jsmith21's broke college kid build thread

[TheBucketOfTruth]

Any more pics of the current setup? That last one is way dark.

 

[jsmith21]

Any more pics of the current setup? That last one is way dark.

Yeah sorry for the late reply I've been real busy with school lately but here's one in some snow we got about a month ago.

 

[dctacoma]

Front Lift

Whats your set up for the front lift?

 

[jsmith21]

Whats your set up for the front lift?

It's Bilstein 5100's set at 2.5 and springs from a Tacoma Pre-Runner. Been thinking about going to OME 885's but the taco springs have worked fine and ride good so I may just save up for true coil overs or something.

 

[jsmith21]

Well, I don't need to get into any more trouble with my truck so I wouldn't go anewhere that's fishy haha (did some offroading in the school parking lot and got caught). That Golden Mtn place looks cool, but goes from really easy sounding to hardcore stuff with no inbetween. I only have 32's, stock lift springs (same ground clearance as my dad's OME lift on the 4th gen), open diffs, and no armor. Hopefully I can get some rock sliders over the summer and beef up my factory skid plates with our freebie welder.

Did you buy an SWR meter when you got your CB? If yes, could I borrow it for when I get mine?

Sorry I'm so late getting back to you, but I never made it out to Golden Mtn, I've had a super busy school semester. But when I get out there I'll make sure to let you know how it is, I know they have some pretty easy/moderate trails, and then theres like no kidding rock crawler only stuff. I toured it a few years ago when I had a jeep but other than that I don't know much else. And no I didn't get a SWR meter, I've only used the CB a handful of times anyways. I just use it when me and my buddies are wheeling in the woods and other than that don't mess with it haha.

 

[foiungg]

Those headlights came out awesome! How's the black spray holding up over time? Any difference in light projection?

 

[jsmith21]

Those headlights came out awesome! How's the black spray holding up over time? Any difference in light projection?

Thanks! They still look perfect. No bubbling or moisture getting in or anything. Light projection is the same since I just painted the housing and not projector, and since I bet HID's in the light projection is way better than stock anyway. Only thing thats wrong with them, and it drives me crazy but no one else notices, is theres a dog hair in one of them :mad2: but I'm not sure its worth taking them apart and going through all the hassle just for that. Especially since they don't leak at all and I don't want to risk it by taking them apart again.

 

[jsmith21]

A little update, I got some All Pro 1.5 inch wheel spacers last week and have had them installed for a week now with no issues. I've gone back and checked the torque on the bolts. They made a decent improve my in looks, and handling feels a little more stable. My tires rubbed like crazy until I pulled the gender liners forward and zip tied them like this

I also had to cut the bumper a tad but that's no big deal.

Here's a little before and after from the same spot and I tried to get the same angle

Before

After

Here's a full body shot

 

[wadle5]

Just went through this thread. And what you have managed to snag up on the cheap ie. the tires and wheels I am EXTREMELY jealous! Now you have me wanting to get some 255/75s. Truck looks great and maybe soon I will have the balls to open up my headlights!
Cheers to a good truck.

 

[Bigshankhank]

Awesome build man, I just got a Nautical Blue 08 4WD and was searching for likewise colored ones to get mod ideas.
Keep going, it'll be a while before I can put any $$$ into this truck but I will keep watching your build.

 

[jsmith21]

Awesome build man, I just got a Nautical Blue 08 4WD and was searching for likewise colored ones to get mod ideas.
Keep going, it'll be a while before I can put any $$$ into this truck but I will keep watching your build.

Thanks man, the Nautical Blue seems to be a pretty rare color on the 4th gens from what I've seen, but I love it. Best of luck modding!

 

[4RunnerPTY507]

Nice car!

Alright so I know my rig is no where near as cool as some of y'all's but I figured I'd put all my stuff in one place so I can keep up with everything I've done.

So the reason I got a 4Runner in the first place is because I had a Jeep Wrangler that I loved but it just wasn't practical and I drive on the interstate a lot and it just didn't feel safe. It was a 02 6cyl 5 speed manual in immaculate condition and had 54k miles when I sold it.

Here's a picture of it

After I sold the Jeep I started looking for a 4th gen. Came real close to buying a 04 v6 2wd but decided not to because I knew I really wanted 4wd. Waited a few months and found a 08 v6 4wd for a great price, went and looked at it, fell in love and bought it.

Here it is the day I got it

First thing I did was get a spoiler for the back since it didn't have one, I went with espoiler or something like that. It was like 100 bucks

After that I got the windows tinted, 18% all around and 5% sun strip.

Then I decided I wanted a lift and new tires.
Found a set of 255/75r17 Goodyear mtr's on Craigslist for 500 bucks with only 1/32" of tread used, and the 5th gen sr5 wheels were like 225 for all 4.

Wheels and tires

I ran the 255's for a while with no lift, only had minimal rubbing at full lock in reverse. Really filled out the wheel wells better than the stock ones.

Then I bought a cb radio as an impulse buy, tried to mount it pretty cleanly

Next I ordered my first lift. Originally I ordered a daystar 2.5/1.5 and got halfway through installing it before I changed my mind, returned it, and saved up for a better lift setup. For my next lift I bought Toytec superflex rear coils, tacoma pre runner (non trd) spring up front, and Bilstein 5100's all around. Got the lift and had to stare at it sitting in a corner of my room for about a month before I could install it. Finally got around to installing it with the help of a buddy, with no experience on lifting a vehicle, it took me and a friend about 5 hours. 4 of those were on the front. But I got everything done and this is how it looked, I was so pumped!

I'll get wheel spacers some day( or new wheels)

After the lift I was content for a while, then realized my 4Runner was one of very few that came without a trailer hitch from the factory, and I need one so I can tow our boat at times. So I got extremely lucky and a fellow t4r member gave me his oem hitch for free, even shipping. So I broke out a dremel and tried to cut a hole in the bumper like the 4runners that come with a hitch have, and wound up with this. Not perfect but it's good enough for me. You can't tell unless you're like a foot or two away from it.

The next thing I did was something I had wanted to do for a while but was too afraid of screwing something up, the BHLM. Except instead of painting mine black I decided to be different and painted mine a dark metallic gunmetal grey. I'm pleased with how they turned out for it being my first time.

Next I broke out the plasti dip yet again to see how my wheels looked black, I like it.

And that pretty much brings it to where it's at now. I know it's not near as fancy as some of y'all's but I really enjoy doing stuff to my runner. I'll keep this thread updated as I continue to mod in the future, hope to add lighting, armor, maybe more lift, and then eventually bumpers and a roof rack in the future. Thanks guys and if you have any questions feel free to ask

Hi man, very nice car, just perfect!... how did you paint the doors handle? I was with plastidip also? (sorry if I write something wrong, im from panama)

 

[jsmith21]

Hi man, very nice car, just perfect!... how did you paint the doors handle? I was with plastidip also? (sorry if I write something wrong, im from panama)

Haha you're good, but yes it was with plasti dip. Just mask off around it and spray away

 

[4RunnerPTY507]

Haha you're good, but yes it was with plasti dip. Just mask off around it and spray away

Haha ok, thx for the tips, I will try to paint it... I saw that you removed the step walk ( or nerf bar ), how do you feel about it? Any regret on it ? I am planing to do the same.

 

[JSeligman2828]

Haha you're good, but yes it was with plasti dip. Just mask off around it and spray away

Any particular reason for the spring choice? I'm going to replace all my shocks with 5100 as well but don't want to add a spacer. What setting did you use?

 

[jsmith21]

Haha ok, thx for the tips, I will try to paint it... I saw that you removed the step walk ( or nerf bar ), how do you feel about it? Any regret on it ? I am planing to do the same.

No I have no regrets on taking the running boards off, it's super easy to do too.

Any particular reason for the spring choice? I'm going to replace all my shocks with 5100 as well but don't want to add a spacer. What setting did you use?

The only reason I went with taco springs is because I got them real cheap from my buddy who lifted his tacoma. The 5100s are on the 2.5 setting, but the springs have sagged a little. I think I'm going to swap them out for OME 885 at some point.

 

[JSeligman2828]

No I have no regrets on taking the running boards off, it's super easy to do too.



The only reason I went with taco springs is because I got them real cheap from my buddy who lifted his tacoma. The 5100s are on the 2.5 setting, but the springs have sagged a little. I think I'm going to swap them out for OME 885 at some point.

Got it, thanks for the info. Just curious is there any performance reduction when you change the setting from the shocks from say the 1.75 to the 2.5? Are they maxxed out so to speak? Not sure if that makes sense..

 

[jsmith21]

Got it, thanks for the info. Just curious is there any performance reduction when you change the setting from the shocks from say the 1.75 to the 2.5? Are they maxxed out so to speak? Not sure if that makes sense..

They're a little stiff but it's nothing bad. And they're not quite maxed out...I still have maybe 4" or so of down travel. Not sure if that's much but it's enough for me haha

 

[jsmith21]

I've changed a few things since I've updated this:

Repainted my headlight housings to black instead of grey

Also found a deal on Craigslist on some 18x9 FN Wheels BFD with 275/70r18 Cooper ST MAXX

Got em mounted up, had to do some cutting and trimming, including the body mount chop.

 

[wadle5]

The tire deals you find are utterly astounding!?


And yes I'm slightly jealous