K1ng's Build

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k1ng82

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What's up guys!!

I have been a HUGE 4Runner fan ever since the 3rd gen came out! I have always been a sports car owner although I have owned a couple 4rd gens along the way.

Last year my spouse and I got pregnant so I decided I needed to sell my 09 GTR and get a car that would more easily fit a car seat or two.

I was actually a heavy line suspension mechanic for 10 years working at my families business before going out on my own to start my own companies. Cars have always been a huge part of my life and an outlet for creative expression.

1999 Toyota 4Runner

DRIVE TRAIN

3.4L V6 5VZ-FE 245'000 miles
Air Intake Resonator Mod

SUSPENSION

Icon Front Coilovers with 700LB Springs
Icon Rear External Res. Shocks.
OME 891 3" Lift Springs
Energy Suspension Poly Steering Rack Bushings
Addco Front and Rear Sway Bars
Total Chaos Front UCA's
99 Tacoma LBJ

BRAKES

2005 Tundra 231 Brake Swap.
Power Stop Stainless Steel Front and Rear Brake Lines
AP Racing 600 Series Brake Fluid.

WHEELS AND TIRES

FN Wheels BFD 18x9.0
Toyo Open Country AT 275/65R18

EXTERIOR

4X INNOVATIONS PLATE FRONT BUMPER
AVS Front Bug Deflector
AVS Stick On Window Visors
Custom Black Housing Corner and Turn Signals
LS460 Projector Retrofit
LED Brake Lights and Turn Signals

INTERIOR​

This is my first time ever really getting involved with an online forum and actually documenting one of my builds so please be patient.

I have already gotten so much inspiration and help from this forum so I'm really excited to see where this project and membership in this community takes me.

I recently also bought a 96 Limited for my spouse so my kids have something durable and reliable to drive in.

On to some pics!



Unfortunately I don't have any pics I can find from the day I bought the runner, but here's from the day I got my wheels.







Custom Black Housing Corners, Turn Signals and LED Taillights.













My other baby.





Got all my parts to retrofit the LS460 Projectors



Brand New Glass





The Death Star



These lenses are HUGE!!

 
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UPDATE

I was in Salt Lake over the past weekend for my dads birthday so I wasn't able post anything.

Last week I was able to finish up my LS460 retrofit, install window visors and hood diffuser.

Got all the reflectors painted on the projectors and the headlight housing.







You can see the LED Halos.





These lenses are HUGE!!!



Installed





Getting there.





Done!!!



From my research before I did the retrofit could only see from the pictures the size of the high beam solenoid. Luckily The Retrofit Source | Innovative Headlight Upgrades
offered the LS460R kit where they modified the solenoid making the mass of the projector considerably smaller making installation and mounting inside the housing not nearly as daunting of a task as I thought it was going to be.

The retrofit definitely take some patience. But if I can do it anyone can!!



This also showed up while I was out of town!! Got it down to the powdercoater as soon as it showed up!

Got quite a bit of work to do on the runner so stay tuned. Also be sure to friend me on facebook https://www.facebook.com/GStar82 and instagram https://instagram.com/garygilgen/. I'ts much easier for me to post up pics on those two sites.
 
UPDATE!!! 10/12/15

This weekend was a busy one. I started on Friday by getting everything set out, got the car jacked up and started tearing thr front end apart. I honestly thought it was going to be harder than it was. I did it by myself with no help over three days. The most difficult part of the whole job was the upper ball joints. I went to Checker and borrowed one of there ball joint presses and I actually broke the cup trying to remove the first side. You definitely want to make sure you have the correct cups to do the job. It could be dangerous if you break the ball joint press. I have personally broken many of these in my previous life working at my families front end shop.I got the front end all buttoned up early Sunday morning and got the alignment set up this morning.

It's a whole different ball game. It's like driving an urban tank hahahaha. It's a very stiff ride, but, I'm used to a "Solid" ride so I like it. I didn't get the rear sway bar in the mail till this afternoon, so I will get that installed this evening.



Getting everything laid out. Going to install;
ICON front coil overs (14" 700LB rating springs) Thanks to A. Wilson
ADDCO front and rear sway bars.
Total Chaos upper control arms.
05 Tundra Brake Conversion.
Stop Tech Stainless Steel Brakes Lines.
AP Racing Super 600 Brake Fluid.
99 Tacoma Lower Ball Joints, Inner and Outer Tie Rods.





BEFORE.
Yellow Blisteins
Tired Springs.
Tired Sway Bar.
Poly Steering Rack Bushings.



Looking so tired, but so well built!





Just about all torn down.





I decided to lay down a application of undercoating to the whole front end.



ICON Coilovers Installed



Upper Control Arms Installed



I thought I was installing Tundra 231s but I'm not so sure. I did the research and all the markings show me they are 231s but I'm not sure.



Definitely needed Rotors.



Getting there

My computer is acting. up. I will post the rest of the pics along with what came out of the oven today.
 
What's up guys!!

The internet at my office has been having issues like crazy lately and slowed down to a stop, preventing me from posting all the pics.

Here are the rest of the photos from the suspension upgrade.





All done! What a well engineered suspension!



The parts grave yard.



Complete!! Couldn't be more happy!! The truck drives and rides like a tank! I love it!! It feels so solid! No wandering, tracks great!!



Definitely not the best photographer!



Guess what got all finished up!!

HINT. Don't you think there are just a ton of rock chips in that front bumper?





Let's fix that...



VERY EASY REMOVAL. There are less than 20 nuts/bolts holding this front bumper on.



By just replacing it.







I think i'm going to replace the front exposed bolts with Titanium. I have some laying around in my garage, hopefully they'll fit. Also notice the clear turn signals. The blink amber. I wanted to keep the clear look up front. I found them on amazon for next to nothing.

Amazon.com: Maxxima M34260YCL Amber 2" Round LED Clear Lens Clearance Marker Light: Automotive
 
k1ng82 said:
Here are the rest of the photos from the suspension upgrade.

All done! What a well engineered suspension!

The parts grave yard.

Complete!! Couldn't be more happy!! The truck drives and rides like a tank! I love it!! It feels so solid! No wandering, tracks great!!

Definitely not the best photographer!

Guess what got all finished up!!

HINT. Don't you think there are just a ton of rock chips in that front bumper?

Let's fix that...

VERY EASY REMOVAL. There are less than 20 nuts/bolts holding this front bumper on.

By just replacing it.

I think i'm going to replace the front exposed bolts with Titanium. I have some laying around in my garage, hopefully they'll fit. Also notice the clear turn signals. The blink amber. I wanted to keep the clear look up front. I found them on amazon for next to nothing.
Click to expand...

Looks great, Gary! If you don't like how tall the front is you could take some of that preload out. With my skids and winch I had a considerable amount of weight up there.

I also HIGHLY recommend these for bump stops unless you've got the coin for hydros... HUGE upgrade over stock. Wheeler's Front SuperBump Bumpstop Set?
 
Update. 11/07/2015

Been super busy with the kids that I haven't gotten around to updating my build thread.

Last week I got my Satoshi grill from Millerad1651. I was very excited and impressed with the outcome. I did have to modify the grill to fit. Has anyone else ever ran into the earlier 96-98 grills not fitting right in the 99+? It seems like the mounting studs are bigger and rounder on the earlier grills compared to the factory grill I was running as well as the bottom center post being far too long. I took the Dremel to them as well as completely removing the bottom center and voila!









Much more squared at the top.





I love the new grill, but I wanted to see what it would look like if I were to have blacked out the TOYOTA so it would go with the black look. What do you think? I just used plasti dip so if I decide I don't like it I can always go back.



I want to get the individual TOYOTA letters and see what that would look like. Does anyone know what year and model those letters are from?

4wheeling is pretty new to me so I've been searching for some entry level trails in the Boise area. Been having a great time so far and really looking forward to getting better and meeting up with some trail friends.





Also I just picked up this 1st gen. I got a killer deal on it because #2 cylinder is about dead 25PSI and the old owner took it upon himself to build a wooden dash to replace the old cracked one LOL. I have no idea what my plans are for this and my spouse is super pissed because now I have 4 4runners.





Next up for my 3rd...

I'm currently searching for a supercharger and supporting fuel, ignition and exhaust mods as well as upgrading the electrical system as well as the audio system.

Thanks for looking, stay tuned.
 
Last edited:
Looks great! Look for Unner's build. He details where & cost of the letters that you are talking about. His really turned out great
 
If you end up wanting to change and get rid of that Fj emblem I will be more than happy to take that off your hands!
 
I like it better with the TOYOTA blacked out. Those letters are too damn big! Sorry, personal preference. The classic OEM FJ TOYOTA logo is the way to go.

Your truck is looking awesome. Keep up the great updates.
 
k1ng82 said:
Update. 11/07/2015

Been super busy with the kids that I haven't gotten around to updating my build thread.

Last week I got my Satoshi grill from SCRunner12. I was very excited and impressed with the outcome. I did have to modify the grill to fit. Has anyone else ever ran into the earlier 96-98 grills not fitting right in the 99+? It seems like the mounting studs are bigger and rounder on the earlier grills compared to the factory grill I was running as well as the bottom center post being far too long. I took the Dremel to them as well as completely removing the bottom center and voila!

Click to expand...


Think you meant "grille from Millerad1651! Looks good man. I'm still not sure why the middle bottom bracket didn't fit. And as for the other mounts needing trimmed, it seems some do and some don't.
 
Millerad1651 said:
Think you meant "grille from Millerad1651! Looks good man. I'm still not sure why the middle bottom bracket didn't fit. And as for the other mounts needing trimmed, it seems some do and some don't.
Click to expand...

That's exactly what I meant to say! LOL!

Thanks a ton Millerad1651! Totally changed the look of my UAV. I'm not quite sure why it had to be modified either. No sweat though, looks great!

We got 11" in the mountains over the past few days! I'm really looking forward to spending A LOT of time playing in the snow this year! I really need a supercharger though. UGH!!! The struggle is real.



Back when I was in high school. Whenever it would snow I would always skip school and go drive in the snow.

 
Just wow....love your bumper, wheel, light retrofit and the rest.....just wow again:juggle: great pic's :thumb3:
 
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