PG GeoTracker Build Thread and Timeline

[PG_GeoTracker]

Hi all, I've been stalking this forum for quite a while now and I finally decided to register and post a thread. First, a little background on myself. I am currently 18 years old and a senior in high school. I was one of those kids who got my permit as soon as I turned 15 and a half. I had been looking forward to driving for years. I wanted my own car but unfortunatley I had no job and no money. But my lack of funds didn't stop me from checking craigslist every single day from the day i turned 15 until the day I bought my 4runner. I got my license my sophmore year and immediately wanted to start driving to school.

Lucky for me, my dad's work gave him an F-150 to drive to and from work every day so he let me drive his personal truck to school. :happy:
Here's the truck: 2003 Chevy Silverado 2500HD 4x4.

 

[downpour11]

So... you got a pic of the 4runner? lol

Welcome to the forum! Glad we got another 4runner enthusiast in our midst!

 

[PG_GeoTracker]

I loved the power of that truck and I always felt safe in it. I hated the tiny 245/75/R16 tires and I really hated the sometimes single digit gas mileage. I drove the chevy for my sophmore year and the summer before my junior year, my grandparents gave me one of their cars to borrow until I bought my own. It was a 1997 Geo Tracker. It was 4x4 with manual hubs, manual transmission, and a two piece removable hardtop. At first I didn't like it that much, but overtime, I grew to love the car (and the gas mileage of the tiny 4 cyl). My grandpa originally bought it as a hunting/trail rig, but he thought it was too nice to take on the trails, so instead he bought a non-running 1987 Suzuki Samurai and fixed it up. I drove the tracker for two summers and all of my junior year.

 

[PG_GeoTracker]

Sorry, I'm still getting the hang of this.
I knew I wanted a 3.4L 3rd gen 4runner 4x4 with the 5 speed manual. I searched pretty hard but nothing was in my price range. A guy that worked with my mom happend to have a 4runner and he was getting ready to buy a new 2012 limited 4runner. He needed to sell his old runner and I was very interested. It didn't have everything I wanted, but it was the right price and it was a one owner car that was very well taken care of. I bought in in September of 2012.

Here's what I got:
1999 Base model toyota 4runner
2.7L 3rz 4 cyl with 285,000 miles (rebuilt at 90,000 thanks to some damage from trying to tow a trailer that was too much for the small 2.7L)
5 speed manual, 4x4, tow package, factory roof rack
Power windows and locks, cruise control, almost worn 265/70/R16 tires
Black fender flares and rear mud flaps with running boards.

I know thats extremely high mileage, but the 3rz is reliable if taken care of and for $2100, I couldn't pass it up. I bought it knowing that it wouldn't pass smog, but I bought the needed catalytic converter and O2 sensors and had them installed and it easily passed smog.

 

[PG_GeoTracker]

After driving it for about two days, I took the running boards off. I love the look of it without them but at the same time I want to protect my paint and protect the car from door dings. But I chose looks over functionality. After some heavy rains I had the first chance to really test out the 4x4. I found a muddy road with my buddy and his J*** Grand Cherokee. I decided that the four wheel drive works great, and I also decided that I dislike mud. It took at least 4 washes to get the 4runner clean again. It was pretty frustrating to find mud flying off my car just a day after I washed it. And also the street in front of my house had a thin layer of dirt for a few weeks. :hurt:

 

[downpour11]

There it is! Sorry I jumped the gun. I thought you were gonna put it all in one post lol. Nice man! Any plans for it?

 

[PG_GeoTracker]

So far the only thing I've done to the 4runner was take the running boards off. I'm waiting on my local Toyota dealership to get my front molded mud guards. They're holding the passenger side for me. They found a discontinued driver side for me somewhere on the east coast so it should arrive at the dealership in the next few days.

My car had the stock stereo. Just the radio and cassette deck. I was fine with it but my electric antenna won't go up and down when I turn the radio on. I just pull the antenna up all the way with my hand and ignore the extremley annoying noise of the antenna motor trying to engage the antenna. For my birthday my grandma bought me a new Pioneer stereo with a cd player and ipod and usb hook up. I probably could install it myself but I've got a best buy gift card, so I'm going to have the geek squad guys install it and while they're back fix the antenna problem. I'm not sure yet if I'm going to have them install a flexible fixed antenna or just fix the problem with my antenna motor.

It gets pretty foggy where I live and I love using the fog lights when I'm driving my parent's cars. I thought about buying everything I would need to install factory fogs in my bumper but I decided to go a different route. I purchased a set of Hella 500 55watt fog lights. I had an amazon gift card so I also bought the black light covers instead of the included white rock guards. Not exactly sure how I'm going to mount them yet. I don't really want to buy a bull bar or a brush guard. A bumper isn't in my budget right now. I've seen some people on here who have mounted their fogs in their lower bumper valence and I like that look, but I think my fogs might be too big to make it look clean in the lower valence. My dad and I are thinking about welding up some brackets but I'm not exactly sure how I'm going to do it yet. Any ideas would be greatly appreaciated!

Besides these things, I'll need new tires soon, hoping to get 265/75/16. Want some sort of aggressive looking all terrain. I'll also need some new shocks and springs soon too. Since i'm just a high schooler with not much money, I don't think I'll get lift springs yet. Someday I'd like to lift it, but I can't afford 285/75's yet and I don't plan on doing any serious off roading soon so I guess the lift will have to wait.

Hopefully more to come soon!

 

[Trikz]

Clean ride! Not sure what size fog lights you have but here's my setup. No welding whatsoever.

I've been thinking on moving them to the front of the grill. We'll see.

 

[dirtbike250x]

Nice thread I just started my build thread too, but I've been a member for a few years now and kept putting it off. It's good you are starting it now. Truck looks good for the amount miles on it and for the price.

 

[PG_GeoTracker]

Toyota Mud Flaps

My front mud flaps finally came in from Toyota. The install was easy and I really like the look of them. I still haven't done anything with the Hella 500 fog lights. They're a little over 6 inches in diameter so I'm struggling to find a suitable spot to mount them. Any ideas would be appreciated. Thanks!

 

[Cripsician]

My front mud flaps finally came in from Toyota. The install was easy and I really like the look of them. I still haven't done anything with the Hella 500 fog lights. They're a little over 6 inches in diameter so I'm struggling to find a suitable spot to mount them. Any ideas would be appreciated. Thanks!

Great looking truck man! Totally agree with going wothbtje 265/75R16 tire size by the way but you may have to get a life so is doest rub the inside fender. I put a 2 inch body lift and a 2 inch suspension lift to help that clear.

Wanted to ask someone in this thread where I can get this model fender flare bolt kit. I have the flares but the soon to be ex wife has the bolts and I'm just not interested in asking for them.

Any help is appreciated.