Srabai DD build thread

[Srabai]

Does this mean your not selling the runner?

Give it a chance. I like mines more and more.

Turns out no one really wants a 4Runner with that many miles up here in Ohio so I guess I'm stuck with it. It is a really good truck.

 

[bpowa]

I hear ya. My friends were surprised on the it has this much miles after i tuned it up and they drove it.

 

[Srabai]

Front and Rear bumpers plus the grill are going in for paint.



Ugly trailer hitch.



Bad spare tire and trailer hitch removed.



All of it gone. Looks a lot better this way. Ignore the rust.



Front stuff removed.



Primed and ready for some bed armor. I've had pretty good experiences with it so I'm going to try it again. Just finished up the painting a few hours ago. Everything's drying now.





Maybe I'll build a real bumper someday. This one feels flimsy as all get out. Can't imagine it would do much protecting in a wreck.

 

[Gerdo]

Nice find and great price considering no blown HG.
Great job on doing all the maintenance.
One word of advise. Keep a close eye on the front end parts. Non OE parts are known to wear out quickly on these, especially the lower ball joints. I have seen non OE LBJs wear out in 20,000 miles.

 

[Srabai]

Nice find and great price considering no blown HG.
Great job on doing all the maintenance.
One word of advise. Keep a close eye on the front end parts. Non OE parts are known to wear out quickly on these, especially the lower ball joints. I have seen non OE LBJs wear out in 20,000 miles.

Thanks, I've been keeping a close eye on the ball joints. I threw them on a few days before everyone started posting issues about the non OE parts. I guess I'll be the guinea pig for the latest Moog ball joints. You all will be the first to know when they go.

 

[Duckman97]

Wheels

Can't beat that with a stick man good dependable car for 2000 dollars

 

[Srabai]

All back together.

 

[Srabai]

Rolled over 220,000 miles this last week. I've only done one oil change since I picked it up last September. I used to do the oil every 3000 miles or before on my previous vehicles but I've since stopped that and go around 5,000 miles between changes on this one. I use whatever full synthetic oil is on sale at Autozone, and always grab the Mobil 1 Extended Performance oil filter.


I also had no idea how ugly the gold lettering was until it was gone.



Looking for ideas on the silver trim. Plasti-dip, Duplicolor bed armor or Krylon Gloss. Any thoughts?
I'm also thinking about either painting the wheels or grabbing a set of black steelies. 16X8 BLACK Toyota Steel Wheels

 

[yotallycrazy]

Rolled over 220,000 miles this last week. I've only done one oil change since I picked it up last September. I used to do the oil every 3000 miles or before on my previous vehicles but I've since stopped that and go around 5,000 miles between changes on this one. I use whatever full synthetic oil is on sale at Autozone, and always grab the Mobil 1 Extended Performance oil filter.


I also had no idea how ugly the gold lettering was until it was gone.



Looking for ideas on the silver trim. Plasti-dip, Duplicolor bed armor or Krylon Gloss. Any thoughts?
I'm also thinking about either painting the wheels or grabbing a set of black steelies. 16X8 BLACK Toyota Steel Wheels

Can't beat that deal.whats your update spendings including the truck price?.keep us posted on those moogs.

 

[Srabai]

Can't beat that deal.whats your update spendings including the truck price?.keep us posted on those moogs.

$3827 including purchase price. The moogs are good so far, they have around 8500 miles on them so I'm probably going to check them out soon. I read a post from someone on here a few months ago and his Moogs failed around that time.

 

[Majindan]

I really like the black bumpers, and I think some PIAA lights mounted on the front one sprayed in the same black would like badass.

 

[Srabai]

Did the blue wire mod today. It seems that the 97 and possibly other limited models can't use the same procedure as the sr5 models to bypass the 4low safety feature for the e-locker. Possibly due to the push button 4wd. The following is how I got mine to work.

- Remove plastic on the bottom left of the drivers side.
- Disconnect the plug from the 4wd module
- Cut the blue wire with the red stripe on it
- Tape the end that goes into the plug (don't want it touching anything)
- Strip the end that feeds into the wire bundle
- Attach a length of wire to it and run it to a switch (I used a window lock switch from a 02 celica)
- Add another length of wire and run it to the other side of the switch
- All finished

I first tried grounding the wire that comes out of the plug and it activates 4wd as soon as the key is put in the ignition. I also tried grounding the other end of the wire and it causes the funny shift pattern and lack of overdrive. The switch solved it.





I did some looking around on this forum and found out how to disable the DRL's for it too. Next to the battery is a little box in a metal cage. Follow the wires to a grey connector a few inches away. Unplug it. No more DRL's. Low and high beams work fine.

After I got that working I started in on the e-locker. It took me 5 hours to get the thing out at it still cracked the top part by the upper bolt. The motor works and moves the gear, the little lock mechanism inside the diff works as well. Somehow, they don't want to work together. I'll post a solution when I find one. :gun5:

 

[Srabai]

Update

Started a new job at a dealership here in Toledo as a mechanic. First job I've ever actually enjoyed. The 4runner is at 221,600 miles and runs perfect. I can't even find anything real to mess with on it.

I hate Ford as much as the next guy, but that ecoboost motor in the F150's are really nice. I threw a 6" Rough Country lift on it today. Probably the worst instructions I've ever seen. Here are a few of the pictures.

2012 Ford F-150 4x4 Ecoboost.



Finished product

 

[BlazeRunner]

FYI, the reason your blue wire mod didn't work correctly is because you grounded the wire from the wrong 4wd box. You leave the green one alone and cut the wire from the black 4wd box farther back towards where your toes would be. Just wanted you to know.

 

[Srabai]

FYI, the reason your blue wire mod didn't work correctly is because you grounded the wire from the wrong 4wd box. You leave the green one alone and cut the wire from the black 4wd box farther back towards where your toes would be. Just wanted you to know.

Good to know, I may have to go back in a check that out. I looked around quite a bit and didn't find anything about the second 4wd box. I'm guessing it's exclusive to the push button models?

Also, just turned 222,000 miles last night on my way to Norwalk. I gave it a tank of Sunoco premium as a present. I think I'll try tearing the e-locker apart again today along with some paint on the flares and wheels. Need to check into the timing belt as well. PO said it was replaced a few months before he sold it but there are no stickers and he pointed to the drive belts when telling me. Pictures to come later today.

 

[BlazeRunner]

Good to know, I may have to go back in a check that out. I looked around quite a bit and didn't find anything about the second 4wd box. I'm guessing it's exclusive to the push button models?

Also, just turned 222,000 miles last night on my way to Norwalk. I gave it a tank of Sunoco premium as a present. I think I'll try tearing the e-locker apart again today along with some paint on the flares and wheels. Need to check into the timing belt as well. PO said it was replaced a few months before he sold it but there are no stickers and he pointed to the drive belts when telling me. Pictures to come later today.

I'm not sure about it being exclusive to push button or not. I made the same mistake you did when first doing blue wire mod. My truck was stuck in 4wd. I looked over instructions again and realized I messed with the green box instead of the black one. Its kinda far up in the corner under that kickplate. The harness you unplugged runs right up to it IIRC. I would think our systems are identical considering we're both 97 limited 4x4 w locker. I'll try to take a pic for you.

 

[BlazeRunner]

I couldn't get the forum to work with my phone, but here's a similar picture I found online. The white box w text and a red arrow is pointing at the box you should be messing with. It says TOYOTA. The green box is gray in this pic but regardless should be left alone.

 

[Srabai]

I couldn't get the forum to work with my phone, but here's a similar picture I found online. The white box w text and a red arrow is pointing at the box you should be messing with. It says TOYOTA. The green box is gray in this pic but regardless should be left alone.

Thanks man, I'll get on that once I get the e-locker functioning properly again. I think the alignment of the motor and the gear is off. I read something about hooking up a AA battery to it and moving it a few degrees but nothing concrete yet.

 

[Srabai]

Started painting the wheels and the flares today. Ran out of light before I got the passenger side done. I'll post the photos of the finished product tomorrow.

Materials:
Rustoleum Flex stuff sold at the home depot, I've been impressed so far.
Soft sanding blocks
Masking tape
Painters plastic

Before:


Sanding the center caps:


Final coats on the wheels:


Sanding the flares:


First few coats on the flares:

 

[Srabai]

Newly painted wheels and flares.