Carolina's Build Thread

[CarolinaCowboy]

Deckplate mod...

From inside the filter box...

 

[CarolinaCowboy]

ISR mod... done the weekend after July 4th. Just now getting around to posting it up. Not very exciting but if all goes to plan the lift will be ordered in less than a month!

I "tested" the deckplate mod by leaving the flip top open for a day before deciding to do that one but with this mod I just went for it. Not really reversible once you reroute the air tube into the T-joint. It sounds good though, notice a slight power increase and helps out the exhaust tone a bit too.

From above...

From the front...

 

[CarolinaCowboy]

Camping/Wheeling on Carolina Beach

Setting up camp...

The girl & I...

A Beautiful Beach & A Tough Truck...

 

[CarolinaCowboy]

So I have some last minute questions about the Toytec lift I'm preparing to order at the end of the week.

For the front lift:

I know I want the Coilovers with Bilstein 5100 shocks for the front but are these Coilovers...

ToyTec coilover kit with Bilstein 5100 shocks

...the same as these Coilovers?

ToyTec Coil Overs (95.5-04 Taco & 96-02 4RUN)

-My assumption is that the former is simply the disassembled version of the later, and with the unassembled version I would use my own stock top plates. Correct?
-Also, with the unassembled version it seems the coils only come in silver... which leads me to believe they are the 4cyl light 500lb coils shown as one of the options for the assembled Coilover. I have the 6cyl so I assume I'll need the med 600lb coils (which come standard in red), correct? Anyone know which lb coil comes with the unassembled Coilover?


For the rear shocks:

Can anyone explain the big difference between the ProComp ES9000 ($100), OME 60027 ($180), & Bilstein 5125 ($200) shocks?

-My thinking here is if I can "custom" order the ToyTec Ultimate Kit by ordering everything separate & assembling the coilovers myself then I could use the saved money to upgrade from the ProComps to either the OMEs or Bilsteins. But what is the advantage of each of the upgrades?

 

[daletehbest]

I just got my 4runner and I go to WCU our 4runners seem pretty similar besides the fact that mine doesn't have anything done to it

 

[CarolinaCowboy]

I just got my 4runner and I go to WCU our 4runners seem pretty similar besides the fact that mine doesn't have anything done to it

Well if you joined this website I'm assuming you're already planning some mods. I've know I've been planning mine since 5 years ago when I got the truck... just finally getting around to having the spare cash to do anything. If you plan on lifting & offroading I'd be down for a trip to Uwharrie once everything is done. Good luck & welcome!

 

[daletehbest]

yeah im planning a lift and some bigger tires, might do an E-locker, Should be getting a basket sometime this week. and a brush guard.
Good to be here.
Edit, And I already ripped off the running boards.

 

[Foco4Runner]

Whoa! Your rig looks exactly like mine! Its like its a third gen or something. lol jk Anyways with the Fiber Glass Net you don't need a ring clamp? and where did you get it at? Lastly if you ever get bored one day you should paint your deckplate black to match the air box. Its a minor detail but it looks good. Attached is a pic of mine

 

[CarolinaCowboy]

Whoa! Your rig looks exactly like mine! Its like its a third gen or something. lol jk Anyways with the Fiber Glass Net you don't need a ring clamp? and where did you get it at? Lastly if you ever get bored one day you should paint your deckplate black to match the air box. Its a minor detail but it looks good. Attached is a pic of mine

No I didn't need a ring clamp with the fiberglass mesh like I would have with aluminum because I simply stretched a square portion of mesh I cut out over the deckplate and then popped it into the airbox. Once I had it held in place I trimmed the mesh around the edges of the deckplate on the outside of the airbox and then screwed the deckplate in (which also helps to hold the mesh in place). I think this picture shows it best...

I thought about painting the deckplate but overall its just really not that important to me. Not raggin on you but I'd have to be pretty bored to get in there and paint something that's under the hood all the time anyways haha. I'm just more concerned with the performance under the hood. The exterior & suspension is a whole different deal though... gotta make that look good and perform! :cheers:

 

[Foco4Runner]

Nice ok that makes more sense and thats what I thought you did when I first saw that pic but ya I didn't paint mine I bought it black lol but definately agree with the exterior and suspension looking good and performing :iagree:

 

[CarolinaCowboy]

...but definately agree with the exterior and suspension looking good and performing :iagree:

Speaking of suspension, I am getting ready to order my stuff as soon as I can get it figured out. I know what I'm getting for the front... ToyTec 600lb Adjustable Coil Overs. That's pretty much settled.

As for the rear I'll be using 8 wrap LC coils (either from a local junkyard if I can find it, or Rocki Top Auto), BUT I'm pretty confused with the Bilstein 5125's. I've been reading and as far as I can tell the ones sold by ToyTec are actually Tacoma Billies w/ an adaptor whereas the ones sold by Sonoran are specifically for the 4runner.

-Sooo... first off, does it matter?

-Secondly, if it does matter, does Sonoran sell that shock as an independent piece? Or would I have to look up the specific part number on Amazon or something? and list the part number if you know it...

Thanks guys! I've been saving for a while so I could do it right the first time...

 

[Rockdawg84]

to answer your questions:
1st.
(my own opinion) yes the adapter makes a difference. I believe that if you want to get the best travel out of your rear suspension don't use the 5100 with the adapter. I know it is only about an inch of extension on the shock body but that will limit your up travel and change the way you need to set up your bump stops

2nd
Steve does usually sell the 5125 separately but right now they are on back order. however if your not worried about shinny shocks He has a great alternative for about half the price with the correct shock valving and correct travel length. I just ordered a set from him last week and look forward to getting them.

Good luck and enjoy the journey:cheers:

Speaking of suspension, I am getting ready to order my stuff as soon as I can get it figured out. I know what I'm getting for the front... ToyTec 600lb Adjustable Coil Overs. That's pretty much settled.

As for the rear I'll be using 8 wrap LC coils (either from a local junkyard if I can find it, or Rocki Top Auto), BUT I'm pretty confused with the Bilstein 5125's. I've been reading and as far as I can tell the ones sold by ToyTec are actually Tacoma Billies w/ an adaptor whereas the ones sold by Sonoran are specifically for the 4runner.

-Sooo... first off, does it matter?

-Secondly, if it does matter, does Sonoran sell that shock as an independent piece? Or would I have to look up the specific part number on Amazon or something? and list the part number if you know it...

Thanks guys! I've been saving for a while so I could do it right the first time...

 

[CarolinaCowboy]

So thanks to everyone for your help! The lift has been ordered. Here's what I got...

Unassembled ToyTec Coilover kit w/ Tacoma Bilstein 5100s... $599.99

Rear Bilstein 5125 Shocks... $199.99

Front Differential Drop Kit - ToyTec... $29.99

ToyTec shipping = $54.25
ToyTec discount code = -$41.50

8wrap LC Coils from Rocki Top Auto... $90.00 shipped

GRAND Total = $932.72

*I was sort of building off of the ToyTec Ultimate Kit and IMO I think I ended up getting a MUCH better set-up. I was able to save a good bit of $$$ too by ordering the Unassembled Tacoma Coilovers ($600) vs the Assembled Tundra Coilovers ($740); & going with LC Coils ($90 shipped) vs. OME coils ($170 + shipping)

**Only bad thing is Dylan, from ToyTec, called me to let me know that the Tacoma Bilsteins, which comes with the Coilovers I ordered, are out of stock and could be a few weeks. He could have replaced them with the firmer Tundra Bilstein, but when I can get the same performance and a softer ride out of Tacoma I'm willing to wait. Just hope my current tires can hang on for another month. I checked the tread yesterday & it's worse than I thought. :shrug:


-Not important but in case anyone was interested, I also ordered some cheap powder coat black Heavy-duty Clevis Shackles for $30 shipped.

 

[tineman06]

i got the exact same rear lift as you but got tundra trd coilovers up front instead. too bad toytec is out of stock. i just ordered mine 2 weeks ago and they said they had a few sets...

are the shackles going to be primarily for looks? generally i think that a shackle that cheap probably isn't rated to a high load. do you know? if it is indeed strong, i'd be interested in getting some.

 

[CarolinaCowboy]

i got the exact same rear lift as you but got tundra trd coilovers up front instead. too bad toytec is out of stock. i just ordered mine 2 weeks ago and they said they had a few sets...

are the shackles going to be primarily for looks? generally i think that a shackle that cheap probably isn't rated to a high load. do you know? if it is indeed strong, i'd be interested in getting some.

In my case the shackles will be to extend the front recovery points a little. They're forged steel so they should be rated at LEAST up to 4,000lbs. I think because I bought them from an outlet site it doesn't have the full info.

 

[steezemcqueen]

We got a notification that we should have the Bilsteins at the end of this week!

 

[CarolinaCowboy]

We got a notification that we should have the Bilsteins at the end of this week!

That's awesome man! I really appreciate the heads up... now I gotta figure out this LC coil dilemma, 8 wraps or 9 wraps?

 

[CarolinaCowboy]

So everything seems to be coming together nicely.

• Since the 93' LC (lift) coils I ordered weren't what I needed, I reordered 97' LC Coils. My thinking was that all the 97' LC Coils I've heard of have been 8 or 9 wraps, and I'm really ok with either
  
  These are the ones I received. I think we gathered that they are 4" front lift coils for the LC but the junkyard that shipped them didn't know they weren't stock.
  
  
  
  
  
• Per the above post from Steeze, the Tacoma Bilsteins, and hence the ToyTec adjustable coilovers will be back in stock by the end of the week. So I hope to have those by the end of next week.
• I just ordered a custom 2" BL from 4crawler today to minimize the amount of trimming I have to do & give me some extra flex room.

I'll be throwing either 305 or 315 KM2s on almost immediately after I get the lift b/c my sister's 4Runner (we're a yota family) has tires that are bald enough to be mistaken for drag tires! :wow: Mine have about 70% tread left so she'll just pro-rate me for those and I'll get some new meats. It's a sweet deal cause we'll just end up trading wheel/tire packages... so I trade my Sequoia wheels for her 6-spokes, which are a lot tougher IMO. :hungry:

My Sequoia's...

traded for these...

 

[durrell]

Looking good. You're making better progress than I am.

I'm too caught up on maintenance to do any upgrades, but I am still planning to at least go 285's I hope..

 

[CarolinaCowboy]

Since I'm not cool enough to have a BudBuilt yet... might as well be a poser :bluejump: I thought it turned out good though.

I probably won't end up getting a BudBuilt in the long run though cause I don't see the need for my uses. But I liked the red trim that Du, Snowrunner, LINY, and a couple other people have going on so I went for it. I'll end up painting my coils red when they come in and my tundra calipers as well when I get around to those.