Keeping them Bone Stock or Modifying them?

[Dieselchessy]

A couple thoughts.....
Once had a sales man tell me. “I ain’t putting seat covers on leather seats. Why would I want to keep them nice for someone else to enjoy? I’m going to enjoy them myself. $300 and the next owner can replace them.”

I’m also not into gingerbread. Gingerbread is anything that doesn’t improve performance, usability, or comfort.

I modify my vehicles for my use and comfort. I don’t worry about resale value. I run my rigs until they are “give away” status anyhow.

 

[brillo_76]

Thank you for all that took your time and shared your stories on this thread. It's a conversation thread as we have a few others like this thread on here for conversations.

Sent from my SM-J337V using Tapatalk

 

[CT135]

I have been modding as I find a need for it. Started with spacer lift and good tires. The extra clearance was nice, went out in the eastern oregon rocky terrain and discovered I needed better suspension and sliders if I wanted to get to the hard to find antelope hunting spots. I had a friend fab up some sliders with a rear kick out, got an OME 883/891 lift with built right uniball UCA's and better lighting for the front and rear. Up playing in the snow I almost smashed my front bumper into a tree, making me think some full tubing costal offroad bumpers should be next on the list. Oh and tundra brakes for towing my trailer. It's just money right? haha

 

[Speedy]

I have modified every vehicle I have ever owned, but I'm OCD about how I go about it. I try to do mods that improve the vehicle in some way, power, convenience, updates, etc and do them in the same fashion I think the OEM would have done.

I can't stand to see a rats nest of wires, splices, butt connectors under a dash. It's so easy to use proper electrical pinned connectors just like the factory uses and they cost pennies from places like Digikey.

I've gotten a TON of fun from the supercharger on the 3rd gen. Smaller pulley and meth injection just added to the fun.

Tundra TRD and OME suspension gave it a nice lift to allow for some 265/75 tires and it rides better than it did on the factory suspension to boot and it looks good.

Tundra brake upgrade got rid of the oscillation and brake fade, plus they're painted and labeled for a bit of a sporty look.

Converted to a sport hood, ditched the grandma looking running boards for custom tube steps, and changed out the wheels but used FJ TRD center caps to keep with that "how would the oem do it" look.

HID headlight conversion with some halos and strip LEDs so I could see A LOT better at night and add a bit of modern styling.

Got more on the horizon like led light conversion that's in process and next I'm gonna "try" to do some trick courtesy lighting. Maybe push button start at some point and heated leather seat upgrades as well.

I keep a list so when I get bored and need a project I have something to do, or I ask you guys for ideas LOL. I've done so many mods on the 4Runner I can't even remember them all. I sometimes have to reference my website for a reminder, like wiring the fog lights to be able to come on with the parking lights and stay on with the high beams. I forgot I even did that until recently.

 

[Tha Krazy One]

I just got an '02 Runner this past weekend. I plan on fixing up the inside and upgrading the sound system. I bought it off my parents and the interior is in need of some upkeep especially the back. It's all dirty of spills and what not from my nephew. So I'm gonna clean it up and use as my daily driver. I am going to add a better audio system thanks to where I work and maybe some cosmetics as in adding fog lights, upgrade the stock 15" wheels to 16 or 17"s from a 4th gen or taco.

 

[APhelps]

I'm ready to SAS and throw a 2uz-fe in mine, that should be all you need to know.

 

[levee-11]

I got a 98 T4R, and when I purchased it, it was bone stock, not a thing done to it, not at all. Even stock they are very capable, but I do some off-roading, so I have been slowly modifying mine (Lights, Tires, Looks, Suspension, etc.) Everything I've done so far is reversible. If you look for a first gen 4Runner on craigslist or Offer Up, they are all destroyed and beat up and modified beyond repair. I hate to see things like this done to third gens, because eventually there will be no running stock ones left, so it's up to you. I like mine customized, but if I wanted to I could easily reverse everything I've done, and I could have a stock 4Runner for the future to enjoy.