Snow’s 2001 Sport Edition (Sly) Build

[solsnowbarger]

Welcome to my build/maintenance/documentation thread! I’ve finally found what I hope to be is a keeper, and as such, I thought it’d be smart to start a real build thread. This is mostly for my personal documentation, and to chronicle all my trials and tribulations as I get into projects that are WAY out of my league.

I am not very mechanically experienced. However, the people on this forums have built up such an incredible source of information, that I think even I can get along somehow. The amount of time dedicated on here (by many people) to helping out fellow 4Runner owners is staggering. As a long time lurker, I am very grateful.

With that said, let’s get on with it.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[solsnowbarger]

This is my new (in my mind) 2001 Sport Edition SR5, Sylvester. Sly for short. 155xxx miles, 4WD, 3.4, and a mostly rust free underside.

Pictured here on the day I brought him home in early June. Next to it is my 2003 SR5 V8. The vehicles I love I name, my poor 4th gen never got a name. It served me faithfully for 3 years, but it never was quite the same as a 3rd gen.

I’d been on the hunt for a 3rd gen for MONTHS. I searched every site I could think of twice a day since early January. I seriously considered flying out to Oregon (from Kansas) multiple times, as well as driving to Arizona for another possible 4Runner. Then, finally, I found Sly on FB marketplace. Did he have everything I wanted on my list? No. But the fact that the price was decent, and that it was only 3 hours away, convinced me to take a look.

I had, 4 ish years ago, made that same drive to take a look at another 3rd gen. In that case, I arrived 3 hours later to discover that the seller had decided to ghost me. I waited in that damn Home Depot parking lot for 40 minutes before driving home in a slightly murderous rage.

This time, was a different story. I arrived, and loved what I found. The owner was a younger guy who’d inherited the rig from his father, the original owner. The guys father clearly loved this vehicle. He’d saved every pierce of literature from the time of purchase, including pamphlets, the Toyota repair manual (Vol 1 & 2), and a Toyota electrical manual. He had weathertechs in the front, and all the original floor mats in the cargo area were spotless. A clean interior is hugely important to me, and this was clean.

The car checked out mechanically, and despite a few minor defects, I loved it.

The owner was a great guy to deal with, and came down a good deal after discussing a few things the truck needed. After a bit of paperwork, and an uneventful drive home, I went to bed happy and very satisfied with my new purchase.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[solsnowbarger]

The very first thing I did was clean. It had already been mostly cleaned for sale, but I’m in love, and I wanted to get it right. I scrubbed all the carpets and chairs and trim, and hand washed the outside using the proper two-bucket method. Not gonna lie, I’m not a huge fan of this interior. The fabric is all in great condition, but the tan with the silver trim is an odd look.

Next I promptly removed the running boards. It doesn’t look like it here as much, but I can see a slight sag in the rear.

There’s a very small area near our house that’s undergoing some major construction, and it’s as close to off-roading as I’ll get for a minute. The boy had been wanting to explore for a while, so I obliged him.

Not gonna lie, that bulge in the hood gives me a b... bunch of happiness.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[solsnowbarger]

I’m relatively new to the 4Runner life, compared to some members on here, but in the 5ish years I’ve had them, I’ve had 4 of them. A 2002 SR5 2WD, a rusty 98 Limited, a 2003 V8, and finally current.

My 02 (Brando) I loved.

I rebuilt the whole top half of the engine, I replaced the suspension, I learned how to do everything with that truck... and then my ex-wife started driving it.

Here it is as it sits today.

His driving days are through. His spirit will live on, however, in Sly, my 01. Over the last week or so I’ve slowly been stealing parts. I’ve grabbed a couple lights, trim pieces, and the bilstein 5100s, tundra coils, and OME 906s. It all has a good 20k miles on it, but it’s better than what I got for sure, and it’s free.

I’m hoping this coming weekend to switch everything out.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[solsnowbarger]

07/18/20 - I was still missing most of my new parts, but I had received a new PVC valve and grommet. I know I need to do my valve cover gaskets, but I’m impatient, so out came the old and in went the new.

You can tell I had to do a bit of fishing for the old grommet, but it’s all out.

I also received my new OEM LBJs, and Energy Suspension sway bar bushings. Along with this bad boy.

It’s a lot less money than it’s more famous cousins, but it’s been great so far. I did go out and buy some of the chemical guys foaming soap, and I loved the results.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[TheShowtime]

That’s a beautiful 01 Sport! I also have one but in millennium silver tho. If you don’t mind me asking what state did you get your Sport and how much did you end up paying for it? Is it 4wd?

 

[solsnowbarger]

That’s a beautiful 01 Sport! I also have one but in millennium silver tho. If you don’t mind me asking what state did you get your Sport and how much did you end up paying for it? Is it 4wd?

Thanks man.

And no, not at all. I searched high and low and seriously considered cross country trips. I live close to Wichita, KS, and I found this guy in Lawrence, about 3 hours away from me.

I ended up paying $8,300. Asking was 9K. I... don’t really know if that’s good? I’d been looking at all these low mile ones on Bring-A-Trailer that had been going for 15+ thousand. I thought I’d try my luck with his guy though. It’s higher mileage than I wanted, but it was close, and I was tired after looking for 6 months, haha.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[TheShowtime]

Thanks man.

And no, not at all. I searched high and low and seriously considered cross country trips. I live close to Wichita, KS, and I found this guy in Lawrence, about 3 hours away from me.

I ended up paying $8,300. Asking was 9K. I... don’t really know if that’s good? I’d been looking at all these low mile ones on Bring-A-Trailer that had been going for 15+ thousand. I thought I’d try my luck with his guy though. It’s higher mileage than I wanted, but it was close, and I was tired after looking for 6 months, haha.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I paid around the same for mine. My 4Runner had 149k when I purchased it. Actually 150k is low miles considering the age of our trucks. Most are over 200k and up.

 

[solsnowbarger]

I paid around the same for mine. My 4Runner had 149k when I purchased it. Actually 150k is low miles considering the age of our trucks. Most are over 200k and up.

Agreed, so far I’m very happy. I hope I have 10 good years in front of me.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Thebeastlives]

Nearly 8500k for a 3rd gen 4 runner that is 20 years old....WOW. I've seen them for 6k all around Az if you can find them and some are single owner vehicles with under 200k miles. I know the 3rd gen like the FJ seem to have a cult like following. In LA I've sen them listed similarly priced as well. Kinda makes since in LA because not many people want to drive a 20 year vehicle and deal with smog checks and repairs.

 

[Jay4runner7]

Nearly 8500k for a 3rd gen 4 runner that is 20 years old....WOW. I've seen them for 6k all around Az if you can find them and some are single owner vehicles with under 200k miles. I know the 3rd gen like the FJ seem to have a cult like following. In LA I've sen them listed similarly priced as well. Kinda makes since in LA because not many people want to drive a 20 year vehicle and deal with smog checks and repairs.

It’s actually not that uncommon to find rust free 4Runners with 150k for around 8k in the west coast. The 3rd gens in the west are more expensive to buy.

 

[solsnowbarger]

07/29/20 - Finally ordered my spark plugs and wires, as well as what I hope is an OEM fuel filter. Prices were a bit higher than I remember, but overtime at work will make it all better.

I picked up drain and fill gaskets from my local stealership, as well as the 8 bolts for my LBJs. I’m hoping to get my suspension broken apart this weekend, and we’ll see how long the putting together takes. On the upside, it’s been raining all week, which gives me a good excuse to not do anything outside.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[cblock406]

Looks really clean and I don't think you overpaid, seems about market or even slightly less.

 

[ToyotaBrah]

$8,300 is not what I consider overpaid considering the low mileage and rust-free. Overpaid is what I see on some BaT examples.

Looks solid, and it's neat that you got the original literature with it and the retractable privacy cargo shade. Lot of bozos throw them out.

By the way, A 2002 Sport Edition skid plate would look perfect on it. Just sayin'.

 

[solsnowbarger]

Looks really clean and I don't think you overpaid, seems about market or even slightly less.

Agreed man, I’m really happy with it. I’m trying to get all my maintenance out of the way so I know I’m protecting my investment.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[solsnowbarger]

$8,300 is not what I consider overpaid considering the low mileage and rust-free. Overpaid is what I see on some BaT examples.

Looks solid, and it's neat that you got the original literature with it and the retractable privacy cargo shade. Lot of bozos throw them out.

By the way, A 2002 Sport Edition skid plate would look perfect on it. Just sayin'.

You’re not wrong dude. Trust me, I was looking hard at some of the recent examples, but that 15K would’ve been a hard thing to justify, haha.

This is my first runner that still has it, and I’ve found it useful multiple times so far. My 4th had the little shelf back there, but it wasn’t the same.

As for the skid plate, you’re preaching to the choir man. I want to keep this pretty close to factory, and that’d be a really nice addition. I’ll be keeping an eye out.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[solsnowbarger]

07/31/20 - No progress today, but this bad boy came in!

BH3D Printing does awesome work, and shipped very promptly. Once I’m done with my current round of maintenance, I think I’ll install this as a reward.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[ArmArak]

07/31/20 - No progress today, but this bad boy came in!

BH3D Printing does awesome work, and shipped very promptly. Once I’m done with my current round of maintenance, I think I’ll install this as a reward.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Damn stealing my ideas smh... I knew I should’ve copyrighted

Satoshi Grill Mod (2000)

Haha looks good though lol!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[solsnowbarger]

Damn stealing my ideas smh... I knew I should’ve copyrighted

Haha looks good though lol!

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Haha thanks man! Yours looks really slick, I like the colormatching.

I’ve been hoping to keep this mostly factory looking, but a satoshi still might be in my future.


On a side note, disabled my DRLs today, and gave the old boy a bath.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[solsnowbarger]

08/05/20 - Suspension Rebuild Non-Update:
Things are going slow. I have the front struts out, and the LBJs all unbolted, but I have yet to find the correct puller tool from the Oreileys for the tie rod ends and LBJs. The first one, too small, the second, too big. I’ll try my luck at autozone tomorrow.
I did get those huge castle nuts off without any drama, as well as the LBJ bolts, so that’s a blessing.

Old stuff for fun.

New stuff for more fun.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk