HD4B's New Mexico Pearls

[HighDesert4Banger]

Hi, fellas, wanted to show the new addition to the family on day 1; 1999 Sr5 5sp 4wd, bone stock, Sunfire Red Pearl, just like my 4cyl.
Upon getting her home from CO, she has 160,500 original, one owner, lady miles, but handy husband upkeep. Kept real sweet inside and out, paint is perfect, much less sun damage than the 98', all the electronics work perfectly, brakes new and much better than the 4, and the engine feels quite good, zooming up the passes on the way home. Quite a difference from the physical strain I feel willing my 4banger up the same hills, basically with just hope and impatience. A/C, cruise control, moonroof all are things I have to get used to again, beside not stressing. Gearing is somewhere between 3.9 and 4.10, no locker either. Newish Hankooks on her.
As soon as I got her home, I took the 4cyl out to compare. Man is it solid, handles awesome with the SPCs and Icons, all new LBJs, UBJs, tie rods etc, I've put in over the last two years. And the 3rz engine with headers and exhaust is like an angry bee compared to the nonchalant but definitely stronger 5vz. I am not unproud of her; bought at 141k, now 178k and is 10 times better than when purchased, just a baby.

Anyway, gotta do a few things; valve covers to start, but she's a really good canvas. Here they are yesterday, just meeting. Since this will be a dual build/upkeep thread, I'll do a little retrospective of the 4banger next.

Lemme know what yas think

 

[jgue467]

Cool.

I've got a friend with the 4 banger here in austin, seem to Love it (goes everywhere off-road my 5vz can), especially compared to their previous turd, an Exploder.

Luck.

 

[mesooohoppy]

their previous turd, an Exploder.

holy crap, i am not the only one that calls them exploders!!!

awesome OP! aside from having to pay 2x on the insurance and reg, having a second car is always really nice.

 

[NegroTundra]

Ewww eeeee, nice set of runners. That 99 sure is purdy and clean! Enjoy

 

[HighDesert4Banger]

Hey, fellas, thanks for the gander.
[MENTION=75316]jgue467[/MENTION] - Ah, I remember reading up on your runner The 4 and 6 are two different animals entirely, especially when one's modded and the other's stock. I love the 4, feels super solid and if you don't count hills at my altitude - instant buzzkill - is a mean little basta#$ I would NOT want one without the 5sp unless supercharged, and even then...
[MENTION=402644]mesooohoppy[/MENTION] - Thanks, man, one is already an expensive habit, we'll see if I can really afford two I'm def stubborn enough...
[MENTION=145318]NegroTundra[/MENTION] - Thanks, bro, it's a perfect canvas that doesn't have the scarily impeccable leather interior of a black one I was looking at that I would kill within 10k Really hard to choose between two one owner 5sps, but in the end I thought the leather one would have been better for my 80 year old Maw. I will have to do timing belt and water pump on this one within 2 years. The other was done recently.

First mod to the 99, taking off the running boards, and first maintenance, doing the weepy valve cover gasket. 2nd mod, exhaust - instant gratification. Then, SS lift and new wheels and tires. Might take a couple of months, heh.

Meanwhile, I've been noticing little differences between the 98' base and the 99' SR5, like how the 98's 4runner tag on the back is over the license plate and on the 99 is on the door to the left. Also, the door handles and side mirrors are black on the 98' and SP red on the 99', and the 99' has a chrome thing going on - grill, wheels, bumpers where the 99 had its cool second gray tone. It's subtle, but one's shiny and one's dark, and I think that's how I'll go buildwise. Saw some very nice 33" Duratracs and 17" trail wheels that I might get for the new girl if I can get the dude down a bit from his price, or might be better off getting the wheels cheap and then new tires. The suspension is lady soft at the moment, can't wait to lift and stiffen her a bit. Dat's da news:banana: