Grokglock build thread

[grokglock]

Hello everyone. This will be a long term slow build. I have owned this 97 limited 4x4 for 4 years now.

I need to address repairs first and then upgrades can begin.

First two repairs are adding a whip antenna. The motor went out on my power antenna and I want a simple replacement antenna.

Second is my sunroof. The adhesive failed and it popped open on the highway one daym after teying different adhesives I had had enough and decided to jbweld that mfer shut. I want to take it apart and get it working properly.

I also need to replace the tired hatch window motor.

Eventual goals will be to maintain oem reliability while adding as much off road capability as possible.

My rear end seems to be sagging. I may have to adress this soon.


I want a truck that is Toyota dependable while being a capable truck that will get me into a hunting camp and back. No mudding wheeling or fun stuff just rock steady dependable and capable.

 

[grokglock]

More pictures. Only real upgrade so far is the Auxbeam F16 LED headlight bulbs.

So far I haven't been flashed for glare and they are brighter than stock.

 

[StreetCreeper]

Hello everyone. This will be a long term slow build. I have owned this 97 limited 4x4 for 4 years now.

I need to address repairs first and then upgrades can begin.

First two repairs are adding a whip antenna. The motor went out on my power antenna and I want a simple replacement antenna.

Second is my sunroof. The adhesive failed and it popped open on the highway one daym after teying different adhesives I had had enough and decided to jbweld that mfer shut. I want to take it apart and get it working properly.

I also need to replace the tired hatch window motor.

Eventual goals will be to maintain oem reliability while adding as much off road capability as possible.

My rear end seems to be sagging. I may have to adress this soon.


I want a truck that is Toyota dependable while being a capable truck that will get me into a hunting camp and back. No mudding wheeling or fun stuff just rock steady dependable and capable.

97s are very reliable in my oppinion. All 3rd gens are reliable by design, but the 96-97 4runners are a little more mechanical and less computer controlled (HVAC etc...), so less things to fail and if they do – easier to diagnose and fix.

My 97 has 437,000 miles on the original transmission and engine (neither ave been rebuilt or repaired, aside from some solenoids I installed in the tranny). She still pulls hard runs like a champ!

The only downside to the earlier years is you don't get some of the better options of the later years like the center console with cup holders or the nicer 4 spoke steering wheel to name a couple. You can swap them in though as I have done.

Also, if you have children – the earlier versions don't have "Latch" supports or whatever it's called for securing child seats. Nor do they have a second row center seat shoulder belt. So if you have three kids back there, one ride with only a lap belt – which has bothered me greatly. Not sure if later year 3rd gens have a third shoulder belt in the back either though.

But for a man's hunting truck – you can't ask for much more than what a 97 offers.

Even at nearly half a million miles – I fully intend to restore my truck back essentially new one day. I thought about getting a newer model that is better for my kids, but decided that I would get another vehicle as the family hauler and just make my 4runner my personal truck.

Enjoy your 97! Should hopefully serve you well for a long time.

 

[grokglock]

97s are very reliable in my oppinion. All 3rd gens are reliable by design, but the 96-97 4runners are a little more mechanical and less computer controlled (HVAC etc...), so less things to fail and if they do – easier to diagnose and fix.

My 97 has 437,000 miles on the original transmission and engine (neither ave been rebuilt or repaired, aside from some solenoids I installed in the tranny). She still pulls hard runs like a champ!

The only downside to the earlier years is you don't get some of the better options of the later years like the center console with cup holders or the nicer 4 spoke steering wheel to name a couple. You can swap them in though as I have done.

Also, if you have children – the earlier versions don't have "Latch" supports or whatever it's called for securing child seats. Nor do they have a second row center seat shoulder belt. So if you have three kids back there, one ride with only a lap belt – which has bothered me greatly. Not sure if later year 3rd gens have a third shoulder belt in the back either though.

But for a man's hunting truck – you can't ask for much more than what a 97 offers.

Even at nearly half a million miles – I fully intend to restore my truck back essentially new one day. I thought about getting a newer model that is better for my kids, but decided that I would get another vehicle as the family hauler and just make my 4runner my personal truck.

Enjoy your 97! Should hopefully serve you well for a long time.

Thanks. A similar situation here. This has been the dedicated kid hauler since birth. My truck took a dump so I traded it in and got my wife a nicer kid friendlier ride.

Here's a list of possible mods:
- light bar or kc daylighters roof mounted
- fog lights
-reverse lights
-slight lift
-taller tires
-subwoofer

I'm a simple man

 

[grokglock]

Auxbeams installed

 

[grokglock]

Almost sold her but now I'm balls deep

About 3 months ago a terrible saga overcame my 4runner. The transmission went out. I went to my trusty mechanic to whom I have entrusted 10 years of cars to. They did their best and they did get it working. HOWEVER! they couldn't get the p0770 codes to go away despite replacing all the solenoids twice. Long story short the ruck shifts fine, cruises fine, and performs great. (they had recently given her a full tune up, valve cover gaskets, and did the rear main seal when the trans was down)

I was thinking about selling it because the damn light won't go off. I was thinking about getting an f150 but the more I thought about it damn this truck is 22 years old and still runs like a top. Why would I get rid of it? I am taking it to Toyota tomorrow to see what they say about the CEL.

I think instead of dropping money on a ford I'm going to get her squared away and finally start building her. I've spent the last 7 years in college so I finally have a decent job and can start doing things I've always wanted.

I want to fix my saggy ass suspension. I've seen the threads on suspension. I'm not sure what setup I want but I do know what I will be using it for. This will be a hunting truck so I need it to be able to get in and out of the woods safely - possibly ford a small stream or shallow river, I live in Florida so it has to do well in mud. I don't need a ton of travel or flex but I guess clearance is the most important.

For tires I do a lot of highway driving so I wouldn't mind some pizza cutters for the fuel savings. Right now my rear is bottomed out so I need to get that fixed first.

 

[grokglock]

Posting this as a reminder to myself all the maintenance done so far this year 2019

Jan
Totoya ball joints
Valve cover gaskets
Tune up: plugs, wires, air filter
$900

February
Transmission rebuild
Starter
Oil pan gasket
Rear main seal
$1700



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[grokglock]

Did the front brakes this weekend. Turns out I had been running incorrect rotors this whole time. Advance listed 2 rotor sizes one for 15" wheel and one for the 16" wheels. I have a limited with 16" wheels so I selected those.

To my dismay when I took the pads off they had been worn through but only in half. I was also worried because the rotors where noticeably larger. It all made sense once I mounted the new larger rotors, they fit the dust shield much better and my calipers cleared them fine. I have been running 15" rotors for the life of the truck with me - 6 years. She stops on a dime now!


I was able to find 8 wrap LC coils on ih8mud.com forums. I hope to put them on next week since one of my biggest pet peeves on the truck is the saggy rear. I will also be getting some 3" OME springs for the front. I think the 883's is what will work for me. Although I would prefer to do the tundra trd coilovers if I can find them. Problem is finding them.

That's all for now. Will document LC coil install next.

 

[Yellowg]

looks like it’s coming along nicely

 

[grokglock]

I had to replace the seal on my rear o2 sensor and while I was down there I noticed a few issues that need to be addressed.

My transfer case's rear output shaft seal needs to be replaced, it's leaking bad. Also my suspension can no longer be ignored. What I thought was just rear spring sag turns out to be a completely shot suspension. I am going to need new springs and shocks all around. I have already ordered some LC 9 wraps for the rear. For shocks I am not sure out back but fronts will be 5100s with 99 talls.

I also need to take real good look at the front end and see if anything needs to be replaced immediately, TRE etc. Lot's of maintenance issues at this point.

 

[grokglock]

Coils came in. Passed the doggo inspection. Color codes are blue yellow white and green yellow white.

I am guessing these are off a Lexus LX450 as per the codes in the ID thread

20.25" Blue Yellow White 8.75 wraps-one of these is a confirmed LX450

19.5" Green Yellow White 8.25 wraps-one of these is a confirmed LX450

I hope the runner doesn't sit too lop sided but I am in dire need to get a functional suspension happening so these will do

 

[grokglock]

I got around to ordering the rest of the suspension parts today. Wheelers had a sale on the 5100s for $175 so I grabbed them and a diff drop also for $24.

I also ordered moog talls for the front and kyb gas a just LC rear shocks.

Install updates incoming soon.

I am literally riding jounce stops so I'm pumped to have a decent suspension again.

I am deciding on whether to get 285 treadwright guard dogs or 265 in something like a duratrac.

I am doing 60 miles both ways a day for work however hurricane season is here and one reason I am building the truck is for when we need to pack up and haul ass. We live near a nuclear powerplant and get hit with canes all the time so staying ready for SHTF oh sorry I mean overlanding.

 

[Venka93]

Are you just using stock coils in the front?


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[grokglock]

Are you just using stock coils in the front?


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I ordered the "moog talls" 81088 coils which are supposed to lift about 1" and using those on bilstein 5100 looking for 3" total up front.

My original coils are toast

 

[grokglock]

Doing some late friday night solo wrenching. I am receiving the LC gas a just shocks tomorrow as well as the moog 81088 coils so I wanted to get a head start on the rear end. I was able to get the old saggy soggy spring out and I had to cut the old shock off because the nut was basically rust/welded to the old shock. I am praying the new kyb shock includes a new nut or I will be having to run around town looking for one.

The new coils are substantially larger than the old worn out 224k mile springs. The truck had original tokico shocks that leaked like hell.

My old lady told me to knock it off at circa midnight so I slapped a tire back on and dropped it sans shock to see what the new spring would do. It's a new truck immediately loving the new stance on this old truck.

I wont get the front 5100s until tuesday and install wednesday. I have waited 6 years for this.

I am going to keep the old springs and make knives out of them eventually.

 

[grokglock]

Picture update - 8.25/8.75 wraps are in along with LC KYB gasajust shocks. It's nice to have a working suspension again. The LC provided BIG lift. Right now the rake is ridiculous but I won't have another chance to install the front until Wednesday. However It's got me realizing I am not going to mind a bit of a rake. I need to read up on how to do the diff drop. Onward.

 

[grokglock]

moog 81088 fronts

These suckers are heavy and thick. I hope they hold up I've seen mixed reviews but generally positive.

 

[grokglock]

Gather round for a tale of horror, sadness, and pain. I started breaking down the front suspension on Tuesday night. Everything was going easy until I got to the 3 top nuts on the struts. I applied PB blaster and got them moving but something wasn't right.

As I applied torque the nuts would budge and spin but after a while I noticed they weren't traveling upwards at all. The nuts were so seized they sheered the knurling that holds them on to the strut mount. They nut was bound up and the bolt was just free spinning in the mount, they weren't coming off. I ended up having to spend the next few hours carefully cutting the nuts/bolts off finally got them with a dremel carbide bit as the space was too cramped for my grinder to reach the innermost nut.

I got everything off on wednesday morning and began assembling the 5100s and springs. I ordered new top hats from autozone and put everything together, I thought I was in the clear but it became evident immediately something else was wrong. The duralast mount was built just about 2mm wrong, every bolt refused to line up with the holes on the truck.

At this point I knew I had to disassemble the strut return the duralast mounts and order them from toyota.

Of course however... now that the entire strut was assembled my spring compressor refused to go back in somehow.. I had to take the strut to a shop to have it broken down.

Dealership banged me out for $97 a piece but I was boned so I had to do it. I would have gotten some from a junkyard but at this point I was not about to play around anymore.

So here I am waiting for my new mounts to arrive so I can zip her back up. I really hate not being able to finish such a simple job in 1 day and having to wait for the new mounts. I'm trying to remind myself she is going to be much better off in the end though. /rant

 

[grokglock]

picture dump

She's finally done! Bilstein 5100s and moog 81088 up front, LC 8.5 wraps and LC KYB shocks out back, Wheeler's diff drop, new OEM front strut mounts.

I need to find 2 more center caps, missing 2 is bothering the heck out of me. Up next is the transfer case input shaft seal, then going to put some hid lamps on the bumper, then going to change every fluid in her 1 weekend at a time.

 

[grokglock]

Hey what 5100 did you use and what setting ?


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Bilstein BE5-D558-TO
Wheeler's lists them as for the 4runner but I believe these are the same as the Tacoma. The tundras are a different part number. I have them on the highest perch. Ride is firm but pleasant.