Noshirt's Stellar Blue Metallic '02 Sport Build

[Noshirtganshirt]

Well being my second time around in a 3rd gen 4runner that I actually want to keep and see potential in, I figured I would start a build thread.

I have always been a Volkswagen guy and still am. Currently own this 98 VW GTI as a "show car" but it currently takes up space in the garage shaving the engine bay and making the motor and everything in it pretty.

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Always been into lowering cars so lifting these and figuring out what works best is a bit of a change for me haha.

Purchased my first 4runner from a used car lot a hundred miles away. Didn't really know all the qwerks or what to look for on these cars but I have a bit of know how so I bought it. Typical frame rust, which was a lot worse than I had expected and ended up patching a big crack on the rear trailing arm bracket. Sold the truck to my older brother who wanted something 4wd that he could beat around town.

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After a lot of waiting and searching a stellar blue 4runner popped up at a used car lot. Headed up near where I bought the first 4runner. Frame was in damn near perfect shape, 170k miles, super clean and running great.

Being a detailer I am extremely nit picky about how my cars looks and I knew this one could clean up near perfect. Now some random shots after some buffing.

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Removed the rear badges and painted them semi gloss black

Smoked out the rear taillights to fit the truck theme accordingly

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Next up, painted the wheels semi gloss black

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Led blue cluster lights and center console lights

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Grabbed a 98 grille and did the Satoshi mod

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Just recently did the b&m trans cooler and 231 tundra brakes on it.

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Future plans to come in the near future:
-Sand blast very very minor spots on frame, like welding joints and what not, and undercoat the frame before winter
-Minor 2" lift, still undecided on what to do there
-SCS F5 wheels and tires
-Custom built front plate bumper with winch and rear plate bumper and swing out

 

[MattJakobs]

Eager to see where this goes. Looks like a nice start so far, very jealous of that Stellar Blue sport hood.

 

[Unner]

Love that color, that or black would be a tough choice for me. I'd suggest putting some mudflaps on the front to try and protect that clean paint. Wanna come buff my black 4Runner?:biggrin1:

 

[ToyotaBrah]

All time favorite color.

 

[kpinthebay]

That color is so rare to find.
Also sick vw... i was into that in my previous life...stretching a 205 tire over a 9" wheel.

 

[Noshirtganshirt]

That color is so rare to find.
Also sick vw... i was into that in my previous life...stretching a 205 tire over a 9" wheel.

After I purchased and sold my white 4Runner, I knew I wanted something other than your old run or the mill runner. I like rare shit so this color was a perfect choice. Also, it being a sport, that made the deal even better.

I want some more easy mods to keep me busy until I get around to building bumpers or buying plate bumpers. I've done most of your "fanboy" 4Runner mods haha.

 

[Noshirtganshirt]

Well this weekend was filled with grinding, rust covering, and undercoating. Decided to tackle getting the frame done before it started getting cold.

My frame luckily is in phenomenal shape and was one of the reasons I bought it. Ended up hitting the rear end near the trailer hitch and the rear axle the most. Everything else was just minor surface rust around the weld joints.

I guess you can call this preventive maintenance.

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Rust converted the weld joints and pretty much anywhere else that had rust beginning. Let that dry for about an hour and hit it all with undercoat. I used rustoleum rust converter and rustoleum undercoat. Very happy with both products and it turned out like a brand new frame.

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Took a total of 5 hours from start to finish. Did it in quadrants, basically wheel by wheel, removing each wheel, and grinding away, converting, and undercoating. Very pleased with the results.

 

[Jasony0423]

That's a nice looking job you did on it

 

[Noshirtganshirt]

That's a nice looking job you did on it

Thanks, I'd like to think it turned out pretty well.

 

[Noshirtganshirt]

Not much of an update. Brother just purchased a black '01 Sport that I'm detailing, treating the frame, painting wheels, and a little maintenance. So ill be busy the next week or two doing his.

Bought some TRD emblems off a local craigslist. Paid 40$ for these three emblems. All metal and good quality.

Going the use the bigger black TRD emblem paired with smaller SPORT letters off a range rover. (I work at a collision center so these are freely available. Going to put that on the back right portion of the liftgate where the SR5 4wd emblems usually go.

Don't know what I'm going the do with the other chrome ones. If I used them, ill paint the chrome portion black.

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[Noshirtganshirt]

Found out on here about a LBJ recall. Checked it through a gov website and it says the recall was never completed. Funny this is I was going to replace the LBJ just to be safe.

Going to call my local Toyota to confirm and get free LBJ's and an alignment.

 

[Noshirtganshirt]

Well I haven't been able to do much more on my truck. Older brother just bought a really clean, well kept '01 black sport.

First tackled the inevitable frame rust. Already a pretty clean frame, just typical rust around every joint on the frame. Decided to use the sandblaster up at work. Was an extremely awkward and strenuous Jon, totaling 10 hours total to do the frame.

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Another big task was doing a full paint correction. The previous owner put some pretty horrendous touch up, mostly unneeded in some areas. Had to remove all that crap before moving the paint correction.

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All in all, turning out great. Can't wait to get mine back and get more work started on it.

I think I'm going to build a set of retrofits. Never personally done a set before but have done plenty of research from Brian and Wilson on here.

 

[Noshirtganshirt]

Delivered my brothers 4runner and picked mine up. I missed it haha.

Decided to take care of some maintenance before winter hits. Got new front tie rod ends and will be going off to alignment tomorrow to get that taken care of.

Got brand new lower ball joints courtesy of Toyota last week. Had a LBJ recall that got taken care of free of charge, so thats always nice.

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Front windows also tinted to match rest of car.

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Finally got around to adding the TRD badge to the back, along with the smaller SPORT letters off a new range rover. Painted black to match of course.

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Going to order OEM fuel filter and do plugs and wires also. I'm going with NGK plugs unless someone has better options. Also, what are people preferring for plug wires?

 

[mjhynds]

wow nice job with the rust! makes me excited to start mine!

 

[Philbush1127]

wow nice job with the rust! makes me excited to start mine!

I'm sure the op feels the same as me. its not anything to be excited about. I'm still painting mine. tomorrow hopefully will be the last day with the POR-15

 

[Unner]

NGK wires have been good for me, plus the blue adds like 10 hp.

 

[Noshirtganshirt]

wow nice job with the rust! makes me excited to start mine!

I'm sure the op feels the same as me. its not anything to be excited about. I'm still painting mine. tomorrow hopefully will be the last day with the POR-15

It certainly isn't a fun task to endure, but it is so worth it in the end and I personally think it adds value. After finding out about the frame rust on these trucks I knew I had to buy one with a clean frame and undercoat it as soon as possible.

Still can't believe I found this good of a condition truck, in this color.

 

[Noshirtganshirt]

That time to tackle some maintenance before weather gets too cold for me to want to work on anything haha

1.- LBJ - DONE
2.- tie rod ends and alignment- DONE
3.- fuel filter- DONE
4.- spark plugs and wires
5.- all three serpentine belts
6.- trans pan gasket (leaking)
7.- need to find out what pulley is making, what sounds like a steam train haha. Not horribly noticeable except on idea. Anyone had this issue?

Some pictures:

New tie rod ends


Fuel filter, old. I'd like to bust it open and see how ugly it is.


Vs new


Going to tackle trans pan leakage next. Those who have done, do you new gasket alone, or just sealant, or both?

 

[Noshirtganshirt]

Per the weather tech group buy, picked these up. Dont know if I want to stick with black or get their grey ones.

 

[Noshirtganshirt]

Been awhile since I've had an update. Been busy planning our wedding and adulting.

Decided to fab something up a little different. Can't warrant spending copious amounts of money on CBI bumpers with swingout so I decided to make something for damn near free.

Wanted to get the old rusty spare out from under the car, undercoat where I couldn't reach because of the spare and generally clean up under there. That's for another day though.

Got the square tubing for free and went to Lowe's and picked up some 1\4" plate steel.

The entire thing is made of 2x2" square tubing. I'll get some measurements for anyone that is interested.

Started out with the base, two pieces of steel on each side, eventually to be welded solid to the base and a couple holes drilled for the pivot point and swing out pin

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Cut my main upright piece and a 45 degree cut at the top. Was a little tricky to find a height that I wanted so I played with a piece of cardboard and finally got a height I'm happy with.

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Cut my, what I think was a 15 degree cut for the outward piece, then cut my mounting plate out. I really wanted everything nice and tight up against the back of the car so I angled the wheel slightly. Because of the backspacing on the wheel, angling helps get the wheel closer and I think it looks better.

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Mocked the wheel up (this was when I was measuring for the angle of the wheel). And a rough idea of what it will look like when it's done.

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Have to drill a couple holes in the base plates for the swing down portion, weld some studs to the mounting pad, and weld it all together and it will be done. Then it will get under coated.