SAC-CA-Runner Build Thread

[SAC-CA-Runner]

OK...so I figured I would start a build thread. I'm sure I won't do anything on here that hasn't been done before on other vehicles, but I'm here to share! I've searched a lot and found some great ideas and even done a couple of little things already. I have quite a bit planned with this 4R. I've actually been on here before, but when I had my 2008 V6 4Runner that I had to sell in 2010 due to a financial decision and when I had my 1999 4Runner that I actually should have had a build thread with. I took a break and went to Jeep, but now I am back with a 2006 V8 Sport and couldn't be happier. Unfortunately I have another project going on with a restoration of a 1963 Triumph TR4 so I'm going to be trying to split time and money between the two.

Anyway, here are some pics of the previous rides...

The 2008 4Runner Sport V6 I had. Left it fairly stock except for the radio. It was completely RAAMat covered and had some Xenon Depot HID's in it. Debadged. That's it.

Then my 1999 4Runner. It had Toytec Ultimate, SPC UCA's, Diff Mod, Clear Corners, Roof Rack, Painted Stockers, Tundra Front Brake Upgrade, Diff Drop, CB, Custom Stereo and some other items.

And the 2013 Jeep Grand Cherokee Trailhawk. Nice SUV right out of the box. Had the Hemi with Mopar Exhaust and some other goodies. Came stock with rock rails, full armor underneath, adjustable suspension, etc...but just lacked character. Plus...couldn't mod it much and got sick of the payment. So I sold her and am back in a 4R!

So as for my 2006 Salsa Red Sport V8...I haven't taken many pics of her. But she looks JUST like the one above, except this is what I've already done to her:
1. Removed lower rails
2. Tinted Front Windows
3. Replaced PO ghetto HID kit with Xenon Depot 4300k, Osram Lows, LED Fogs and complete LED interior lighting (not dash, I'm happy with the orange)
4. Camsmirrors Autodim Rearview Mirror with Compass and Homelink
5. Joying Android Radio w/ BT OBD Scan Adapter
6. Alpine Components and Coaxial speakers
7. 17x8 0 Offset Level 8 Mk 6 Anthracite Wheels (to be mounted at a later date)
8. AEM Dry Filter

This is what I have on tap: (All ordered and will do over Labor Day)
1. Perforated Leather Steering Wheel
2. Right side steering wheel buttons
3. Anthracite Plasti Dip Emblems
4. Smooth Intake Pipe Mod
5. Limited Grill with black center piece
6. Diff Breather Mod
7. Black out headlights
8. Rear Camera (still need to decide and order)
9. ARB 2000 Awning (Had to get in on that GB!)

And FAR down the road, as in...I need to get my Triumph done first. Maybe Not in this particular order
1. Coilover Fronts (Icon most likely)
2. Icon Overland Rears with 2.5RR CVDC
3. SCP UCA's
4. Apex Flush Front Lightbar
5. C4 Fab Hood Scoop Lightbar
6. RAAMat the interior
7. Stock Sub box with my Pioneer sub I had left over from my 2008!
8. Metaltech Sliders
9. RCI Metalworks Armor
10. Rutech Air Induction Bypass Kit
11. RTT
12. Prinsu Roof Rack (probably be the first thing I do on this list)
13. DT Headers with Magnaflow Cats
14. Storage solution in hatch...not sure. Make my own or buy

Oh, oh, oh...and the most important thing!!!!

A coin holder!!!! HAHA

Anyway, sorry for the long winded first post...but I will get more pics when I actually install the other stuff so you all can see it. Like I said, nothing you haven't seen before...but who knows...maybe I will do something different. Cheers!

 

[hgill]

welcome back to the 4Runner man. Its always hard having to get rid of your baby when life gets tough, but its just a vehicle and look now you have a V8.

The Salsa Red looks good. Definitely a unique color.

 

[Scribble]

looking good!

 

[SAC-CA-Runner]

So here we go! It's going to be a busy weekend! Have good ol Weathertechs to slap in as well. Going to do an engine and outside detail for winter. Wheels and tires are being mounted at Discount Tire right now, but can't mount till the lift is in. Hoping this month, but have a lot of rides planned so weekends are booked. Booooo...May as well throw a couple of before pics up! Let the fun begin!

 

[SAC-CA-Runner]

So this long weekend, instead of going somewhere or riding I decided to work on the 4R and watch college football. Here is what I ended up doing. Any questions, just ask! I'll post pics will below.

Friday:
1. Chopped off the stock rear muffler and angled it out the rear passenger. It is a tad louder on acceleration, but no drone still which is nice.
2. Swapped out my steering wheel and added the phone buttons on the right side. VERY easy to do. Didn't take long at all. Bought the steering wheel off Ebay. It's "OK". It's a bit too skinny and plastic feeling. Was hoping for a more leather feeling but I'll give it time. I didn't want the ones that everyone else gets as the wood gets WAY too hot in the summer sun here in CA.
3. Slapped the Weathertechs in with TRD Off Road stickers from a buy on here and TW
4. Started painting the middle of the Limited grill and started mounting it.
5. Mounted the C4 Fab bracket and LED light. I had to bend and tweak the bracket a little as I didn't buy a Rigid light. I figured for as much as I was going to use it that I'd go with a light off Amazon. Still gives PLENTY of light. All in all an easy installation. Started the wiring but it started to get dark.
6. Slapped in driver side grab handle.
7. Dropped off wheel and tires at Discount to be mounted and balanced.

Saturday:
1. Painted the headlights black...soooooo much better!!!! Also tried sanding them with 800/1000/1500 sandpaper and polishing them as the PO used gritty sandpaper and left bad scratches in them. Unfortunately I wasn't able to get them out, but you can only tell if up close.
2. Mounted center grill piece and emblems. Yay!
3. Wired up the hood scoop LED into Mictuning switch.
4. Relocated trailer brake controller into middle storage/armrest. I want that hidden!
5. Put in JL Audio sub control for future stereo upgrades
6. Picked up wheels and tires. Now just waiting for Icon lift to be dropped off and installed.
7. Watched football and drank beer!

Sunday:
1. Painted all the emblems and roof rails black with Plastidip which surprisingly took a long time. Realllly want that Prinsu rack, but I'll wait for a sale or GB.
2. Engine compartment detail

Monday:
1. Detail...dawn soap. Flex with Autoskin Nanoscrub (holy crap WAYYYYY better and easier than claying), wash, Sonax Net Shield, Adams VRT on tires, and In N Out on black stuff
2. Added TRD Off Road decals...me likey.
3. Finished smooth pipe intake mod. Throttle response seems much quicker. Gonna leave it in a while to see how it runs. Added a TRD sticker on it from ebay to give it more of a "real" look.
4. Relaxed and drank beer.
5. Ordered CBI Ditch Light brackets, lights off Amazon, additional switches and harness, rear link hardware to make my own

Only thing I wasn't able to get to was the rear diff mod, but I will probably do that when I do the suspension. No sense in going under there more than I have to. And now pics...

 

[TrueBlue]

Sweet build so far. I'm assuming the SAC in your name means Sacramento? We oughta meet up some time I'm out by SF

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[SAC-CA-Runner]

Sweet build so far. I'm assuming the SAC in your name means Sacramento? We oughta meet up some time I'm out by SF

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Thanks man!!! We should. I'm actually in Dublin and not Sac. That was when I had my 08 and 99 4Runner. Just haven't figured out how to change it.

 

[TrueBlue]

Thanks man!!! We should. I'm actually in Dublin and not Sac. That was when I had my 08 and 99 4Runner. Just haven't figured out how to change it.

Dublin?! That's not even 30 minutes from me. I'm on the other side of Vasco in Brentwood

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[SAC-CA-Runner]

Dublin?! That's not even 30 minutes from me. I'm on the other side of Vasco in Brentwood

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Yeah...that is super close. Should meet out in Livermore sometime. Kind of a good halfway point.

 

[TrueBlue]

Yeah...that is super close. Should meet out in Livermore sometime. Kind of a good halfway point.

Yeah man, totally should. I'm actually over there in that area a lot cause my grandma lives out there if you spot me feel free to wave me down. there's my truck if you see me. I got a Thule roof basket as well now

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[S p a r k y]

One question! How long till the ridge grapplers are mounted?

 

[SAC-CA-Runner]

Yeah man, totally should. I'm actually over there in that area a lot cause my grandma lives out there if you spot me feel free to wave me down.View attachment 219484 there's my truck if you see me. I got a Thule roof basket as well now

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Will do man. Shoot me a PM if you're headed this way. If I'm not busy I'll come meet up. Cheers and clean 4R!

 

[SAC-CA-Runner]

One question! How long till the ridge grapplers are mounted?

Not soon enough!!!! I need to put my suspension on first which I just got from Chas at MRT on Tuesday. Don't have time to put it on this weekend so it will probably be next Sunday. I will definitely put some pics up when I get them on! Looking forward to see how they look AND ride compared to the Duratracs, which I loved, on my 3rd Gen.

 

[SAC-CA-Runner]

One question! How long till the ridge grapplers are mounted?

Annnnd they are mounted! Decided to skip my 100mi ride I had planned and put my extended travel Icon CO's in the front along with some SPC UCA's. I also put the Overland springs in the rear that give a 3" lift and paired them with 2.5" CDCV RR shocks and a Icon track bar. I replaced all the sway bar bushings with Moogs and will be building my own front and rear sway bar links and putting in some extended brake lines at a later date. I also mounted my 17x8, 0 Offset Level 8 MK6 wheels with Nitto Ridge Grappler tires in 285/70/17 E Rated. On Friday I mounted some Auxbeam ditch lights on CBI Offroad ditch light brackets. Reason I went those over Rigid...well, price and for the amount of time I'd be using them I didn't want to spend THAT kind of money. Today I gave her a wash and lowered the fronts a little. Passenger side is now at 2" on the passenger side and 2 1/8" on the drivers side (threads showing). May even go another half an inch to get it a little lower. Anyway...MUCH better ride than the aged XREAS (158k). The fronts are stiff on super slow speed bumps and the rears do need a little weight which is in the plans. Over fast uneven ground is where these things shine. I still need to get it aligned so will give more feedback after that. Definitely a better look.

As for what's next...OPAR Sliders, Prinsu or Relentless Fab Roof Rack, Wilco Hitchgate Spare Tire Carrier and full size spare. Hopefully by next month.

 

[Dre's runner]

Looks awesome. Who sells those wheels?

 

[S p a r k y]

Looks awesome. Who sells those wheels?

Discount tire! Good price as well

 

[S p a r k y]

Not soon enough!!!! I need to put my suspension on first which I just got from Chas at MRT on Tuesday. Don't have time to put it on this weekend so it will probably be next Sunday. I will definitely put some pics up when I get them on! Looking forward to see how they look AND ride compared to the Duratracs, which I loved, on my 3rd Gen.

9/10 day review/comparison?

 

[SAC-CA-Runner]

9/10 day review/comparison?

Suspension: Still love it. I removed my front sway but that will be going back on as I think it sways way too much and...now that I think about it might be causing my VSC issue going around a right hand corner. That and because of the driver lean which I will be adding a 1/2"-3/4" spacer in the rear. Also, the rear bounces a little when I come to a stop and I think that's because of the spings. Once I get some weight in there they will be great I'm thinking.

Tires: LOVE them so far. So quiet. But...they are brand new and they haven't seen rain or snow yet. Don't get much of either here in NorCal like I did when I lived in CO with the Duratracs. Once they start wearing down and I get them in some elements then I will be able to give some real feedback.

 

[SAC-CA-Runner]

Looks awesome. Who sells those wheels?

Sorry...didn't see this post hiding at the bottom. They are Level 8 MK6 wheels. Got them thru Discount Tire.