Build thread: Trikz

Everything worked just fine as far as I could tell. No problems whatsoever. Only took longer than expected because at first I didn't know how the rack needed to be assembled. After initial assembly, it was just a simple bolt-on.
 
Mudding!!!!

Hey guys.

So after a late night working at the solar car project at my university (it was 2am), I decided to have some fun and in the process try and relieve myself of my 4Runner's mall crawler status. Here's the result of a 30mph run through a nice little 50ft mud pit also known as my university's unpaved/flooded parking lot :driving:



I like the natural look of my new dual exhaust.









I couldn't dirty-up my 4Runner more but oh well... it was 2am and I was leaving after a 12hr work day at the shop and was eager to go to sleep. Plus, I didn't want to have cops show up :D Overall, I think that for a non-locker 2wd truck it definitely has potential to go on some nice trails. I'm hoping the Baja team finishes their project and goes to test it. I'm planning on tagging along and going mudding some more before I leave for the summer to PA.
 
Back to modding!

Hey guys!

It's been a while since my last post. Had a great time in PA but I couldn't wait to get back to PR. With some $$$ at hand from my internship, I went back to modding and doing some maintenance on my 4Runner.

First off, came back to find my battery had a bad cell so I had to get a new one. In preparation for LED off-road lights and a sub-woofer, I decided to pay the extra bucks and get a group 34 Die-hard Platinum. 850CCA!!!!



Also did the Big 3 mod a little while ago.





Next up, some nice tail light guards (need a better pic).



Did an oil change and changed the PCV. Hopefully will get some MPGs back.



To make sure of that, I installed an Ultragauge.



Lastly... my version of the Satoshi grill. I’ll let the pics speak for themselves :D





















 
OME 880/890s

Time for a suspension lift. Bought some nearly new OME 880/890 coils to get rid of the sagging suspension. Love the new stance and the ride quality is awesome! Thanks to [MENTION=9661]CharliePR74[/MENTION] for a great deal on the coils!

Let's start with the Tale of the tape :D

Stock front...



Stock rear...



Lifted front...



Lifted rear...



The end result!





I was so eager to install the lift, I forgot to take a side shot of the stock lift but you should have an idea of how it looked from looking at my fist few posts.
 
Thanks Charlie! Already drove it at 85mph on the highway and I had no sway whatsoever. I did notice when installing the rear coils that one of the 890s was almost an inch longer, which I put on the driver side. There's a slight angle on the panhard without the drop-braket and it seems that I don't need one. Ride is super firm but not uncomfortable. Reminds me of the FJ cruiser. Huge improvement over stock. I love the ride quality!
 
Well, no idea on what's happening to my Runner. Chassis to body bushings? Rear suspension specs too close to limits? Shocks are not the case, not even wheels nor tires cause the problem was still there after replacing those.

Do a test, go over a speed bump at the normal speed you usually pass over them and check for side to side movement once the rear tires pass the bump. That's something I noticed just after replacing the coils. And yes, it moves much better in general, just be careful when traveling at high speed, they get unstable once you lift em'.
 
I drive over speed bumps on a daily basis in my neighborhood and before the coils, I did feel a swaying motion, specially at the rear. After the OMEs, the sway is gone. I drove 85mph over an un-even bridge and felt no play ( I was more worried about the wheel studs I had to replace lol). Was your side-to-side motion cyclic or momentary? I was expecting to have your side motion problems but I've felt none. Did it go away after the switch to stock coils?
 
Yep! Definitely something to do with the lift. My Runner can't be lifted that high. I will try installing the Daystar spacer on the rear coils again but will have them machined to reduce their thickness (1.5" to 3/4"). Just want to get rid of the hitting cones symptom. Remember I went back to the 18's, harder and heavier tires. Just like the look of the TRD wheels combined with the JAOS front! :reddance::reddance::reddance:
 
That front end looks sick with the TRD wheels! I'm going to attempt to fabricate a similar fairing for the front or I might get a brushguard. In the mean time, I'm starting to plan my roof rack build. And also, I'll have to complete some maintenance work (balljoints, timing belt, valve cover gaskets, etc.). Gonna try and save $$$ by doing my own work. Only paid to have the front coils installed due to lack of tools. Rear was knocked out in 2hrs (first time doing such work). Looking forward to learning more about my 4Runner through hands-on work. I'll let you know if I see any wierd movements while driving (barely driven 20 miles on lift).
 
Sure, keep me posted. BTW, hope you haven't changed your red coolant to the green one and if that's the case, go back to the red one again. There's a thread I created from a nightmare I had with a head gasket failure resulting from the green coolant.

Regarding mechanical stuff:

1. I've already replaced the differential axles oil seals, tend to fail eventually.
2. Replaced the alternator bearings which was making a weird sound.
3. Fixed the oil leak coming from behind the engine.
4. Fixed tranny oil leak coming from a small cap on tranny nose.
5. Replaced front tranny mount.
6. Replaced all rack n pinion bushings.
7. Replaced front OEM discs with Brembo cross drilled ones (No more brake pedal pumping)
8. Fixed the stuttering at low idle (IAC Valve).
9. Fixed the non starting issue (starter clicking).
10. Replaced both sway bar bushings. (Don't buy cheap stuff but OEM).
11. Replaced shifter bushings.

So far those are the main issues I've had with my Runner. Minor issues all of them. The one associated to the non correct coolant was all my fault!
 
That's the very first thing I did after you told me last year. Wont run anything other than Toyota red coolant. Thanks for the maintenance list. Hopefully I'll get through it as the year goes on. BTW, did another test run today and I can't say I feel any sway. Only "scare" I had was a weird clunking noise which turned out to be a rock that was stuck on the tire treads and hitting the pavement (had my windows down when I noticed it). I'll keep you posted.
 
Frame maintenance

Finally got around to my annual frame cleaning as part of my rust prevention tasks. A couple cans of Gunk and a brush is all it takes (at least for me :D).

Pics as always... (they're from an iPhone so cut me some slack on the quality)



























I'm always impressed as to how little rust, if any, there really is. Not too shabby for living in a tropical island and living not so far from the coast!

Oh, and for those who might wonder, I can fit a 30" spare with my dual exhaust :D (never got to posting a pic)

 
Hey guys! I'm looking for opinions on painting my intake plenum and valve covers. I'm going to remove both due to leaking valve cover gaskets and I'm planning on painting them while they're out. This is what I'm going for:





Love to visualize stuff with Paint Shop Pro!

All opinions are welcome!
 
wow on the cleaning underneath, that must of taken you forever? This stuff is called Gunk?

I'm not a fan of the green on the engine, but then again I'm 31 and that stuff doesn't appeal to me anymore. I would go with pink myself... j/k

but no If was ever in that kind of situation, I would make it more subtle. maybe a black or something. IMO If you were supercharged or turbo'd, then the green might be ok.
 
I'm kind off having my own doubts on painting the parts. Worst case, I'll just give everything a good cleaning and call it a day. I've been thinking on getting rid of my green details such as my skid, shackles and brake parts and painting some of those either black or maybe red. Also need to re-do my wheels and I've been thinking on going back to silver. Who knows... just don't want to look too stock lol

BTW, the degreaser I used is called Gunk. Took me a few hours or so to do.
 
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