Roy's '99 Limited Build

[RoyBell]

Figured I would make this page for my reference and for others to follow...because, well builds are fun to follow. I don't plan to do that much, so this will be more of a maintenance threads I think? We will see.

Picked this thing up 9/13/15

Paid $4,800, seemed pretty clean and well maintained. Minimal rust for being in the midwest.

20150914_072455 by RoyBelluomini, on Flickr

20150914_072508 by RoyBelluomini, on Flickr

20150914_072502 by RoyBelluomini, on Flickr


20150913_203715 by RoyBelluomini, on Flickr

May wire brush and ruse and paint the underside if I get bored. It's not bad for a 16 year old car from the midwest though.

20150914_124510 by RoyBelluomini, on Flickr

20150914_124602 by RoyBelluomini, on Flickr

Rear a little rusty but should clean up nice. You can see my tundra next to it

20150914_124702 by RoyBelluomini, on Flickr




**9/20/15
First order of business was to fix the non-existent brakes. Did a flush and it helped a LOT. I think it still pulls left a hair so I am not sure if the passenger side caliper is working 100%. I am going to invest in a 1-man bleeder system and try cleaning the lines again and pull the pass. side caliper and inspect.

Parts: $8 for fluid
Labor: Self and GF, about an hour of pedal pumping

Here's what came out: 2015-09-22_08-05-45 by RoyBelluomini, on Flickr

** 9/25/15
Starter was acting up. Previous Owner purchase a new battery 3 days before he put the car up for sale. I have a feeling it was acting up and the battery did not fix the problem so he just sold it.

I changed out the Contacts on the starter and she starts no problem now. I could not get the starter out of the car, so I had to change the parts with it wedged between the swaybar and frame.

Parts: $24
Labor: Self, 3 hours.

2015-09-25_10-18-15 by RoyBelluomini, on Flickr

2015-09-25_10-19-20 by RoyBelluomini, on Flickr

2015-09-25_10-19-54 by RoyBelluomini, on Flickr

Cleaned up with a wire brush

2015-09-25_10-20-06 by RoyBelluomini, on Flickr


**10/2/15
Power steering seem a bit stiff. On cold mornings it was jerky until warmed up. I checked fluid and it was black and burnt. I don't own a fluid extractor so I had to make due with a turkey baster and some tubing to get it in the reservoir. I sucked it out and put fresh stuff in a few times. Going to let the new stuff circulate for a week and do it again. I don't see how to drain the system short of pulling a hose down low which seems like a pain in the ass.

20151002_210327 by RoyBelluomini, on Flickr

20151002_210652 by RoyBelluomini, on Flickr


** 10/8/15
Been on the lookout for some take-offs since my tires are questionable coming into winter season and snow. Found a pair or Tacoma wheels with about 60% blizzaks on Craigs List

Price: $400 for wheels, will need another $20 for paint and wire brush
Labor: Self, maybe 3-4 hours to clean and paint.

2015-10-08_02-22-09 by RoyBelluomini, on Flickr

Dog also came to work with me. She loves this car

2015-10-08_11-50-13 by RoyBelluomini, on Flickr

Turned 159,600 today. On my way to hitting 2,000 in a month. Keep in mind I have 2 other vehicles and rotate through-out the week! This was supposed to be my around town/snow beater, but it's turning into an every day beater now.

Next on the list will be suspension. Needs new shocks and I may do springs as long as I am down there. Also looking at bushings since most are worn out. I want to keep this vehicle tame on the street so I will be going with an OEM setup. Meanwhile, I will be keeping an eye out on a nice set of takes offs over winter. Guy down the street was selling some newer sport rims, no tires, for $200. Then I looked at price of tires and I would be about $1000 invested.

 

[RoyBell]

reserved

 

[SilverRidgeRunner1]

Figured I would make this page for my reference and for others to follow...because, well builds are fun to follow. I don't plan to do that much, so this will be more of a maintenance threads I think? We will see.

Picked this thing up 9/13/15

Paid $4,800, seemed pretty clean and well maintained. Minimal rust for being in the midwest.

20150914_072455 by RoyBelluomini, on Flickr

20150914_072508 by RoyBelluomini, on Flickr

20150914_072502 by RoyBelluomini, on Flickr


20150913_203715 by RoyBelluomini, on Flickr

May wire brush and ruse and paint the underside if I get bored. It's not bad for a 16 year old car from the midwest though.

20150914_124510 by RoyBelluomini, on Flickr

20150914_124602 by RoyBelluomini, on Flickr

Rear a little rusty but should clean up nice. You can see my tundra next to it

20150914_124702 by RoyBelluomini, on Flickr




**9/20/15
First order of business was to fix the non-existent brakes. Did a flush and it helped a LOT. I think it still pulls left a hair so I am not sure if the passenger side caliper is working 100%. I am going to invest in a 1-man bleeder system and try cleaning the lines again and pull the pass. side caliper and inspect.

Parts: $8 for fluid
Labor: Self and GF, about an hour of pedal pumping

Here's what came out: 2015-09-22_08-05-45 by RoyBelluomini, on Flickr

** 9/25/15
Starter was acting up. Previous Owner purchase a new battery 3 days before he put the car up for sale. I have a feeling it was acting up and the battery did not fix the problem so he just sold it.

I changed out the Contacts on the starter and she starts no problem now. I could not get the starter out of the car, so I had to change the parts with it wedged between the swaybar and frame.

Parts: $24
Labor: Self, 3 hours.

2015-09-25_10-18-15 by RoyBelluomini, on Flickr

2015-09-25_10-19-20 by RoyBelluomini, on Flickr

2015-09-25_10-19-54 by RoyBelluomini, on Flickr

Cleaned up with a wire brush

2015-09-25_10-20-06 by RoyBelluomini, on Flickr


**10/2/15
Power steering seem a bit stiff. On cold mornings it was jerky until warmed up. I checked fluid and it was black and burnt. I don't own a fluid extractor so I had to make due with a turkey baster and some tubing to get it in the reservoir. I sucked it out and put fresh stuff in a few times. Going to let the new stuff circulate for a week and do it again. I don't see how to drain the system short of pulling a hose down low which seems like a pain in the ass.

20151002_210327 by RoyBelluomini, on Flickr

20151002_210652 by RoyBelluomini, on Flickr


** 10/8/15
Been on the lookout for some take-offs since my tires are questionable coming into winter season and snow. Found a pair or Tacoma wheels with about 60% blizzaks on Craigs List

Price: $400 for wheels, will need another $20 for paint and wire brush
Labor: Self, maybe 3-4 hours to clean and paint.

2015-10-08_02-22-09 by RoyBelluomini, on Flickr

Dog also came to work with me. She loves this car

2015-10-08_11-50-13 by RoyBelluomini, on Flickr

Turned 159,600 today. On my way to hitting 2,000 in a month. Keep in mind I have 2 other vehicles and rotate through-out the week! This was supposed to be my around town/snow beater, but it's turning into an every day beater now.

Next on the list will be suspension. Needs new shocks and I may do springs as long as I am down there. Also looking at bushings since most are worn out. I want to keep this vehicle tame on the street so I will be going with an OEM setup. Meanwhile, I will be keeping an eye out on a nice set of takes offs over winter. Guy down the street was selling some newer sport rims, no tires, for $200. Then I looked at price of tires and I would be about $1000 invested.

Looks good so far.. Starter can be pulled out between the Frame and wheel well if u ever have to remove it again... Nice rig

 

[D Farms]

the steering uses atf(automatic transmission fluid) not power steering fluid.

 

[nc-grayson]

the steering uses atf(automatic transmission fluid) not power steering fluid.

This

 

[RoyBell]

Looks good so far.. Starter can be pulled out between the Frame and wheel well if u ever have to remove it again... Nice rig

Thanks. I tried every way possible and couldn't get it out. Are you talking the back of the wheel well where the flaps are? I tried that and it wouldn't go. Part of the problem was it was so damn full of oil i couldn't grip it and pull it out anywhere because then my arm was in the way.

 

[SilverRidgeRunner1]

Thanks. I tried every way possible and couldn't get it out. Are you talking the back of the wheel well where the flaps are? I tried that and it wouldn't go. Part of the problem was it was so damn full of oil i couldn't grip it and pull it out anywhere because then my arm was in the way.

Oh man once u take the wheel off its gravy train....

 

[RoyBell]

the steering uses atf(automatic transmission fluid) not power steering fluid.

Are you serious :wow:

Why would they do that? I guess I better change it this weekend then. Seems to be steering fine with the PS fluid in it.

 

[SilverRidgeRunner1]

Are you serious :wow:

Why would they do that? I guess I better change it this weekend then. Seems to be steering fine with the PS fluid in it.

Yea at the dealer you learn this trick pretty fast... Also changing the power steering fluid if u remove the low pressure line or the return line and run a line out to a bucket and run the motor u will remove a larger amount of fluid and get a better flush out of the deal.

 

[RoyBell]

Oh man once u take the wheel off its gravy train....

That sure does look easy. I left the wheel on maybe that's why I couldn't figure it out. Oh well. Hopefully good for another 150 k miles. I figured there was an easier way but i was so full of oil by the time i got it unbolted i didn't feel like searching the Internet.

 

[SilverRidgeRunner1]

That sure does look easy. I left the wheel on maybe that's why I couldn't figure it out. Oh well. Hopefully good for another 150 k miles. I figured there was an easier way but i was so full of oil by the time i got it unbolted i didn't feel like searching the Internet.

Yea well don't search the internet any more typically the search at the top of the page is loaded with info right here on the site.. Also Welcome to site

 

[RoyBell]

Yea at the dealer you learn this trick pretty fast... Also changing the power steering fluid if u remove the low pressure line or the return line and run a line out to a bucket and run the motor u will remove a larger amount of fluid and get a better flush out of the deal.

Yea well don't search the internet any more typically the search at the top of the page is loaded with info right here on the site.. Also Welcome to site

Thanks. Unfortunately I don't have the internet at home so I spend little time online.

I saw the hose down low for the PS, but it was more work than I was willing to do at the time :rofl:

I've actually been a member for a while. Had a 2001 4R about 6 years ago but couldn't remember my password and associated email is long gone so I had to register as new.

I've been cleaning up the garage trying to make room for this thing so I can keep it indoors over winter. Plus, I have been wrenching on my other car at the same time. It's like a full time job!

Intercooler upgrade on my Golf R. Finished a couple weeks ago but still need to get it up on the stands to check the hoses and make sure heat cycling didn't loosen the new clamps. Then put the 8 millions screws back on on the underside plastic cover.

2015-09-11_08-19-28 by RoyBelluomini, on Flickr

2015-09-18_09-49-39 by RoyBelluomini, on Flickr

2015-09-18_09-48-59 by RoyBelluomini, on Flickr

 

[RoyBell]

I haven't updated this in a while...

**11/19/15.

I changed out all the shocks and springs for OEM. Thread here: http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/208476-stock-suspension-equivalent-5.html

Previous owner had some crap shocks on and they were trashed by the time I changed them @ 160K miles.

2015-11-13_10-29-07 by RoyBelluomini, on Flickr

2015-11-21_04-56-24 by RoyBelluomini, on Flickr

it really improved handling. Height didn't improve as much as I thought. Probably could had left the springs alone and been OK. Change the sway bar bushing/endlinks as well.



** 2/27/16

I was smelling some raw fuel for a couple months, as noted in this post: http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/210264-raw-fuel-smell-99-4r.html

Finally brought it in for an alignment and had them check it out. Ended up being a fault FPR. It was leaking fuel into the air intake box. The shop changed it out, along with new plugs, wires, and alignment. Usually I do it myself, but I was running out of time for an upcoming trip.



** 3/5/16

I noticed that even though I changed my shocks/springs, that the truck still sits level. That is fine when there is no load in the back. However, when I load up back with passengers or luggage it still sags pretty badly. I had to get some air bags for one of our work trucks so I got a pair for my 4runner as well. Only $80 for each vehicle.

Less than an hour to install. I put the valve in the storage compartment in the hatch. I may eventually put an electric air pump in there if I get really board for easy adjustment. Right now I have a small hand pump and it works fine.

Took a trip out of town this weekend and it worked great. No sag with 3 passengers in the car and the back loaded with clothes, coolers, and food. 25lbs was just enough to jeep it level and not too bouncy for the load I had in there. I highly recommend these. Airlift 1000. Forgot the part number but you can look it up easy enough.

20160305_101144 by RoyBelluomini, on Flickr

20160305_111905 by RoyBelluomini, on Flickr

I pumped it up to 35 (max psi) to make sure it would hold the air. It raised the rear about 3/4" giving it a slight rake. Too much for an empty truck though.

20160305_112725 by RoyBelluomini, on Flickr


** 3/17/16, 163K miles.

In preparation for my road trip I stopped by discount tire last minute and picked up some Cooper ATP (265/70/17). I have the ST Maxx on my truck and they are a great tire, but I didn't want an E load on a light truck like the 4R. I was ok with either the ATP or AT3. They only had the ATP in stock so that's what I went with. They agreed to swap out my snow tires and throw the ATPs on my crappy winter rims until I get a different set. I have been checking craigslist for several weeks but it must be too early in the season for people to start changing wheels.

2016-03-22_08-52-18 by RoyBelluomini, on Flickr

2016-03-22_09-10-59 by RoyBelluomini, on Flickr


** 3/18/16 164K miles.

Headed to Nashville for the weekend. 500 miles each way, 8 hours of driving. Truck was doing great. First tank was 19.2mpg. Second tank, 21.5 mpg. Average speed around 75-80 mph @ 2600ish rpm. About 5 miles from the hotel the front right caliper finally gave out. I nursed it along with PB blaster, but it couldn't take anymore. Cooked the fluid and stopped working completely. Being out of town I was not impressed. Managed to find a shop that swapped it out for me. $40 labor and they told me to go to the parts store next door to get the caliper. Reman for $80. I Called ahead and had them get the caliper there for me.


2016-03-22_09-17-58 by RoyBelluomini, on Flickr

I let the GF drive for a little so I could catch up on my work emails since it was a work day.

2016-03-22_09-09-38 by RoyBelluomini, on Flickr

Made it home no problem. Mileage was a bit worse, but less traffic meant no drafting anyone and it was windy as heck out. Both tanks mid 17mpg. Oddly enough I was going slower too. Around 70mph which put me right around 2500 on the button.