle red. Cleaned AFE air filter. Changed supercharger oil. Cleaned throttle body.
154,443 5/2023 - Detailed cleaned and painted all undercarriage items, skid plates, spare wheel, suspension, and chassis and replaced any bolts that didn't look great with new ones. Used anti-seize on new bolts.
155,720 8/2023 - Custom Katzkin leather installed with heated seat elements.
157,248 11/11/23 - Full detail, decon wash, fallout remover, clay bar, paint correction, ceramic coating applied, restore and repaint fender flares
Upcoming Projects
<s>Rear axle seals, rear wheel bearings, rear brakes</s> Complete 3/2022 148,359 miles
<s>Timing belt, water pump, associated pulleys/idlers, and all accessory belts including supercharger</s> Complete 4/2022 148,632 miles
<s>Replace radiator, thermostat (170°), upper/lower radiator hoses, coolant flush with Toyota coolant</s> Complete 4/2022 148,632 miles
<s>Replace lower ball joints</s> Complete 2/2023 153,285 miles
<s>Adjust TRD/Bilstein suspension</s> Complete 2/2023 153,285 miles
<s>Replace rear sway bar end links</s> Complete 2/2023 153,285 and reused original front end links which worked great with the lift
<s>Alignment</s> Complete 2/2023 153,340 miles
<s>New tires Toyo Open Country AT3</s> Complete 2/2023 153,403 miles
<s>Diff/Xfer case fluid change with Mobil 1 75W90 / upgrade front diff plugs to Lexus with nut instead of hex</s> Complete 2/2023 153,465 miles
<s>Trans fluid exchange with Mobil 1 ATF</s> Complete 2/2023 153,465 miles
<s>Power Steering fluid exchange with Mobil 1 ATF / clean PS reservoir</s> Complete 2/2023 153,465 miles
Replace fuel filter
<s>Clean AFe air filter</s> Complete 4/2023 153,804 miles
<s>Valve Cover Gaskets</s> Complete 4/2023 153,804 miles
<s>Paint Valve Covers</s> Complete 4/2023 153,804 miles
<s>Change supercharger oil</s> Complete 4/2023 153,804 miles
<s>Clean throttle body</s> Complete 4/2023 153,804 miles
<s>Detail engine bay</s> Complete 4/2023 153,916 miles
<s>Paint frame and chassis</s> Complete 5/2023 154,443
<s>Recondition bumpers</s> Complete 5/2023 154,443
<s>Recondition trailer hitch</s> Complete 5/2023 154,223
<s>Recondition spare tire wheel</s> Complete 5/2023 154,223
<s>Recondition all skid plates</s> Complete 5/2023 154,223
<s>Recondition arm rest/console cover</s> Complete 6/2023 154,989
<s>Install new leather steering wheel cover</s> Complete 6/2023 155,078
<s>Replace Gauge Cluster Lens with new OEM Toyota</s> Complete 7/2023 155,680
<s>Recondition leather seats (maybe custom Katskinz?)</s> Complete custom Katzkins with heated seats installed 8/2023 155,720
<s>New OEM 4Runner Carpet floor mats</s> Complete 8/2023 155,720
<s>New OEM rear hatch struts</s> Complete 8/2023 155,720
<s>New Front Extended Sway Bar End Links</s> Complete 9/2023 156,940
<s>New Steering Rack Boots</s> Complete 9/2023 156,940
<s>Fresh Paint in Solar Octane or Inferno Orange?</s> Cost prohibitive, re-paint was more than vehicle value. Going with plan B.
<s>Full Detail, Decon Wash, Fallout Remover, Clay Bar, Paint Correction, Ceramic Coat</s> Complete 11/11/23 157,248
<s>Restore and Repaint Fender Flares</s> Complete 11/11/23 157,248
<s>Some Kind of Graphic</s> Complete 11/11/23 157,248
<s>Black out badges</s> Complete 11/11/23 157,248
<s>Extended Rear Diff Breather</s> Complete 11/11/23 157,248
<s>Install TrakMotive extended travel CV axles and OEM axle seals</s> Complete 4/26/25 165,221 miles
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