Dirtbike250x's Build Thread

[dirtbike250x]

Dirtbike250x's Build Thread "The Family Treasure"

So I thought it was time I start a build thread. The truck is something I am very proud of, and has a special story to the family, and thought it would be cool to share with you all. My family is the original owner of our 1996 4WD SR5 4RUnner. It all started with this truck: 87 Pickup Turbo, my dad's first Toyota....


But as the family grew(my sister and myself were born), a regular cab pickup wasn't going to cut it. So going back to Toyota, my parents picked up the 4Runner. The first picture I could find of it in 96.


Which eventually turned into this. The most current picture I have.



Suspension
-Bilstein 5100/Eibach 600lbs Coilovers
-Front Diff Drop
-Panhard Bar drop
-OME 890 Coils-Replaced with LX450 8.75/8.5 wrap coils
-OME Shocks-Replaced by Black Land Cruiser Tokico Shocks
- Light Racing Upper Control Arms
- Custom Panhard Bar
Armor
-Shrockworks Front (Full Hoop)
-4xinnovations DOM sliders w/kickout
-Stock Front and Gas Tank Skids (With some clearance modification done)
-More to Come...
Lighting
- SuperbrightLEDs 23in Light Bar
- TUFFLEDs 4in Round 27w Fog Lights
-iJDMtoy 12 inch Cargo Light
Drive/Brakes
- Goodyear 285/70/17 Duratracs
- Procomp 7105 17x8
- EBC Sport Rotors/ Greenstuff Pads Replaced with 231mm Tundra Calipers
- Centric Black Rotors (fitment for 2005 Tundra)
- Energy Suspension Steering Rack Bushing
- JBA Cat-Back exhaust
Sound
-Kenwood HU DPX308
-Kenwood 6.5in 3-way Door speakers F/R
-JVC 800 watt mono Amp
-Kicker 10" Subwoofer
- Taco Whip Antenna
Interior
-Double Drawer System with power outlet
-Full size space mount with sub box
-LED Interior Cargo/Map lights
-Rear Seat Hi-Lift jack mount

​

This 4Runner was actually one of the first 4Runner to be sold in our area, it was ordered to what my parents wanted shipped to the dealer and ended up in the driveway soon after.

​

I was only 3yrs old when they brought the truck home. This truck has taken our family on vacations down to Florida (several times) over to Wisconsin, and up into Canada, towed several tons of dirt, building a swimming pool, drove me to my first day of school, brought home my first dirtbike, and is now my daily driver. There's a special love for this truck in the family.

After the rich history it had during the time of my childhood, it finally became mine to take care of in April of 2009.


I started driving it to high school, stock and would take it on local Pine Barren trails. Nothing serious just enjoyed taking out into the woods.



When the first snow fall came after I got my licence, I couldn't have been happier to have a 4WD truck.



Since I have maxed out the number of picture I can post in this post I continue in the next. This will take awhile to get up to current status, but it'll eventually get there...

 

[dirtbike250x]

A few more snow shots..



And it's first recovery :banana:


So, I enjoyed driving it stock with its great capabilities, but the tires on it had about 90k, and needed to be replaced. I think you guys know where this is going. So, after reading through this site and learning as much as I could it was time to start the mods... started with wheels, tires and eventually lift.
Procomp 7105's 17x8


It was nice coming home to this...Goodyear Duratrac 285/70/17



And put the two together


And the last picture I have of the truck stock..

 

[GentryGoon]

Very cool, man! :nicethread:

 

[dirtbike250x]

So it took some time, but I eventually gathered all the parts for 3 inch lift lift using 890 coild and OME comfort ride shocks in the rear and Bilsteing 5100 shocks with Eibach springs up front. Along with a dif-drop, panhard bar drop, and longer studs for the wheels up front.
Before shot of the front...along with some rust that will be eventually fixed...


And with the new stuff up front.


Front Finished


And moving onto the rear.




The front studs need to be extended for the new wheels so left that project for the end.


And the first shot I have post-lift

 

[dirtbike250x]

Start this post with a finished project shot


And then I took it back to the local trails for the first time with the lift and tires




And since I'm not a big fan of mud, the truck never got any muddier than this.


And then I moved on to the very popular mod, I took off the running boards and really enhanced the look I think


And continued to explore the Pines with the truck

 

[dirtbike250x]

I couldn't wait for the first snow fall after the new tires, I couldn't have been happier with the difference. But I didn't have much to compare to, since the first year had the very wore street tires with 90k on them.










And my favorite shot of the truck in the snow.

 

[dirtbike250x]

So it was time for another mod for the truck, I felt the truck needed some more light power, really liked what plate bumpers do to the look of the truck, and would like to get that flimsy sheet metal bumper off. So it was off to Shrockworks for one of their bumpers. It was a very frustrating 7 months waiting for the bumper to arrive, nothing new really with the lead times, and with the expected shipping dates constantly changing. But it was a wait worth waiting for, the craftsmanship on the bumper was very impressive and the build of the bumper was very stout.














And the upgraded light output

 

[dirtbike250x]

And once the bumper was installed I gave it my first good wash and wax to make it showroom shiny


Next was a set of Light Racing UCA, along with lower balljoints at the same time


I couldn't stand the surface rust on the frame, so I thought I would do something about it. Got the creeper out, air powered sandered, wire brush, some acetone to clean the surface and a few cans of prime and gloss black
One of the changes to the truck I take the most pride in due to the amount of work it took, and the great outcome it had :first:

 

[dirtbike250x]

So, with the 33's there was rubbing when flexed off road in the rear, so for a few week I took the easy fix and took the rear bumper ends off so it would clear. But to me it didn't look good with the truck, so thought to mod the bumper ends so they would clear.



And some IFS flex for fun


And the finished product of the bumper ends.

 

[dirtbike250x]

So with most of the kids going to my high school were more interested in scrapping the street low Hondas and who had the most thumping sound system, it was nice that a friend finally got himself a Toyota, and 96 80 series land cruiser (FZJ80) bought with very bald tires



One night after a later night at high school, it was a perfect slope just couldnt resist

 

[ameining]

Sick ride man!

 

[Fishwerks]

Good stuff! Looks great.

 

[madbomber08]

Wow, white runners with black accents look so sick. I also think its neat that its been your family since the time it was brand new. If I was you, I would drive her until she dies. How many miles are on it?

 

[shootmymime]

for being in high school you sure do have some money to throw around. but she looks amazing.

 

[dirtbike250x]

Sick ride man!

Wow, white runners with black accents look so sick. I also think its neat that its been your family since the time it was brand new. If I was you, I would drive her until she dies. How many miles are on it?

Thanks for the reply man, yeah no intentions in selling it, just plan on getting a car to replace it as a daily driver, and keep the 4runner as fun vehicle once I move into a career. It has about 131k, so its still quite low, so plenty of life left in it.

 

[dirtbike250x]

for being in high school you sure do have some money to throw around. but she looks amazing.

Thanks, for the reply, but no longer in high school, now I'm working towards getting my RN in nursing school, so using it as a daily driver with about 40 min commute, so the mods have pretty much come to a stop to replenish the funds.

 

[dirtbike250x]

So after getting the major mods out of the way, I started into the DIY stuff to make the truck better for me. I started with painting the emblem white


I also was able to find a print out for the factory service manual thanks to a friend


Mounted the fire extinguisher
That Christmas, I received a welder as my present, and couldn't have asked for a better gift. So the first project I started with it was some storage for the rear cargo area. Since I now had the welder, I made the frame out of some angle with some square tubing for some extra support


It is going to consist of two drawers a flat top, with an angle steel pate, which is going to be angle up to mount the full size spare tire, along with the hi lift. If you guys have any more questions on it just ask, the project is still going on so I'll update as progress is made. Now for some pictures

 

[dirtbike250x]

...And one for what it will eventually look like (got a great deal on the extra wheel)


And then I took off the roof rails, cowl piece under the windshield, the rear towing air deflector, and rear bumper step plastic piece. Pretty much everything that was black needed a nice coat of paint to really bring it back to life.



Then moved onto the steering rack bushing, heard great things about the upgrade, seemed simple enough so I went for it, bought the red ones because they look cooler under there :clap2:

 

[dirtbike250x]

Now to bring the thread up to date as of right now I went to 4xinnovations for a set of their sliders, I liked how they looked and the price looked better than the rest too. I don't plan on getting into fights with many rocks because I'm not afraid to say I don't exactly challenge the capability of the truck off road, but for the one time I may slide off into them, they will be worth it to me. Also I to got to really use the welder on this project. I did all the welding for mine as well as a set for that 80 series, he got the DIY sliders from 4xinnovations. Really enjoyed that project

 

[dirtbike250x]

And just since I'm on a role in making these posts I'll share a few from the recent trip to Rausch Creek Off Road Park in PA
And two videos from previous trips :http://vimeo.com/34005327
http://vimeo.com/47719339