From traditional rods & customs to a 4x4 4Runner

[Jetcycles]

Hello 3rd gen crew, just wanted to check in with the gang as I'll be spending the majority of my time on this forum right here amongst you all. Having recently sold my 2012 Tundra, I was in need of a personal vehicle to run around in when I'm not in my company provided F150 4x4 (business use only!) or my 1950 Chevrolet Styleline Deluxe. Having no modern convenience options in a 65 year old car makes it impractical for hauling around a wife and 2 little girls in the brutal Texas summer heat, so the search was on for a 3rd gen 4x4 4Runner to serve as part time kid hauler/beach cruiser/deer lease rig. Last weekend I picked up a relatively clean 2000 SR5 4x4, and the desire to build it to my liking has already set in! I'll save you the pain of my further ramblings until the next post and show you the 4Runner and the DeLuxe...although 50 years apart, they're both fun as hell to drive!

 

[Jetcycles]

I've been reading around here since signing up last fall, and I've already spend some money on maintenance parts to ensure reliable operation. I was able to talk the seller down from $5000 to $4500, so I spent the majority of what I saved on: aircabinman OEM timing belt kit w/ new water pump, thermostat, and all necessary seals/gaskets, as well as OEM air/fuel/oil filters, plug wires, and plugs from Camelback Toyota, and a B&M supercooler for the transmission. While I slowly chip away at these items, I'll be doing more research into servicing all other fluids to ensure reliable operation, and I'll send an oil sample to blackstone for analysis. If you have a suggestion on the best place to purchase a Toyota service manual, please let me know! Future plans include a 3" lift, wheels/tires, and a roof rack for hauling more gear. I like the Sonoran Steel 1.2 but I'm not sure if I want to drop that kind of coin just yet. Comments, questions, criticisms, and suggestions are always welcome in my world. . .the collective knowledge of the forum is far superior to my own so I welcome the info with open arms!

 

[Kryptoroxx]

That's a sweet ride! I have tried my hand at bodywork. Let's just say that the wave is my specialty. I'm horrible at it.

Welcome to the forum and it looks like you got yourself a great 4runner to play around with. Everything you would want to know about 4runners is pretty much here and the builds go from tame to out of control. Best of luck with yours.

I actually just finished building the first rendition of my roof rack. It needs testing before I put some good paint on her.

There is a thread on roof racks that is a couple hours long over on expedition portal as well. Just google 3rd gen homemade roof rack. It has everything from production build to half and half and full customs.

 

[traffic61]

Nice runner and nice sedan. My runner was a kid hauler for quite a while and still going strong. Are you on the HAMB? Great forum for traditional rods and customs.

 

[IBallEngineer]

I've been reading around here since signing up last fall, and I've already spend some money on maintenance parts to ensure reliable operation. I was able to talk the seller down from $5000 to $4500, so I spent the majority of what I saved on: aircabinman OEM timing belt kit w/ new water pump, thermostat, and all necessary seals/gaskets, as well as OEM air/fuel/oil filters, plug wires, and plugs from Camelback Toyota, and a B&M supercooler for the transmission. While I slowly chip away at these items, I'll be doing more research into servicing all other fluids to ensure reliable operation, and I'll send an oil sample to blackstone for analysis. If you have a suggestion on the best place to purchase a Toyota service manual, please let me know! Future plans include a 3" lift, wheels/tires, and a roof rack for hauling more gear. I like the Sonoran Steel 1.2 but I'm not sure if I want to drop that kind of coin just yet. Comments, questions, criticisms, and suggestions are always welcome in my world. . .the collective knowledge of the forum is far superior to my own so I welcome the info with open arms!

As a life long Chevy man I welcome you to the forum. Don't actually own any Chevy's anymore but I do have a 47 GMC p/u cab hood and fenders(and about 9 doors) sitting in the back yard. And the motorhome is Chevy powered, as is my Landcruiser. But I own 3 Toyotas now, that is my life!

Try this for Service Manual and EWD info.

http://tacoma.site40.net/4Runner_96-02_Repair&Wiring/local%20files/repair.html

http://tacoma.site40.net/4Runner_96-02_Repair&Wiring/local%20files/wiring.html

:guitar2:

 

[Jetcycles]

Drove down the street to the neighborhood fishing pier to take a quick picture...this is the last time this 4Runner will ever be seen in stock configuration. Removed running boards as soon as I got home, and I ordered a Sonoran Steel 1.2 kit. Current plan is to run 265/75-16 duratracs...but that may change as I do more research.

 

[jeremyc74]

If you're planning on keeping the factory wheels on it for a while, a quick coat of paint on the center caps makes a huge difference in the looks.

I had some silver high temp stuff in the garage that was leftover from some exhaust work on my car, so I painted mine with it and it was a perfect match for the factory paint. I was shocked at how much better it made the truck look. Cheap and easy!

 

[white_n_slow]

Another chevy-powered toyota owner chiming in That is a sweet little car, but my wife probably wouldn't be caught dead in something like that. She'll only ride in the FJ62 for "short trips."

Sweet 4Runner too Since you live at low elevation and a flat-ish region, I would look at bigger tires: 255/85-16 or 285/75-16. Nothing wrong with the 265's they just don't look as cool

Just my $.02 Have fun!

 

[Jetcycles]

Another chevy-powered toyota owner chiming in That is a sweet little car, but my wife probably wouldn't be caught dead in something like that. She'll only ride in the FJ62 for "short trips."

Sweet 4Runner too Since you live at low elevation and a flat-ish region, I would look at bigger tires: 255/85-16 or 285/75-16. Nothing wrong with the 265's they just don't look as cool

I'd like to stuff 33's under the 4Runner, but don't want to sacrifice too much power or fuel economy, I'll do a search and see if I can find what fuel mileage people are getting out of their 285/75's. My wife is very supportive of my hobbies, the Deluxe will be her car as soon as I save enough $$$ to buy myself a 36-40 Ford.


On another note, I replaced my license plate lights with some LED's that I had laying around and the ABS light came on. Swapped the LED's back out for incandescent bulbs and the ABS light went off. I've read several threads about how finicky these 4Runners can be to electrical changes, but that surprised me. Maybe it was pure coincidence...

 

[Nelsonmd]

Another chevy-powered toyota owner chiming in That is a sweet little car, but my wife probably wouldn't be caught dead in something like that. She'll only ride in the FJ62 for "short trips."

Sweet 4Runner too Since you live at low elevation and a flat-ish region, I would look at bigger tires: 255/85-16 or 285/75-16. Nothing wrong with the 265's they just don't look as cool

Just my $.02 Have fun!

Actually, I'll disagree with the tire comment. Since you are in the flat lands, you don't' need a bigger tire, so if you want to upgrade to make it look normal with a lift, then I'd say make it modest tire size upgrade. There are additional issues with going bigger, you risk rubbing on the suspension, rubbing on the fender when turning (I have this on just 265/75's and a 2.5" lift), you lose mileage, and the tires are more expensive. None of these are making it better in any way, plus it makes it more expensive.

I'm not bashing bigger tires here, before some of you rebut my comments. I am just pointing out that for flat driving, and not going off road alot, you aren't' getting any marginal gain for the bigger tires other than looks. The money is better spent elsewhere.

 

[Unner]

Nice build, I look forward to seeing it all done and lifted. Hope to see more beach pictures since it looks like you are fairly close. I wish I was closer to a beach myself.

Actually, I'll disagree with the tire comment. Since you are in the flat lands, you don't' need a bigger tire, so if you want to upgrade to make it look normal with a lift, then I'd say make it modest tire size upgrade. There are additional issues with going bigger, you risk rubbing on the suspension, rubbing on the fender when turning (I have this on just 265/75's and a 2.5" lift), you lose mileage, and the tires are more expensive. None of these are making it better in any way, plus it makes it more expensive.

I'm not bashing bigger tires here, before some of you rebut my comments. I am just pointing out that for flat driving, and not going off road alot, you aren't' getting any marginal gain for the bigger tires other than looks. The money is better spent elsewhere.

These are the reasons that I probably won't go bigger than a 32" tire. I don't want to deal with all that, just want a slightly larger tire.

 

[Jetcycles]

I appreciate the input guys, the reasons mentioned above are why I'll likely stick with the 265/75-16 tire.

 

[scrap metal]

Welcome! My stepdad is currently building a 39 Ford Coupe! I can't wait to ride in it. It's been a loooong ground up project.

 

[Jetcycles]

Sonoran Steel 1.2 arrived, hopefully I can find time to install it in the coming weeks. Now to determine if I want to run a 265/75-16 AT or MT, I have my eye on the Toyo Open Country AT2 and Cooper Discoverer ATP for practicality, but I like the Duratracs and the Dynapro MT as well. How many miles are you guys getting out of your mud tires? This rig will see less than 5,000 miles a year, but I've never ran mud tires and I'm not sure if they're worth the extra hassle (noise, MPG loss, balancing issues, decreased life).

 

[nc-grayson]

Looking forward to the future of your build. As far as Toyota FSM's I got mine one eBay. I'm a physical book kinda guy, and I got volume 1, 2 and the electrical wiring diagram on eBay. There's a lot out there

 

[Bandit Runner]

I would estimate the average life for a mud tire to be 30-40k miles. So that would get you 6 or 7 years anyway. I got 40K out of my MTZ's. YMMV.

BTW, I'm getting new Duratracs installed tomorrow. Hoping to get a few more miles out of these.

 

[cdrewferd]

I'm running Toyo MT's as I drive few miles like you. I got them because they look awesome, perform awesome when needed and they are actually pretty quiet. I'm very happy I went with them and have no regrets since my 4Runner isn't my daily driver. Even if it was, I'd still be happy with them.

 

[Jetcycles]

After looking at wheels online for over a month, I stumbled across these Method race wheels in the parking lot of my local Discount Tire shop and it sealed the deal, ordered a set of 16x8's for my rig. I still haven't decided on tires...but I should be able to get the lift installed this weekend.

 

[Jetcycles]

Making progress...

 

[Jetcycles]

I hate to imagine how long these incorrect spark plugs have been in service...new Toyota plug on the right.