shinyblackdeer's 98 T4R SR5 V6 build thread

[Dark Lord]

This is still one of my favorite builds. I will do all this same maintenance when I get the time sometime within the next year.

I personally would paint the bumpers for ease of scratch repair, but I also don't like the bed lined look. Either way on this build it'll look sweet!

Ouray is a cool place. I spent a day in the hot spring there during a snow storm on my cross country trip. It was surreal.

 

[shinyblackdeer]

This is still one of my favorite builds. I will do all this same maintenance when I get the time sometime within the next year.

I personally would paint the bumpers for ease of scratch repair, but I also don't like the bed lined look. Either way on this build it'll look sweet!

Ouray is a cool place. I spent a day in the hot spring there during a snow storm on my cross country trip. It was surreal.

Thank you! We've been in that hot spring, too, but it was in September, so not quite as surreal. Ouray is awesome!

 

[T4R2014]

You've got a really nice build so far. Keep up the great work!

 

[wheelds]

Subscribed to this thread.

You guys have done everything right. You will definitely get my vote for T4RotM once its finished. Cant wait to see what the T4R looks like with the bumper on and color matched.

keep it up

 

[shinyblackdeer]

4X Innovations front bumper installed!

We wrapped up install of the front bumper this afternoon, and everything went flawlessly, considering we spent all of yesterday installing the M8000 and assembling all new wiring in order to mount our solenoid inside the engine compartment. Everything fits and works! Here's a timeline of photos:

Jeff cut off the existing frame end caps.

Our friend welded new bulletproof end caps provided by Adam at 4X Innovations. Our bumper didn't quite line up with the existing holes, so Jeff drilled and tapped new ones.

Jeff rigged up a temporary mount for the bumper to make prep and paint more manageable. After primer, the inside was sprayed with chassis coat black, then undercoat.

Like the fender flares, the front of the bumper is color-matched basecoat/clearcoat.

Warn M8000 installed.

We extended the three 18" #2 gauge solenoid cables with new 54" #1 gauge cables (in order to reach the solenoid mounted inside the engine bay). This little tool came in handy for attaching new lugs.

Pre-install test of all wiring.

With the an extra set of hands from our neighbor, it's on! Also notice the awesome Savage front skid plate.

Solenoid mounting location (right below the battery tray).

Love it.

 

[shinyblackdeer]

LED flasher installed.

There are tons of writeups on replacing or modifying your flasher to slow the hyperflashing of your new LED turn signals. I ignored them for a while, not accepting that the turn signals that came with my front bumper were actually LED. Genius. Here is a photo of the location in the fuse box, which I had to unbolt and pull down in order to swap out the flashers. I used the Tridon EP-35, which you can see dead center of the photo, nice and clean.

 

[shinyblackdeer]

Secret weapon: the elusive e-locker.

I wasn't thrilled about pulling the dash apart again to swap out the flasher, but I had an ulterior motive. I was hoping to find this little bundle of joy:

EDIT: this isn't pre-wiring for an e-locker as I'd hoped (but that doesn't stop us).

I've been hiding our secret weapon, a rear end with an e-locker! It's not pretty, but it will be. Stay tuned.

 

[shinyblackdeer]

Replaced clutch fan blade. No more rough idle.

Thanks again to DeathCougar for his seemingly endless supply of parts for our 4Runner, Jeff installed an unbroken clutch fan blade, which immediately solved our rough idle problem, not to mention any future overheating problems. Seven good blades are better than five.

 

[GentryGoon]

Amazing Build!! seeing something this thoroughly done is awesome. Can I ask why you didn't go with 285/75/16s?

 

[shinyblackdeer]

New windshield gasket.

Our windshield was very poorly installed, leaving the rubber gasket flapping in the wind. I took it to Safelite, where the tech did an amazing job of removing our windshield, cleaning out the gunk from the previous install, and replacing it with a new gasket. Another local shop refused to try to salvage our otherwise good windshield, but Safelite was able to remove and replace it without breaking it, saving us about $160. That's awesome.

EDIT: we managed to crack this one, too -- ugh.

 

[shinyblackdeer]

Amazing Build!! seeing something this thoroughly done is awesome. Can I ask why you didn't go with 285/75/16s?

Thank you! I went with the tire size recommended for use with the Toytec Ultimate Lift. I honestly didn't put much thought into it beyond that.

 

[sschaefer3]

Make sure that rear axle has the same gear ratio as your front.

All the V6 3rd Gens had the following ratios:

Auto with locker: 4.30
Auto without locker: 4.10
Manual without locker: 4.10
Manual with locker: 4.10

2.7 Liter 4Bangers had:

Manual with locker: 4.56

So if that axle came from an Auto, it has 4.30's and your non-elocker truck has 4.10's.

I hope you got the from 4.30 diff too. 4.30's run 285's quite well.

 

[sschaefer3]

The info above is for trucks that came stock with 16" wheels. There were some 4Bangers and a few SR5's that came with very little 225.75.15 tires and those truck have 3.70 or 3.90

Yuck !!!

:repuke:

 

[Charleston]

I am absolutely green with jealousy over your build! It's AMAZING. The only point I can disagree with so far is the same color fender flares. They looked great black.

What rear bumper are you planning to install? Any plans for a roof rack?

 

[alaskaflyer]

I wish I was your neighbor! I could use a hand on mine.

 

[shinyblackdeer]

Make sure that rear axle has the same gear ratio as your front.

All the V6 3rd Gens had the following ratios:

Auto with locker: 4.30
Auto without locker: 4.10
Manual without locker: 4.10
Manual with locker: 4.10

2.7 Liter 4Bangers had:

Manual with locker: 4.56

So if that axle came from an Auto, it has 4.30's and your non-elocker truck has 4.10's.

I hope you got the from 4.30 diff too. 4.30's run 285's quite well.

I feel like you're our big brother, and I like that. It feels good knowing someone has our back. Our 98 V6 is auto w/o locker: 4.10 gears. The yard says this rear end has 4.10s, so we'll assume it's manual. Only the rear end and diff lock switch was shipped up from Missouri to Iowa for us, we didn't have access to the rest of the vehicle. This part of our build will take some time, and we're in no hurry to get started. Jeff will go through it inside and out, and of course we'll have to tackle the wiring. We're anxious to drive it, so the e-locker will have to wait.

 

[shinyblackdeer]

I am absolutely green with jealousy over your build! It's AMAZING. The only point I can disagree with so far is the same color fender flares. They looked great black.

What rear bumper are you planning to install? Any plans for a roof rack?

Thank you! We've done black flares on other vehicles, and I agree they look great, too, but I'm glad we painted them on this 4Runner.

I have a CBI rear bumper on order with the triangular tire carrier centered. We don't have plans for an aftermarket roof rack, but I do like Whitson Metalworks.

 

[alaskaflyer]

Thank you! We've done black flares on other vehicles, and I agree they look great, too, but I'm glad we painted them on this 4Runner.

I have a CBI rear bumper on order with the triangular tire carrier centered. We don't have plans for an aftermarket roof rack, but I do like Whitson Metalworks.

The painted to match fender flares look perfect. I've always painted my fender flares to match the truck.

You guys have inspired me! bringing mine in the garage in August, I have lots of engine and suspension work, but I've ordered new carpet with the sound deadening, and seat covers (my leather is cracked).

I'm going to be in the market for another 3rd gen next summer. Dibs if you guys ever decide to sell!

 

[sschaefer3]

If you can get the VIN from the junk yard truck I can get it run through Toyota and see where it came from.

The other thing you can do is spin the pinion, mark where it starts and turn it, count how many times it goes around for one axle rotation. 4.10 will be pretty much 4 turns. If it's 4.30, then it's going to be closer to 4.5 turns.

Your either going to get 4 or 4.5. It should be obvious. If it turns out to be 4.30, find a 4.30 front diff.

 

[sschaefer3]

You know about this right?

Retrofit Electric Locker