Help!! 3rd Gen Interior Seems Dated

[robbymartin]

Guys I need help.

I really like the 3rd gen but my only issue is the dated 3rd gen interior. For this reason alone I have been looking at 4th gens. Are there any known 3rd gen interior upgrades that provide a more updated interior? And if so, who has pics?

Edit: This is primarily a daily driver with a 80/20% on-road/off-road ratio, so having a nice looking interior is desirable

 

[bpowa]

I feel the same. But nothing you can do. This is a second vehicle for me. I like the 4th gen. But that maybe dated soon to. Not to mention its at least 5k more in price tag.

 

[UnderFire]

The easiest way to make your 3rd gen interior feel more modern is to sit in a 2nd gen, lol.

But seriously, changing the bulbs in the dash and buttons to LED's made mine feel a lot better.

Also if you have a 96-98 finding a 99-02 Center console, center dash and possibly Door panels if yours is an SR5 makes a huge difference.

 

[jreask]

Guys I need help.

I really like the 3rd gen but my only issue is the dated 3rd gen interior. For this reason alone I have been looking at 4th gens. Are there any known 3rd gen interior upgrades that provide a more updated interior? And if so, who has pics?

Edit: This is primarily a daily driver with a 80/20% on-road/off-road ratio, so having a nice looking interior is desirable

Yea I think the interior is dated, after all these trucks are anywhere from 12-18 years old. Still love that everything works. These were expensive trucks when new. I can see why, they are built to last.

 

[kernel.panik]

Look at it this way...

at least you still have a double din for putting in a nice stereo or nav unit.

new 'yotas have everything molded into the dash, so you can't. (at least not without an entire custom dash panel)

 

[BlazeRunner]

I personally prefer the 3rd gen interior over the 4th gen, especially since so many have had problems with dashes cracking on the 4ths.

Just clean it up as good as you can and do some creature comfort mods to make you feel more at home in your truck.

 

[zacattack20]

You can change the color of the interior.

<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v202/zacattack20/743F0A9D-4653-4A77-903E-8CAF89412931-2295-0000017549960B5E_zps92ea614c.jpg" width="1000">

Change the carpet

<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v202/zacattack20/4Runner/6%20pedals/IMG_1555_zps317fd642.jpg" border="0">

Add a push start button

<img src="http://i1350.photobucket.com/albums/p779/zacforsale/75E692AE-999F-44A9-A0AB-32F1F130F0F2-1684-0000030467CD05C9_zps39392881.jpg" border="0" height="1000">


Get some new gauge faces and change the leds

<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v202/zacattack20/4Runner/15%20gauges%20led/7IMG_2096_zps9a4d8a44.jpg" border="0" width="1000">

<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v202/zacattack20/4Runner/15%20gauges%20led/12IMG_2114_zpse2a19b23.jpg" border="0" width="1000">



Check Post #8
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/135443-cytronus-build-thread-pic-heavy.html

He got some new katskin leather seats which look great which I hope to get someday.

 

[WillK]

Seat covers, dash LED's, stereo, paint some interior panels...

Zac's done a pretty damned good job of updating his!

 

[Yoter]

The interior is not "dated" its just becoming a CLASSIC.
Get some sheep skins (I just did), maybe some fuzzy dice, a hula girl and embrace your 4runner for what it is.

 

[downpour11]

You could always do something like this: http://www.toyota-4runner.org/classic-t4rs/23574-1st-gen-toyota-4runner-picture-gallery-76.html#post1388585

5th gen interior in a 1st gen. Pretty unique.

 

[zacattack20]

You could always do something like this: http://www.toyota-4runner.org/classic-t4rs/23574-1st-gen-toyota-4runner-picture-gallery-76.html#post1388585

5th gen interior in a 1st gen. Pretty unique.

Wow. That's pretty awesome. I hadn't seen that before.

 

[hrt4me]

Also if you have a 96-98 finding a 99-02 Center console, center dash and possibly Door panels if yours is an SR5 makes a huge difference.

how easy is it to change/upgrade the center dash on the '96-98 SR5s?

 

[T4R2014]

Ummmm... It was designed in the mid 90's. It will obviously feel more dated compared to a 4th gen. If you want a modern interior then you need to buy something newer. Otherwise, you could order up some Katzkin leather as well as new foam for the seats, alcantara headliner, upgrade the sound system, and change the color of the interior panels to black.

 

[BrianSD_42]

I see what you mean by dated. I guess it would be better if it consisted of cheap plastic that feels like it's going to break in the first year like most newer cars these days?

 

[98OzarksRunner]

Not enough plastic in it for ya?

 

[UnderFire]

how easy is it to change/upgrade the center dash on the '96-98 SR5s?

The console is extremely easy, you need the mount from behind the ebrake, e-brake handle and console and you're good. All bolt on, the center dash you'll need the dash and vent duct from behind it, mine was very simple, but I don't have ECT or Rear Window heat, so I only had to make it light up and the back window work.

Here is the guide for it:

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/114346-how-99-center-dash-conversion-wiring.html

 

[paddlenbike]

As someone else mentioned, the 4th gens have a serious dash cracking problem. A modern headunit goes a long way toward modernizing the interior.

 

[Robb235]

Add a push start button

<img src="http://i1350.photobucket.com/albums/p779/zacforsale/75E692AE-999F-44A9-A0AB-32F1F130F0F2-1684-0000030467CD05C9_zps39392881.jpg" border="0" height="1000">

Is there a writeup on that push-to-start buttom somewhere?

 

[zacattack20]

Is there a writeup on that push-to-start buttom somewhere?

Don't really have a full write up but there's a little in my build thread.

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/1448317-post58.html

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/1449523-post67.html


There really isn't much to it. Just around 8 wires to connect. It's similar to installing a remote start system. Removing the key cylinder and leaving it turned to ACC so that it disables the wheel lock. Unplugging the connector for the key cylinder. Then routing the antenna for the RFID tag wherever you want to put.