SCRunner's Build Thread
- Thread starter SCRunner12
- Start date
SCRunner12
New member
Suck it, do I need to bring your build up...:flipoff:
In all honesty I have been lagging because frankly, I haven't done a damn thing to it in months. Although my next post might not be what people are wanting to see...:behindsofa:
t4r4life
Elite Member
if you sell the truck this friendship is over.
SCRunner12
New member
12/8/2013
I haven't updated this thread in the last couple of months because I really haven't done anything. It's been needing some maintenance items (O2 sensor, ball joints, tie rods and rear axle seals) that have been taking priority over mods. Also with the holiday season money is always tight and all the mods I want to do are not cheap.
First, the supercharger has been sold...:bash:
This was a really hard decision as the sc is the holy grail to most 3.4L owners, but it was the best think for me to do at the time. I was a tensioner bracket and some random bolts and belts away from bolting it on. So close, but still $250 away since the bracket is Toyota only. I thought about it and I couldn't see myself coming up with the $250 for the bracket, $100 for valve cover parts (mine are leaking slightly and it only made sense to change them when installing the sc) and $100 for an O2 sensor that needs to be replaced, in any reasonable time frame so I would have a sc paperweight. In addition, my family was going through some rough financial times and the money could be very helpful to pay off some bills. It made no sense for me to put my family in further debt and scrape by when I had a part worth a good chunk. So, I got an offer from a member on TacomaWorld and sealed the deal. It was extremely hard to ship it out, especially after tallying up what was needed to bolt it on. So close...
I may get another at some point if the right deal comes around, but right now it's not on the books.
That brings me to my next order of business...I have pretty much decided that I will be returning the 4runner back to stock. It's been on my mind for months now and is finally making the most sense. I love having and wheeling my lifted 3rd gen, but it just isn't the route I want to take. I really enjoy wheeling and modding, but I hate to do it to my DD. I HAVE to use my 4runner for work and downtime is not an option. So far I have been lucky in that I haven't damaged anything major, but 4-Ripcord is a prime example of what could happen to a DD wheeler. I don't want to feel like I need to hold back or take the easier line because I have to drive it on Monday or dent an expensive vehicle. My 4runner still has a good resale value and eventually I'd like to sell it and buy a 1st gen Tundra to tow with. I also don't want to keep dumping money into a vehicle I don't plan on keeping for a long time. Skids, bumpers, UCA's, regear or sc, and bigger tires are not cheap at all and could buy me a nice wheeler and mods.
So I've decided to that I will be selling my lift, skid and tires and/or wheels, bringing it back to stock and enjoying the power and mpg back. I will probably go with 32's and 1" lift to keep some capabilities for light wheeling/camping. It will bring back some of the mpg I lost and power, which will be a big plus.
In return, I will use the money from selling those parts to get a 1st gen 4runner. I have always wanted one since my 87 was totaled in high school. They are awesome wheelers stock and parts for them are easy to come by. I figure I'd get a IFS model since they are so rampant and the 84/85 ones come with a hefty price tag. I plan on running it stock for a while, getting all the kinks out and then start modding. Nothing super serious, but eventually straight axleing it and going big. My fiance will be done with school this summer and can start working, which will bring in some very much needed income. Once we are on our feet with that, the modding should speed up.
I will be mulling the details this week, but I'm pretty positive it will be going forward.
In my build news, I just picked up a set of rear axle shafts from a Pirate4x4 member. I've been needing to replace my rear axle seals/bearings for a while, but couldn't afford the shop time to press the new bearings. So I found a set of rear axle shafts for $50 and picked them up. Now I can get them replaced in a couple of hours and have a spare set to use. I will also be replacing the diff fluids at the same time. Should have it done next weekend hopefully.
Ok I'm done, let the trash talking begin...
eace:
I haven't updated this thread in the last couple of months because I really haven't done anything. It's been needing some maintenance items (O2 sensor, ball joints, tie rods and rear axle seals) that have been taking priority over mods. Also with the holiday season money is always tight and all the mods I want to do are not cheap.
First, the supercharger has been sold...:bash:
This was a really hard decision as the sc is the holy grail to most 3.4L owners, but it was the best think for me to do at the time. I was a tensioner bracket and some random bolts and belts away from bolting it on. So close, but still $250 away since the bracket is Toyota only. I thought about it and I couldn't see myself coming up with the $250 for the bracket, $100 for valve cover parts (mine are leaking slightly and it only made sense to change them when installing the sc) and $100 for an O2 sensor that needs to be replaced, in any reasonable time frame so I would have a sc paperweight. In addition, my family was going through some rough financial times and the money could be very helpful to pay off some bills. It made no sense for me to put my family in further debt and scrape by when I had a part worth a good chunk. So, I got an offer from a member on TacomaWorld and sealed the deal. It was extremely hard to ship it out, especially after tallying up what was needed to bolt it on. So close...
I may get another at some point if the right deal comes around, but right now it's not on the books.
That brings me to my next order of business...I have pretty much decided that I will be returning the 4runner back to stock. It's been on my mind for months now and is finally making the most sense. I love having and wheeling my lifted 3rd gen, but it just isn't the route I want to take. I really enjoy wheeling and modding, but I hate to do it to my DD. I HAVE to use my 4runner for work and downtime is not an option. So far I have been lucky in that I haven't damaged anything major, but 4-Ripcord is a prime example of what could happen to a DD wheeler. I don't want to feel like I need to hold back or take the easier line because I have to drive it on Monday or dent an expensive vehicle. My 4runner still has a good resale value and eventually I'd like to sell it and buy a 1st gen Tundra to tow with. I also don't want to keep dumping money into a vehicle I don't plan on keeping for a long time. Skids, bumpers, UCA's, regear or sc, and bigger tires are not cheap at all and could buy me a nice wheeler and mods.
So I've decided to that I will be selling my lift, skid and tires and/or wheels, bringing it back to stock and enjoying the power and mpg back. I will probably go with 32's and 1" lift to keep some capabilities for light wheeling/camping. It will bring back some of the mpg I lost and power, which will be a big plus.
In return, I will use the money from selling those parts to get a 1st gen 4runner. I have always wanted one since my 87 was totaled in high school. They are awesome wheelers stock and parts for them are easy to come by. I figure I'd get a IFS model since they are so rampant and the 84/85 ones come with a hefty price tag. I plan on running it stock for a while, getting all the kinks out and then start modding. Nothing super serious, but eventually straight axleing it and going big. My fiance will be done with school this summer and can start working, which will bring in some very much needed income. Once we are on our feet with that, the modding should speed up.
I will be mulling the details this week, but I'm pretty positive it will be going forward.
In my build news, I just picked up a set of rear axle shafts from a Pirate4x4 member. I've been needing to replace my rear axle seals/bearings for a while, but couldn't afford the shop time to press the new bearings. So I found a set of rear axle shafts for $50 and picked them up. Now I can get them replaced in a couple of hours and have a spare set to use. I will also be replacing the diff fluids at the same time. Should have it done next weekend hopefully.
Ok I'm done, let the trash talking begin...
eace:
SCRunner12
New member
So will my engagement. :cheers: No the 4runner with me for another 7 years according to my fiance. When I brought up the 1st gen idea she immediately said no because she thought I was selling my 3rd gen. She would kill me and probably keep the 4runner out of principle.
t4r4life
Elite Member
it's a good family truck, who knows you might even give it to your daughter for her first car if you take good care of it. but the 1st gen idea, i would suggest you just buy a solid axle rig, it's much cheaper to throw in a 22re than to do the sas, plus if the 22r blows ups it gives you an excuse to upgrade to the 22re.
SCRunner12
New member
Yeah I've told her I would, but I doubt I will have it by then. 5th gens will be the 3rd gens when she is 16. That's weird to think about. I'd love to get an solid axle rig, but they are crazy expensive since everyone thinks they are made of gold. Solid front axles are easy enough to come by around the bay and who knows what route I'd want to take eventually. Rather get a 1k 4runner now and straight axle later. It would be cool though to get a 3.0 5 speed and throw a 3.4 in eventually. Supercharged 1st gen sounds awesome, but all of that will wait.
BrianSD_42
New member
Dude 4-Ripcord's situation is not normal, its not even rare ... it is more like a total fluke. He even said that it was probably caused by a loose LCA bolt and the failure occured at a moment when he was wheeling on a easy trail.
I just really hope this fear of something breaking on moderate trails doesn't catch on here at T4R. 4-Ripcord's situation was a fluke and that is that.
lane:Your rig will be missed!
4-Ripcord
New member
That particular trial break was one of many that put my DD out of commission for weeks at time each time. It wasn't the final one by a long shot. Having to tow it back from moab with a blown up ring gear was..Dude 4-Ripcord's situation is not normal, its not even rare ... it is more like a total fluke. He even said that it was probably caused by a loose LCA bolt and the failure occured at a moment when he was wheeling on a easy trail.
I just really hope this fear of something breaking on moderate trails doesn't catch on here at T4R. 4-Ripcord's situation was a fluke and that is that.
Your rig will be missed!
Robert I'm glad someone else who actually wheels thier DD understands the situation. I don't regret what I did for one second.
Also good choice on the first gen, I've been looking at picking one up too.
Last edited:
BrianSD_42
New member
[MENTION=57546]4-Ripcord[/MENTION]
Just be clear, I'm not trying to bash you or imply that you didn't make the right choice. You had some pretty serious (multiple) failures and lost faith in your rigs long term liability. I just wanted to emphasize that your experience was rare and that others should not fear for their own rigs viability as a DD & Camping rig.
[MENTION=53337]SCRunner12[/MENTION] why not keep the lift and switch to 31s. That is practically stock anyways.
SCRunner12
New member
Sad to see it go back to stockbut i am interested about the skids and lift!
And the first vultures has started circling....haha The lift is actually currently pending a sale. That is what kind of pushed me over the edge, since I wasn't expecting it to sell in a few hours. The skid is for sale, but shipping would kind of kill the deal.
Dude 4-Ripcord's situation is not normal, its not even rare ... it is more like a total fluke. He even said that it was probably caused by a loose LCA bolt and the failure occured at a moment when he was wheeling on a easy trail.
I just really hope this fear of something breaking on moderate trails doesn't catch on here at T4R. 4-Ripcord's situation was a fluke and that is that.
Your rig will be missed!
His situation was a fluke in some sense, but like Rip said, there was a bunch of times when he broke down wheeling. I'm fine on moderate trails, I don't worry about those, but it's the harder trails that I want to take. I'd love to spend a weekend on the Rubicon and at my present state that would never happen to the 3rd gen. Just too much $ involved in building it up and too much risk. I also am limited by making my vehicle family friendly. A 3" lift, body lift and 35's doesn't scream family vehicle, esepecially since my fiance is 5'1" and has a hard time getting in now. Plus I just don't want to DD a extremely built rig. I love MT's, but would never get them because they are pointless for a DD and have bad road manners.
You're an example of what having a second car can do. You never built your rig up all that much (33's and more serious wheeling) till you got your car and now it's sitting on 33's with full armor and you've been hitting up a lot more wheeling trips. Last thing I need to do is blow my diff up like Ripcord and pay a premium for a new diff because I need it right away.
Also why are you guys acting like I'm falling off the face of the Earth. I'm keeping my 3rd gen and will continue modding it,but in a more family friendly way. I will probably take a route like Zackattack, modded, but super comfortable. Here is a list of items I want to do with my 3rd gen as well.
Sound proofing, rear tv's for the kiddo, sport hood (my hood is peeling like a mofo), LED swap, new retrofit, and tinting to name a few. They will be more creature comfort mods.
Yeah once I saw your mayhem and all the issues you were having I kind of got to thinking. I want my commute to be comfortable and worry free, not waaaa-waaaa-waaaa from the MT's and body roll up the yin-yang.
I LOVE the first gens and have gotten my daughter into them as well. She points them out and plays with the Matchbox versions in the bath all the time. It's pretty awesome and I can only imagine she would be stoked to ride with the top off in the summer. Plus I have a place I can park it for longer periods of time if I do need to work on it. That helps a lot.
Because that would just look plain silly...
I really don't like the ride with the lift. I would have to get UCA's to make the ride bearable because I'm sick of my caster being out of spec. That's $400 right there and I'd still be dealing with loss of MPG still. Plus the lift is a significant chunk of cash I can put towards the 1st gen. I'd rather have a mild lift and 32's which is all I need for a camping rig. My Fiance isn't the drive out 4 hours in the rough wilderness camping type, so I don't need a rig for that. Also I'd just take the 1st gen if that was the case.
SCRunner12
New member
Haha they just look so pitiful. Well I've already got a line on some Tacoma TRD off-road wheels and 265/75/16 Duratracs. Going to check them out tomorrow night and hopefully make the deal. Skid is going to SantaCruzRunner and I'll be getting his stock skids and front struts in return. I still have my stock rear coils, so all I need is rear shocks and I'm rolling again.
SCRunner12
New member
Around $1200 or so pending how much I sell my tires and wheels for. About enough to afford a cheap 1st gen or a good start at that.
Are you looking to swap possibly? Did you end up selling the rest of your lift?
EatonKyleH
New member
Good luck with whatever you decide and I wish the best for you and the family!
Hope everything gets sorted for you in short order man!
Hope everything gets sorted for you in short order man!
SCRunner12
New member
I have a buyer for the whole lift, if he doesn't go through with it, it will be up for sale.