SCRunner's Build Thread

[SCRunner12]

Year: 2000
Make: Toyota
Model: 4Runner Limited
Color: Sunfire Red Gloss Black
Engine: 3.4L V6

Suspension
Front
-FOX 2.5 Extended Travel Coilovers with 14x650lb Coils
-All Pro UCA's

Rear
-Toytec SuperFlex Coils
-OME 10mm Spacer on each side
-Fox 2.0

Tires/Rims
-Tires: Hankook Dynapro ATM
-Rims: SCS F-5 Matte Black

Armor
-ARB Front Bumper
-CBI Hybrid Rear Bumper & Swingout
-Savage Off Road Front IFS Skid
-B.A.M.F 68" Sliders with Kickout

Performance
-Factory E-Locker
-Deckplate/ISR Mod
-AFE Pro Dry S Air Filter

Accessories
-TRS H1 Mini Projectors, 4300k bulbs and Black Headlights/Shrouds
-JDM Black Corners
-02 Sport Edition Grille
-Plasti-Dip Emblems
-B&M 70628 Trans Cooler
-Blacked Out Bumpers, Cladding & Flares
-Wade In Channel Vent Visors
-Kenwood DDX419

Most Current Picture:

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A little backstory...

This is the 4runner that started it all...
1987 4runner ~ 22RE ~ Auto ~ 3" Suspension ~ 33x12.50x15

Sadly it was lost in an accident, but I swore I would own a 4runner again.


That is where my 1995 4runner came in.

I found T4R.ORG after purchasing the 95 and was immediately hooked. I quickly realized the 95 was too underpowered (3.Slow) and I needed something a bit nicer and powerful. So I searched for months upon end looking for the right 4runner. I was very picky with my wants from the new 4runner, so that didn't help at all. In the end I found a one owner 2000 Limited, locked, 102k a few hours away and quickly bought it.

First day I brought it home.

I had the biggest smile the whole drive home and knew I had found the one.

 

[SCRunner12]

4/10/11
I had used all of my money purchasing the 4runner, so my additions came far and few between. My first task was unfortunately not to take the running boards off. I had to keep them on for a while for the shorter individuals in the household. :

Being on a budget, Plasti-Dip becomes your best friend. I had an extra 2000 grille, so I plasti-dipped that black along with my emblems.

In the process...

And the finished product.

I was happy with the emblems, but the grill looked out of place. So I starting searching for a 02 Sport Edition Grille. I finally found one in Wyoming and had it shipped out immediately.

Much better and this has to be my favorite thing I have done to my 4runner yet.

4/22/11
After that I started looking into the deckplate and ISR mod. I had done the ISR to my 95 and liked the outcome, so I figured I would do it.

I'm happy I completed these two as it makes the 4runner sound so much better.

 

[SCRunner12]

8/14/11/
I drove the 4runner stock for the next 4 months as I was acquiring my lift parts. I ended up taking a trip up to Pinecrest Lake for the weekend. It was my first long trip with the 4runner and it performed flawlessly.

I ended up finding some random logging roads and showed off my stock flex!

I wasn't able to make it to some of the harder trails or use my locker, but it was a good time anyways.

9/10/11
Next up was plasti-dipping my rear license plate holder. I never understood how Toyota got the ideas for their color schemes on some of the 4runners. The limiteds are always so mixed and matched. Red body, topaz bumper, flares, cladding, chrome grill and grey license plate holder. I didn't take any pictures of the process, but I basically taped off the holder and taped some trash bags to the tailgate to eliminate over spray. It looks much better and flows with the emblems much better.

 

[SCRunner12]

9/17/11
It was finally time for me to lift my 4runner. I ended up going with Tundra TRD coils with KYB shocks and 3/8" Toytec top plate spacers. The rear I got Downey 3" coils and OME N86 shocks.

I had never heard much about the Downey coils, but I found them on Yotatech and figured I would give them a try. After researching for a while I got a little worrie because all other 3rd gen Downey lifts were using different coils than the ones I had. I was hoping I didn't get screwed over by the guy I bought them from.

Here is a picture of the rear Downey coil for reference.

For the lift I ended up meeting up with some people from TacomaWorld.com. They were having a lift party and I tagged along to get some help. I was pretty busy working on the lift, so I didn't get any pictures, but one guy brought his camera later on. We had 3 lifts being put on and a bunch of random mods. There were some sweet Tacoma's there and good food and people.

The lift ended up taking longer than I thought because we had to get the front coils compressed and the rear shocks decided they didn't want to come off. Not to anyone taking their stock shocks off, they are nitrogen charged and should not be cut all the way through. :flamethrwoer2:

I also want to say a big thanks to Eric (t4r4life) for helping me out. He was a bit hungover, but really helped with the rear install.

The set up.

The mid install on the fronts.

Working on the rear.

And the finished product...

I ended up with ~2.5" in the front and 3.5" in the back. I'm hoping the back comes down .25" and this winter I will be upgrading to Bilstein 5100 for the front to level it out a bit more.

 

[BrianSD_42]

#6 Yeah

As I've said before, I love the red man!

eace:

 

[Zachpins34]

love the pics, i'll delete that comment from earlier that spaces out the pictures, dont want to screw up your thread lol. lookin good though man, the lift totally changes it

 

[JohnsD90]

Nice truck, what happened to all of those stockpiled parts for a 3rd gen you had while you had the 2nd gen?

 

[SCRunner12]

#6 Yeah

As I've said before, I love the red man!

eace:

Thanks, it has become one of my favorite colors of these 3rd gens. I still envy your black and white one, but the red is right up there.

love the pics, i'll delete that comment from earlier that spaces out the pictures, dont want to screw up your thread lol. lookin good though man, the lift totally changes it

Thanks, I wasn't worried about it getting screwed up. Yeah the lift really sets it apart now. I need to raise the front some more and I'm definitely going to 285's next.

Nice truck, what happened to all of those stockpiled parts for a 3rd gen you had while you had the 2nd gen?

I still have a few of them, but majority of them I have sold. I had a full lift besides shocks which was actually Tundra TRD coils, 3/8 spacers, LC 7 Wraps and Toytec 1" body lift. I ended up selling that one because I didn't see myself going to 285's and wanted 2". So I picked up some 881's, but got over those because of the lack of lift. So I then found my current set up. I also had an extra grille (I sold later after using for a little), extra tail lights which I still have, extra set of 5 stars (I sold 3 and kept one, but later sold the one when I decided to go aftermarket) and now I'm selling my OEM sport hood and TG sliders.

I REALLY don't want to sell the hood, but I need the money for tires and honestly it will sit in my garage till at least christmas, but most likely longer. I never found a good place to paint it in my price range and in the end it is just a hood. I would rather put the 200-250 I would spend painting it towards maintenance or more functional mods. I will either try to find another deal on a hood or get a certifit as I'm not worried about not having OEM.

The sliders I want to keep, but those too cost money to put on and I'm not really into the TG design. I really like the 4xinnovations with the kick out or the new Addicted sliders. I may also go local and have a Tacomaworld member build me a set. It sucks because my gf just told me I need to put the running boards back on because she can't get into my 4runner. I'll postpone that as much as I can, but they may be on again. :barf:

Other than that I have a few other random parts. I have a taco antenna I got for free (waiting for my antenna to crap out on me), extended breather materials and some other odds and ends.

 

[Smog-guy707]

whoo hoo... build threads are the best...cant wait to get those sliders from you too

lookin good as always man

 

[SCRunner12]

10/9/11
Figured I would update this with some small mods that I forgot to mention from before and some I finished recently. I had done the Blue Wire Mod before and very happy with the results. Unfortunately I haven't been in a position to use my locker yet, but hopefully soon. I also disconnected the DRL's for some DDM HID's, but ended up taking the HID's out because I didn't like the light pattern and they weren't working properly.

I also plasti-dipped my rear license plate holder. I never liked the gray color of it and it was cracking, so I figured it would plasti-dip it. Will update with a picture tomorrow as the one I have is covered by my finger. :bash:

I also extended my rear diff breather. Been meaning to do it for a while and was a simple mod to complete.

So since I have been lifted my 4runner pulls to the left pretty bad. I've been to the alignment shop twice now and both times it came back doing the same thing. I'm not sure if it is the tire since I got those on at the same time as the lift. I'm not sure if having the wrong Tundra coils on the wrong side makes a difference in that. I'm planning on getting some 5100's this November for my birthday as well as some new tires and I'm hoping that will cure the pull.

Now I have to decide between 32's and 33's. I can definitely fit 33's, but I'm not sure I want to deal with the power and mpg loss. I really have no clue what I will end up with. Any suggestions?:shrug:

 

[Smog-guy707]

I think 32 will be just fine... the size will be just fine for most activities. I think as long as you get some good tires the 32 will be just fine. But look around...a deal is a deal

 

[SCRunner12]

On non 4runner news, I proposed to my girlfriend this weekend. We've been together for 3.5 years now and have a 1 year old (turns 1 next weekend) daughter together. Been wanting to do it for a while, but finally gained the courage and asked.

I put this onesie I made online on my daughter right before her nap and waited for her to wake up. Once she did I told my girlfriend to go get her so she could see the onesie and read the proposal. Happily she said yes!arty:

 

[BigFishAllDay]

Congrats dude! Cool idea how you got the little one involved.

 

[thardy]

So since I have been lifted my 4runner pulls to the left pretty bad. I've been to the alignment shop twice now and both times it came back doing the same thing. I'm not sure if it is the tire since I got those on at the same time as the lift. I'm not sure if having the wrong Tundra coils on the wrong side makes a difference in that. I'm planning on getting some 5100's this November for my birthday as well as some new tires and I'm hoping that will cure the pull.

When you lifted the rear did you lower the Trac/PanHard? I heard that will cause it to pull because it off centers your rear axle.

Let us know what you find. I'm about to do the same lift to my '96 SR5.

 

[t4r4life]

When you lifted the rear did you lower the Trac/PanHard? I heard that will cause it to pull because it off centers your rear axle.

Let us know what you find. I'm about to do the same lift to my '96 SR5.

not really but i still got mine extended, but when i didnt i didnt notice any difference, and i got about 4 inches of lift in the back

 

[Hepar]

Build is coming along great. Was happy to see you finally in a 3rd gen!

Congrats on the proposal too!

 

[4-Ripcord]

That was a great idea. Haha!

Congrats man.

 

[SCRunner12]

When you lifted the rear did you lower the Trac/PanHard? I heard that will cause it to pull because it off centers your rear axle.

Let us know what you find. I'm about to do the same lift to my '96 SR5.

Like T4r said, I don't think it should make that big of a difference. I think it has to do with my struts and the alignment. I will be getting a panhard drop pretty soon though.

Hopefully I will get my diff drop put in today if I get the chance.


Thanks everyone. She was expecting a proposal at some point, but was totally surprised when I did it.

 

[blcktpgsr]

You're gettin' there as far as build goes, for sure!

Man that was an original proposal, I can just imagine the smile on your GF's face when she read it...Darn cute little angel, too!

 

[SCRunner12]

11/12/11
I finally took my 4runner out wheeling. :guitar2: It's been 7 months since I bought my 3rd gen and this is the 1st time I've taken it out. It was much needed. I headed down to Hollister Hills with 3 Tacoma's and 2 FJ's. It had rained all day before so it was really muddy, but a lot of fun. I finally got to use my locker and it is amazing. I tried to use it only after trying something first and it is a night and day difference. I was able to drive up obstacles with ease.

We ended up finding a Bronco on the trail that almost slid down a ravine. So we ended up spending 45 minutes getting him out only to have one of the Tacoma's get stuck. I ended up pulling the Tacoma out and got to use the really cool tow hook cover on the front bumper. Unfortunately no pictures or video of the recovery as we had 8 other vehicles waiting for us to get out of the way.

This isn't the stuck Tacoma.

Doesn't look like much, but he would have slid down the hill if he tried to get out on his own. He also had an FJ40 holding him with a tow strap just in case.

11/20/11
So I haven't had much to do on the 4runner lately as I'm trying to save for some new tires. That hasn't stopped me though from getting a few things for the 4runner in the mean time. I picked up a pair of Tundra 5100's off craigslist for $100. I'm looking forward to getting them in and seeing what kind of difference they will make. Hopefully I can get them in next weekend depending on the weather.

I also picked up a set of LC rims. I like the 5 stars, but I wanted something a bit different. I hated how much the 5 stars sat from the edge of the limited flares and I didn't really want to spend $200 on spacers. I didn't have the cash for new aftermarket like I wanted so I picked up some LC rims off IH8MUD for $100. They are pretty scratched up along the lips and some on the face, but I'm fine with that for now. I will be painting them black (I know it's played out, but I prefer black to silver) and I will try to smooth some of the scratches/gouges out. For $100 I can't complain.:reddance:

Also I only got 3 center caps and I'm not sure if I'm going to find the 4th or just leave the center caps off. I think I will see how they look first, then get a 4th if I want them.