OldRigNewParts Build Thread

[OldRigNewParts]

After years of lurking on this site, I've finally decided to create my build thread. Sadly, I'm not as thorough as some of you, so bare with me... I picked up a 1997 Limited with factory E-locker in 2014 for $5,000 with 200k on the clock. I got it off of an old family friend in Florida who has owned it since it was practically new and has meticulously taken care of it since, he also had a mound of maintenance records to show for it so I felt comfortable purchasing it with such high mileage. I had just moved to Boston for a new job when I purchased it, and didn't really have any plans for it other than using it to get around and into the mountains from time to time... Until I found this site...

Here is what she looked liked when I picked her up from Florida and drove it back up to Boston.



And this is how she sits now.


General Maintenance

-Replaced Lower ball joints
-Replaced leaky valve cover gaskets
-Greased drive shaft
-Replaced front brakes
-Replaced rack and pinion
-Transmission fluid flush and change
-New spark plugs and wires
-K&N air filter
-Oil change and oil filter
-Replaced keyless entry

Mods

Interior:
-Had the seats reupholstered in vinyl($1,000 cheaper than leather)
-JBL CP100 apple car play radio
-Cobra 75WXST CB radio
-30% window tint on front windows

Exterior:
-Repainted fender flairs and clading
-Removed pinstriping
-Removed runningboards
-Satoshi grill mod

Suspension:
-3" Toytec Ultimate lift kit with 5100 Bilstein struts
-Sonroan Steel adjustable pan hard bar

Wheels & Tires:
-16" Stealth Custom Series F5 wheels in matte gunmetal with 4.5 backspacing
-265/75 r16 BFG KO2

Lighting:
-SRQ Fabrications retrofit projector headlights
-Auxbeam floodlights mounted on CBI ditch light brackets
-IPF 100W spot lights mounted on bumper

Armor:
-Addicted Offroad front hybrid bumper

Racks n stuff:
-Gobi rear ladder
-Rola rack
-ARB 2000 awning with Fourtreks mounts
-Hi-Lift Jack mounts
-Amazon Hilux snorkel

Future Mods...Maybe...

-Shrockworks bolt-on sliders
-9000 winch
-CBI rear hybrid bumper with tire carrier
-B&M Transmission cooler
-ARB diff breather
-LED tail lights
-Skids

 

[OldRigNewParts]

In effort to keep this in chronological order, I'll start way in the beginning.

The first thing I did was get rid of the running boards. I was surprised to see just how much of a difference it made, it actually looked like a 4x4!

Although I don't have any pictures, I also took the time to replace the broken antenna.

 

[OldRigNewParts]

I love 80s and 90s culture like every other kid on the block, but the gold plated emblems and pinstriping had to go, so I Plasti Dipped my problems away.

I also waited for a nice hot day to peel the pinstriping off, then took it to a detailer to buff out the residue that had stained the paint.

 

[OldRigNewParts]

With 200k miles, this vehicle was still riding on it's factory suspension. In fall of 2016 I decided to give it an upgrade. I've always liked the way these trucks looked with a mild lift, so I decided to go with a 3" Toytec Ultimate lift with a Sonoran Steel adjustable pan hard bar.



Aaaaannnnndddd instantly tore a CV axle boot...

 

[OldRigNewParts]

While waiting on my wheels and tires, I decided to purchase the Rola rack.

It's not a bad rack for the price, but I hate the way it sits on top of the factory crossbars. I saw on a few other threads on here where people have made their own custom mounts so I might try that soon.

I think it's a bit ridiculous just how expensive some of the racks are out there. I'd love to have a Gobi or a Baja rack, but can't justify the price due to the fact that I've barely used this one.

 

[OldRigNewParts]

Yeeeeaaahhh baybay! Wheels and tires!

My wife is already starting to hate this hobby by now.

I was loving the way the truck was coming together at this point. The suspension was settling in and with the new tires, it was really starting to feel like a brand new vehicle.

 

[OldRigNewParts]

I loved what you guys were doing on here with the Satoshi mods, so I decided I'd give it a go.

It turned out ok, but I need to better secure the mesh to the trim. Right now its just held together with zip ties and double sided tape.

My plan is to bend the excess mesh over the inside of the trim and epoxy it in place.

 

[OldRigNewParts]

At this point I was really happy with what I've done so far, so I just took a break from mods and just enjoyed it for a little while.

 

[OldRigNewParts]

I got some cheap flood lights for Christmas, so I decided to buy some CBI ditch light mounts and wire them up.

 

[OldRigNewParts]

I always loved the way snorkels looked on overlanding rigs and I came across a Hilux snorkel on Amazon, so I figured why not. It was actually a bit of a pain to get fitted because the pattern was off on some of the bolt holes. I totally botched one of the holes, but luckily nobody will even see it. The hardest part was getting the rubber elbow to fit around the air box and get it attached to the snorkel itself while inside the fender. Theres no other feeling like drilling a huge hole in your freshly polished fender...

The overall fitment was fine, although there was a small gap between the fender and the bottom half of the snorkel. It looks fine to the untrained eye, so I guess I'll live with it.

I never really planned on doing any deep water crossings, but this does help with getting cleaner air while on dusty trails.

Do I really need it? Absolutely not. Does it look cool? I think so!

 

[OldRigNewParts]

Because of the added height and the fact that I use my rack to tie down my surfboards, I figured a ladder would come in handy.

 

[Road Bull]

Great looking rig man! Good choice on the wheels and tires. I admit partiality though. Though... you are right. Every little change gets quite a bit of attention from my better half. Hahaha.

 

[alexski]

Sweet looking rig! Where did you get that ladder from?

 

[OldRigNewParts]

Great looking rig man! Good choice on the wheels and tires. I admit partiality though. Though... you are right. Every little change gets quite a bit of attention from my better half. Hahaha.

Thanks! Yeah, trying to justify more mods/parts when we're trying to save for property and a honeymoon trip to South East Asia within this next year has been a really hard sell.

 

[OldRigNewParts]

Sweet looking rig! Where did you get that ladder from?

It's a Gobi ladder GOBI Toyota 4Runner 1995-2002 Rear Ladder - Driver Side

 

[OldRigNewParts]

Realizing just how important communication is with other vehicles while out on the trail, I decided to pick up this nice little compact Cobra CB radio.

 

[OldRigNewParts]

After months of searching, comparing brands, reading build threads, and convincing my wife that our factory bumper wasn't "safe" enough, I finally pulled the trigger on an [MENTION=17736]AddictedOffroad[/MENTION] hybrid bumper.

The install was relatively simple. I was able to get it on with a hack saw and some elbow grease. Definitely test fit it BEFORE you paint it.

 

[OldRigNewParts]

About a week later I addd a set of IPF spots and some red Smittybuilt D-rings to finish off the bumper. I'll wait to see if I'll really need a winch or not.

 

[OldRigNewParts]

Gave it a rest and spent more time exploring New England. I also got an ARB awning around this time, but don't have any pics of the install.

 

[OldRigNewParts]

One of the most recent and most useful mods I've done was adding a set of retrofit projector headlights. The factory lights on these trucks are terrible, I can finally see at night! By far the best mod yet!

Originally I was going to try to build them myself, but then SRQ Fabrications started selling their retrofit packages, so I decided I'd leave it up to the experts and pay a little more to get a quality product.

I stuck with the chrome housings because I wanted an almost factory look, I thought they made a nice contrast against the black and went with the chrome on the grill.