Colorado Springs!!!

[Tphocker]

Hey Guys,
I'm in Colorado Springs and I finally bought a 3rd gen 4runner. What I'm looking for is someone local with a love for the 4runner and a lot of knowledge on mechanical, lifts, tires, and all that good stuff. I really want to do a lot to my 4runner but I don't know enough to get started. I'm looking for someone that's willing to help me. I not looking to take it to a shop and have someone else work on my yota. I want to do a lot of the work I just need help.

I want to lift my runner, get new wheels, tires, build bumpers, roof rack, custom ladder, light package, etc.

Let me know if you have any ideas or know someone in the springs.

I am very handy I just don't work with lifts and stuff a lot to know where to start.

 

[ajonesnv]

Man! My in-laws used to live there, which got me up there often. Good luck finding a work buddy!

 

[hour]

I'm about an hour north of you and have full suspension, trans cooler, and audio crap to install. No garage though. We can knock it out together if you get lift parts in and happen to have a work space that is warmer than outside :reddance:

 

[MikeFrazier]

If your willing to expand your friendship to the Denver area you might be in luck. I think there are more members from up there than down here. I've even seen a couple members from Fountain so you're in the right spot though.

 

[Tphocker]

I'm about an hour north of you and have full suspension, trans cooler, and audio crap to install. No garage though. We can knock it out together if you get lift parts in and happen to have a work space that is warmer than outside :reddance:

My bigger issue is that I don't know enough to know what to get. I really need to sit down with someone and learn more to know what I want and need to buy before I can instal it. If anyone wants a beer I'll buy and we'll chat. Lol

 

[hour]

My bigger issue is that I don't know enough to know what to get. I really need to sit down with someone and learn more to know what I want and need to buy before I can instal it. If anyone wants a beer I'll buy and we'll chat. Lol

Well, if it helps, since I just got all my parts together... I lucked out on some land cruiser springs from a buddy (thought I'd never find any, was going to get Toytec Superflex springs otherwise). Taking the bilstein 5100 shocks off of my tacoma and swapping out the bushing on the shock. So that's the rear. Up front, tundra bilstein 5100s and Toytec/eibach springs. Edit: actually, I guess you could go even cheaper if you got some factory land cruiser shocks for the rear, like $60 for a pair at autozone

Only way I think you could do it cheaper, without getting a spacer lift, would be to keep your stock front springs and just crank up the lift perches on the strut. I have my tacoma set up like that and it's not a very fun ride.

Probably want to do lift first, I'm committed to running 265/75/16 tires since I have two new sets... not sure if they'll look too puny after I install the suspension. That way you can see what your funds are looking like and how large of tires you want to step up to.

Can't help you with building bumpers or roof racks, but lighting stuff is easy if you need a hand when that time comes. Worst part is snaking wire around cleanly.

 

[RonMAIDEN]

How about a little more info on your truck? Pics? Does it need any maintenance things addressed first before you delve into mods?

 

[Tphocker]

It's a 2000 runner limited, 3.4L. Bone stock. Nothing big, taking it in for a new timing belt. It needs a new cat. converter. But I think I'll wait on that cause it's not affecting anything. Especially since we don't have emissions in the springs.

I don't want a big lift. And I think the biggest I would go on tires would be 32s. I want a little more flexibility and clearance but I want it to be a practical and comfortable car to take across country.

 

[Tphocker]

How about a little more info on your truck? Pics? Does it need any maintenance things addressed first before you delve into mods?

Are you in colorado?

 

[4'running'26]

^^^^

Judging by his information, he's from Littleton, CO.

I used to live in Woodland Park, but alas I am now in the dreary flatlands of Ohio. Still get out there as much as possible.

When you get a chance take 'er up to Rampart Range and play around a little bit. There's a lot to choose from up there.

Best of luck.

 

[andain]

I'm in the Springs. I wouldn't be able to offer anything other then welcome to to the club.

I've had my 4Runner for so long that I've taken it for granted. Found some oil in the radiator yesterday after it looked like she birthed and alien on my garage floor. Now I'm motivated to get some work done.

If you ever want to sit down over some beers and figure out why the hell my rear defroster, rear window and everything attached doesn't work anymore I'd be game though!

 

[thor999]

I'm in Idaho Springs, and have a few resources here for working the 4R... I would absolutely begin with the preventative maintenance issues first!!! LBJ's, rad / tranny cooler, TB / WP, etc,

 

[Tphocker]

The timing belt and pump are getting done this weekend. Explain the other preventative issues. Can't you just wait for the LBJ to go bad then replace them? Cooling issues?

 

[andain]

Check your tranny cooler as he says! Mine cracked, bleed into everything. Much pain.

 

[Kraze]

Can't you just wait for the LBJ to go bad then replace them?

No, because when it fails, it does this:

It's really not something you want to chance. And get new bolts when you replace them. That one ^ had all the bolts fail, but usually it's the LBJ itself.

 

[Tphocker]

How do you determine when to replace them?

 

[Kraze]

Here's everything you ever wanted to know about LBJs: http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/149467-official-lower-ball-joint-write-up-thread.html

If there's even a shadow of a doubt about them, replace them, and use OEM parts. Can you imagine one of them failing at highway speeds? It would be catastrophic.

 

[Tphocker]

Isn't that true with any vehicle? Or are Toyotas a little different? What do you look for to know they need to be replaced. Much like a lot of parts they work until they don't. Is there a mileage number that it's good to replace them? I've known several ppl that have gone 300k+ without any issues.

 

[Kraze]

Did you read the thread I posted? Read through that one, and then read through this one: http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-g...tos-poor-quality-design-flaw-my-findings.html

Specifically, this post and the one below it.

 

[Desert Fox]

Tim,
read through the 3rd gen threads. There is some good information there regarding you need to be looking at.

Here is a link to various builds. This will give you a little more information.
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/general-discussions/127936-master-build-thread-library.html

Do some reading on this forum, it will answer a lot of your questions and open more questions.

There is a shop in Denver that you can rent shop time. They have tools, lifts and stuff like that. I don't recall the name of it. If you have tools and work space that is good too. It just sucks to work on cement driveways this time of year.

Toytec is about 90 minutes up the road. They are happy to discuss options for lifts. They have some pretty neat rigs too.