gaterose build thread

[MichaelM]

Looks like a blast. Are there any trails over there in T-town?

 

[gaterose]

Looks like a blast. Are there any trails over there in T-town?

Yeah it was a lot of fun, just wish I had 4x4 so I could've gone to the top. There are plenty of trails here... if you're not worried about trespassing. It's been so long since I've been on any that weren't on family or friends' property that I think half of the ones I used to tear my Z up on are closed off or paved now. Now you have to venture further from town (or be sneaky and go when no one's around), mud riding seems to be bigger here cuz it's easy to find a dirt road and some mud.

 

[MichaelM]

I hear ya. We should get up and ride sometime. I'm only about an hour from tuscaloosa. No where to ride here.

 

[kylebacc]

Very cool dude. I wish there were any sort of hills in FL. They do a lot of muddin' here too but that just kinda bores me and mud gets in places it shouldn't.

 

[HotSauceT4r]

Great looking ride.

Quick Question:

Did you MOD your tailpipe to exit on the side of the rig rather than straight out the back. If so, does that fix the problem of the "rotten egg" smell that happens when you cruise with your back window down? I love riding with all 5 windows down and the sunroof open but the smell is terrible. I was told by a guy at the local dealership that its a natural occurrence from the straight tailpipe.

 

[gaterose]

Great looking ride.

Quick Question:

Did you MOD your tailpipe to exit on the side of the rig rather than straight out the back. If so, does that fix the problem of the "rotten egg" smell that happens when you cruise with your back window down? I love riding with all 5 windows down and the sunroof open but the smell is terrible. I was told by a guy at the local dealership that its a natural occurrence from the straight tailpipe.

Yes I did, right before I went on my trip I had a Borla Turbo muffler put on and the resonator removed and routed out at 45 degrees with a Borla tip. I guess I should put that on my mods, well it is now.

I'm pretty sure I read somewhere on here that the sulfur smell was because the t4r cats don't filter sulfur (because a few places have upgraded to sulfur free gas; ULEV compliance rather than LEV).

To answer your question I haven't caught a whiff of sulfur since changing, I used to notice it all the time because I also like running the 6-60 A/C (6 windows-60 MPH)

 

[gaterose]

I hear ya. We should get up and ride sometime. I'm only about an hour from tuscaloosa. No where to ride here.

Honestly I don't like riding most of the trails I know here without 33" mudders, maybe 32" mudders would work on a smaller wheelbase rig than what I'm used to. There are a lot of places to high center most everywhere I know and it stays wet. Most of the people I've ever ridden with (including myself) had 33s+ unless it was a Jeep and then mudders were still a given.


I hear there is some good wheeling in bham and north alabama that doesn't involve mud but haven't had a chance to venture many places. There are only a few places I can think of that are just good trails that can be ridden with A/Ts and they're BAD news when wet w/o mudders (think about sliding into trees, that's why my Z has a ton of body damage). The trails I've ridden here have usually been places with a lot of big hills and a lot of mud.

Now if you got 33" or bigger mudders I have PLENTY of places to show you, especially if it's a little wet & I'll be happy to ride along I can't promise they're all legal but I can promise you that 88% of the time no one ever says anything and 97% of the time you'll have fun every time (if you know how to drive).

 

[HotSauceT4r]

Yes I did, right before I went on my trip I had a Borla Turbo muffler put on and the resonator removed and routed out at 45 degrees with a Borla tip. I guess I should put that on my mods, well it is now.

I'm pretty sure I read somewhere on here that the sulfur smell was because the t4r cats don't filter sulfur (because a few places have upgraded to sulfur free gas; ULEV compliance rather than LEV).

To answer your question I haven't caught a whiff of sulfur since changing, I used to notice it all the time because I also like running the 6-60 A/C (6 windows-60 MPH)

Thanks for the quick reply. If you don't mind, what did that mod run you? I really want to get that done on mine.

 

[gaterose]

Very cool dude. I wish there were any sort of hills in FL. They do a lot of muddin' here too but that just kinda bores me and mud gets in places it shouldn't.

Thanks, it was a lot of fun. Like I said I wish had 4WD so I could've went to the top cuz there isn't anything like that around I could take my 4runner on and I won't get to experience it again for a while. Really made me realize how much I miss four wheeling.
And as for the mud getting places it shouldn't, my Z has several hundred pounds of mud hidden in and under it. Sometimes you can still hear muddy water sloshing around in the passenger side door.

 

[gaterose]

Thanks for the quick reply. If you don't mind, what did that mod run you? I really want to get that done on mine.

I paid $160 altogether, but I got lucky and got the muffler new from eBay for $70 & the tip for $25, the cheapest I could find them anywhere else was $110 for the muffler and $60 for the tip (both shipped) and the shop charged another $40 to put the muffler & extension pipe on then $25 for the exit pipe. What it came down to was $10 per weld and $15 in exhaust pipe altogether. I was going to bolt it all on and it would cost ~$25 for installation (myself) but I decided the welds would be better.

If you just want the tailpipe mod it would prolly only cost $15-40 I would think, depending on whether you weld or bolt-on.

 

[gaterose]

Got some new mods since I last posted any so here they are:

1.25" Spidertraxx wheel spacers
Borla Turbo with 45 degree exit & black Borla 4" rolled angle tip
LED entry lighting for the nerf bars (LED Strips wired to factory running board light circuit)
Eonon half din DVD player
LT265/70R17 BFG A/T (c rated)

On the way:
"Iron Gun Metal Glimmer" powdercoated Sport Edition wheels
Black tubular Sport Edition roof rack
URD MAF sensor recalibrator
EBC front rotors (one of mine is warped)

I had the tires installed before the wheels because I got another flat (3rd in 2 months with one of the others still having to be aired up periodically) & I decided I wanted something with a stiffer tread compound. Also when I was off-roading in CO the front 2 were lost to ~20 psi (and the tread was cracking on the shoulders) after only crawling through the rock beds without spinning or any real abuse, I've never had a tire show damage like that from such light off-roading.

After 3 months of debating among hankooks atms, gysa, nitto tg, and revos as well as between the 265/70 & 255/75 question, I woke up this morning and went and bought the BFG A/Ts. I've had 2 sets of the MT KOs (old style, not KM) that never went flat even though I've seen nails poking out of the tread (then mysteriously not in the tread a day later); they were the best tires I've owned and only lost air once from a nail (but never had to be plugged) so I decided to see if the AT KOs were as good. Plus everyone swears you'll get at least 50K if you treat em right.

I had to move the front fender liner forward but didn't trim anything to eliminate scrubbing. I also had to remove the front mud flaps before I even left the tire place because they were clearly going to get ripped off. I will probably remove the rear flaps sometime this week but I know it's a little more involved than the fronts & I'll have more time during the week (oddly).

Pictures after new tires & a half-ass pressure washing

 

[kylebacc]

That thing is lookin' better and better bro. I like the stance with the tires and spacers. What tires did you have before that were so crappy?

 

[10majfar]

Those tires look great. How do they affect the ride in terms of road noise? Any difference?

 

[gaterose]

That thing is lookin' better and better bro. I like the stance with the tires and spacers. What tires did you have before that were so crappy?

Thanks, So do I! I had the stock 265/65 Dueler H/T 840s. They rode pretty well on the road, until they quit staying filled, but I just don't think they were durable enough for me.

 

[gaterose]

Those tires look great. How do they affect the ride in terms of road noise? Any difference?

Thanks, I think they may a little bit louder than stock. If I have the radio on loud enough to hear (but not too loud to carry on a conversation over) I can't hear them at all, and you certainly don't have "talk over them" with the radio off. With the windows down and the stereo off I think there is a slight difference, but they may get a little bit louder as they wear.

I can also feel the expansion joints in bridges and cracks in the road just a little more with these at ~30-40 mph. Thats to be expected though when switching from a P to an LT, or a street tire to AT for that matter.

Overall none of the changes in street/highway ride quality are enough to overcome how much I like them in terms of traction, looks, & rubber compound. I think a lot people aren't as picky as me and probably wouldn't notice the change in ride quality as much but I've really been looking for differences.

Also I think I lost some of the .7-1.5 mpg or whatever that I gained from adding the muffler when I upsized the tires. It's early to say but according to car I lost it, or at least some of it.

 

[gaterose]

Today, I decided after 132K it's time to upgrade the shocks so I removed the stock shocks and the 1/4" toytec spacer (for sale if anyone wants it) today and installed Bilstein 5100s all around with the front shocks set to the 0.85" setting to compensate (and then some) for removing the spacer. I got the shocks from Shockwarehouse.com for $318 shipped, ordered Sunday night and got em yesterday. I'm not sure why everyone else is having trouble getting them, you just gotta look if you want em.

I also installed the Urban Runner roof rack and the URD MAF sensor recalibrator. I'm still waiting on my Sport edition wheels, hopefully monday. I think I'm out of mods (except more lift or a supercharger) now so if anyone has a suggestion, please let me know. I also had to trim the fender flare a little because I've been having some scrubbing issues when turning and flexed a little. Hopefully the lift & cutting will eliminate it.

Also my headlight lenses were cracked so I bought some of the JDM ones instead of painting another new set. They came with a 4000K HID kit which I really like but will probably remove the first time someone flashes their lights at me.

I can't see a lot of difference from the extra 0.35" but maybe you can

Before:

After:

Before:

After:

Before:

After:

Trimming:

I had all these stickers laying around and didn't want to clutter the body with them (but wanted them on the car for some reason) so I stuck em all on here:

More pics to come when after I change the wheels...

 

[Autbond]

The new headlight lenses look great! I really like the way it sits now too. The wheel spacers are perfect.

 

[CJ3Flyr]

Very nice:bigok: Sweet photography on some of those out west shots too

 

[Aquabear]

Great job with your 4Runner. You got me rekindling some old ideas on whats next with my 4Runner- am just being patient for the finances to get here or roll on in the money. The wife saw your BFG'f BIG FRACKIN GUNS BABY and she wants them again but on our 4Runner. SHe said when she drove the Gran Cherokee with BFG's on Nothing ever stopped her so she wants to upgrade. Man I got the best wife- one who is into this sport- yes,my husbad go get the BFG tires Big Papi. Next she want to get exhaust ssaid she likes quiet but what good WOLF if you dont hear him ROAR! So now exhaust is next
then....
side rock rails - since I trashed our in Rausch creek
Under body protection- again trashed in rausch creek
More lights- exterior/interior
GPS-dvdplayer
DIRE need for a lift
BFG's

 

[10majfar]

Great looking truck you got. That's good to hear about the tires, you're getting good traction, looks, and durability, with almost no road excess noise. Seems worth it to me, those tires are next on my list.