Red-Runner getting built

[red-runner]

Red-Runner build and rebuild thread

Well, since she's mostly done, here's a before and after:

Before -- first trip to the desert. Bone stock, except Cooper tires and a Curt rack to hold our junk.

After -- several thousand dollars later, and a few desert trips in the bank. Same great 4Runner, but she stops better and can take more of a beating.

Mods:

Tundra calipers, brembo blanks
ARB Front, CBI Hybrid rear bumpers
Warn 9.5XP winch
Baja Designs 20" Stealth LED light bar
Budbuilt full skids
4xInnovations sliders
Total Chaos UCA, Full Rear Links
Lotus lower rear link armor
Fox Shox 2.5" coilovers w/ resi
OME 890 paired with Bilstein 5100
Corbeau Baja XRS on Wedge brackets
Cooper Disco ATPs on ProComp 7069s
...and some other stuff.

----------- Original Post -----------

I'm not sure this is gonna be a build thread, but may be interesting anyway. I recently bought a one-owner 1997 SR5 4x4 automatic (Red) 3rd gen. ~185k on the clock. Super-clean truck that just needed some new tires. So I got some Cooper Discoverer ATPs from Discount, and I was content.

Then I joined the board, and have obsessively been reading, researching, and allowing you all to passively distort my priorities. Thus corrupted, I've begun the process of redistributing my money to 4wheel shops, and hopefully becoming the proud owner and wheeler of a badass 3rd gen I'm calling the Red-Runner (redrunner having already been taken apparently).

There she sits one day home on the new tires.

She's currently at ORW undergoing some surgery, since anything involving electrical, suspension, or welding are things I need others to do (at least for now). ORW is putting on the ARB Tacoma front bumper, Fox coilovers with reservoirs, onboard air, 4xInnovations sliders (with bumps), Warn Zeon winch, and ARB rear locker. They're also going to mount and balance my tires on a new set of Procomp 7086 wheels I was able to pick up for a bargain from 4Wheel parts (thanks, Terry). Here's a picture of the surgery in progress:

I've also ordered full skids from Budbuilt. The skids are currently being powder coated red, and I'll put them on myself when they arrive. Rear bumper ordered also; it's going to be the CBI hybrid with spare tire swing out (no cans). Also ordered the passenger side antenna mount from CBI.

As far as the engine and brakes go, I've had the engine thoroughly gone through by SD Trux, and we did a baseline maintenance (new plugs, wires, oil, tranny fluid, etc.). The guys at SD Trux said it's a good, and well-cared-for truck. With no engine issues to worry about, I ordered a Hayden tranny cooler and all the parts I need for the Tundra brake upgrade. Parts are all just waiting for the truck to come home from ORW.

Lots of modding happening in a very short timeframe. I have taken the truck out to Ocotillo Wells once already (last weekend), and my wife and I had a blast. I'm just hoping now that I'll have it back in time for TDS next weekend. Either way, I'm stoked to join your community, and looking forward to lots more camping, wheeling, stargazing, and everything else a good 3rd gen T4R can offer.

Cheers,

-Jeremy (aka Red-Runner)

 

[Dirtyfingers]

I think I've seen you around San Diego possibly honked at you a time or two haha.

 

[red-runner]

Yeah, I think I've seen you too. I'll honk back next time -- maybe I'll get an air horn...

I think I've seen you around San Diego possibly honked at you a time or two haha.

 

[Diesel_Dog]

Wow you don't mess around. Looking forward to the "after" pictures!

 

[Dirtyfingers]

Yeah, I think I've seen you too. I'll honk back next time -- maybe I'll get an air horn...

That's my next mod hahaha.

 

[IBallEngineer]

I'll be at TDS, look for my FJ62, it's the only one in the world like it!

 

[04desertrunner]

Fox shocks :girl:, cants wait to see it when everything is on.

 

[BrianSD_42]

Subscribed!

BTW are you interested in doing a easy going Anza-Borrego run on Sunday morning? We are meeting up in Julian at the gas station @ 9am. PM me if you are interested. The full trip details are posted in the SoCal section.

 

[Hepar]

That's going to be a whole different ride! Look forward to seeing the pics after you get all that done.

 

[red-runner]

Subscribed!

BTW are you interested in doing a easy going Anza-Borrego run on Sunday morning? We are meeting up in Julian at the gas station @ 9am. PM me if you are interested. The full trip details are posted in the SoCal section.

Would love to go, but I'm not going to have it back until mid-week at the earliest. Definitely interested in getting to know some folks, and do some mild running as soon as the Red-Runner is home.

 

[red-runner]

She is finally home. This felt like an episode of Fast and Loud...nothing went right, but we finally got everything on ORW's end installed, dialed, and tested (an hour after closing time this evening).

We ended up with the Fox Shox coil overs with remote reservoirs up front.

ARB Tacoma bumper with Warn 9.5XP (and Viking synthetic winch rope). I put on the Budbuilt front skid when I got home this evening. The belly armor got separated from the front somehow, and won't be here until tomorrow...

There's some air up there where the spare tire used to be. Rear suspension ended up with OME 890 springs and Bilstein 5100 shocks. Haven't been off pavement yet, but so far I'm very happy with the ride. Actually kinda shocked at how nice it all feels. The rear is a little taller than the front at the moment, but we need to let the springs settle, install the rear bumper, and then we'll go back to adjust the front ride height (the Foxes go up to 3" and are only up about a 1.5" currently).

The air is also driving the ARB rear locker, which I've engaged, but only to verify that it functions.

We also did a 20" Baja Designs light bar on top of the bull bar. I like it on top. Jared at ORW would have preferred it mounted under the bar. Probably would have been cleaner, but I was concerned about access to the winch connect and also the hood latch. Anyway, it's on top...for now. ...and it's bright as hell.

Just headlights:

Headlights + light bar:

Finally, just a couple odds and ends. ProComp 7069 wheels (I like the classic look of them.) 4xInnovations DOM sliders and Lotus control arm mount armor and a pair of Monroe rear lift gate shocks (the old ones were tired).

I've got the full-size spare tied down in the rear, so I can hopefully make it out to TDS tomorrow. Only a couple things left to do, and I'll be mostly happy (I think):

1) Install Budbuilt belly armor, should be here tomorrow.
2) Tundra brake mod. I have the parts, but may wait until next week, after TDS and some work travel.
3) Rear bumper install. CBI hybrid was getting powder coat last I checked, so I should have it in a week or so.
4) Install transmission cooler. I have the parts, and the job seems easy, but it's freaking me out for some reason -- might need some help...
5) build a rear box for recovery/camping gear, and a protective area for telescope and photo gear.

Also thinking about putting in the Corbeau Baja XRS seats, because they are ridiculously comfortable. Dunno. Gonna leave that up to my wife. May do a reverse camera too, and will probably upgrade the top rack, but I'm in no hurry to do any of that.

Thanks for reading. Really hoping to get muddy at TDS tomorrow. If you're out there, I'm the guy in the bright red 4Runner with it's ass sticking up a little...

 

[red-runner]

Made it out to TDS today. Pretty great day. Pouring buckets in San Diego, but the desert was mostly dry. Got stuck in soft sand in the truck haven area for a minute, which was pretty embarrassing...

Drove across the desert from truck haven to 78 to give the new suspension a little workout. Arroyo Salado - Crossover - Shell Reef - Ocotillo ...20 miles give or take.

Riding very well, but the front does need to come up (after the ass settles a bit -- CBI bumper should even things a little).

The setup works very well on the road and through the mountains. It works better than I'd expected in the dirt. Nothing too stiff -- smooth as silk, except for when I go too fast. Dig it.

Couple pics to show how it's sitting at the moment.

The terrain, because it's cool:

 

[SCRunner12]

Wow, nice build! I'm interested to hear how you like you ATP's, I'm thinking of getting some soon.

Also are you worried about the location of the resi's? They look a little too exposed to rocks or the sort sitting so low.

 

[nor_cal51501]

Really great build. Talk about a quick mod list!! Red Runner looks great, keep it up!

 

[red-runner]

Wow, nice build! I'm interested to hear how you like you ATP's, I'm thinking of getting some soon.

Thanks. I'm loving this thing.

The ATPs are fine. I know they aren't super-aggressive, but they were inexpensive, and they seem to work really well for what I'm doing. So, I did get stuck today, but I hadn't dropped pressure yet. I also drove through the mountains with hail (in the morning) and torrential rain (in the evening), and the tires didn't give anything but confidence. I'm sure I'll get 33s soon, but the ATPs are better than I'd hoped when I bought them.

Also are you worried about the location of the resi's? They look a little too exposed to rocks or the sort sitting so low.

I am a little worried about the air, but I think I may fab a lid or relocate when the rear bumper goes on. I do know others have air in that area, so it's not a HUGE concern. Side note, there is something wrong with the compressor at the moment. There was air in the bottle, so I was able to get my tires aired up, but the compressor never kicked in (and I ran the bottle dry). ...maybe it's already broken? I'll update when I know what's up.

 

[BrianSD_42]

Looking good man. How much did those Fox front coil overs & resevoir cost you? (just a warning we like to ask those questions around here)

Fox is supposed to be really good right? I don't see that many installed on 4Runners.


ORW installed it. Were you happy with their service?

 

[red-runner]

Looking good man. How much did those Fox front coil overs & resevoir cost you? (just a warning we like to ask those questions around here)

Thanks. No worries. I didn't get any special deals. The shocks were about $1,300 + installation. The only issue with installation is finding a spot for the res.

Fox is supposed to be really good right? I don't see that many installed on 4Runners.

I think they perform well, but I don't have much of a comparison. I wheeled in the desert one time on the stock shocks, and again today on much rougher stuff, and it's a vast improvement. We do still need to make some adjustments in height, but otherwise, I wouldn't ask for anything different. I don't know why they aren't more popular on 4Runners. I am very happy so far...one day in.

ORW installed it. Were you happy with their service?

I am very happy with their service. We DID run into some issues, but they were understandable, and partially my fault. I changed my mind a couple of times, and added some stuff during the build. On the other hand, there were some misfit issues with winch choices, and those could have been avoided pretty easily (and ended up costing me more...because I wanted it NOW). Bottom line: they did a good job IMO. Jared (my contact) really knows his stuff, and is a stand-up guy. He didn't push anything on me that I didn't need, and all the expensive stuff I did was my choice. Their crew stayed well past closing time yesterday just to make sure I could make it to TDS today. I was very pleased with the service. I'm also very happy to have a warranty on the work they did.

 

[BrianSD_42]

Glad to hear!

Maybe we can go on a run sometime. I'm not sure when my outing will be. Have you been to the SoCal section? Drop a line sometime.

 

[shootmymime]

The terrain, because it's cool:

Dont stop now! i see your still online. GIVE ME MORE!!!!

 

[red-runner]

Dont stop now! i see your still online. GIVE ME MORE!!!!

Haha. We didn't get many pictures today. My wife got some video. It's pretty shaky, and she was too busy holding on to get any of the cool parts. Her second time riding, and she's hooked.



Youtube anti-shake stuff makes a pretty cool peyote effect on the sky.