Need help on building my 98 T4R

[hunter2426]

Just got started on building my T4R looking for advice on what to do. It's a 98 2wd SR5 would like to do a little off-roading and want to know what she's capable of.Here are some pics of the new wheels and tires looking at possibly adding a bull bar and a set of PIAA's what do you think?

 

[TOPSECRETTUNDRA]

Looks nice. What is your budget?

 

[JamesDean91]

X2 budget is everything, number 1 thing I can give for advise is read build threads. A locker in the rear would help for sand and stuff a bull bar or custom front bumper with winch would probably be nice to have. All depends on how you want it to be.

 

[hunter2426]

My budget is around 3k I'm currently deployed so i have a few months to do things as well. I have heard about doing the locker but I have no experience in that area. Also for exterior mods feel free to post pics of examples.

 

[jmildoc]

if you have a $3,000 budget, i would suggest selling the 2wd to someone and taking that money and buying a nice limited that already has a locker.

 

[hunter2426]

I have thought about that but around where I live there aren't to many in good shape for a decent price.Also I don't plan on doing any real extreme mudding.

 

[audiness]

you could do a rear locker retrofit for a few hundred, if you can find one in a junkyard somewhere.

 

[jmildoc]

I have thought about that but around where I live there aren't to many in good shape for a decent price.Also I don't plan on doing any real extreme mudding.

you may regret dumping that much money into a 2wd, just saying.

your in the military man, get a loan, sell that thing and put your other 3K with it, build something you really want.

when i was in the military i spent money on cars like crazy, you always know what you are getting paid so its easy to budget.

 

[Bishard]

Looks great. But sell her and get a 4wd. Expand your search and do some driving you'll probably find a keeper. You don't even need to be "off-roading" to get stuck in 2wd.

 

[TOPSECRETTUNDRA]

3k, get an aftermarket front bumper w/ a winch if you insist on keeping the 2wd. I think some fender flares would also look nice.

 

[Doc2012]

or find a junk 98 4WD and do the conversion.

That's what I did for my '99.

 

[hunter2426]

How hard was it to do the conversion and do you have pics of the interior for the shifter?

 

[Doc2012]

The conversion isn't that bad. The worst part was the transmission.

You'll have to move the cross member forward, or build a custom cross member like I did.

Check out my build thread. There's alot of stuff in there.

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/119076-docs-zrv-pic-heavy.html

 

[hunter2426]

Just looked through your thread and wow you've done a lot of work that may be beyond my skill level to do by myself but how much did it cost you if you don't mind me asking?

 

[hunter2426]

Mainly because I just spent the money for the lift wheels and tires I'd probably look more into the conversion than selling and starting over. Also interested in the locker if the upgrade would be worth it.

 

[Doc2012]

Just looked through your thread and wow you've done a lot of work that may be beyond my skill level to do by myself but how much did it cost you if you don't mind me asking?

The swap isn't that hard to do at all. It involved switching the transmissions, adding the front diff, and changing the hubs.

While you're switching the hubs, I would HIGHLY reccommend doing the manual hub swap, instead of just going with the ADD.

You will need different CVs, but it's really not that bad of a job to do.

Plus, you can knockout all the LBJ, UBJ, and TREs at the same time.

Here's the thread to the manual hub conversion, along with how do convery your ADD into a "manual" diff".

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/127367-docs-mod-thread.html


All in all, I think I have about 2g in this set up.

The PARTS runner was a full vehicle, minus the rear axle, and that was 1500.

The hubs, transfercase, and CVs were about 500, if not less than that.

You can get just the transmission, transfer case, front diff, and both drive shafts, manual hubs, and the new CVs though.

IMHO, finding a junked 98 with as many parts as you can will be your best bet. You can always sell the parts out of it and make some of your money back, if not more.

Just make sure your gears match, and that it has everything youd need in it.