cpark_12 Build Thread: 2003 SE V8 4X4

cpark_12

cpark_12

New member
Well, I've had it for almost a month now, so I figured it's time to start a build thread. If for no other reason, just to help me keep track of everything!

I'd been looking for an SUV for about a month and was really set on a Tahoe/Yukon, but I went to the Toyota dealership here and saw an 04 SE and knew that's what I wanted. The dealership and I went around and around for about 3 weeks, but apparently they didn't want to sell it bad enough, so I drove about 100 miles and picked this up for $4K less out the door than the dealership here wanted! Score!

Future mods:
Plate bumper
Full RCI skids
Roof Rack

Here she is the day I picked her up (I went ahead and put the UGA tag on!)


I thought I was content with it until I found this forum...ugh...Y'all make me spend too much money!!! The first thing I did was make a place for my vehicle gun! I just mounted the clip of the holster to the inside of the console.


It already had an Alpine head unit, but the factory sub wasn't hooked up. I put Infinity Reference X 9602ix up front hooked up to a Pioneer 2 channel amp I mounted under the passenger seat.








After that, I made some Alpine SPS 6X9's fit into the rear door locations.


I have a couple subs, boxes, and amps laying around, so I tried an RE Audio SEX 12 in a box that I made for it and hooked it up to a Kicker KX600.1 amp and it was a little too much for the 4Runner, so I settled in on an Infinity Reference 850W 8" sub in a box that I built for my 95 F150! It rounds out the sound perfectly! If I decide to keep in in there, I'm gonna build a box that will blend in better. I also have a toolbag back there that has all the "necessities" that I'd need if anything were to happen.






I think that's it for the interior so far. I'll make a 2nd post for the exterior stuff!
 
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Now the the exterior. The first thing I did was level out the front end with a spacer.

Before


After


Then I went in to get an alignment and they gave me such a good deal, I drove away with some Cooper AT3's in 265/70-17




It's been like this for about 2 weeks and I already want a little higher all the way around. Not much, but maybe about 1-1.5" higher.

I tried my hand at Plasti-Dip and I think it turned out pretty good


I have a gallon of the Anthracite metallic that I'm gonna do my wheels and cladding with.

I blacked out my headlights. It wasn't nearly as hard or time consuming than I thought it would be. It took me about 2-3 hours all together.




I need to "renew" my driver's side when I get some time

Oh...And I had to support the place that makes me spend my money!


I think that's all for now. I have some N-Fab bars coming in tomorrow, so they'll get on this weekend sometime. I also have a timing belt kit coming, so I'll get that done within a week or 2. I've seen a lot on this forum that I want to do to my 4Runner, so I'll keep this thread updated pretty regular!
 
Nice start to the build! Don't let the mod bug bite you too hard or you'll be like the rest of us with more than what it's worth! I never though about putting my gun in that spot! I always have a holster clipped to the driver side door with my gun. Might have to try it out. How did you get the holster to stay?
 
When the mod bug bites, it bites hard! I got the holster to stay with double sided tape on the metal clip for now. I did it just see if it would work there, but it isn't coming off now!

More stuff to add! I plastidipped my grill and put some N-FAB nerf bars on it. They're made for a 5th gen 4 Runner, but they mount up to ours just fine. I saw a guy on here do it, so I got some too! I can't remember his name, or I'd give him credit!
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58443d3b2e543bbc2db5644776bf6ae7.jpg


I also have some taco coils and bilstein 5100s coming. I'm still trying to figure out what rear springs I want to go with. I want about a 3" lift up front. That would be about 1.5" in the rear to level everything out, right?
 
Get some Toytec superflexes, they ride really well and decent price. You want about 2" in the rear to sit about level.
 
Just a little more to add. I do have the stuff in for my lift, but I won't have time to put it on until next weekend...ugh...I did play a little more with the plasti dip


I also found a small lightbar for a good price, so I bought it. I never thought I'd like or have a need for one, but this thing is bright for it being as small as it is! I'm already looking for a 30" or bigger! I just threw it on the front bumper and put a small metal plate behind it to make it a little sturdier. Anyway, here it is.


The oil spots underneath the truck are not mine! My brother had his car parked there that day, so that's where those came from!

I still have to mount my CB and antenna and put the lift on, so I'll keep it updated as they come!
 
A little update.

I plasti dipped my wheels anthracite metallic. I'm still debating on whether or not to go over them with a little glossifier. I guess we'll see


I also did an LED swap for the interior lights. They look blue in the pic, but they are definitely white in person! Probably one of the best mods I've done on the inside so far...and so simple!
 
A little update: I started on a drawer system for the back of the runner last weekend. I wanted to design it to where I had 2 decent sized drawers, incorporate a sub box, and have a nice flat platform that I could still use for my cargo area. Well, I came finally came up with a rough design and started cutting the wood and putting it together.






This was all I got done last weekend. I worked a little bit yesterday and got one drawer built and a little more framing done, so here's what I have so far.






I decided to use biscuits to help strengthen and hold together the drawers together, along with gorilla wood glue and staples. I clamped them and let them sit overnight. Needless to say, they aren't coming apart and should hold plenty!









I also painted my stock roof rack black



I think I want to go back and put some type of textured paint on it, but it'll do for now.

I did install some all pro wheel spacers, but don't have any pics of those.
 
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I got a little more done on the drawer system. I finished up the big drawer and installed it in the runner. I still haven't come up with my sub box design yet, so I've left that drawer out and just threw my existing sub box in that open space. I still need to find some grey carpet to cover it and I need to paint the drawers, but I went ahead and installed it because I'm going out of town next weekend and I want to see how everything works now.


I left enough room on the driver's side to mount my amp.


Just a couple more




I'll get more pics when I get the carpet and paint on it.
 
I also got a 32" lightbar and put it up front where the little 14" was. I'm gonna eventually put that smaller one in the back somewhere, I just have to figure out where. I got some pics of the HID's and the lightbar, but it was about 7pm, so you really can't tell how bright they are.





And a pic of them shining on my house

 
So, this past weekend I welded a Flowmaster 50 series muffler in the place of the original. Idle isn't much louder than stock, but you can definitely tell it's there. It does have a little more drone on the highway than I expected, but nothing unbearable. I made a little video last night and I listened back to it with a good set of headphones and it's pretty accurate on how the drone sounds. I'll try to get an exterior sound today sometime.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3zs_aRN4inQ&index=1&list=UUJ2ttflPU-ImRucExQ_qfdQ
 
Well, I finally got my lift installed Saturday. I still need to get it aligned. I haven't taken any measurements yet either. The front are TRD springs and struts from a 2013 Tacoma with a 1" spacer on top. The rear are Toytec Superflex with the TRD Bilstein Tacoma shocks. I'll be getting the 5100 rear shocks shortly. I need to get it out and test it offroad a little! The ride blows XREAS out of the water!

Before


After






I didn't think I could like my Runner more than I already did, but I was wrong!
 
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