New member here with '04 V8 Limited. Seeking advice on mods, please!

[FNG!!]

Hey Folks,

I am the proud new owner of an '04 Limited V8 with about a quarter million miles on it. Can't tell from the exterior, though, as it was garage kept by the original owner.

My 4Runner is all stock and I am debating on what I want to do in terms of aftermarket mods after I have my trusted mechanic do a full inspection before I change anything.

I could use your advice, if you would be so kind. Here's what I have in mind for overall goals:

WANT:

I am looking for a some more horsepower and definitely more engine growl but without waking up the neighborhood If the fuel economy improves along the way, I won't complain though that is probably a long shot of a wish. I should also add that if more than one modification (example: cold air intake, headers, exhaust pipes and muffler) they should play well together.

DO NOT WANT:

• Modifications that will cause failures in emissions testing (I live in NC, so not as bad as CA but still). I know I could just swap out aftermarket CC's for OEM ones, but I don't have access to a garage or a lift for me to do that at the drop of a hat.
  
• Modifications that will cause or are likely to cause engine light warnings and otherwise overly stress the engine or transmission. My 4Runner will be a daily driver, so no supercharger installation plans in the works (at least for now :roll
  
• Modifications that are known to have long-term failures (example: I had it in my head I was going to get some Doug Thorley headers but after reading about the corrosion issues that a few members here have experienced, plus the long fab lead time for those headers, I am far less enthusiastic now).

Any suggestions on specifics ("avoid X brand or type, consider Y")? I'd be very grateful for any advice, especially if you have long term experience with whatever mods you have done to your 4Runner.

That said, I am a relative newbie to the modifications game so please do feel free to dumb it down, and I appreciate your patience ahead of time, as I am sure I will ask plenty of stupid questions (I chose my username tag for a reason...)

I would be most grateful for any advice you can offer, even if it is "Leave it stock and don't change a thing". I'm more than happy to provide more information if that helps. Thanks folks, this forum is an awesome resource!

 

[ads2539]

I also have an ’04 Limited with a V8.

You won’t get noticeable HP gains without spending a lot of money (supercharger, e.g.). For me, it’s not a high priority. Reliability is more important to me. I don’t have a CAI, but I do have a snorkel, which is basically a CAI. I also have a high flow air filter.

I have a Magnaflow exhaust, and it sounds good, but it’s a little too loud for me.

I don’t have them, but many people here have the Doug Thorley headers. (I’m not aware of the corrosion problem.)

In my opinion, the best upgrade I have done is to install a suspension lift (3”F/2”R) and larger diameter tires (a set of 32” and a set of 33”). It rides like a brand new truck with new shocks/springs on it, and I like the look with the lift kit and bigger tires. I also installed a 1” body lift. I did all the labor myself.

 

[FNG!!]

I also have an ’04 Limited with a V8.

You won’t get noticeable HP gains without spending a lot of money (supercharger, e.g.). For me, it’s not a high priority. Reliability is more important to me. I don’t have a CAI, but I do have a snorkel, which is basically a CAI. I also have a high flow air filter.

I have a Magnaflow exhaust, and it sounds good, but it’s a little too loud for me.

I don’t have them, but many people here have theDoug Thorley headers. (I’m not aware of the corrosion problem.)

In my opinion, the best upgrade I have done is to install a suspension lift (3”F/2”R) and larger diameter tires (a set of 32” and a set of 33”). It rides like a brand new truck with new shocks/springs on it, and I like the look with the lift kit and bigger tires. I also installed a 1” body lift. I did all the labor myself.

Thanks a lot for your input! This is exactly the kind of advice I was looking for. I had also wondered if the snorkel might act as a CAI, and thanks to your input, it seems that it does, or at least has a similar effect. Something for me to consider. Like you, I am also concerned with reliability over anything else. And I hear you on the performance - I don't expect miracles just from adding in an aftermarket intake and headers, just a few HP is fine and it was mostly the growl I wanted from the engine but without going into distraction territory

On the lift idea, I had considered that as well but was told directly by my insurance agent that it was more than likely going to invalidate or at least increase my insurance by a significant margin, so I've let that idea go. I definitely like the look of it, though! You have a nice setup going there and kudos to you for doing the work yourself! I am a hands-on guy at heart, but just moved back home after a long time overseas and don't have the tools and equipment needed to DIY, plus work and family commitments severely limit my time as well.

So far I am considering a Magnaflow exhaust without resonator (thanks feedback from a member in another post) and now the snorkel option, thanks to you.

Hopefully some others will weigh in on this. The Doug Thorley corrosion issue is detailed in a post here:

!!Doug Thorley Headers 4.7L V8!!

Thanks again!

 

[Napalm]

I’m new to the 4Runner world, but I will say one of my favorite mods that I’ve seen for our 4th gens is a set of TRD Pro wheel/tire take offs. It looks aftermarket, without looking aftermarket.

I’ve heard the Gibson CatBack exhaust is nice, but I’ve got no personal experience with it.

 

[rdruss]

I also have an ’04 Limited with a V8.

You won’t get noticeable HP gains without spending a lot of money (supercharger, e.g.). For me, it’s not a high priority. Reliability is more important to me. I don’t have a CAI, but I do have a snorkel, which is basically a CAI. I also have a high flow air filter.

I have a Magnaflow exhaust, and it sounds good, but it’s a little too loud for me.

I don’t have them, but many people here have the Doug Thorley headers. (I’m not aware of the corrosion problem.)

In my opinion, the best upgrade I have done is to install a suspension lift (3”F/2”R) and larger diameter tires (a set of 32” and a set of 33”). It rides like a brand new truck with new shocks/springs on it, and I like the look with the lift kit and bigger tires. I also installed a 1” body lift. I did all the labor myself.

If you have the stock air cleaner arrangement then you do have a CAI as that is what the factory setup is, it draws fresh air from the passenger side wheel well, not from under the hood.

 

[FNG!!]

I’m new to the 4Runner world, but I will say one of my favorite mods that I’ve seen for our 4th gens is a set of TRD Pro wheel/tire take offs. It looks aftermarket, without looking aftermarket.

I’ve heard the Gibson CatBack exhaust is nice, but I’ve got no personal experience with it.

Thanks for the input! I think you're referring to the all black TRD pro wheels with the red badge? If so, yes I completely agree. They are actually on my list of considerations if I can get a set at a decent price. I think you're spot on with "They look aftermarket without looking aftermarket."

I will do some research on the Gibson CatBack exhaust. Right now it's a toss up between Magnaflow, Borla and now Gibson CatBack. I need to find something good quality, not too difficult to install and gives a nice sound when the pedal is pushed all the way, but not a hot rod noise when I'm going 20 mph through neighborhoods!

Thanks again for your feedback.

 

[FNG!!]

If you have the stock air cleaner arrangement then you do have a CAI as that is what the factory setup is, it draws fresh air from the passenger side wheel well, not from under the hood.

Hey RDRUSS, out of curiosity, do you think an aftermarket CAI for my 4Runner is potentially worth it? I am wondering if the change of filter size (assuming a larger one in the aftermarket CAI) and type (oiled vs dry which I believe the OEM filter is) might make a noticeable difference?

 

[importman]

I don't have a V8 so I can't help with any of that fun stuff but here's some of what I've done that have made me enjoy mine more, (05 SR5). I lifted it 3/2. By the way I've never heard of a lift causing problems with insurance. I installed the black TRD Pro wheels and slightly bigger A/T tires. Mine didn't have a rear spoiler so I found one aftermarket on eBay already painted and installed it. Upgraded the stereo with a Sony head unit. Upgraded the front brakes to the larger ones found on the Sport models. Did the map light mod. Look it up. It's pretty much free and easy to complete. With this mod your map lights will come on when the doors are open, (sorely needed IMO). I also added the rearview mirror with auto dimming, Homelink and compass. (found on eBay for cheap and easy to install. There's more but these are some that I did that have made it a much more enjoyable vehicle to own and drive. Good luck with whatever you choose to do with yours.

 

[Napalm]

Thanks for the input! I think you're referring to the all black TRD pro wheels with the red badge? If so, yes I completely agree. They are actually on my list of considerations if I can get a set at a decent price. I think you're spot on with "They look aftermarket without looking aftermarket."

I will do some research on the Gibson CatBack exhaust. Right now it's a toss up between Magnaflow, Borla and now Gibson CatBack. I need to find something good quality, not too difficult to install and gives a nice sound when the pedal is pushed all the way, but not a hot rod noise when I'm going 20 mph through neighborhoods!

Thanks again for your feedback.

Yes those are the ones. This will be my plan whenever I wear out my current set!

 

[Napalm]

Mine didn't have a rear spoiler so I found one aftermarket on eBay already painted and installed it..

I need to do this for mine. How hard was it to find a rear spoiler already painted for a 4th gen?

 

[FNG!!]

I don't have a V8 so I can't help with any of that fun stuff but here's some of what I've done that have made me enjoy mine more, (05 SR5). I lifted it 3/2. By the way I've never heard of a lift causing problems with insurance. I installed the black TRD Pro wheels and slightly bigger A/T tires. Mine didn't have a rear spoiler so I found one aftermarket on eBay already painted and installed it. Upgraded the stereo with a Sony head unit. Upgraded the front brakes to the larger ones found on the Sport models. Did the map light mod. Look it up. It's pretty much free and easy to complete. With this mod your map lights will come on when the doors are open, (sorely needed IMO). I also added the rearview mirror with auto dimming, Homelink and compass. (found on eBay for cheap and easy to install. There's more but these are some that I did that have made it a much more enjoyable vehicle to own and drive. Good luck with whatever you choose to do with yours.

Hey Importman, thanks for all your suggestions and feedback, much appreciated! A few comments to your post:

I will call and ask my insurance agent again, but I am 99% sure she said it was lift that would cause insurance issues. She checked with the underwriter and he cleared the aftermarket headers and exhaust. But yeah, if no one else has ever heard of a lift causing issues with insurance then maybe she is mistaken.

I'm definitely considering the TRD black wheels.

Mine did have the spoiler, thankfully - IMHO the 4Runner kinda needs them. I guess if you have a large roof rack or something then I can see how they'd become an issue, but I'm glad mine came with the spoiler for sure.

I definitely want to upgrade the stereo! It currently has the JBL cassette tape and 6 disc changer combo installed. Sound is fine, but given the lack of USB or even 3.5mm aux input jack, I have been reduced to (and I am not kidding you here) using a tape adapterwith 3.5 mm male connector which I then plugged into a 3.5mm female stereo to Lightning dongle that came with my iPhone! Yes, the 1990's are apparently still alive and well :shocked:

I am definitely on the lookout for a good recommendation for a stereo head unit. I would prefer to keep the amp and speakers stock. Head unit should definitely have either USB or 3.5mm aux female input. What Sony model did you use and was it pretty simple to install or did you need a special mounting kit? Any issues with it either during or after installation? As an aside I've seen a post somewhere that showed a guy who installed a capacitive touchscreen head unit on his Tahoe that connected to the battery indicator and even the tire pressure so he could get a readout on his screen. Probably this was for a newer 4Runner but still pretty cool.

I had never even thought of doing a dimmed mirror, great suggestion. I will definitely look into it - that would be a huge plus.

Thanks a ton for the map light mod info, I had never heard of it until I read your post. I will look it up and it definitely sounds like something I will do. I couldn't understand why the interior roof light would turn on when the doors were open but not the map lights in the front! Makes me wonder what the Toyota designers were thinking. Glad to know there's an easy workaround.

I also plan on upgrading all the interior lights to LEDs - I found a really handy how-to guide with pictures and tips.

Appreciate your help!

 

[FNG!!]

Yes those are the ones. This will be my plan whenever I wear out my current set!

Man that picture is great - nice ride! :hatsoff:

 

[Napalm]

Man that picture is great - nice ride! :hatsoff:

Indeed, I wish it was mine, but I can't take credit for that one!

 

[rdruss]

Hey RDRUSS, out of curiosity, do you think an aftermarket CAI for my 4Runner is potentially worth it? I am wondering if the change of filter size (assuming a larger one in the aftermarket CAI) and type (oiled vs dry which I believe the OEM filter is) might make a noticeable difference?

Personally, no. If you were going to operate at 4500+ rpm for most of your driving you might need it to supply a little extra air flow, but during "normal" operation I think the stock system is quite adequate. If you plan to offroad in a high dust environment then a cleanable air filter might be worth it and you can get those as a stock replacement.

 

[FNG!!]

Personally, no. If you were going to operate at 4500+ rpm for most of your driving you might need it to supply a little extra air flow, but during "normal" operation I think the stock system is quite adequate. If you plan to offroad in a high dust environment then a cleanable air filter might be worth it and you can get those as a stock replacement.

Great information, and thanks a lot, rdruss!

 

[Bluesky 07]

In your place, I would go through the build thread directory. Most people list their mods in the first post or two. Build a list from the mods of interest. Bonus: people often include writeups on how they did the mod.

 

[FNG!!]

In your place, I would go through the build thread directory. Most people list their mods in the first post or two. Build a list from the mods of interest. Bonus: people often include writeups on how they did the mod.

Thank you for the tip, Bluesky. I had no idea, I will set up the build thread directory and have a look!

 

[Bluesky 07]

Thank you for the tip, Bluesky. I had no idea, I will set up the build thread directory and have a look!

You're very welcome. The directory is here (and stuck on the top of the 4th Gen section). Also, many members link their build threads in their sigs so if you see something you like in someone's post, you can often go right to their build thread.

Another useful sticky in the 4th Gen section is the maintenance & repair writeup compilation put together by [MENTION=429038]y=mx+b[/MENTION] .

 

[importman]

Hey Importman, thanks for all your suggestions and feedback, much appreciated! A few comments to your post:

I will call and ask my insurance agent again, but I am 99% sure she said it was lift that would cause insurance issues. She checked with the underwriter and he cleared the aftermarket headers and exhaust. But yeah, if no one else has ever heard of a lift causing issues with insurance then maybe she is mistaken.

I'm definitely considering the TRD black wheels.

Mine did have the spoiler, thankfully - IMHO the 4Runner kinda needs them. I guess if you have a large roof rack or something then I can see how they'd become an issue, but I'm glad mine came with the spoiler for sure.

I definitely want to upgrade the stereo! It currently has the JBL cassette tape and 6 disc changer combo installed. Sound is fine, but given the lack of USB or even 3.5mm aux input jack, I have been reduced to (and I am not kidding you here) using a tape adapterwith 3.5 mm male connector which I then plugged into a 3.5mm female stereo to Lightning dongle that came with my iPhone! Yes, the 1990's are apparently still alive and well :shocked:

I am definitely on the lookout for a good recommendation for a stereo head unit. I would prefer to keep the amp and speakers stock. Head unit should definitely have either USB or 3.5mm aux female input. What Sony model did you use and was it pretty simple to install or did you need a special mounting kit? Any issues with it either during or after installation? As an aside I've seen a post somewhere that showed a guy who installed a capacitive touchscreen head unit on his Tahoe that connected to the battery indicator and even the tire pressure so he could get a readout on his screen. Probably this was for a newer 4Runner but still pretty cool.

I had never even thought of doing a dimmed mirror, great suggestion. I will definitely look into it - that would be a huge plus.

Thanks a ton for the map light mod info, I had never heard of it until I read your post. I will look it up and it definitely sounds like something I will do. I couldn't understand why the interior roof light would turn on when the doors were open but not the map lights in the front! Makes me wonder what the Toyota designers were thinking. Glad to know there's an easy workaround.

I also plan on upgrading all the interior lights to LEDs - I found a really handy how-to guide with pictures and tips.

Appreciate your help!

You're welcome. The head unit I got is a Sony XAV-AX100 which has been replaced by the AX1000. I don't think there's a lot of difference between them and I highly recommend it. I've been very satisfied with mine. The difference in sound between it and the JVC aftermarket unit that was in mine is night and day. And having Apple Carplay is a huge bonus. I honestly won't ever have another unit without it. I think everyone agrees about the map lights. Crazy that they don't come on with the doors. That and the mirror are little things but they make the overall driving experience much better. I haven't changed any interior lights to LED but I probably will at some point. I did change my headlights and I highly recommend doing that. I think most of what I've done to mine is in my signature so if you're interested you can look at it at the bottom of this post.

 

[importman]

I need to do this for mine. How hard was it to find a rear spoiler already painted for a 4th gen?

Not at all. Just do a search on eBay. I don't have a link handy. I can't remember exactly how much it was but it was cheaper than I expected. Like between $100 and $150 if I recall. They are aftermarket units but they look great and work just fine. You just have to find your paint code and order one with that code.