Scotlandsyard
New member
First a little about me and my car.
I am 22 years old and currently serving in the US Air Force. I have either owned or been around 4runners since i was born, my parents brought me home in their 1st gen. I have been wanting to modify my 03 4runner ever since i acquired it from my parents when i went to college, I had a '95 but my sister got it for going to school since she was closer to home.
I was going to modify the '95 for some light off roading, however my sister ran afoul of a snowstorm and back woods, dirt roads and ended up rolling it, she was fine after the rollover but it not only crushed the car but my easy plans for modification. the car sat for about a year or so and when i graduated and was waiting for my Orders, i had convinced my father to let me chop the top and start in on it. Well life is a cruel mistress and the day after i convinced dad, the Air Force decided that i needed to go Active Duty, so that killed that idea.
I packed up my '03 and moved over 1000 miles from home to where i am currently stationed. i was just going to hold off on modifying her while i was here, but i have learned that A) hurricane season is not all that fun, B) it floods .... a lot, C) i am not used to city driving and would like to add a little more protection to my baby. all of this has kinda convinced me that i should do at least a little.
Now for the problem:
the car has over 235000 miles on it and it is from up north and has some surface rust on the frame. I have changed the oil every 3-5k miles and have tried to be careful with it and i would love to have this car for years yet.
The question(s):
I know this is broad and that there are a lot of factors that go into answering a question like this (any questions that can help get me thinking about things that i may or may not have thought of, would help).
How much more life can i expect out of the old girl?
How many miles, roughly, before i am stuck somewhere with a dead engine?
Is it worth doing the upgrades?
If i do mod, what should i potentially look at first; engine, suspension, bumpers?
Should i wait and try to find a different 4Runner?
What am i looking at cost wise for upgrades?
I have looked at off road parts and have a general idea, i would love to do some of the stuff myself, but with the nature of my job i dont have a lot of time and am curious about if it would be wise to have someone else do the meat of the work.
Thank You for your time, i dont want to start a project like this and then have the car crap out on me before i have at least gone to a new duty station.
Again thank you
I am 22 years old and currently serving in the US Air Force. I have either owned or been around 4runners since i was born, my parents brought me home in their 1st gen. I have been wanting to modify my 03 4runner ever since i acquired it from my parents when i went to college, I had a '95 but my sister got it for going to school since she was closer to home.
I was going to modify the '95 for some light off roading, however my sister ran afoul of a snowstorm and back woods, dirt roads and ended up rolling it, she was fine after the rollover but it not only crushed the car but my easy plans for modification. the car sat for about a year or so and when i graduated and was waiting for my Orders, i had convinced my father to let me chop the top and start in on it. Well life is a cruel mistress and the day after i convinced dad, the Air Force decided that i needed to go Active Duty, so that killed that idea.
I packed up my '03 and moved over 1000 miles from home to where i am currently stationed. i was just going to hold off on modifying her while i was here, but i have learned that A) hurricane season is not all that fun, B) it floods .... a lot, C) i am not used to city driving and would like to add a little more protection to my baby. all of this has kinda convinced me that i should do at least a little.
Now for the problem:
the car has over 235000 miles on it and it is from up north and has some surface rust on the frame. I have changed the oil every 3-5k miles and have tried to be careful with it and i would love to have this car for years yet.
The question(s):
I know this is broad and that there are a lot of factors that go into answering a question like this (any questions that can help get me thinking about things that i may or may not have thought of, would help).
How much more life can i expect out of the old girl?
How many miles, roughly, before i am stuck somewhere with a dead engine?
Is it worth doing the upgrades?
If i do mod, what should i potentially look at first; engine, suspension, bumpers?
Should i wait and try to find a different 4Runner?
What am i looking at cost wise for upgrades?
I have looked at off road parts and have a general idea, i would love to do some of the stuff myself, but with the nature of my job i dont have a lot of time and am curious about if it would be wise to have someone else do the meat of the work.
Thank You for your time, i dont want to start a project like this and then have the car crap out on me before i have at least gone to a new duty station.
Again thank you
