Build Thread: 2000 3rd Gen SR5 Mountain/Desert Rambler

[hodolla]

After four years of not owning a vehicle, I was able to score my neighbor's garaged 4runner. Came with 175xxx, two month old OEM suspension, and nearly brand new tires. The only visible wear on the inside is the worn down mat under the accelerator. The thing seems new!

Flexing my newfound freedom, I went straight to my favorite piece of BLM, the San Rafael Swell. Some friends joined me and we put on a concert in the evening light.

Been pawing through the archives here and got a pretty good idea of where to go from here. Since the suspension is so fresh I've got some OME coils in the mail as well as a 1" body lift. Looking at 33" tires eventually but I'll take things one step at a time.

Excited to start jamming on this project and learning as I go!


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[ToyTec Lifts]

After four years of not owning a vehicle, I was able to score my neighbor's garaged 4runner. Came with 175xxx, two month old OEM suspension, and nearly brand new tires. The only visible wear on the inside is the worn down mat under the accelerator. The thing seems new!

Flexing my newfound freedom, I went straight to my favorite piece of BLM, the San Rafael Swell. Some friends joined me and we put on a concert in the evening light.

Been pawing through the archives here and got a pretty good idea of where to go from here. Since the suspension is so fresh I've got some OME coils in the mail as well as a 1" body lift. Looking at 33" tires eventually but I'll take things one step at a time.

Excited to start jamming on this project and learning as I go!


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Great find!

www.toyteclifts.com has your body lift for ya

 

[hodolla]

Great find!



www.toyteclifts.com has your body lift for ya

Snagged it yesterday from y'all!


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[Bijan]

Such a cool way to spend time with friends and your rig. Cheers mate - keep up the adventures and music.

Peep my build thread. I was inspired by [MENTION=44220]BigFishAllDay[/MENTION]

 

[hodolla]

WE'VE GOT SOUND. Installed a Sony Deck and Kicker DSC670 front speakers today. Let's just say I'm pretty familiar with how to get these door panels on and off. Here's all the goods.

Always nice to have a helping hand.

The cubby was just resting inside the brackets with no included hardware to secure it down - had some random screws around that worked perfectly.

Not really sure why Crutchfield sent me these types of connectors...not sure if I was using them wrong but decided to tape them all off in the end.

My setup didn't need the illumination wire and the antenna wire I am leaving for later. Might put a toggle switch somewhere in the future but now that I've got my phone connected to the deck the radio probably won't be used much.

Wiring harness all nice n pretty.

Taped off the existing AUX so it wouldn't bang around in there

Didn't take a pic of the unit installed (rookie) but I'll be sure to put one up later.

Speakers were pretty easy to install but to have the cool-looking (IMO) guards I'll have to cut through the door panels. The speakers are supposed to be installed with the door panels ON but didn't have the time to cut the panels - I'll save that for a rainy day.
Naked door

The stock speakers needed some convincing to come off - little pry with the flathead and it popped off no prob. Glue remnant was actually nice for install - stuck the new speakers there while I drove the screws.

I'll need to get the door panels cut to add these pieces.

All in all it went really well. Good to become a bit more confident messing around with this rig, especially in the electrical zone.

Tomorrow I'll be putting a lift on along with some wheels I just picked up. Don't think I'll be sleeping much tonight.




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[theesotericone]

Speakers were pretty easy to install but to have the cool-looking (IMO) guards I'll have to cut through the door panels.

I'll need to get the door panels cut to add these pieces.

Just leave the grills off man. They may look "cool" but the door grill provides a hell of a lot more protection.

Congrats on getting the new deck in. I'm a tried and true audiophile. My rigs got a lot of aftermarket audio in it. lol

 

[hodolla]

Just leave the grills off man. They may look "cool" but the door grill provides a hell of a lot more protection.



I'm a tried and true audiophile. My rigs got a lot of aftermarket audio in it. lol

Thanks for the note - definitely a concern and would much prefer longevity over aesthetics.

Regarding your audiophile status - maybe some advice? I'd love to get some more bass going on but don't want to sacrifice a ton of room in the back for a sub (planning a bed buildout). Are subs under the front seats a good option? What should I be looking for/at?

Thanks in advance [emoji1365]



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[theesotericone]

There not a bad option. Lots of guys here use them. I don't and never have so I can't really comment on what ones to look for but I'm sure some other can. Here's a shot of where I placed my 10" Pioneer. It protrudes about 1 1/2" and I could easily build a sleeping platform around it. That sub SHOULD have the grill but I lost it in a move. Since your doing a lift tomorrow look closely at the brand name on the boxes in the photo. I've been exactly where you are now a little under a year ago. lol

 

[hodolla]

LIFT ACTION. Put the lift on today, things went pretty well! For my first time doing actual work on a vehicle I was a bit more impressed with myself than I thought I'd be. My buddy Johnny graciously offered up his time, tools, space, and knowledge which was a humongous help. Before I get too sappy I'll jump into the work.

Disclaimer: I'm not going to show HOW to put on a lift, just simply my own experience.

Pre-lift shot in the bay.

This tool is absolute money.

Old coils vs new. OME 881.

Diff drop installed.

The shocks we pulled off were pretty much shot. Contradictory to what the previous owner had told me, they seemed to look relatively new but the quality was crap. They didn't rebound one bit and the travel was real slow.

Quick call to local dudes at Cruiser Outfitters to ask if they had any replacements. Call ended - they're fresh out. Right after the realization sinks in that I'll have to do this all again in the near future the phone rings - they dug some up! Big thanks to Cruiser Outfitters for the parts and wild emotional rollercoaster ride. Here's what we picked up...

Yup - more OME! NitroCharger Sports for both front wheels.

Get these things OFF! I was going to do this right after I got the truck but decided to leave them on to help with the lift aesthetic once I got that on. Glad I did too!

Rear coils.

Another shot of the GOAT tool.

OH MAN.

OH THE SUSPENSE.

So amped about this. Never have done anything like this before and the results are beyond what I expected.

Nice little scare running over this in the parking lot. Not mine but a good laugh.

Of course there's a 2000 Limited parked right in front of my place when I get back. Good to have a little flashback to end my night.

Again, MAJOR THANKS to my man Johnny for teaching me how to do this lift all while holding a baby in one hand and another big thanks to Cruiser Outfitters for the last minute parts!

Off to the Tetons for the weekend [emoji1365]


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[trailbikerider]

That's weird, you appear to have quite a bit more lift out of the front of your truck with the exact same springs that I'm running....

Also, what rear springs did you use?

 

[Rimcrew]

Looks great, that thing is clean!!

 

[Fezzik]

Great find, keep up the tooling

 

[gamefreakgc]

Thanks for the note - definitely a concern and would much prefer longevity over aesthetics.

Regarding your audiophile status - maybe some advice? I'd love to get some more bass going on but don't want to sacrifice a ton of room in the back for a sub (planning a bed buildout). Are subs under the front seats a good option? What should I be looking for/at?

Thanks in advance [emoji1365]



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Adding a small amp and some sound proofing in the doors will help the bass a lot without having to add a sub!

 

[the walrus]

Looks good! Always nice to see another local on the forum.

Justin

 

[hodolla]

That's weird, you appear to have quite a bit more lift out of the front of your truck with the exact same springs that I'm running....

Also, what rear springs did you use?

trailbikerider: Could it be the shock/coil combo? Maybe it just needs some time to settle. I'm running OME 890's in the back.

Looks great, that thing is clean!!

Thanks Rimcrew!

Great find, keep up the tooling

Fezzik - don't plan on stopping

Adding a small amp and some sound proofing in the doors will help the bass a lot without having to add a sub!

Good advice! Now I know how to get those door panels off, looks like this may have to be in order. Thanks man.

 

[trailbikerider]

trailbikerider: Could it be the shock/coil combo? Maybe it just needs some time to settle. I'm running OME 890's in the back?

It could be how much preload those springs have where they sit on those shocks I suppose. This is my truck with 881s/906s and Bilstein 5100s. I just purchased 890s to replace the 906s too. It's just weird because you almost have reverse rake even with the 890s.

2002 4Runner - Side by Blake Nichols, on Flickr

 

[gamefreakgc]

Good advice! Now I know how to get those door panels off, looks like this may have to be in order. Thanks man.

I should leave more helpful comments though.

This small amp is great and what I have: https://www.crutchfield.com/S-gXxtRR8A9cr/p_500KTP445A/Alpine-KTP-445A-Power-Pack.html, they usually have open box models that are cheaper too. I think Pioneer also makes a small amp that's good.

You can use roofing material from Home depot if dynamat is too expensive. Or Raamat, it doesn't smell and is cheaper.

 

[hodolla]

It could be how much preload those springs have where they sit on those shocks I suppose. This is my truck with 881s/906s and Bilstein 5100s. I just purchased 890s to replace the 906s too. It's just weird because you almost have reverse rake even with the 890s.

I'm wondering if its because I'm running OME on OME and they've accounted for that somehow. I'm on 265/75/16's...are you close to that?

 

[ToyTec Lifts]

Awesome progress!

 

[trailbikerider]

I'm wondering if its because I'm running OME on OME and they've accounted for that somehow. I'm on 265/75/16's...are you close to that?

Yeah I'm running 265/75s as well.