jpeaslee's T4R3

[jpeaslee]

After selling my 05 Element with 134k that i've had for 1 month shy of 10 years, I finally snagged a new to me 4runner. It's an 02 SportEdition 4wd, 234k, previously owned by a gulfstream mechanic's son. It was in better shape than my E, so while it's a little older and higher mileage, in my eyes it's an upgrade. The toaster was a great vehicle, but I was really wanting/needing a real suv, not a compact mini van. I didn't manage to take any pics before I plastered a few stickers on, but I did get a one before I started tinkering with anything else.

It's already had the timing belt replaced within the last 10k, so I'm good there. It was 1k overdue for an oil change so I knocked that out of the way. I've been getting a CEL 0442 that comes on every couple days after resetting it. Already replaced the gas cap. Not positive, but it looks like maybe it's the charcoal canister.

The other thing that it was in dire need of was tires. I can't stand the wheels on the SE, so I figured I'd do that in one fell swoop. Managed to get them on this afternoon. I went with Level 8 Mk6 +0 offset with General at2 265/75/16's. They did scrub a lot turning around in the driveway. After trimming the liner a little bit and hammering out the pinch welds, normal scrubbing disappeared. It still does when turning and hitting a big bump,dip, etc.

2 months later, after the new shoes:

Most Recent Pic Summer 2017

Powertrain
Bone Stock 3.4L V6
Auto Trans
B&M Trans Cooler in series w/ stock cooler
4.10 Gears
Multimode Transfer Case
Toytec Diff Drop


Lighting
Morimoto D2s Projector Retrofit w/ Mormoto xb35 ballasts, 5.5k bulbs & Switchback Halos
Eyourlife 20" light bar


Wheels & Suspension
Front:Icon 2.5VS Coilovers 700lb coils
Rear: LC 7.5/7.75 Wrap Coils & Tokico Green Shocks
Level 8 Mk6 16x8 +0 Offset (4.5" Backspacing) Gunmetal Wheels
285/75r16 Goodyear Duratrac E Load Tires
Tundra Brake Upgrade (OEM pads, Rotors, & rebuild kit) w/ G2 Caliper paint
Wheelers Offroad extended rear brake line
Toytec diff drop
Sonoran Steel adjustable panhard bar
<strike>17" Sequoia/Tundra Split 5 Spokes
265/75r16 General Grabbers E Load Tires
255/75r17 BFGoodrich KM(1) C Load Tires</strike>

Armor & Recovery
Addicted Offroad Plate Bumper w/ welded crossmember
Harbor Freight 12k Winch
Stubbs Welding SKO Sliders


Electronics
Optima yellow top
Optima Blue Top
National Luna Dual Battery system w/ controller
Big 3 upgrade + all battery leads 1/0 copper wiring
Elemental Designs Comps, Sub, & Amp
Eclipse Head Unit


Mods
Extended Rear Diff Breather
VSC on/off switch
167 Ebay Snorkel

 

[jpeaslee]

I was able to swap out some of my dash lights for LEDs but somehow I ordered a few too few? I'm definitely noticing some hot spots though.

More importantly, I knocked out a bit of maintenance this weekend. Since the day after I got it, the runner has been throwing a CEL 0442 code (but none of the other 044X codes). I replaced the gas cap, but it has eventually gone from throwing a code every 1.5-2 days to every .5-1 day. I took a chance and just ordered a OEM charcoal canister off ebay for $330. Got it swapped out saturday and haven't thrown a code since *knocks on wood*. Hopefully that has it fixed. I also went ahead and swapped out the air filter, PCV valve, PCV grommet, spark plugs, and spark plug wires in addition to adding a ScanGauge II as Autozone was running a 35% off all purchases on their app. This truck has been everything I wanted it to be.

 

[Hesk11dog]

looks like factory plugs and wires. Should be able to feel the difference in power just from those few changes. Those original wheels did suck. Your mod list is long but that is always a good thing.

 

[jpeaslee]

I've done an absolutely terrible job keeping up with my upgrades to what has since been named "The Tree Runner" after a trip into the swamp. Since my previous post I have done:
-Billy Tundra 5100s w/ TRD front coils and Rear OME 906s for a 2 inch lift
-Painted fender flares with bedliner and painted the rockers with the same
-Installed a midland CB w/ Firestik and OL antenna mount
-And today, Installed my Addicted Offroad front bumper which became necessary after the "Tree Runner Incident"

I still have to paint the bumper and crossmember. As soon as I get my stubbs sliders I'll have them run a stitch weld on the cross member (per Scott @ AO's recommendation). I have a 12k badland winch I got for cheap from my cousin, but I need to do my Satoshi grill first for it to fit. I'm due to drain and fill my diffs and transfer case and I'll extend my breathers when I do that too.

I also snagged a great deal on some spidertrax on TacomaWorld and I should get those on when they come later this week.

 

[wake_rider]

I think that is my favorite front bumper on the market. I definitely dig it.

 

[jpeaslee]

So I’ve been a bit lax over the last couple months with keeping this updated. Not that that my runner is anything particularly special, but I at least like to keep this updated to keep track of what I’ve done.

I also moved about 8 hours up to north Alabama (between Florence/Muscle Shoals and Huntsville), so that’s occupied a bit of time. Great new job, but it’s keeping me busy. With the new job, I’m driving a company car, so the runner is now seeing just a little bit of miles on the weekend.

I painted the AOR bumper with rattle can bedliner to match the fenders. For anyone considering spray on bedliner, I think if I did it all over again I’d just go with a satin black (or dark grey). The bedliner tends to get bugs stuck on it that don’t really wanna come off. I did rattle can so when I scratch some off (which I WILL do), I can just touch it up.

I also added a 20 Eyourlife 20" lightbar on the bumper. I picked this one mostly as it would bolt right up to the bumper without brackets, was cheap (if it sucked I was only out $50), and I could move it was small enough I could move somewhere else if I wanted (killer revers lights anyone?) Flood performance is great for the money. I was a little disappointed in the spot performance. My factory highs threw more light than the bar, but that’s probably having unreasonable expectations out of a Chinese bar. I was planning on adding a 40” bar across the windshield, but after seeing [MENTION=116387]Unner[/MENTION] results, I think I’m going to go with some VisionX or MRT Luxmasters if they are in stock at [MENTION=120150]TotalAutomotiveLV[/MENTION] when I pull the trigger.

I did a satoshish grill, but I can’t get the bottom mounts to stay in place. I think I’m going to JB weld a bolt to the corners and then screw them on with a wing nut or something. I have a little Toyota logo I’m contemplating putting in the corner, as well as thinking about painting the whole thing black. If I did it all over again, I think I’d paint the frame to match factory and then blackout the grill mesh.

 

[Unner]

For mounting the grille just use zip ties. Simple and easy to put on and just cut them if you need them to come off.

Truck looks good too! Too bad you just got up there or I'd say we could meet up. I just moved to south Carolina for a couple months. We'll have to meet up once I'm back. Hopefully I'll have my AOR bumper on by then too.

Those spotlights are the bees knees too! They make my lightbar about useless. It won't fit anywhere once I install my new bumper so I'll be selling it, but I won't be mounting anything on the bumper. If anything I'll put a single row on the roof rack.

 

[jpeaslee]

For mounting the grille just use zip ties. Simple and easy to put on and just cut them if you need them to come off.

Truck looks good too! Too bad you just got up there or I'd say we could meet up. I just moved to south Carolina for a couple months. We'll have to meet up once I'm back. Hopefully I'll have my AOR bumper on by then too.

Those spotlights are the bees knees too! They make my lightbar about useless. It won't fit anywhere once I install my new bumper so I'll be selling it, but I won't be mounting anything on the bumper. If anything I'll put a single row on the roof rack.

I love zip ties. I don't know why I didn't think of that.

Definitely let me know when you're back in town. With the sound of it, you may be just getting it in. I'll be happy to lend a hand installing if you need it. It's a ***** to do alone, or at least a great workout for those random muscles you didn't know you have.

 

[Unner]

I love zip ties. I don't know why I didn't think of that.

Definitely let me know when you're back in town. With the sound of it, you may be just getting it in. I'll be happy to lend a hand installing if you need it. It's a ***** to do alone, or at least a great workout for those random muscles you didn't know you have.

Zip ties are the best. I keep a pack of the 24" 175 lb ones in my truck just incase because I feel like they're useful.

Tomorrow's seven weeks on my order. Hopefully sometime before it starts to warm up in March it'll be here. Some people go to the gym to work those random muscles, I just work on my 4Runner. It's pretty good at that haha

I used to go fishing out in Rogersville with my dad years ago when I was younger. Never really caught much, but it was still fun.

 

[shootmymime]

Maybe you should check in more often.

I like what I see here.....

 

[jpeaslee]

Sneak peak at my retrofit

Output looks a little weak though?

Oh, wait, this is a HID retrofit, not a Duracell retrofit...

Just waiting for the paint to cure to seal everything back up. Still have to wire up the ballasts, but I just need a little bit of daylight to finish that up. Still have to order and paint some new corners too.

 

[jpeaslee]

Maybe you should check in more often.

I like what I see here.....

It's hard to tell in the pic, but the passenger side corner is bent in a bit. Possibly fixable, but it gave me an excuse to shell out for my AOR bumper. It's sitting at my house in South GA. If you want it, I'll give you the address and tell the neighbors not to shoot you...

 

[shootmymime]

It's hard to tell in the pic, but the passenger side corner is bent in a bit. Possibly fixable, but it gave me an excuse to shell out for my AOR bumper. It's sitting at my house in South GA. If you want it, I'll give you the address and tell the neighbors not to shoot you...

im talking about the bike. didnt even see the bumper :faint:

 

[jpeaslee]

im talking about the bike. didnt even see the bumper :faint:

Ah, haha. 03 SV650s, little is still factory, though the only thing I've changed myself is the headlight/flyscreen and the exhaust. It'll scoot. To be completely honest, I really want to trade it in for one of these.

 

[shootmymime]

Oh you will like dual sporting I've got a street legal wr426 with lots of upgrades.

 

[jpeaslee]

Got my retrofit finished this morning. I still need to get some new corners and black them out (or just black out the oem ones. I picked everything up on TRS black friday sale. Here's what's inside:
TYC Headlights & Housing (JB Welded the adjustment screw to the nut)
Morimoto Mini D2s 3.0 Projetors
Morimoto XSB Swtichback Halos
Morimoto 5k D2S Bulbs
Morimoto XBThirtyFive Ballasts & Ignitors
Apollo 3 Shrouds
DupliColor High Performance Wheel Coating - Satin Black

Can't wait til it gets dark to align them and maybe get some night shots.

 

[Racer1]

Sick Rig, Love the Light setup.

 

[gclark14]

Between me, you, and [MENTION=116387]Unner[/MENTION] we're representing AOR pretty well in Alabama haha.

 

[Unner]

Between me, you, and [MENTION=116387]Unner[/MENTION] we're representing AOR pretty well in Alabama haha.

Can't wait to join the club!

 

[jpeaslee]

I thought I'd take advantage of getting off work a little early today and give the runner a quick bath and ended up snagging a few pics as well.

Since my last post, I changed out the fluid in both diffs and the transfer case. Rear diff looked like it probably was changed not too long ago. The transfer case looked like it was ready to be changed. The front diff looked like damn chocolate milk. Everything is running nice and smooth though. I swear I'm getting 1-2 mpg better, but I doubt that's the real reason. I don't know if there's a big difference in "Winter" and summer fuel here or not. On a side note, gear oil smells like cat piss.

I also did the Tundra Brake Upgrade, along with some decals courtesy of [MENTION=8729]Speedy[/MENTION]

HUGE improvement. Granted, I was ready for some rotors and pads anyway, and the truck was pretty close to ready for some when I bought it. But it's a huge upgrade.

I've been exploring some of the local WMAs and random roads around here. Being on the Tennessee river, there are quite a few places with a great view.

I went up to Jackson, TN last weekend to snag a set of 5 255/75/17 BFG Mud Terrain KM(1) with less than 300 miles. $425 for the set. I was really wanting to run 255/80s, but being able to snag these for this price, and having the ability to snag a few as a spare and a set for my m416 that I'm working on building just made sense. Got my Sequoia wheels painted up and ready for the new rubber saturday. Now if only the new oem lugs I ordered will show up tomorrow like they're supposed to. I wish I knew where my original ones were.

Heading down to Stoney Lonesome sunday with my cousin, so we'll see how they compare to the Grabber AT2s.