Dirtco's 1999 4Runner Build

[EatonKyleH]

All I can think every time I check in here is DDDDDDDAAAAANNNNGGGGGG.

simply awesome.

Can't wait to see this thing crawl over a row of old junk cars.
:whoo:

 

[cmlesschwab]

Best build on an IFS 4Runner ever!!

Your fabrication skills r killer bro. I'll need a lot more practice to get even close. Keep posting more pics of the progress of the build, that thing keeps looking better than every time I see it

 

[Mr.Rick]

He's no longer welcome in the expo world with his new tire choice - 36" Iroks :gun4::gun4:

:flipoff::flipoff::flipoff:

Hey now....... He still has a wiffleball bat.... Expo will forgive him... As soon as that bat is gone though.... He's a goner for sure.

 

[Dirtco]

Dude I'm so stoked to see this thing in action. It impressed the hell out of me in Moab last year. We gonna try to run the full length of the Kokepellis this year?

Hey Rick! I would love to run the full Kokopelli trail, we'll have to see once I get the 4Runner done and get a little closer to fall. Is your 4Runner ready to go wheeling?

Hey now....... He still has a wiffleball bat.... Expo will forgive him... As soon as that bat is gone though.... He's a goner for sure.

Oh, don't worry, I'm set!

Hahaha, that's what you think! I have an expo wiffle ball bat that says otherwise, AND a token 255 KM2 on the back of my 4Runner! No one will stop this exposer!

 

[Mr.Rick]

For the most part. I have the bumper/winch installed. Lights are on their way, Toytec boss lift is on and rides nice, sliders are sitting in my closet ready to be installed. I have a few things still on the punch list that will be happening as money permits. Still need to lock, at the very least, the rear end. I'm back and forth on that option tho, debating the cost of picking up a factory e-locked rear end and swapping or just going ARB. But for the time being she is ready to get into some trouble.

Question for you on your fridge. How many quarts is the one in the back of the runner? Would you buy the same size or would you go a little bigger if you had to do it again?

 

[Dirtco]

For the most part. I have the bumper/winch installed. Lights are on their way, Toytec boss lift is on and rides nice, sliders are sitting in my closet ready to be installed. I have a few things still on the punch list that will be happening as money permits. Still need to lock, at the very least, the rear end. I'm back and forth on that option tho, debating the cost of picking up a factory e-locked rear end and swapping or just going ARB. But for the time being she is ready to get into some trouble.

Question for you on your fridge. How many quarts is the one in the back of the runner? Would you buy the same size or would you go a little bigger if you had to do it again?

Nice! Sounds like it will be ready for this season.

If money isn't an issue I would go ARB, they lock and unlock SO much faster than the Toyota e-locker.

I have the smallest TF31 model, this was the largest model I could fit with the upper cargo rack I have in the back. Between the fridge in the 4Runner, and the fridge in the trailer (same model) I'm in pretty good shape. More room is always better, and if I had the room I would have gone with the TF41 model (I think the TF51 might be a little tall, but you can measure for yourself).

FYI - The TF31 is only $399 once you add it to your cart.

TruckFridge.com - Quality true 12 volt DC compressor refrigeration with freezer - Georgetown, KY Exit 129 next to Piolt Truck Center - many models to choose from.

Picture for reference...

 

[Mr.Rick]

Nice! Sounds like it will be ready for this season.

If money isn't an issue I would go ARB, they lock and unlock SO much faster than the Toyota e-locker.

I have the smallest TF31 model, this was the largest model I could fit with the upper cargo rack I have in the back. Between the fridge in the 4Runner, and the fridge in the trailer (same model) I'm in pretty good shape. More room is always better, and if I had the room I would have gone with the TF41 model (I think the TF51 might be a little tall, but you can measure for yourself).

FYI - The TF31 is only $399 once you add it to your cart.

TruckFridge.com - Quality true 12 volt DC compressor refrigeration with freezer - Georgetown, KY Exit 129 next to Piolt Truck Center - many models to choose from.

Picture for reference...

Awesome, thanks for the reference on the fridge. Money is always the issue haha! But I'm leaning towards the ARB simply because I'll be within a couple hundred dollars of the ARB by the time I track down an e locked rear end with what people want for them. I think I'm going to get everything ready for some exploring and major camping then just bite the bullet and do lockers and regear all at the same time. I think I'm going to try to keep this pretty travel friendly since I'm not SC'ed and 35s would be unbearable on long trips without extra power.
Out of curiosity what are you going to do with the limited flares?

 

[MojaveMadMan]

You may have answered this before. I tried reading through your build but it just moves so fast!!! What brand/style bed liner are you using for your fenders and such? It looks great!

 

[MaineT4R]

Any chance your not putting the limited flares back on Dirtco and wanna sell them?

 

[Dirtco]

Out of curiosity what are you going to do with the limited flares?

Any chance your not putting the limited flares back on Dirtco and wanna sell them?

Sorry guys, but I threw them away. I thought about selling them, or even giving them away. But, the driver side was in pretty bad shape after hitting the tree, and the front flares were hacked up to fit the 35's. I couldn't see anyone making the trip to my place for an incomplete set, and I didn't feel like dealing with shipping them.

 

[Dirtco]

You may have answered this before. I tried reading through your build but it just moves so fast!!! What brand/style bed liner are you using for your fenders and such? It looks great!

It's spray on Duplicator bed coating in the blue can.

 

[N_bannerman]

I like the way this thing is going. I want to do the same just without the body lift. What did you do with your windshield washer bottle?

 

[Mr.Rick]

I like the way this thing is going. I want to do the same just without the body lift. What did you do with your windshield washer bottle?

He lost that thing like 89 pages ago hahaha. But he is running the old power steering reservoir on his front bumper by the grill as a washer bottle. Really cool idea as long as you don't mind a little smaller capacity.

 

[MTD]

Do you still have that sub in there? I am seriously contemplating going back to a 10 or 12, but they just take up so much room... With the trailer now I may be able to get it to fit, but its still a pain.

 

[Dirtco]

I like the way this thing is going. I want to do the same just without the body lift. What did you do with your windshield washer bottle?

It depends on what size tire you run. My 35's rubbed the inner fender even with the 1" body lift. I now have Timbren bumpstops that should help a little, but it's still going to rub. Without the 1" body lift you would have to limit your up travel another inch, or deal with more rubbing. I trimmed the support out and made it smooth so I wouldn't tear up a tire.





Like Mr.Rick said, I had to ditch the wiper fluid tank to fit the 35's.

 

[Dirtco]

Do you still have that sub in there? I am seriously contemplating going back to a 10 or 12, but they just take up so much room... With the trailer now I may be able to get it to fit, but its still a pain.

Yeah, I still have it in there. I have thought about building an enclosure into the right side storage cubby, but it's low on the list at this point. I had the subwoofer, and the box, so I just installed them until I figured something else out.

 

[Dirtco]

A little more progress…

I got most of the driver side cut (except the firewall), I just need to start welding in the round rod and tubing.



I installed the new hiem joints for the Toytec UCA’s. The old joints were shot; I can’t believe how loose they were. Hopefully they won’t wear so fast now that the 4Runner isn’t my daily driver, but it wouldn’t surprise me if it’s a yearly maintenance item.

And to anyone running these; make sure you use a good amount of anti-seize on the threads and the misalignment spacers. My spacers wouldn’t come out, I had to cut the joint apart and use a press to remove them.



And thanks to Jeff ( [MENTION=21950]sn0wrunner[/MENTION] ) I have another set of doors. He gave me a killer deal, and even delivered them to me! I won’t have time to paint and install them this season, but at least I have them for down the road.

 

[Dirtco]

The passenger side is really coming along nice!

The rear bumper was clearanced for the flairs, so I trimmed the end off and installed a spike to match the spare tire carrier. All the armor will be getting painted satin black to match the bedliner, as the hammered black paint I used before was more of a dark grey color.





I also brought up the bodyline on the front fender, it was bugging me and I figured now was the time to do it.

 

[Dirtco]

And I finally got the rear door holes filled and painted. So the whole passenger side is now painted (except the rocker panel). I'm really happy with how it's turning out!

 

[TCMach]

I've wanted to wheel with you for a while now. But im afraid after you get done here I won't be able to keep up on any trail that won't bore you.... Good thing you have a winch, you can haul me up behind you