Okay guys, I've never done a build thread so bare with me. This could be messy.
So my dad has been a toyota fanatic since the '80s. It all started with a solid axle 1983 toyota pickup. My dad beat on the truck for years. He wore parts that were not even supposed to wear. I remember being 5 or 6 years old when he sold that truck. He bought a Chevy z71, and sold it immediately. His next truck was a 1994 toyota pickup extended cab with 4wd. The 1994 was the truck I grew up with from that point in my childhood.
Just before I turned 16 my dad bought a 1993 4runner, and intended for me to drive it. I BEGGED my dad for the pickup instead. Long story short, my dad loves me and I ended up with the pickup. He bought a 2004 tacoma DC 4wd TRD (Starting to see a trend?) afterward. The truck was my BABY. I beat on her. I loved her. I beat harded, and loved harded. Never thought I would have gotten rid of that truck, but after 3 motors, and a LOT of modding, I needed something more reliable for driving distances, and something more comfortable for my newborn son.
So, what did I do? I went to the dark side and bought a 2008 VW JETTA.
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I know. What the actual **** was I thinking? Anyway, this lasted about 6 monthes, and I gave the car to my girlfriend (now my wife), and drove the 1994 pickup again. The '94 lasted about a year before I rebuilt the motor again. 3,000 miles after the rebuid, I made the very hard decision to sell her, and buy a tacoma (trend). I got a generous $4,500 for my baby and bought my 2002 tacoma extra cab TRD 4wd.
I put wheels, tires, and a camper she'll on it before I realized it was not large enough to accommodate my growing family so I decided to sell it for a modest profit on my part. Here it is. Loved that truck for its short stay.
I only had my tacoma for about 5 or 6 months and I loved it. So I started my hunt for a 4 door tacoma TRD 4wd. I was dead set that I would not settle on anything else. So naturally, what did I do? I drove to Tennessee from lower Alabama, and bought a 2003 4runner V8 4wd.
Why did I do it? Well it's simple; I like the 4runners. However, I decided to only get what I wanted if I strayed from the tacoma. I wanted specifically, a 2003-2005, V8, 4wd, that was well maintained, completely stock, and had only one owner. Not to specific aye? Well I got lucky and found one, took a gamble, and made the 7 hour drive to get MY T4r.
Here it is, from the CL ad.:
A turd right? Haha, well I knew I didn't like them stock anyway. Plus I knew I would be modding it soon anyway.
------------------------------------------------
Here we go. My first mod... factory steps came off. I give this a 9/10 on mechanical skill requirement.
Daystar lift- about 3 weeks after bringing it home
(~4 hour job by myself) :
Ugly, beat up wheels that worked great for my 285s
Immediately following the lift.
The 285s were out of round, so I sold them to a guy with a mud truck. I put a used set of Firestone on temporarily.
I also started fabbing a roof rack. The frame is done. Just need to finish it.
I have plenty of aspirations, but they can only happen in time. Bare with me. I hope to keep it interesting.
P.S.- pictures coming. Saving the current progress by posting
So my dad has been a toyota fanatic since the '80s. It all started with a solid axle 1983 toyota pickup. My dad beat on the truck for years. He wore parts that were not even supposed to wear. I remember being 5 or 6 years old when he sold that truck. He bought a Chevy z71, and sold it immediately. His next truck was a 1994 toyota pickup extended cab with 4wd. The 1994 was the truck I grew up with from that point in my childhood.
Just before I turned 16 my dad bought a 1993 4runner, and intended for me to drive it. I BEGGED my dad for the pickup instead. Long story short, my dad loves me and I ended up with the pickup. He bought a 2004 tacoma DC 4wd TRD (Starting to see a trend?) afterward. The truck was my BABY. I beat on her. I loved her. I beat harded, and loved harded. Never thought I would have gotten rid of that truck, but after 3 motors, and a LOT of modding, I needed something more reliable for driving distances, and something more comfortable for my newborn son.
So, what did I do? I went to the dark side and bought a 2008 VW JETTA.
--------
I know. What the actual **** was I thinking? Anyway, this lasted about 6 monthes, and I gave the car to my girlfriend (now my wife), and drove the 1994 pickup again. The '94 lasted about a year before I rebuilt the motor again. 3,000 miles after the rebuid, I made the very hard decision to sell her, and buy a tacoma (trend). I got a generous $4,500 for my baby and bought my 2002 tacoma extra cab TRD 4wd.
I put wheels, tires, and a camper she'll on it before I realized it was not large enough to accommodate my growing family so I decided to sell it for a modest profit on my part. Here it is. Loved that truck for its short stay.
I only had my tacoma for about 5 or 6 months and I loved it. So I started my hunt for a 4 door tacoma TRD 4wd. I was dead set that I would not settle on anything else. So naturally, what did I do? I drove to Tennessee from lower Alabama, and bought a 2003 4runner V8 4wd.
Why did I do it? Well it's simple; I like the 4runners. However, I decided to only get what I wanted if I strayed from the tacoma. I wanted specifically, a 2003-2005, V8, 4wd, that was well maintained, completely stock, and had only one owner. Not to specific aye? Well I got lucky and found one, took a gamble, and made the 7 hour drive to get MY T4r.
Here it is, from the CL ad.:
A turd right? Haha, well I knew I didn't like them stock anyway. Plus I knew I would be modding it soon anyway.
------------------------------------------------
Here we go. My first mod... factory steps came off. I give this a 9/10 on mechanical skill requirement.
Daystar lift- about 3 weeks after bringing it home
(~4 hour job by myself) :
Ugly, beat up wheels that worked great for my 285s
Immediately following the lift.
The 285s were out of round, so I sold them to a guy with a mud truck. I put a used set of Firestone on temporarily.
I also started fabbing a roof rack. The frame is done. Just need to finish it.
I have plenty of aspirations, but they can only happen in time. Bare with me. I hope to keep it interesting.
P.S.- pictures coming. Saving the current progress by posting
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