MattAK's Build Thread - On a Student Budget

[MattAK]

Nice IS!

Here is an old pic of mine, it is currently parked for winter.

Looks nice! Dangit, now I miss mine again! I cried when I left it at the dealer. :sobbing: Here is it next to the 4Runner. I so wish I could have kept it but I was hard up for cash then and couldn't have two cars and needed something that you could actually drive in the snow.

 

[mrsingh]

Great combo, too bad you couldn't keep the IS. I love mine, it is the total opposite to the 4Runner. Smooth ride (even when lowered), RWD, manual transmission, LSD. Sticks to the road like glue around corners, just very planted overall and great fit and finish.

Here is a pic of mine right before I put it away for winter, and another from this evening when I pulled off the cover to take a peak:

Ok done with my IS... How do you like the ride on the 4Runner with the lift you went with? The Tundra/OME 806 with Bilsteins are the exact combo I am looking into.

 

[MattAK]

Great combo, too bad you couldn't keep the IS. I love mine, it is the total opposite to the 4Runner. Smooth ride (even when lowered), RWD, manual transmission, LSD. Sticks to the road like glue around corners, just very planted overall and great fit and finish.

Here is a pic of mine right before I put it away for winter, and another from this evening when I pulled off the cover to take a peak:

Ok done with my IS... How do you like the ride on the 4Runner with the lift you went with? The Tundra/OME 806 with Bilsteins are the exact combo I am looking into.

Hey it's my thread, we can chat about the IS. You've got me looking at used ones online and thinking $5K USD for 200k miles isn't too bad.... The black on yours looks amazing as well. The hood and front bumper on mine needed some serious TLC which I never got around to.

The 4Runner lift ride is definitely stiffer than the stock setup was. It soaks up larger stuff ok but rattles a bit on smaller bumps. Definitely rides better with a load in the back as well. I have the 906 springs in the rear with a 10mm trim spacer rather than 806s. The front struts are on the second notch from the bottom. Overall I've been pretty happy with it and it looks just right for 265-75-16 tires. The rake is just right to my eyes.

PS [MENTION=88576]smkd13[/MENTION] I don't know if you're active on here anymore but I still appreciate the help that night installing the lift. I still owe you one.

 

[Bretski1]

Dude

Just read through your build thread! I just moved back to AK (Eagle River) after going to BYU and CU. Drop me a line next time you're up this way and we can find some trails!

 

[xcvgi]

I see no reason to replace the entire axle unless you find one with an e-locker like you had said you were looking at. Just get under there with a wire wheel and go to town to get all the rust and old paint off, then hit it with a few coats from the rattle can

 

[MattAK]

Just read through your build thread! I just moved back to AK (Eagle River) after going to BYU and CU. Drop me a line next time you're up this way and we can find some trails!

Sweet! I've often though of moving to AK permanently but it's just so far from family/friends. Eagle River is a nice area!

 

[MattAK]

Almost time to get my Satoshi on. Grill arrives tomorrow.

 

[MattAK]

Today was such nice weather, of course I spend it all working on the runner.

Replaced the spark plugs. I've owned the car for almost 3 years now and I don't have any records from the previous owners so I had no idea how old the plugs were. Turns out they're likely original as it had NGK on the pax side and Denso on the driver's side.

164,799 miles on these plugs.

Then decided to do the deckplate mod for funzies. Next time I'll be sure to have better saws on hand.

 

[MattAK]

Got a Cherry Bomb Vortex put on today. Sounds growly.

 

[MattAK]

#saturdaydrive

What do you do when you're single and have nothing to do? Go for a drive on roads you've never been on before!

Dang if the runner doesn't look so good.

Also a test to see if the new muffler drove me nuts on a longer trip (~5 hours today). Fortunately, it doesn't. Drone at 2k rpms isn't annoying, which was my biggest worry.

 

[BrianSD_42]

Nice pics dude!

 

[02SE]

Those roads look familiar. Although I usually see them with no snow.

 

[MattAK]

Nice pics dude!

Thanks! I just have my smartphone to take pics but it seems to do a pretty decent job.

Those roads look familiar. Although I usually see them with no snow.

I bet they do. This was the route today. Really today the only new roads for me were between Price and Nephi. I've been up and down US-6 and I-15 plenty. Starting to run out of places to drive that are a reasonable day trip, are open in the winter, and that I haven't seen before. Might have to start staying home on Saturdays haha. :couch2:

 

[RPS99SHO]

Mine gave me a $5g budget for purchase and making it roadworthy. The search is on...

 

[MattAK]

Doing some parking lot wheeling at work.

 

[MattAK]

Satoshi is on. It's a little darker than I was expecting, but hopefully will look good with future additional black things, like flares and bumper. This was my first time attempting to make something like this. There's some flaws in it but overall I'm pretty pleased with how it turned out. Also thinking I may take off the bug shield uni-brow.

Aftermarket '96-'98 grill, black perforated aluminum mesh from customcargrills.com, painted with Rustoleum truck bed liner.

 

[MattAK]

Some pics from today's drive around Southern Utah.

 

[Grey-Thunder]

Seems like your build is coming on strong, keep it up!

 

[MattAK]

Had to escape the nasty foggy gross inversion we get in northern Utah sometimes. Day trip to Bryce Canyon!

Sunset Point

Farview Point

Rainbow Point
Elevation 9115ft

 

[jrruiz211]

Those are some amazing photos. I like the grill you have however I was unable to find one on the custom grill site for a 3rd Gen. Did you get if custom built?