nihkon's 4Runner

[rickashay]

I totally dig the Shrockworks bumper. If the decision was based purely on aesthetics, I'd choose that bumper hands down. If I was paying for it myself, then the price would be a concern. Since insurance is flipping the bill, I'd say screw it! lol But, ultimately, the stories about horrible wait times is what killed that bumper for me.

I think the 4x Innovations bumper has a very similar look to the Shrockworks. But those exposed brackets on the bottom? No thanks! It looks unfinished and unnecessarily cluttered.

So, in the end, I decided on the Outdoor Logic bumper. I do really like the design, and it's a plus that it was the cheapest of the bunch. And it helps that I'm local to them, so I can just pick it up and save on the shipping costs. I placed my order today. So hopefully in a few weeks, I should have a new front bumper! :rockon: Oh, and yes, hoopless all the way!

I'd have to agree, the Shrockworks is probably the most aesthetically pleasing bumper out there for our trucks IMO. Between the shrockworks and the 4xInnovations - it must be that beveled or rounded top edge that makes me weak at the knees.

Seems like we had a very similar process of illumination.
Shrockworks - LONG wait times and somewhat pricey, hoops block turn signals from coming out (I couldn't have that when I'm retrofitting, although I DO like their hoops)

4xInnovations - agreed, hate the lower mounts sticking out!!! Love the looks otherwise

ODL - good looks, good price, good customer service, short wait times, looks awesome hoopless - done deal.

Eagerly waiting pics of it all coming together..........

 

[nihkon]

^lmao, yeah it looks like you and I both went through very similar thought processes before deciding on the ODL bumper! :cheers:

Well, my good friend came over this weekend, and he and I tackled the installation of my lift. It took us a while, since it was our first lift, and we ran into little issues here and there along the way.

Learning how the rear axle reacts to raising/lowering took some getting used to, to get everything to line up just right. And that dreaded Toytec adapter at the top of the rear shocks...and getting that 24mm socket up into that tight space! And something about the way the rear shocks mount to he axle....it took a while to get that aligned just right.

For the front, all the lift parts went super smooth. The diff drop was cake. Thanks to everyone one the forums that have mentioned the "upside down bottle jack" method for pushing down the UCA's. That worked SO well! (Just gotta be careful! It did pop out on us once). What gave us troubles on the front were the dang lower ball joints. Neither the lower ball joint or the outer tie rod ball joints wanted to pop out. So that took a little while to solve. It was a bit of work overall but, in the end, I'm super stoked with the results!! I got it aligned today, and it's driving like a champ.

With the -25 offset on the wheels, I have plenty of clearance between the tire and the UCA. And at full lock, the tires do not rub anything (at least during street driving, lol.)

As for the change in height, I did measure it after the lift, but I didn't write it down. I'll get the numbers posted soon. I also don't have any "nice" photos yet, but here is a crappy cell phone pic just as a teaser:

 

[blcktpgsr]

Very few star rims impress me besides the stockers..i guess i'm saying that if I had to redo, i'd definitely pick these.:wink2:

Good taste man.

 

[nihkon]

^Thanks dude! Yeah man, I can't get enough of these wheels! With CRX's, I was always a fan of "sporty" wheels with simple designs. It was a bit disappointing when looking around for truck wheels. I was stoked when I came across these.

I didn't get a chance over the weekend to take some proper photos post-lift. I promise I'll get on that soon.

In the meantime, I spent a couple hours under the engine bay this weekend with a can of degreaser. I cleaned off years of built-up dirt and grime. Aside from just wanting to make it cleaner under there for while I work on it, I also needed to clean it up to make it easier to diagnose a leak that I found while I was under the truck doing the lift. Turns out that it's the good 'ol vavle cover gasket leak. Looks like I found my next project.

Also, while I was under there, I found that my inner axle boots are seeping just a tad...after only a week of being lifted. It's not from the boot fins rubbing, it's at the large end of the boot. The clamp seems to be juuuust a bit loose. I'll try to find some new clamps for that before it gets worse, and also do the "stretch/slide" mod for the other end of that boot while I'm at it.

 

[Scotty_h]

ahhh man.... Nice looking get up. Subsc'd
Sorry about the Jetta deal. There must be some calateral damage to awesomeness, it's just the way life is. :llama:

enjoy the llama

 

[SoSoJeff]

nice thread man! and thanks again for the wheels and coils

 

[rickashay]

Looks great. MOAR pics!

 

[nihkon]

ahhh man.... Nice looking get up. Subsc'd
Sorry about the Jetta deal. There must be some calateral damage to awesomeness, it's just the way life is. :llama:
enjoy the llama

Thanks man!
Dancing Llama! Yes!

nice thread man! and thanks again for the wheels and coils

Thanks Jeff!
I can't wait to see my old wheels and coils on your 4Runner!

Looks great. MOAR pics!

Thanks Addison.
I know, I slacked on getting proper photos last weekend. I'll do my best to get some this weekend.

In other news....I placed an order today at Savage Offroad. In 2-3 weeks I'll have a set of sliders and front skids! Who knew that you could get so excited about some steel tubes and plates! lol

 

[nihkon]

I fiiiiinally took some proper photos of my 4Runner with the new lift and wheels/tires. It rained here yesterday, so it made the local trails nice and muddy for the photos!

 

[nihkon]

 

[rickashay]

Even sans-bumper I love this rig!!!

 

[muttbutt]

jealous! cant wait to see what the bumper is gonna look like!

maybe i need to get in a small accident so i "have" to buy a new bumper...... jk

 

[nihkon]

^lol. Yeah, the accident happened to work out in my favor, but I surely wouldn't recommend going that route. It's definitely not worth the risk. I know you put "jk", but I still had to put that out there.

Thanks though dudes! I also can't wait to get the new bumper mounted up. I'm expecting a call from ODL any day now.

I should also be getting a call from Savage any time now for the skids and sliders. :rockon:

 

[sleeper17]

Its crazy to see you from the crxcommunity to the off road 4Runner forum nihkin. Your runner looks amazing and as i have said before so does your crx:thumbup:. I actually sold my crx a while ago. Check out my build thread and you will see the two toys i have now

 

[Jaystoy]

Great looking 4Runner. The wheels and tires are the best looking combo you can have on a 4runner! Great minds think a like! Lol!

 

[nihkon]

^I totally agree! Congrats on your wheels/tires too man!

Its crazy to see you from the crxcommunity to the off road 4Runner forum nihkin. Your runner looks amazing and as i have said before so does your crx:thumbup:. I actually sold my crx a while ago. Check out my build thread and you will see the two toys i have now

Yay! Another CRX/4Runner owner! Well, before you sold yours, I guess huh. lol

Yeah, I embrace them both! This past weekend I spent Saturday out in the dirt with the 4Runner, then spent Sunday with a bunch of CRX guys blasting down the canyon. I got to spend the whole weekend having fun with both my vehicles. My scooter sat, lonely, in the garage though. lol

I'll have to check out your thread. :thumbsup:

 

[Stick Figure]

^I totally agree! Congrats on your wheels/tires too man!



Yay! Another CRX/4Runner owner! Well, before you sold yours, I guess huh. lol

Yeah, I embrace them both! This past weekend I spent Saturday out in the dirt with the 4Runner, then spent Sunday with a bunch of CRX guys blasting down the canyon. I got to spend the whole weekend having fun with both my vehicles. My scooter sat, lonely, in the garage though. lol

I'll have to check out your thread. :thumbsup:

The real B&^%$ is Monday when they are both dirty and out of gas from the weekend fun. lol

 

[nihkon]

^lol, yeah no kidding huh!
I did actually have to gas-up both vehicles that weekend. That wasn't cheap.

In other news...I got a call from Outdoor Logic yesterday. My front bumper is done! I also got a call from Savage Offroad, and my sldiers/skids will be done this week as well. I'm super stoked!

It looks like I'll be driving out to both shops next weekend to pick up my parts and have them installed!

 

[masson74]

You will love all that new gear. Both Jimmy from ODL and Roy from Savage are upstanding guys that have a great product. That is the setup i have on my rig as well.

Are you picking up your stuff from Savage in Yucaipa? I live a mile from Roy and would love to check out your rig.

Dave

 

[nihkon]

Thanks Dave.
Yeah, I'll be heading up to Roy's place on Saturday. I should be there around 1-ish. He'll be welding on my new sliders, so I should be there for an hour or 2, I would assume. Feel free to stop by man.