GA-4RUNNER's Build/Life Thread

[GA-4RUNNER]

Hey guys gals,

The names really Joe and just wanted to let everyone know a little about myself. I grew up in Cartersville, GA and right out of high school went to boot camp at Fort Benning in the United States Army. My MOS was a 63B Diesel Mechanic. I was stationed at Ft. Benning, GA, Ft. Jackson, SC MOS School,
Baumholder, Germany, Camp Buehring, Kuwait, Camp Liberty and Victory, Iraq and Ft. Hood Texas. I was medically discharged with lung issues from the sand box. I worked in disaster relief for 4 years and now am back at the diesel mechanic profession. I have a beautiful wife and two daughters and another on the way. Not sure of gender yet though

I am an avid car enthusiast, musician and consider myself an "American Picker":reddance:

So enough with the boring stuff and to what we are all here for.

So I recently traded a 97 Mustang GT 4.6L Package 128 for a 98 Limited 4x4 4Runner. The mustang had low mileage, it was a 5 speed, cold air intake, larger throttle body, 4.11 gears, new cobra clutch and a few other mods.

It was definitely a cool car, but with another one on the way I knew it was time to get something a little more family oriented. So why not a cool 4Runner that can also be modded :banana:

The 4Runner is in pretty decent shape to have 242,xxx miles. Runs out really well, shifts well and the only blemish on the interior is the driver's seat wearing faster than the others.

Some issues I do know it has. Camp plugs are leaking, sway bar bushings an endlinks on the front are badly worn, front brakes are bad, tires are out of balance(cheap brand) and there is a small exhaust leak. All that I knew about before trading.

So for a few pictures
Here is the mustang I traded for the 4Runner


And here is a picture of the new 4Runner getting some air


I don't have any others and the weather is really not to cooperating today to get more.

So last night after work I went on a Friday the 13th work extravaganza.
Things replaced/Fixed
-Sway bar end Links Napa Brand
-Exhaust Leak Toyota Gasket
-Front Rotors and Pads Napa Brand
-Cam Plugs and valve cover gaskets Both Fel-Pro brand
-New plugs and wires Bosch wires and NGK dual plugs. (previous owner had single)
-changed the oil and air filter Purolator One filter and air filter

All of this was done at 242,900 miles. It took me around 6 hours to complete all of it and that is with a long duration of parts cleaning. The valve covers and intakes were pretty cruddy.

Here are some before reference photos before I did the job and just one on the lift.

4Runner on the lift with the tires off so it will sit lower and is easier to work on.



Just a couple of engine reference photos.




So just from driving home from the shop there was a noticeable difference with the new plugs and wires. Also I do know my gas mileage has definitely went up. The end links certainly helped and the bushings I will be installing on Monday because they are really ate up, but Toyota had to order them. The Napa brand rotors and pads are a big upgrade from the warped rotors and basically no brake pads it had on it.

I wanted to do the larger brake upgrade, but that will come later.

Sorry there is no pictures of the during process, but next time I do something I plan on doing small write ups on it.

So just wanted to say hey and share a little bit of my life and loves.
Hope to talk with everyone more.

 

[Hepar]

Hello welcome and thank you for your service.

 

[vtferret]

Hey, welcome, even if you are a backpacker

Beautiful looking 4runner, looks like you got a good deal, I'd take a 4runner over a mustang any day.... Well, depends on the mustang, I'd prefer a boss..... but I digress.

Can't wait to see what else you do with it!

 

[GA-4RUNNER]

Thanks guys. yeah ruckin it aint that bad

So here is some pics of after I was done with the job last night. Did a little polishing on the intake and valve covers.







Since the weather cleared up I was able to take a decent exterior photo of the 4runner.

 

[NateMob]

Thanks for your service brother, I'm from Augusta and am currently stationed in New Mexico with the Air Force. Just curious, do you think your lung problems stemmed from the open burn pits?

 

[vtferret]

Thanks for your service brother, I'm from Augusta and am currently stationed in New Mexico with the Air Force. Just curious, do you think your lung problems stemmed from the open burn pits?

Oh god.... Cannon? I've heard stories about that place.... I was lucky to get sent to Patrick. (Sorry to go off topic)

 

[GA-4RUNNER]

Thanks for your service brother, I'm from Augusta and am currently stationed in New Mexico with the Air Force. Just curious, do you think your lung problems stemmed from the open burn pits?

Thanks again and you too. They never would say what it was from. I had a partially collapsed lung and pneumonia multiple times before they would even believe me. I do know we were exposed to some chemicals that they wouldn't disclose, but that's the military and government. Don't ask don't tell applies to a multitude of things.

 

[Slow_T4R]

Good trade! Welcome to the site brochacho.

 

[GA Runner]

Thanks for your service and welcome to the site.

 

[Brignola85]

Thanks for your service and welcome to T4R.org! Be prepared to open the wallet.

 

[GA-4RUNNER]

Yeah i have some plans for it. Those will soon be on here, but on another note i had a buell xb9r and those are just as addicting on the modding side. Fairly reasonable like the 4runner. The mustang was a different story

 

[GA-4RUNNER]

So just a little update nothing really exciting or expensive going on the truck. Just a little misfortune. She almost left us stranded the other night after Christmas shopping for the little ones. So here is how the day played out.
Put on my new military tag and got the whole gang loaded up. Everything worked fine and dropped the little one off at grandmas. Truck is still running as it should. Went to wally world and spent more than anticipated on the little. Loaded everything up and truck started fine. Drove maybe 2 miles back to grandmas and shut her off. Stayed inside for maybe 30 minutes and loaded everyone up to leave and nothing.
I wasn't getting power from anything. It was as if the battery was out of it. Got the neighbor to jump it after pulling my hair out because there was no warning of a dead battery.
On the way home the headlights flickered a few times and everything seemed to be good. I knew it wasn't though just from experience. When we got home i turned it off and tried to turn it back on immediately. Same symptoms except the dash lights were really dim. So now im really frustrated, but it can wait till in the morning.
So this morning i take the battery out and go have it tested. Both places tested it good. So now i was back to square one. Then i got to thinking about what it possibly could be causing this sort of draw. It was acting as if i was powering a crap ton of stuff, but nothing was on.
The four things i narrowed it down to were the rear door key latch, radio, hid lights or the remote start.
So i pulled the rear door panel and sub panel to see if the lock was the issue. Low and behold it did have a broken wire and another frayed so i just unplugged it and tried to start it. Nothing though.

So then i removed the radio and found out what a hack job someone did installing a hundred dollar crap radio. I unplugged it and still nothing.

So on to the hid light. Its a xentec system if im not mistaken, but the previous owner piece milled to kits together which i didnt know. I unplugged the fuse that allows power to them and viola everything works as should. i put the fuse back in to see if they still worked. The passenger side was not working.
The only thing i can think of is the ballast went bad and was some how back feeding and pulling a large current enabling the starting system to work properly.
So everything is good so far.

What led me to those for areas was this. When i unlocked the rear hatch yesterday i felt that the lock its self was broken and not secured and would basically push through. The radio has never worked really well since first purchase and was even worse when the lights were on which led me to the headlights also. As for the remote start they are just problematic sometimes.

So she has new headlights and a new military tag now. Everyone have a good Christmas. Hopefully this will be helpful to someone in the future.

 

[GA-4RUNNER]

So its been a while since I have updated this thread. I found the root of my electrical problem was poor battery connectors. I cleaned the battery post and and coated them with copper. This kept them from continually corroding. I was lead to believe it was the headlight, but it didi it again so further investigation lead me to the battery post being heavy corroded. Sorry no pics.

So since the last post here I have installed a new radio, lowered factory antenna (which was damaged from previous owner) and pulled power supply to it so it would stay in the down position, installed coax antenna to radio and mounted to the roof rack and been just driving the heck out of it. Currently has 249k and still purrs like a kitten. Ran my cb and coax cable to the back and bought a firestick to mount. I haven't mounted them permanently yet due to the fact I have been so busy.

Thanks to [MENTION=90485]URBAN ASSAULT[/MENTION] I was able to pick up some toytec front coil overs for a very good price and some LC 8 wrap coils from a local toyota guy. I am planning on installing these in the next few days. Pictures to follow. On order now is the pan hard drop, diff drop and rear shocks.

Im still glad I made the trade. :drummer:

 

[GA-4RUNNER]

Some pics from the last two weeks. Plus my new baby Girl Sonia Gabriella born July 22

 

[GA-4RUNNER]

Parts and plans update

So all I have left to get is the body lift, but I think I will be fine for the time being.

My toytec coil overs are installed and a drastic change from the 250k mile struts that were on there.

Sitting on the shelf is the Diff drop, land cruiser 8 wrap coils, Landcruiser Monroe shocks from advance auto, eagle alloy wheels 15".

Have the wheels loaded up with the new tread coming in tomorrow at Kauffman tires and will be getting 33x12.5R15 Goodyear Duratracs installed. They have some dick cepek 35x12.50r15 if anyone is interested in buying all four for $200. Tires still have some miles on them.

I have the Goodyear Authorities 31x12.5R16 on my 1996 F150 and they have been awesome. I have had them for 6 years and they may have 35k on them and they still look good. I have great anticipation for the duratracs + I bought them for around 850 Installed and I get another $40 rebate from goodyear also.

Once the tires are installed on the wheels I am going to install the rear suspension and crank up them front coils ann hammer that pinch weld.

I went with the 33's to keep from having to change rear gearing automatically. I am going to see how they go with the stock 4.10's and do a little update after driving with them.

Also picked up some 4 toyo extensas for $240 for my wives car. The last ones lasted 60k miles and had 5 to 7k miles left. I just like to keep good feet on mamas car. I've always liked Kauffman tire and with the deals and specials you cant beat it.

 

[RockenAlex]

Thanks for your service and welcome to the 4runner world! I don't know if I've ever seen your runner in person but I drive around Cartersville every now and then. I live on the south side of Alatoona. PM me if you want to trail ride sometime, I love to get runner groups together!

 

[GA-4RUNNER]

Thanks for your service and welcome to the 4runner world! I don't know if I've ever seen your runner in person but I drive around Cartersville every now and then. I live on the south side of Alatoona. PM me if you want to trail ride sometime, I love to get runner groups together!

Thanks and you may have seen it but it was pretty stock before tonight. Here is a mock up of the rear. The damn techs at Kauffman gouged the mess out of the inside of my wheels. Trying to figure out how to handle that.

 

[GA-4RUNNER]

I finally finished the lift, trimming, grinding, diff drop and coil adjustments. The hardest part of the entire job was removing the damn rear shocks. Here a a a quick pic.

 

[GA-4RUNNER]

So just a little update since the install. The truck feels great. I feel like I have the perfect set up for what I wanted. I do think I will need to add a 1" body lift to get complete clearance when cornering hard or backing up turning. Its really not to bad as long as I am self conscious of the way I am turning.

As for the goodyear duratracs I am very satisfied. Minimal road noise and the ride is great. The fact the wife is cool with it makes it even better. She just laughed when she sat in the drivers seat. Oh yeah if I haven't mentioned it yet she is 5' tall. So it is a bit of a jump to get in. Hence the reason the steps are still installed and trimmed for clearance

Future mods include a new radiator with the trans cooler and temp gauge installed. I also want to install an oil pressure gauge and a possible custom dual pod install somewhere.

I am still deciding on the cb antenna mount. Not sure if I want to go the custom fab bracket route or mount out the side of the body above the rear wheel.

Needless to say I am happy with the set up I have. :guitar3: