Starting mods and looking for a Toytec installer

[wayne551]

So it begins... On my 2009 SR5 V6 4x4, so far I've installed Husky Liners (not a big deal, but hey its something), added the Toyota front skid plate (kinda flimsy), de-badged (my fingers still hurt) and removed the running boards.

I've purchased a set of black door handles, black grill and black rear hatch "garnish" to swap for all of the corresponding chrome parts. And, I'll be looking for a set of rock rails soon too. Then maybe the TRD exhaust, a brush guard, some lights, maybe some wheel spacers, and of course aggressive AT's when the time comes to replace the tires.

For the suspension, I have ordered a Toytec 3" leveling/lift kit (spacers only for now), and so far I'm not sure who will do the installation. Toytec says that there's no one in my state (Rhode Island) that they recommend. Should it be that hard to find someone who'd install it? Would a regular mechanic's repair shop be able to do it? What about my Toyota dealer?

Any advice on what to look for, so I get the job done right?

 

[Duhockey]

So it begins... On my 2009 SR5 V6 4x4, so far I've installed Husky Liners (not a big deal, but hey its something), added the Toyota front skid plate (kinda flimsy), de-badged (my fingers still hurt) and removed the running boards.

I've purchased a set of black door handles, black grill and black rear hatch "garnish" to swap for all of the corresponding chrome parts. And, I'll be looking for a set of rock rails soon too. Then maybe the TRD exhaust, a brush guard, some lights, maybe some wheel spacers, and of course aggressive AT's when the time comes to replace the tires.

For the suspension, I have ordered a Toytec 3" leveling/lift kit (spacers only for now), and so far I'm not sure who will do the installation. Toytec says that there's no one in my state (Rhode Island) that they recommend. Should it be that hard to find someone who'd install it? Would a regular mechanic's repair shop be able to do it? What about my Toyota dealer?

Any advice on what to look for, so I get the job done right?

wow... no answers yet huh?

well, its tough finding a "cheap" mechanic that will touch aftermarket parts. you just got to start calling around. ask what it would cost to do a strut swap and then coils and shocks in the rear.

I mean, it really shouldnt matter, most places will say they wont give you a warranty because of it.

Its not hard to do if you have the right tools. The rear on the 4th gens were way easier to do than the rear on the 3rd gens. you have to kind of spin and manuever the strut out on the 4th gen though, as the steering gets in the way...

is there anyone close to you that can help you work on it? LINY is on Long island, prob not more than 3 to 3.5 hrs away. maybe he can help you out?

I know SteezeMcqueen is going back east in a few weeks, he and I have worked on several of these together now... maybe he can help you out?

 

[wayne551]

Thanks Duhockey - I'm hoping that the spacers aren't too complicated to install. I'd prefer to find a mechanic that will do it, but I'm willing to give it a go with some friends that have some skill and can follow directions! As soon as the package arrives, I'll take a look at the step-by-steps and start making phone calls. Should it really be THAT hard to find a mechanic that will do the work? I'll tell the story as it unfolds... On another note, I ordered a set of Schrockworks sliders last night to replace the running boards that I removed yesterday. Looking good. Now to just lift and level...

 

[Duhockey]

Thanks Duhockey - I'm hoping that the spacers aren't too complicated to install. I'd prefer to find a mechanic that will do it, but I'm willing to give it a go with some friends that have some skill and can follow directions! As soon as the package arrives, I'll take a look at the step-by-steps and start making phone calls. Should it really be THAT hard to find a mechanic that will do the work? I'll tell the story as it unfolds... On another note, I ordered a set of Schrockworks sliders last night to replace the running boards that I removed yesterday. Looking good. Now to just lift and level...

thats right, you are doing the spacers arent you... so on the front you would have to get spring compressors to undo the strut...

not fun, yeah, see what mechanics will do that for ya... good luck! :thumb3:

 

[Jesse1983]

I would suggest taking your front coils and shocks out yourself. Take just them and your spacers to a little garage. Have them install the spacers (should only take them 5 minutes per side, and cost +/- $25). Then just bring them home and reinstall. And you have new springs for the rear?

 

[wayne551]

Well, I've decided to use my checkbook and found a well regarded Toyota/Lexus mechanic that does mods. Kit goes in on Friday. This way it'll be done right (one would hope) and I can preserve what little hobby time I have left, since after my baby daughter arrived last May. Soon she'll be old enough to go off road with Poppa...

And I might add that I ordered my SchrockWorks rock sliders last week, and I have in my possession, all of the black replacement parts to de-chrome with. Now I just need some of that hobby time to swap out the parts...

 

[mndanielsncsu]

How much did all of the chrome replacement parts cost you? I've priced out the color-keyed grill, but haven't priced out the door handles or rear hatch garnish. Just curious.

 

[wayne551]

I paid about $200 for all of the door handles, but after that I got the wholesale price for the grill and rear hatch garnish (total came to about $300 for both of those). See if you can get them all for a package deal. If I had done that, I'm sure they would have included the door handles at wholesale too. Even so, its a lot to pay for injection molded plastic, but I have a chrome allergy

 

[wayne551]

Had the ToyTec lift kit installed today. Elite Auto in Warwick, RI. Outstanding shop, great customer service, super nice folks. Excellent work, couldn't be happier. Truck looks great, looks like a truck, ride is still 4Runner sweet. My only regret is that I should have asked ToyTec for an estimate of how long the install is supposed to take, because I would have been better prepared when I heard the damage... It was more than I thought it would be, but afterall, I did pay for a pro install. The rush of having my 4Runner lifted the way I want it, is enough to make the damage to my wallet go down a bit easier. If I had known the cost of the labor up front, I probably would have bought the next lift kit up in the ToyTec line - the one with the same 3" front spacers, but instead of rear spacers, comes with replacement rear coils. Figure if you're gonna pay to take it all apart, might as well spend just a little more on the parts. Overall I'm very happy with it, and will post some pics when the last of the chrome is gone (except for the front and rear Toyota insignias - I decided to leave them chrome for now and see how that looks). And then of course the SchrockWorks sliders are coming in late June/early July... And then...

 

[Wild Snapper]

Hope you didnt pay more than $200, otherwise you were basically paying for that mechanic to learn how to install the kit :ybrick:. Make sure you get an alignment done as well after the lift.

So how much did it cost dare I ask?:wow:

 

[techmen17]

Hope you didnt pay more than $200, otherwise you were basically paying for that mechanic to learn how to install the kit :ybrick:. Make sure you get an alignment done as well after the lift.

So how much did it cost dare I ask?:wow:

I was pricing lift installation two days ago, and I was quoted 200. Which included labor and alignment....so I thought that was a fair price...The lift I was pricing for was the daystar, front and rear spacer too.

 

[wayne551]

I paid for the mechanic's education, unfortunately. Quite a bit more than $200. Learned my lesson.

 

[wayne551]

$200 for install and alignment sounds like a great deal. I paid way too much for my install, but I'm happy overall. Go for it!

 

[Jesse1983]

you obviously don't want to say what you paid, but how many hours did it take this person for the install?