Kraze's Mall Crawler build thread

[Kraze]

I told myself that I wouldn't make a build thread, since I bought it pretty much already built, but I have enough planned for it now that I figured I might as well. And I'll be adding more info to this first post over the next couple days, but for now, this will do.

I bought my '99 4Runner Highlander, with 5 speed and e-locker back in January 2013 with about 215k miles on it. I got a great deal on it that I couldn't pass up. Previous owner was an ASE Master Tech and had already done the lift and associated mods, 35s, bumpers and sliders, plus a few other things here and there.

Here's how it looked when I first bought it:

And here's a short timeline, oldest on top:

Suspension:
• Front: Sway-A-Way 2.5" Coilovers/Camburg UCA
• Rear: LC 8 wraps/Bilstein 5100s for 4th Gen 4runner/FJ Cruiser
• Diff drop, panhard bar drop, and extended rear brake line with parking brake extension bracket
• 1" body lift
• Quick disconnects on front sway bar, no rear sway bar

Armor:
• Custom tube front bumper with shackle mounts
• Custom tube rear bumper with hitch and tire swing-out
• Custom tube sliders
• Savage skids
• Any7Offroad gas tank skid

Drivetrain/Wheels/Tires:
• 5 speed with factory e-locker
• Aussie locker up front
• 16" Mickey Thompson Classic Lock wheels
• 315/75/16 BFG KM2s

Other:
• Full length roof rack with 36" Cree LED light bar for front, and six 6" Blitz pro LED light bars for sides/rear.
• 7" GG lighting HIDs on front bumper for fogs
• Cobra 75WXST CB and 4' Firestik antenna mounted on front bumper
• Magnaflow muffler
• Deckplate mod
• Extended rear diff breather into tail light
• Blue wire mod
• 2wd low mod
• Interior gauge/HVAC controls LED swap
• OTRATTW switches for lights and 2wd low mod
• Blue Sea fuse block under the hood for accessories

 

[GSPRunner]

Purdy

 

[white_n_slow]

Ha, that's a pretty good starting point. That's what most of us would probably call "done."

 

[mcaz5]

I can't wait to see the specs on this one! Looks great

 

[CenCalifoothill15]

well I must say congratulations!! that's one hell of a find! do you mind telling us how much you paid for it?

is it really going to be a mall crawler or are you going to take out wheeling?

you got yourself a Bad Ass Rig! :clap2:

Thanks.

 

[Kraze]

When I bought the 4runner, the previous owner had 906s with OME shocks for the rear. Eventually, I'll be adding some things that are going to weigh down the back more, so I figured I might as well upgrade the rear lift. I found a deal on some 8 wraps, ordered some extended travel Bilstein 5100s, and took some bump stops off a junkyard Blazer and went to town.

Here's some comparison shots:

I had a buddy that has air tools help me out with this one to make my life a little easier. We decided to drop the whole axle in hopes of being able to wedge the springs in there without a compressor on them:

The coils were just way too long, so spring compressors were still needed, and in they went:

Getting everything lined back up with the 8 wraps in was no easy task, but it was finally accomplished with the help of some tie downs to pull the axle back into position so we could get the UCAs bolted in again:

I decided to go test it out, and right away there was a problem. The driveshaft was hitting the stock gas tank skid, on a flat, paved road. Not good, so it had to go. Here you can see I don't have much room at all between the gas tank and the driveshaft:

Not sure if something didn't get aligned right when it was put back together, or if that's just how close my driveshaft is going to be to the gas tank now, but I'll have to check it out again when I have some more time.

After the gas tank skid was off, I took it out for a quick little wheeling trip to see if I had any other apparent problems. I got bored waiting for my buddy to get his ice chest situated again after it tipped over in the back of his Heep, so I decided to park on a rock:

And then later on I decided to park on another, slightly bigger one (ignore his finger in the way.. he's not a professional photographer obviously):

And the Jeep on the same rock, but with a better angle:

Oh, and we decided it would be a good time to fix my newly leaking rear axle seal:

Old one:

New one in:

And everything went back together, and the drum was cleaned up, all pretty uneventfully. My wheel bearing is shot though, so I'll be doing this again in the near future, this time replacing the bearing as well. But at least I won't have to worry about it for the time being.

And here's a picture all Instagram'd out of the Runner once everything was all back together:

I was surprised at just how much lift these 8 wraps gave me. My guess is these were lightly used ones, and not ones that were fully settled. As soon as I can find my tape measure, I'm going to get some hub to fender measurements. Pre 8 wrap hub to fender measurements were somewhere in the range of 24.25" passenger, 24" driver. I did a quick measurement after I was done, and it was somewhere around 26.5" on the driver side :wow2: I'm going to have to check it again though to be sure.

 

[Kraze]

well I must say congratulations!! that's one hell of a find! do you mind telling us how much you paid for it?

is it really going to be a mall crawler or are you going to take out wheeling?

you got yourself a Bad Ass Rig! :clap2:

Thanks.

Picked it up for $7,000. And yep, pavement pounder only! I cannot stand the thought of my pretty paint getting dirty out:

Nah, the mall crawler thing is more sarcasm than anything. In reality, I only drive it when I'm going wheeling, or if I need the space to haul something. I have a beater that I DD instead most of the time.

Plus, there's always those guys that like to call anyone who isn't constantly breaking and denting up their rig a mall crawler, so I figured I'd save them the trouble and call it that myself :moon:

Also, I'm looking for everyone's opinion on something of great importance to a mall crawler like myself. Should I keep the wheels like they are, or paint them black with the bead lock ring red, like this:

 

[CenCalifoothill15]

Ha, I could appreciate some good sarcasm! when I seen your avatar I knew you were joking! Nice shot BTW.
I was looking for 3 months for a 5 speed and gave up.

I really don't drive my 4R daily either, its turned into my weekend warrior.

I'll be peeping your thread thanks for responding! :caked:

(Edit): I think you got a good deal, I would totally pay $7000 for that!

 

[downpour11]

Also, I'm looking for everyone's opinion on something of great importance to a mall crawler like myself. Should I keep the wheels like they are, or paint them black with the bead lock ring red, like this:

I like that idea :thumb3:

 

[Kraze]

Yeah I've been kicking that idea around ever since I first bought the 4runner. I think I just need to go out and buy some paint or plastidip so I can have it around for the next time I get bored and want something to tinker with haha.

 

[Fishwerks]

Looks like that truck is already set-up nicely! I love the painted Highlander flares, they blend in well.

And I'm a fan of black wheels, so I say paint em.

 

[Hepar]

Great rig and looks super clean. The dark wheels with the red lip looks cool, but I like the looks of the silver a little better.

 

[Bandit Runner]

I really like the beadlock look. Paint it red. That would look great. Here's mine painted bronze:

 

[WhiteFalcon]

That's a nice rig you've got there sir! She's a beauty

 

[blcktpgsr]

:thumb: Very nice

 

[Kraze]

Thanks for the kind words everyone! I think I will get some plastidip and try painting the wheels black. I can always peel it off if I don't like it. And I have an extra set of the street locks so I can try my hand at painting those red.

I really like the beadlock look. Paint it red. That would look great. Here's mine painted bronze:

http://i262.photobucket.com/albums/ii93/woltejt/PICT0225.jpg[IMG][/QUOTE]

Hey did you ever get all your switches wired up for your roof rack lights? You have a couple posts in that thread that are going to be my bible when it comes time for wiring up lights on my rack :hatsoff:

Edit: Nevermind, I see in your build thread that you got it all wired up. But I'm still not seeing any completed pictures! That needs to change.

[QUOTE="blcktpgsr, post: 1443021, member: 46329"]:thumb: Very nice[/QUOTE]

:hail: I was just looking at your build thread the other day and wondering where you've been! Good to see you posting again.

 

[LittleCaesar]

I thought I saw a couple of spiders in the wheel well there. Maybe my eyes were playing tricks on me, maybe not. It could not be as bad as seeing two black widows under my father's truck last weekend.

Nice rig BTW!

 

[Kraze]

Lmao! I actually just went on a spider killing rampage last night in the area around where the 4runner is parked. It all started when I almost walked straight into a web that was still in the construction process by what looked to be a brown widow. It was actually pretty fascinating to watch the little guy work... but that certainly didn't stop me from Raiding his ass! I hate :spider: !

 

[Kraze]

Well official hub to fender measurements are in for the 8 wraps. A little over 26.5" on the passenger side, and just a tad under 27" on the driver side, but that's with a 1/4 full gas tank. I'm really glad I didn't go with the 9 wraps!

 

[TCMach]

Well official hub to fender measurements are in for the 8 wraps. A little over 26.5" on the passenger side, and just a tad under 27" on the driver side, but that's with a 1/4 full gas tank. I'm really glad I didn't go with the 9 wraps!

Holy shiz that's tall. I'm at 24.5 hub to fender with my 9 wraps.