Gielamonster's Build Thread - 99 LTD

[gielamonster]

Hi everyone. New to this forum and to 4Runners, but previously owned a '95 Tacoma SR5 4x4 that I loved to death. I've been searching for a '99 LTD 4x4 for a few months now and finally found the right one last night. 140k miles, leather, decent shape inside and out, great price. It spent the first ~3 years of its life in MI, before about 5 years in GA, and the last 2-3 here in SoCal. So its not as rust free as I would have liked for a SoCal rig, but it shouldn't be much work to treat and protect the affected areas.

I plan to use it as a half-time daily driver. Beyond that I'll be hauling my dirt bike with a hitch carrier out to the desert, camping in and out of it, and taking it to trails from time to time. As well as for ski trips and road trips. So the majority of my modifications will be for aesthetics and comfort. The 99 LTD was already set up pretty darn capable from the factory, so I'll leave well enough alone.

To-Do List:
anthracite FJ TRD wheels
BFG ATs
cargo mat
cargo shade
rear floor mats
gauge cluster lights
de-stinkify smoky interior
surface rust treatment on undercarraige
black pearl emblems
some kind of grill mod
ditch running boards for sliders

Here's an under hood view and a look at some of that rust I was talking about:

I'm not going to go overboard, but my plan it to simply hit things one section at a time with a wire wheel, some endrust, primer, and paint. If I have to take something apart, it doesn't go back on unless its been treated.

I wouldn't want to end this thread with rust shots, so here's a few more of the shiny side:

And the rest of the gallery:
Picasa Web Albums - Dan G - Toyota 4Runner

I'm looking forward to this build. I'm going to be asking questions along the way, then hopefully posting my results after fixing things. If anyone has any suggestions, or hints on where to find parts I'm looking for, shoot me a note!

Thanks guys!
Dan

 

[xskydivingdudex]

looks good Dan! Those tires look so small on the 4runner, wat size r u currently running?

 

[fightman80]

Good looking rig! Are you planning on taking it off road alot?

 

[Clemsonfan15]

Either that 4runner is lifted or those tires are really small.

Consider the Duratracs over the KOs.

 

[gielamonster]

Yeah it does look like it's been lifted. I spied some OME parts underneath:

 

[Clemsonfan15]

Can you read the tire size from the side of the tires?

 

[gielamonster]

The tires are the stock 265/70R16 size. I've drooling over some FJ TRD type wheels. Preferably in anthracite like these:

But they're a little more spendy than I was hoping. So I'll probably just find some other stock/option Toyota wheels to put on.

I can get a company discount on BFG's so that why I was thinking of going that route. What size would you guys recommend on an otherwise stock (besides a little lift) rig? I'm not planning on going nuts offroad every weekend, maybe just easy desert/trail use maybe once a month or two. The majority of the miles will be on the road.

 

[Clemsonfan15]

I'm almost positive you have a lift.

You'll want at least a 265/75/16 tire.

 

[trailmix]

go 285's with that ome setup its got on it, 265's will look to small imho

 

[xskydivingdudex]

ya dude def go with 285s... i love mine!

 

[KellyJ]

ya dude def go with 285s... i love mine!

x2 I love my 285's. Nice looking truck dude, you definitely have a decent amount of lift on there already - do you know if a diff drop is installed? If not you might still be able to save your CV's.

 

[runrunner]

Wonder if you could still read what model coils you have? From the pics it looks like the sticker is still wrapped around the coil.

I also notice there is two trim packers on either side in the front for additional lift.

 

[gielamonster]

See, this is why I knew I should start posting up here, you guys know your stuff! I'll investigate the suspension further when I have daylight again. I don't think I have a diff drop, the CVs and arms are at equal angles downward. Unless a diff drop moves the arm points down too. I just looked at another suspension photo, it looks like my front sway bar is disconnected too:

The truck feels stiffer than I was expecting. I would have to say it rides pretty rough on the highway. Overpasses have a tendency to bounce me out of the seat for an instant. I wouldn't be surprised to find the springs installed are on the stiffer end of what's available.

It sounds like the consensus is 285/75s for the tires. Will those clear everything without issue?

I picked up a used Joe Hauler dirt bike carrier today in Temecula. Only paid $125, $275 off retail price. Thanks Craigslist!

It gave me a chance to put in about an hour of freeway cruise time. On the way back I took Ortega Hwy up and over the Santa Ana Mountains.

I actually got a couple of dirt miles logged although it was just a fire road where the main divide trail crosses Ortega. I finished the trip off with a mountain bike ride.

I'm almost through my first tank already. I'm at about 250 miles on the trip odo. When I filled it up just after I bought it, it took about 13.5 gallons and the gauge was reading right on the E tick mark, with the light on for about 20 miles. I googled the tank capacity and quickly started seeing threads about inaccurate fuel gauges. Is there an established fix for this or should I just go off my reset-it-every-fill-up trip odo more?

I am loving the truck every bit as much as I thought I would. I'm really happy I held off until I found one that was exactly what I wanted. I know I'm going to enjoy all the places I go in this thing, and the ride there won't be half bad either. :bigok:

 

[PhdNPrerunners]

See, this is why I knew I should start posting up here, you guys know your stuff! I'll investigate the suspension further when I have daylight again. I don't think I have a diff drop, the CVs and arms are at equal angles downward. Unless a diff drop moves the arm points down too. I just looked at another suspension photo, it looks like my front sway bar is disconnected too:

The truck feels stiffer than I was expecting. I would have to say it rides pretty rough on the highway. Overpasses have a tendency to bounce me out of the seat for an instant. I wouldn't be surprised to find the springs installed are on the stiffer end of what's available.

It sounds like the consensus is 285/75s for the tires. Will those clear everything without issue?

I picked up a used Joe Hauler dirt bike carrier today in Temecula. Only paid $125, $275 off retail price. Thanks Craigslist!


It gave me a chance to put in about an hour of freeway cruise time. On the way back I took Ortega Hwy up and over the Santa Ana Mountains.



I actually got a couple of dirt miles logged although it was just a fire road where the main divide trail crosses Ortega. I finished the trip off with a mountain bike ride.

I'm almost through my first tank already. I'm at about 250 miles on the trip odo. When I filled it up just after I bought it, it took about 13.5 gallons and the gauge was reading right on the E tick mark, with the light on for about 20 miles. I googled the tank capacity and quickly started seeing threads about inaccurate fuel gauges. Is there an established fix for this or should I just go off my reset-it-every-fill-up trip odo more?

I am loving the truck every bit as much as I thought I would. I'm really happy I held off until I found one that was exactly what I wanted. I know I'm going to enjoy all the places I go in this thing, and the ride there won't be half bad either. :bigok:

Great looking bike and 4runner man! If you want a more accurate way for fuel level then I would look into getting a scangauge. I really don't pay attention to my gas gauge since they are usually so off, I just wait till the gas light comes on and then I fill up which is usually around 13 gallons like you said. Looking forward to seeing it with some 285s underneath it. :thumb3:

 

[cek77]

Good looking truck man. I need to see Cali. at some point. I love my PA scenery but I need to see and experience Cali. Im also new to 4runners. Gotta say its one of my favorite vehicles to own so far (and ive owned a ton of cars).

Oh, and my sway bar end-links look just like yours... broke. I found a part number on here and ordered some. Not sure if you need different ones though with your lift.

 

[brian2sun]

Good looking truck man. I need to see Cali. at some point. I love my PA scenery but I need to see and experience Cali.

Hope you like traffic.

 

[Pikeman]

Geila- what part of So. Cal? there are quite a few of us here and we try to get together and wheel or wrench on occasion. If you like I might be talked into test fitting my wheels on your truck to see how you like the way 285's look/ fit or if you want to stick smaller.

 

[gielamonster]

I'm in Costa Mesa. I'd definitely up for meets or trail days. Very generous offer Pikeman, I may have to take you up on that!

 

[gielamonster]

Blowing the dust off this one! I mounted a set of 285s on the stock rims after I scuffed, repainted, and baked them. They definitely look better than what was on, I'm pretty happy with them.

(hard parking, hehe)

I replaced the broken swaybar endlinks at the same time. I've used the truck for a few dirtbike trips and it's served me well, including the times I have the bike loaded on. I dig sleeping in the back, although its kind of a pain to have to unload everything to do it. I've been oogling some of the sleeping platform/storage options you guys use.

I took it on a ski trip with the new tires and it didn't flinch. I've taken it on some 1000+mi trips and it hasn't had any hiccups. Many many miles of trouble free ownership.

But I did notice the rear diff has started dripping fluid so just to be safe, I ordered an Aussie Locker from Northridge4x4 to install "while I'm in there".

 

[PitbullRescuer]

The 285's look right at home. Dig the wheels too, I painted mine and I'm very happy with the outcome.