NewVillains Build Thread 97 4x4 5spd

[NewVillains]

Alright... I just bought this a few days ago. Here are the specs: 1997 4x4 SR5 5spd V6. It has 243K miles, with a new-ish engine with 75K on it. All belts and stuff was replaced in the new motor. No locker.... bummer.

This thing is really a POS, it is decent looking on the outside, but the inside is a wreck. I spent 5 hours yesterday just cleaning out 16 years of dirt and dust... and I'm still not done. The leather on the inside is toast, trying to find someone to redo the leather for around $1k. Anyone know of someone in the OC, CA. I just bought new carpet for the interior from Stock Interiors. I think someone might of had the :toilet3: in there. Not to mention the gum on the floor and there is a hole that I could fit through under the drivers side floor mat.

What I have planned for it is pretty simple. New tires and wheels, BFG A/T, 17" 2033 Sport wheels I have from other 4runner, powdered black. OME lift, or whatever is comparable to that. New Leather, New Carpet, fix the little things that are broken. Eventually get front and rear bumper. Front: Schrockworks. Back...???? Warn???? Enough is enough with out further ado because :worthless.

and here is what my '03 V8 Sport looks like:

New Update. 11-6-12

I just put in new tail lights from TunersDepot and got seat Covers put in today from Wet Okale.

Left is obviously new one, right is old.

More to come in the next few days. CarID headlights and parking lamps, OME lift. new Carpet... and the list will only go on.

 

[JohnsD90]

I'm liking the stock specs and options of yours.

 

[NewVillains]

I'm liking the stock specs and options of yours.

Gotta love the 5spd V6. I have a few things wrong, but I'll get that taken care of.

I just ordered seat covers from Wet Okole

Now that I'm in Cali, they are 10 minutes down the road from me... that's convenient. They install for free too. They are expensive, but not as expensive as redoing all the leather.:bluejump:

 

[NewVillains]

Looks like I also just spent another 1K on a 3" lift with OME. Uh Oh... I'm getting greedy! :hungry:

 

[NewVillains]

Man... these lights are so much brighter. I like the seats, but I prefer leather, wish I could have got them reupholstered, it's just too much money for this car. Maybe someday on my 2003.

 

[Fishwerks]

The Wet Okoles really clean up the interior nicely. It's looking better and better!

What are you doing for tires once you lift it? :hungry:

 

[NewVillains]

The Wet Okoles really clean up the interior nicely. It's looking better and better!

What are you doing for tires once you lift it? :hungry:

I think since this is pretty much a budget vehicle that I'm going to get the treadwright AT. I have them on my wifes FJ and they have held up nicely. I do however have my old '03 17" sport wheels getting powdercoated as we speak, I didn't feel like putting in the time to paint them. Not to mention I don't have a garage here in Cali.

 

[MDST]

Ultimate Lift Kit for '96-'02 4Runner - Toytec Lifts: Toyota Lift Kits: FJ Cruiser Lift Kits, Tacoma Lift Kits, Tundra Lift Kits, 4 Runner Lift Kits, Sequoia Lift Kits, Toyota Truck Lift Kits

1996-2002 - System 1.2 - $1,215.00 : Sonoran Steel, Sonoran Steel Custom Metal Fabrication L.L.C. Custom Toyota Truck Parts

Your call!

Cheers

 

[NewVillains]

Ultimate Lift Kit for '96-'02 4Runner - Toytec Lifts: Toyota Lift Kits: FJ Cruiser Lift Kits, Tacoma Lift Kits, Tundra Lift Kits, 4 Runner Lift Kits, Sequoia Lift Kits, Toyota Truck Lift Kits

1996-2002 - System 1.2 - $1,215.00 : Sonoran Steel, Sonoran Steel Custom Metal Fabrication L.L.C. Custom Toyota Truck Parts

Your call!

Cheers

I probably should have researched a little more. That Sonoran Steel looks pretty good. I do already have the OME on my 2003, and absolutely love the way it rides, so I guess that's why I went with that one. It's sitting in my spare bedroom ready to be installed on Thursday.

 

[BlackCat914]

who makes those tail lights? I really like them.

 

[NewVillains]

who makes those tail lights? I really like them.

There's a link in my build thread.

 

[NewVillains]

Sitting at Yota Masters in Corona right now. These guys are a great little shop, and affordable. I'm getting my OME lift put on right now. I decided to have them do it, since I no longer have access to a garage. Here's there contact info:

Yota Masters:

Eric Hansen
Jay King
1336 W. 6th St.
Corona, CA 92882
www.yotamasters.com
951-279-0220

 

[blizz86]

Sitting at Yota Masters in Corona right now. These guys are a great little shop, and affordable. I'm getting my OME lift put on right now. I decided to have them do it, since I no longer have access to a garage. Here's there contact info:

Yota Masters:

Eric Hansen
Jay King
1336 W. 6th St.
Corona, CA 92882
www.yotamasters.com
951-279-0220

Which OME kit did you end up getting? Excited to see the after pics!

 

[NewVillains]

Which OME kit did you end up getting? Excited to see the after pics!

I got the 2.5" with .5" spacer for full 3". It was just the basic one. No heavy duty. I'm about to post some pics.

 

[NewVillains]

New Lift/Head lights

Alright here is the before and after of both the head lights and lift.

OME Full 3" of lift with spacer 1" diff drop.

Next comes work on my transmission and shifter, also I need to fix that nasty gap between the headlights and bumper. Looks like the front was hit a little harder then I thought it was when i first bought it. Oh well... whatcha gonna do.

I also need to replace my carpet which is sitting in my spare bedroom. That's really the last piece that I have for a few weeks until I get new tires and my '03 sport wheels which are at the powder coater.

 

[JWaldz]

Sweet start man.. Love the way Wet Okoles clean up the interior like it's a brand new vehicle. Mine were well worth the money as well. Looking forward to the lift and future mods. Here's a tip, if you limit yourself to how much you get on this forum your wallet will appreciate it more.

 

[NewVillains]

Sweet start man.. Love the way Wet Okoles clean up the interior like it's a brand new vehicle. Mine were well worth the money as well. Looking forward to the lift and future mods. Here's a tip, if you limit yourself to how much you get on this forum your wallet will appreciate it more.

haha.. thanks. I think I already realized that though when I put together my '03. This one needs way more work though.

 

[NewVillains]

Well... back at Yota Masters. I'm to get my steering wobble fixed. It's a bit ridiculous how bad my steering is. I feel like I'm going to flip my truck everytime I hit a bump or a hole on the highway. It's bad going slow too. So out with the old, in with the new Steering Rack.

I also tore out all of my carpet and replaced it, because it basically looked like someone had a baby in the car, or at least a ton of partying, or 15 years of 2 year olds throwing crap on the carpet. Here is the old, I'll post the new when I finally tweak the back to fit proper. It was a pain the ass, but totally worth the feel of a new vehicle.

 

[NewVillains]

New Wheels

Alright, so I picked up my new/old wheels from the powder coater here today. I'm in ohio, so I shipped them back to Cali for when I return home. That's not cheap BTW. So I was bored and set one of the wheels next to my '03 4runner here and snapped a quick photo. I did some photoshop and Put them on my '97 4runner to see what it will look like. Please realize that the FJ wheels are behind this wheel, so it's not going to be exact. But here she is:

I'm going to be putting her on 265/70/17. AT's. Treadwright.

 

[1985taylor1925]

So whats the deal with 96-98 3rd gens having that dent in the center of the bumper? Cause, I sold mine awhile back, and it had a dent in the exact same spot. And Ive seen several other 96-98s on the forum with that same dent in the same spot. Its so odd . . .

Edit to add another question: Is that a rebuilt rack?