Bought me a 4Runner, Mods Already! Check it out...

jmray23

New member
Well let me start off by saying THANK YOU! I have had my 4Runner for 2 weeks and have been on this website nonstop. I have already performed mods with your help and write-ups.

Now I have to say this...It's good to be back in a Toyota...

SO, on to today's festivities...


I just sold my 2002 Chevy Z71 and purchased a 2000 4Runner Limited 4wd with the 3.4L 5VZFE. My first truck was a 97 Toyota Tacoma with the 3.4 4wd extended cab 5 speed...great truck, loved everything about it. Ive performed a lot of different tasks on this motor and feel quite familiar under the hood. So today I decided to perform the install the of the Deck Plate mod and the Intake Silencer Removal. I had my camera along side and figured I could provide a few images along the way...

I decided to do the ISR mod first...after finding Dr. Z's detailed write up on the forum, I decided to head to my local muffler shop where a nice man named Lou (AAA Muffler, Cookeville, TN) who has done work on my Z71 in the past helped make the custom piece to replace the silencer box with. It took two trys to get it to the correct size, but its snug and looks great...sounds great too!
100_2595.jpg~original


As for rerouting the vacuum lines, I took Dr. Z's purchase and replicated it...a foot of 7/32" hose and one 1/4" Tee joint. I attached one end of a 6" piece of hose to the left of the tee and the other to the FPR (I had to use my hose instead of the one already here, as it did not fit snugly on the Tee...oh well, new is better). I cut a 2" piece to attach to the top of the tee and to the air manifold; i attached the hose previously attached to the manifold to the right side of the Tee...
100_2600.jpg~original


Now onto the deckplate mod...

I first removed the airbox, unplugging the MAF and loosening the ring clamp on the intake hose. Not hard, but I did knock my washer reservoir collar loose and noticed a little fluid dripped out before I saw it. No big deal.
100_2593.jpg~original


Once I got the airbox out, I loosened the screws holding in the MAF and put it in a plastic bag to avoid any particulates in the air.
100_2592.jpg~original
How often should you clean the MAF?

At this point, using the advise of those who have gone before me, I lined and taped off the airbox to catch the shavings made in the next step.
100_2590.jpg~original


I then traced out my deckplate on the airbox and drilled a hole close to the outline edge. I then used a jigsaw to cut the outline out, which worked exceptionally well. I did end up having to drill a couple other start holes since the brackets on the air box prevented the full circular motion of the saw in one sweep. I sanded off the rough edges, tested the fit, and cleaned out the airbox of any loose shavings.
100_2591.jpg~original


I then applied my bead of Sensor Safe Permatex, fitted the deckplate, drilled pilot holes for the screws and attached the plate using #8 1/2" flathead screws.

At this point, I wanted to attach a screen to the backside of the deckplate, inside the airbox to catch any loose debris/trash coming through the grille. I cut a 5" DIA piece of screen and used a 3-5" ringclamp to clamp it on the inside.
100_2602.jpg~original


Now here is a trick to tighten the clamp if you do not have a elbow socket joint...use a long flathead or socket extension to come in from the air inlet that attaches to the passenger fender elbow. You just have to turn the clamp to where it is accessible from there.
100_2603.jpg~original


Now I just let that dry, reinstalled the airbox and plugged everything up, including the EFI fuse I removed in the beginning. Everything looks good!
100_2605.jpg~original


Wow, what an improvement in throttle response! And the sound coming from that intake is mean...I had a K&N on my Z71 and it sounded good as well, but these are two different sounds, two different kinds of good...imho of course

I am anxious to see if there is an improvement in mileage...

Speaking of that, I think I must have a faulty sending unit. Ive filled up twice since my purchase, both times soon after the light came on; it would only fill up to about 12.5 gallons. Now, doing the math I was still getting around 17.5 mpg around town, but I was confused thinking the gas tank was 15 gallons, like on my old Taco. Then I looked up the issue and found the info on faulty sending units on 99 and 00 models. SUUUUCKS...anyone know if Toyota will still fix this problem despite being out of 3/36, obviously?

So here is my question...to those of you that have a similar issue, how many miles do you typically get out of a tank if you run it on past the gas light? I know I used to get anywhere from 275-325 a tank on my Taco depending on where I drove mostly (and how) but just out of instincts I suppose and the fear of running dry, that light makes me nervous and start looking for stations. Any help is appreciated.

Also, occasionally when I roll into a stop and then push the gas, its almost like the transmission takes a split second to decide what gear to go in, almost like a miss of some sort. It doesnt lurch or anything serious, just a little hitch in its step, ya know? I dont know if this could be the wires, plugs, coil packs or something completely different. It doesnt do it all the time, just occasionally and only in the rolling stop scenario described above. If anyone has any knowledge on the issue, your input would be greatly appreciated! :D

As far as the interior goes, I have installed my Alpine Type S component speakers as well as my Pioneer Premier head unit...and its all sounding nice...

Oh, I just found this picture my girlfriend took when I first got the 4Runner.
100_2581.jpg~original


Since then, I have replaced the dry rotting tires that were on it with a set of Firestone Destination A/T 265/70/R16. The guy I bought the 4runner from was a maintenance supervisor at the Bridgestone/Firestone plant and got me a 35% discount on the new set of tires...mighty nice of him!

Now that this good weather is here, I cant wait to get some car camping in with the new T4R...Ive only had trucks so far in my life and am pretty excited about the change over to the SUV world!

Feel free to read and share...
 
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That's a great 1st post! Welcome to T4R. Nice job on the mods too. I think painting the gold emblems should be your next mod, I had gold too.

On your hesitation issue, does it clunk once it goes in or does it shift smooth, just delayed?
 
Thanks Brian! And I really want to paint the emblems, I am still toying with whether or not they would look good with the Black Pearl paint mod. What do you think? As far as the clunk, I guess I should have proof-read better before posting, as I just got the confirmation email to register today on T4R but actually just copied this post from my first post on yotatech last week. It has not done it since I have filled up this tank after finishing off last week's which had a canister of STP treatment added (I hate to think it was that, but who knows?). I also cleaned my throttle body really well yesterday and it was very dirty with carbon build-up so that could be it as well. Either way, it seems to be running so much better now, all around. **I took a 165 mile round trip on 55 mph highways yesterday and calculated my mpg after returning home...22.3!! Liking that!

I also tightened down my throttle cables, as they had come loose sometime over the last 107k and MAN, what a difference that made!

On the schedule this week is the diff breather mod and trying to talk Toyota into fixing that damn fuel sending unit problem under the TSB recall for $Free.99 --wish me luck!

But seriously, as far as the emblems...do you have pics of yours with the black pearl? I assume thats what you painted them...
 
Thanks Brian! And I really want to paint the emblems, I am still toying with whether or not they would look good with the Black Pearl paint mod. What do you think? As far as the clunk, I guess I should have proof-read better before posting, as I just got the confirmation email to register today on T4R but actually just copied this post from my first post on yotatech last week. It has not done it since I have filled up this tank after finishing off last week's which had a canister of STP treatment added (I hate to think it was that, but who knows?). I also cleaned my throttle body really well yesterday and it was very dirty with carbon build-up so that could be it as well. Either way, it seems to be running so much better now, all around. **I took a 165 mile round trip on 55 mph highways yesterday and calculated my mpg after returning home...22.3!! Liking that!

I also tightened down my throttle cables, as they had come loose sometime over the last 107k and MAN, what a difference that made!

On the schedule this week is the diff breather mod and trying to talk Toyota into fixing that damn fuel sending unit problem under the TSB recall for $Free.99 --wish me luck!

But seriously, as far as the emblems...do you have pics of yours with the black pearl? I assume thats what you painted them...

Hey Welcome to the Forum! Finally another guy with black 2000 limited! I painted my emblems and I love the look of it. I hated the gold. Ill have to post an updated picture. You should take off your running boards if it isnt on you list already. I did that a couple weeks ago and it looks like it has a little lift.
 
But seriously, as far as the emblems...do you have pics of yours with the black pearl? I assume thats what you painted them...

If I were to do it all over again I would do black pearl, but I tore my golds off 9 years ago and got chromes. Didn't even know about black pearl then. I did do my front emblem in flat black and I like it a lot better (it was the only emblem I left gold up until about a month ago).

blackgrill.jpg~original
 
Welcome to the group! I'm just west of Atlanta so not too far away! If that deckplate mod really helped your mileage then I probably need to do that soon too since I put so many miles on mine. Great write up and keep them coming.:hungry:
 
Hey Welcome to the Forum! Finally another guy with black 2000 limited! I painted my emblems and I love the look of it. I hated the gold. Ill have to post an updated picture. You should take off your running boards if it isnt on you list already. I did that a couple weeks ago and it looks like it has a little lift.

Glad you all like it! Yes please post updated pictures of your emblems, I'm eager to see them! Id also like to see what yours looks like without the boards, seeing as mine would look fairly similar! ;)

If that deckplate mod really helped your mileage then I probably need to do that soon too since I put so many miles on mine.

And you definitely need to do the Deckplate mod even if you dont do the ISR. I think theyre easy to do at the same time, thats why I did them as I did. Very inexpensive way to definitely increase throttle response and possibly add a little power...Im still observing the mpg changes but it seems to definitely be improving the more I spend time with the intake system! Just a little modding and cleaning :pimp:
 
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Oh, I just found this picture my girlfriend took when I first got the 4Runner.
100_2581.jpg~original




Feel free to read and share...


Great Post! Welcome! oh, and I can see you have those "nasty" clear 2000 headlights... just gastly! I can help you with that one! Ill send you my 96 headlights that are in perfect condition and you can send me those "horrible" clear headlights and I will "dispose" of them for you!

p.s. its a standard mod around here, no need to ask around about it!!
:wink2:

edit: oh, you are in "snowy colorado" Ill do you one better! Ill come and pick them up from you myself!! :0)
 
Great Post! Welcome! oh, and I can see you have those "nasty" clear 2000 headlights... just gastly! I can help you with that one! Ill send you my 96 headlights that are in perfect condition and you can send me those "horrible" clear headlights and I will "dispose" of them for you!

p.s. its a standard mod around here, no need to ask around about it!!
:wink2:

edit: oh, you are in "snowy colorado" Ill do you one better! Ill come and pick them up from you myself!! :0)

Well as much as I love the look of those frosty lenses from the mid-gens, I think Im gonna hang onto these clear ones! :biggrin2:

And I'm not from Colorado :confused: ...Wish i was, love it out there!!
 
Yea, I checked the level at first notice...everything is fine. I think I'm just having to get used to the differences in shift patterns from one auto tranny to the next, so I'm thinking it's normal.
 
hehehe...you "almost" had him duhockey....

HAHAHA Im an idiot! lol...I even thought I read he was in Co, but i was looking at my quote of his post!! lol

"Snowy Colorado" is MY location!! DUH! lol


yeah, JMray, if you ever decide to get rid of them, let me know :bigok:
 
How about a pic in daylight with the hood in it. Interested to see how your scoop insert looks with the rest. Is it matched to your cladding?

I will post another one in the daylight soon...rainy day here today :cry:

The scoop has the trim around the front opening and yes, it matches the vehicle cladding...I like the look of it.
 
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