Brian2sun Build Thread

[brian2sun]

Brian's 1997 4Runner SR5 4x4

Specs & List of Mods:

Engine:
3.4L 5VZ-FE V6 - Donor Motor w/ 123K swapped in at 217K
4.5" Airbox Hole
AirRaid Intake Tube
TRD Cat-Back Exhaust (cut off after rear axle)
Fumoto Fast Oil Drain Valve

Diffs/Transmission:
Front & Rear ARB Lockers
4:88 Motive Gears
1" Diff Drop
B&M 70268 Tranny Cooler - in series with (new) radiator tranny cooler
Extended Rear Diff Breather

Lift/Suspension:
Front: 3" Toytec/Boss 2.0 Aluma Series Coilovers
WabFab Swaybar Links

Rear: 3.5" OME 861 LandCruiser FJZ80 Coils
OEM Tokico LandCruiser FJZ80 Shocks
Custom Upper Links (heim joint/poly bushing combo)
1.5" Extended Bump Stops
Rear Swaybar Removed

1" 4Crawler Body Lift

Tires/Wheels:
285/75R17 Toyo Open Country A/T IIIs
Black 17” FJ Cruiser 8 Hole Wheels
1" BORA Wheel Spacers

Brakes:
231mm Tundra Caliper Upgrade
Disabled ABS

Armor:
ARB Front Bumper (chopped off the hoops and bottom edge for ground clearance, and adapted for 1" body lift)
CBI Rear Bumper w/ Tire Swing, Ice Chest/Gas Can Holder, 48” Hi-Lift & Shovel Mounted
4xInnovations 66" DOM Sliders w/ Kickouts
BudBuilt Front Skid
BudBuilt Belly Pan
Lil' Skip's Gas Tank Skid
Toytec Rear LCA Skids
Rear LCA Frame Mount Skids (3/16" welded plate)
Icon Rear Shock Mount Skids
Trail Gear Rear Diff Skid

Exterior:
Yakima Skyline Roof Rack w/ 48” Round Bars
Wireless WiFi Backup Camera to Phone
Chopped Front Fenders and Flattened Firewall for 35” Tire Clearance
Removed SR5 Flares
Wade In-Channel Window Visors

Interior:
Custom Low Profile Drawer System & Sleeping Platform
Scangauge II
Cobra 19 Ultra III CB w/ 3' Firestick Antenna
Husky Floor Liners
BH3D Dual Cupholder

Lighting:
‘99-02 Headlight Swap
(2) IPF 968 100W Lights
Unity A-Pillar “Cop” Spotlight

Misc.
ARB 2000 Awning w/ LED Lights
Spiker Eng. Hood Struts
MasterFlow MV-90 Air Compressor
NOCO GB40 Battery Boost Pack
Trasharoo Bag
47” Bunker Indus. Traction Boards
_______________________________________

Current Pic:

 

[brian2sun]

The Story...
I bought my '97 4Runner in 2001 with 91K after graduating college. It was my DD for 10 years before becoming a dedicated camping/snow/trail rig.

Unfortunately I don't have any pics of the first few years anymore because that was the age of film and PS1, but the earliest pic I can find is from a 2007 camping trip. It was still stock when this pic was taken except for some 265/75/16s and no running boards.

Very shortly afterwards, I threw on my 1st of 3 1/2 lifts... a Daystar 2.5" spacer lift and some 305/70R16s. Around April '09 I scored an ARB bumper off my neighbor's friend for $200!..

Those Hella 500s were broken and I took them back. I have since replaced them with IPFs.

In July '09 I got an ARB rear locker and some 4.88 gears.

A few weeks later I painted my stock 3-spoke wheels flat black..

For Christmas '09 I ditched my spacer lift and got OME 883s and 891s, OME comfort shocks, and swapped out the 305s at the same time for some 285s. Just in time for some big snow..

Here's a wheelin shot at this stage..

I did a 1" 4crawler body lift in February '10. I had to drill some new holes in the ARB to eliminate some of the gap, but I've since repositioned and welded the ARB mounts when I trimmed the bumper for clearance later on. I also trimmed my rear SR5 flares so they don't hang past the body (but I've since removed them too)..

_________________________________________

I got rear-ended in April '10 and I ended up taking the cash instead of repairing it..

I got some sliders and some 255/85R16 Maxxis Bighorn M/Ts mounted on new Cragar Soft 8 wheels. I'm also having CBI make a rear tire carrier bumper for me, but it won't be done for a few months. Here's how it sits as of June '10..

And here's some wheeling shots from last weekend (June 2010) with driffter33 and Pure_98 just so you guys don't start thinkin I'm a mall crawler. :driving:

And one of all of us.

 

[Pure 98]

it's come a long way:wow:. Looks good can't wait to see the bumper. :cheers:

Ps Thats No Mall Crawler! :bigok:

 

[Reina]

Looking good. You 4runner gives me inspiration on what my 4runner could become. :bravo:

 

[kregg]

Like.

 

[denverunner]

lookin good!

 

[CharlotteFire]

Looks GREAT B! That trip you took is SICK. Nothing like that here in Charlotte. How much was that Locker? Paint your rear bumper black...then tell me how ya did it. lol

 

[brian2sun]

Thanks for the compliments everone!

Looks GREAT B! That trip you took is SICK. Nothing like that here in Charlotte. How much was that Locker? Paint your rear bumper black...then tell me how ya did it. lol

This site is so awesome for networking because it makes it even more fun to go wheel with other 4runners - and 3rd gens at that! Driffter33 and Pure 98 had to drive a ways, but I know they had a blast too.

The locker/compressor was about $1000. I'm not sure what the labor would be for the locker alone because I had gears installed and had them throw the locker in at the same time to save $$. I would guess about $500 to install.

 

[xskydivingdudex]

looks good dude... ive been wondering when u were gonna make a build thread.

 

[jsmithjr732]

Looks great. Like the new additions.

You need to get a rear bumper now!

 

[racerunner]

Lovin the new wheel and tire combo.It ain't no mall crawler Ive seen it in action

 

[JohnsD90]

I like the new tailight. Lookin good.

 

[Duhockey]

Nice!!!

about time you put one of these together

 

[brian2sun]

Looks great. Like the new additions.

You need to get a rear bumper now!

My CBI should be done in about 6-8 weeks. It's killing me waiting for it! I got the swing-away, gas can holder, hi-lift mount, cut-out for the exhaust pipe (it'll be piped out the side of the bumper instead of hanging below like stock), lighted license plate holder, and tab for the CB antenna. They're also adapting it to work with my 1" body lift so here won't be a big gap between the bumper and the body.

Lovin the new wheel and tire combo.It ain't no mall crawler Ive seen it in action

Thanks, I like the new combo way better too!

I like the new tailight. Lookin good.

Hells yeah! Thanks again.

Nice!!!

about time you put one of these together

I know. I'm still trying to figure out how to pull photos off my old phone (disconnected), I can view them on the phone, but not sure how I would download them to my computer without it being hooked up to any service. I have some of different stages and also my ARB install.

 

[brian2sun]

Here's a couple shots from yesterday (for you guys who think 891s are to stiff to flex)...

 

[haddix]

Nice pics! That rear bumper is going to look sick on there!

 

[brian2sun]

Thanks, I can't wait! I'm saving up right now for a matching spare tire/rim to hang on it. Hopefully I'll have them by the time the bumper comes! So much stuff to get and so little $$ haha.

 

[driffter33]

Did someone loose they're rear sway bar and have to go test out that flex? Looks good.:trophy:

 

[brian2sun]

Did someone loose they're rear sway bar and have to go test out that flex? Looks good.:trophy:

Surprisingly no! That's actually with the rear sway still hooked up, pretty good flex huh? I want to take it off for sure now and see how much more I can get!

 

[driffter33]

Surprisingly no! That's actually with the rear sway still hooked up, pretty good flex huh? I want to take it off for sure now and see how much more I can get!

For sure. I cant wait to flex mine like that with meats like those