shinyblackdeer's 98 T4R SR5 V6 build thread

[shinyblackdeer]

shinyblackdeer's 1998 T4R SR5 V6 build thread

Oh hi. On May 17, 2013 my husband and I bought each other a 5th anniversary gift: a 1998 4Runner SR5 V6 with 171,000 miles and a salvage title. Despite the salvage, which stems from a front end accident in 2003, this truck's bones aren't too bad. Since the accident, it has an impressive Toyota dealer service record, but the last owner was a detailer's nightmare: smoker/kid(s)/dog(s). So, we're stripping this completely stock 3rd gen T4R down in order to build it back up into an awesome daily driver/moderate offroad beast.

Here's what we've been working on:

Transmission:

• transmission cooler
• replace torn shifter boot

Drivetrain:

• Toytec 1" diff drop
• swap in E-Locker rear end (4.30 gears)
• swap in front diff (4.30 gears)
• retrofit E-Locker wiring (for non-pre-wired vehicles)
• ARB RD90 air locker up front
• ARB CKMA12 air compressor part 1 and part 2
• Lotus Development chromoly axles

Brakes:

• Tundra front disc brake swap
• stainless steel brake lines
• Tekonsha Primus IQ brake controller

Exhaust:

• stainless catback exhaust w/ Magnaflow muffler

Suspension:

• replace steering rack
• replace sway bar links/bushings *twice* USE FACTORY TOYOTA BUSHINGS
• Toytec Ultimate lift (front: 600 lb. coils, rear: OME 891 coils & Bilstein 5125 shocks) w/ 1" body lift
• Toyota rear UCAs
• Sonoran Steel adjustable panhard bar and rear LCAs
• Toyota LBJs
• Toyota UBJs/knuckles

Wheels/Tires:

• wheels - Konig Countersteer Offroad 16x8's in graphite gunmetal FROM FN Wheels (set of 5)
• tires - BFG AT T/A KO 275/70/16 (set of 5)

Armor/Recovery:

• 4X Innovations front plate bumper with August 2014 update
• Warn M8000 with wireless remote
• 4X Innovations sliders with LineX coating
• CBI rear plate bumper w/ tire carrier
• Savage front skid plate
• POR-15 chassis coat (this truck has and will continue to live in the rust belt)
• undercoat to prevent further rust

Offroad Lights:

• PIAA 520 ATPs with aftermarket switch

Exterior Styling:

• Bushwacker fender flares
  [*]paint flares/bumper/hood (desert dune metallic)

Interior Styling:

• Blue LED instrument panel backlighting
• map/cargo LED lighting
• headliner recover
• replace carpet
• rug doctor seats and all cloth interior
• replace missing cargo cover
• Coverking custom Ballistic Cordura seat covers *edit* Now on 2nd set because the first set failed the "ballistic" dog toenail test. Covering has excellent customer service!
• Custom Cordura center console lid cover
• Huskyliner floor liners

Audio/Electronics:

• Fatmat Mega Mat sound deadener
• replace stock head unit, amp and front speakers, add new sub
• ScanGauge II
• Blue Sea 5026 fuse block modded for 6 constant/6 switched circuits

Misc:

• replace windshield gasket
• replace clutch fan blades
• Airaid Modular Intake tube to free up space for compressor
• Fixed cracked body mounts

2014 Turtleback Adventure Trailer:

• "The most versatile & rugged expedition-inspired trailers made."

Our story starts here: We are welcome to questions, comments and suggestions. Thanks for following our project!

Current photos:

Obligatory BEFORE photo:

Strip running boards, fender trim, hitch, spare tire, bumpers, grill, seats, carpet, misc interior panels and headliner. Clean, clean, clean. Ack.

Replace torn transfer shifter boot: Part No. 36331-35010, $45.20 from local Toyota dealer.

Easy fix.

Time to start ordering parts!

 

[5RUNNERZ]

you cant just tease us like that!!!!!! please take a lot of pics! we love that on here!!!! this type of build is always my favorite kind!!

 

[xhimsa12x]

We're Ready for PIX NOW!!!!!!!!!op2:

 

[JWaldz]

Welcome to T4R!

What the heck is a shinyblackdeer???

 

[5RUNNERZ]

I think it might have something to do with the doberman in the aviator!

 

[shinyblackdeer]

I think it might have something to do with the doberman in the aviator!

You are correct! That's our Doberman Pinscher, Sullivan Kintzel, AKA the Shiny Black Deer.

 

[2002tii]

Wow! This is shaping up to be a serious project - glad ya'll are doing it right, too. OEM parts, etc.

 

[JWaldz]

You are correct! That's our Doberman Pinscher, Sullivan Kintzel, AKA the Shiny Black Deer.

After seeing your avatar when I posted that I figured that's what it was.. Pretty doggie!

Great work with the runner so far. You're loyalty will be rewarded as these vehicles last forever when they are taken care of :thumb3:

 

[shinyblackdeer]

After seeing your avatar when I posted that I figured that's what it was.. Pretty doggie!

Great work with the runner so far. You're loyalty will be rewarded as these vehicles last forever when they are taken care of :thumb3:

Thank you!

 

[shinyblackdeer]

Audio Upgrade

One of the things on our build list is to upgrade the factory sound system. I'm no audiophile, but I'm going to make this 4Runner sound better than stock. Here's what I purchased, all from Amazon:

• Alpine CDE-W235BT head unit
• Rockford Fosgate R250-1D amp
• Pioneer TS-SWX251 10" subwoofer
• JL Audio TR650-CSi 6-1/2" component speakers (front)
• Metra 70-1761 radio wiring harness for Toyota 87-up
• Scosche Revopak8 8-Gauge Revo Series single amp power and audio kit
• METRA Ltd 40-UV43 Motorola antenna Y-adapter
• Scosche Mda-B Micro/Delco antenna adapter tip
• 100 Sq Ft Fatmat Mega Mat 70 mil butyl peel and stick sound deadener

My experience with car audio is super limited, so I started out intimidated by the amp and sub. Then I read the instructions for the Scosche amp connection kit and relaxed. If I can do this, anyone can.

Soldering the wiring harness:

If I had it to do over again, I would have shortened the wires:

The JL woofer mounting holes don't match up with the factory brackets, so I hacked up the metal housings from the factory speakers to work as adaptors, thanks to a write up by Rock Slide on Yotatech. Problem solved:

The amp connection kit came with this cool firewall gasket:

In searching for the best place to drill a new hole in the firewall, nearly everyone suggested using the existing hole. No thanks! I wanted to use that gasket. I removed this cutout of insulation and found the perfect spot, right next to the existing pass thru:

I used a hammer and punch first, then drilled a pilot hole, then used a step bit:

View from engine compartment:

Awesome gasket installed:

View from engine compartment:

Routing the power and ground:

Test fitting the amp under the driver's seat:

Head unit:

Sub:

After a couple of hiccups, like mistakenly wiring the high pass filters to the component woofers (not the tweeters, where they belong), everything works and sounds amazing, even in this tin can! Which brings me to the next thing on the list, sound deadener. Ugh. This is a mind-numbingly boring process that I'm working on right now. Check back later to see my progress.

 

[shinyblackdeer]

Installing the Toytec Ultimate lift

While I'm poking around the interior, my husband is busy transforming the exterior. Here's a progress pic of the Toytec Ultimate lift install, with new sway bar links/bushings and Tundra disc brakes:

 

[shinyblackdeer]

Wheels and tires!

Dustin from FN Wheels sent us a set of Konig Countersteer Offroad 16x8s in graphite gunmetal. My cousin at Discount Tire sent us a set of BF Goodrich 275/70/16 AT T/A KOs.

 

[shinyblackdeer]

Blue LED backlighting instrument panel

I came across a post here on T4R by nyvram titled I love love love my blue interior lighting!!!. I love it, too! There are tons of write-ups on LEDs, so this was pretty easy and inexpensive, requiring only (5) bulbs total. I bought mine from SuperBrightLEDs.com.

• instrument cluster: Qty (3) 5 SMD LED Wide Angle Wedge Base WLED-BHP5: Blue
• AC/heater control: Qty (2) 3 SMD LED Wide Angle Wedge Base 74-BHP3: Blue

Here is the back of the main instrument cluster above the steering wheel, showing the 3 backlighting bulbs to be swapped out with (your favorite color) LEDs. Note: you don't need to completely disconnect the unit like I did here (I wanted to clean everything behind the dash). You twist to unlock and remove those green knob things that are circled in the pic, then replace the bulbs and reinstall the knobs. Easy.

Here's a pic of the old green bulbs (the green is just a rubber condom of color that can be removed):

Here is the AC/heater control with the faceplate removed. Simply pull the old bulbs out and replace with new (shown). I had a hard time getting the LEDs to push in, so I carefully scraped the edges on sand paper to grind them down a bit. I also had to keep pressure on the back of the bulb housing so it wouldn't push all the way through.

Here is the awesome final result (I will now proceed to drain my battery by turning the lights on and off to admire them):

 

[Dark Lord]

I like where this build is headed!

 

[00_4runner]

I so glad you posted those pics of the LED swap! Haha

Great start, cant wait to see more!

 

[Brian757]

I always love watching a truck get maintenanced and built properly the first time. Way to not cheap out on materials and not be too shy to pick up the tools to do the job.

I always stress doing your own work. It builds a partnership with you and your vehicle, teaches you about how hard labor is on vehicles, and you ultimately save a load of money.

Awesome job. This thread is moving quite quickly. Subscribed.

 

[shinyblackdeer]

I always love watching a truck get maintenanced and built properly the first time. Way to not cheap out on materials and not be too shy to pick up the tools to do the job.

I always stress doing your own work. It builds a partnership with you and your vehicle, teaches you about how hard labor is on vehicles, and you ultimately save a load of money.

Awesome job. This thread is moving quite quickly. Subscribed.

Thank you! You won't believe this, but we also owned a "Stormtrooper". It was a 91 Toyota pickup and it was beyond awesome. I don't have a photo showing the tailgate, but I made new black reflective vinyl decals that said "T O Y O T A" in big letters with smaller "S T O R M T R O O P E R" letters beneath. This photo shows it right after the completed transformation. We ended up selling it to get a Rubicon. It's ok, we're back in the Toyota fold now.

 

[Dark Lord]

Thank you! You won't believe this, but we also owned a "Stormtrooper". It was a 91 Toyota pickup and it was beyond awesome. I don't have a photo showing the tailgate, but I made new black reflective vinyl decals that said "T O Y O T A" in big letters with smaller "S T O R M T R O O P E R" letters beneath. This photo shows it right after the completed transformation. We ended up selling it to get a Rubicon. It's ok, we're back in the Toyota fold now.

Whoa! When did you buy that pickup? Was it long ago? The reason I ask is because about a year or two ago I was in the market for an old 89-95 Toyota Pickup and I believe I saw that exact truck on eBay or Craigslist at some point. It looked like a real gem. I changed my mind on the old pickups because from my understanding the 3.0 V6's were total POS's!

Anyway, I'm subscribing to this thread. I like where this is going. Everything you've done so far is something I plan on doing to mine eventually once I get more time and money. My current job doesn't allow me to have a life outside of work currently, but in a few more months I should have more time on the weekends to do things like this. Of course, I'm not pulling out my entire carpet and headliner without being prepared to sound deaden the truck. I don't want to do it twice!

By the way, keep being detailed in your posts! Since I'm basically going to copy a lot of what you're doing this will make things easier for me haha!

 

[shinyblackdeer]

Whoa! When did you buy that pickup? Was it long ago? The reason I ask is because about a year or two ago I was in the market for an old 89-95 Toyota Pickup and I believe I saw that exact truck on eBay or Craigslist at some point. It looked like a real gem. I changed my mind on the old pickups because from my understanding the 3.0 V6's were total POS's!

Anyway, I'm subscribing to this thread. I like where this is going. Everything you've done so far is something I plan on doing to mine eventually once I get more time and money. My current job doesn't allow me to have a life outside of work currently, but in a few more months I should have more time on the weekends to do things like this. Of course, I'm not pulling out my entire carpet and headliner without being prepared to sound deaden the truck. I don't want to do it twice!

By the way, keep being detailed in your posts! Since I'm basically going to copy a lot of what you're doing this will make things easier for me haha!

Thanks for your comments! We sold the Stormtrooper in summer of 2011 to a local guy who planned on using it as a work truck, so I don't know what kind of shape it's in now, or if he sold it.

I will try to do a good job on my future posts! Good luck with your own build.

 

[Dark Lord]

Thanks for your comments! We sold the Stormtrooper in summer of 2011 to a local guy who planned on using it as a work truck, so I don't know what kind of shape it's in now, or if he sold it.

I will try to do a good job on my future posts! Good luck with your own build.

Well in that case did you happen to sell that on eBay? I thought that truck looked like such a gem which is the only reason I remember it. Hopefully your 3rd Gen turns out better!