Piranha Launcher Build thread

[Kb9lov]

Ok, I've been lurking around here for a few years and am finally getting around to starting a build thread. Please let me know if I'm screwing this up, lol.

Picked up this 2000 SR5 with 140K in early 2012 from my sister for a small fortune, money doesn't count with family!

First thing we did with her? Do some serious wheeling and camping!
I'm pretty sure these the only pictures I had of her stock.









Here's here current condition. Thrown rod in the engine, 1UZ swap in the works

 

[Kb9lov]

It was pretty rough, and had been neglected. After cleaning her up really well and replacing the muffler with a flow master type (for frugality, not performance. a stock muffler was 200+), and changing all of the fluids, I purchased a spacer lift and some 255/85 BFG KM2's.



Plasti-dipped the badges and the rear bumper, love that stuff! Also painted the stock wheels with some wheel paint, graphite color or something.



The fleet at the time.....



2001' Ram Cummins with every options and 37's, 85' Chevy Silverado long bed with a 350, and the 4Runner (the only one I would keep).

 

[Kb9lov]

This is one of my favorites. Taken out fishing at the sand bar. I had put plastic-dip on the rest of the trim at this point.



And the crew. This is the reason I will always have a 4Runner, it hauls the kids, dogs, groceries, and whatever else wherever we want to go



Then some snow wheeling had to be done.

 

[Kb9lov]

To be continued......

 

[jawga4runner]

I do like a red 4Runner, your ride reminds me of mine haha.

 

[Kb9lov]

I do like a red 4Runner, your ride reminds me of mine haha.

Definitely! I think it is my favorite color of all the stock T4R colors, just a little sparkle to give it some depth. I'm getting my scoop hood repainted soon, hopefully they can make it look just as nice.

 

[jawga4runner]

Don't know if anybody has done it on here, but have you thought about painting just the scoop insert black, that's what I planned to do with mine if I ever get one. I think it would look good since you're already putting black accents on it.

 

[Kb9lov]

Don't know if anybody has done it on here, but have you thought about painting just the scoop insert black, that's what I planned to do with mine if I ever get one. I think it would look good since you're already putting black accents on it.

Idk what I am going to do for the insert, I don't even have one yet. I would like to keep it functional since it is right over the intake and will help to keep things cool. I'm sure there are negative aspects to this but I've been running with it open for a while now with good results.

 

[alanflies]

"Allright, Allright" another awesome build thread coming to life...

I'll be watching this one for sure...

 

[Kb9lov]

If you are wondering where the name Piranha Launcher comes from, you might be interested in it's counterpart...... The Squid Launcher.



2008 Nissan Xterra, bought with 30K, currently 110K. 3" spacer lift with my old Km2's on her.

 

[Kb9lov]

And now for the mods

First off was the Tundra big brake upgrade.
This is definitely one of the best mods you can do to a 4runner, I swear they have saved my bacon more than a couple of times. Great when towing also, makes me feel confident that I can stop a big load

I didn't have spacers at the time, so something had to be done for clearance. I read about some folks cutting down the wheels a little bit but I didn't like the idea of weakening them or putting them out of balance. Instead, I took a little meat off of the reinforced portion of the calipers. Call me crazy but I would rather a brake fail than a wheel on the highway, at least you would still have the E-brake. Now that I have spacers I need to return back to the stock Tundra calipers, but they have performed beautifully so far.

You can see the clearanced part of the caliper here.

Of course I had to paint them up purdy.

 

[Kb9lov]

Then it was time for some better lighting.

I used retrofits from TRS. I don't remember all of the details on them but I can find out if anyone wants to know. This was a PITA and I would probably do it differently next time although I am happy with the end result. I liked the big reflectors on the T4R's but I wanted to subdue the reflections on mine for a stealthier look.

Baking the old lenses



Painted the reflectors flat black and mounted the new lenses. I was not interested in any halo's



Making sure they are aligned right with the world.



All put back together.



Aiming.



And comparison with the stock beams on the Xterra. Definitely a much better color and range.



Finished product.

 

[Kb9lov]

Tune up time.

Did the wires, plugs, filters, etc. Then did the ISR mod, for this I went to the exhaust shop and had them make a pipe in the perfect diameter I needed (I think i got the idea from someone on here). Also did the deck plate engine killer mod around this time :brick: You can see my big power inverter mounted near the battery as well.

 

[Kb9lov]

More snow wheeling, we don't get a ton of snow here so you have to make it count!

Wanted one of those fancy shackles for the reese hitch receiver but I didn't want to drop the $$$ on one. I sourced a piece of 2" square tube and a chunk of steel, then I hijacked a vertical mill in the shop at work. Welded it all up and viola, free recovery shackle!

 

[Kb9lov]

Next up was tearing out the old stereo and amp, plus the DRL's. Went back with a kenwood head unit and a 2 meter radio below it.

I also fabricated an antenna mount like others have done, and mounted a 5/8 wave whip to it.

 

[Andreorin]

Looks great my friend ! I just got a 2000 sr5 . Looking to do a lift and tires!