Starting My Build, New Guy With Tons of Questions! :)

963rdgen

New member
Hey Guys,
Long time lurker, first time poster.

I bought my 1996 Limited 4Runner about a year ago. So far it has been a pretty awesome truck with no major issues.

It needs some general wear and tear parts replaced, but it only has 240,000 km. Still runs well.

Since I've had it I have:
-Deleted running boards.
-Painted stock rims black, they are chipping from off road use so soon I will have them powder coated.
-Picked up a custom rear steel off road bumper. Pretty simple design, needs to be powder coated.
-Upgraded the 265/70/16 Goodyear Fortera's to 265/75/16 Duratracs! (Very happy with the tire choice.)

Picture as it sits today:
photo114.jpg~original

Small video of the truck: (Looks a lot less intense in the video but the Tacoma in the video had a much harder time.)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GEl_EBYqJNo&feature=plcp

I just ordered the Addicted Offroad Front Tube Bumper with Square Stinger. I also ordered a 1" Body Lift.

Now on to my questions!
Any and all help that can be offered is greatly appreciated, I'm young, and don't have any experience with trucks. I'm starting to get a pretty good idea from all the reading I've been doing.

1) Lift. I was planning on doing Toytec Ultimate Coilovers in the front, and Land Cruiser 9 Wraps in the rear. Recently Toytec added Superflex Rear Coils at 3.75" Lift, with extended rear Bllsteins.

I'm planning to run some 315/75/16 Duratracs. Is anyone able to offer some advice on the superflex vs the land cruiser 8 or 9 wraps?

2) Winch

Bought an XD9000

3)Muffler vs Exhaust System
Going with a Thrush


4) Rear Locker My rear e-locker was working when I first purchased the truck. Apparently the motor has conked out. It's $880 for a new motor from Toyota. WTF? Lol. Anywhere to get a cheaper motor for it?

Going to find a used one

5)Roof Basket I want a big roof basket where I am able to mount a hi-lift, off road lights and reverse lights on the rear. I want it to sit as low as possible. I have found some Thule M.O.A.B. racks locally, and you can buy extensions. I'm unsure whether I'd be able to mount everything on that or not? If not any recommendations?

Whitsons racks are perfect


Once again thanks for any help everyone is able to provide.
I want to have this beast ready for next season!

Truck is nicknamed Truck Norris :P
 
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I like what you have going on. I gotta get me some duratracs, those look great! As for exhaust, save your money and do the muffler only, unless of-course your system is falling apart. Any performance gains you get from dropping a load of cash on a full system just won't be worthwhile, these arent race cars after all. As for the roof rack, I know a guy...:biggrin2:

Welcome!
 
Thanks for the warm welcome guys. Any recommendation on which muffler to put on? My exhaust system is fine from what I've seen.

Whitson, just checked out your website, those roof baskers look amazing!

I'm a website designer, maybe we could work out a bit of a trade:P, yours needs some work.

Are you able to sell light mount and hi-lift mounts as well?

Santacruz, they're great tires. I want to run the 315/75/16 Duratrac when it's all done. Can't wait to get some snow to try these out!

Thanks,
James.
 
That sounds unreal man! Do you have a part number, or could you point me in the right direction as to where I could get one of those?

That's the exact sound I'm looking for.
 
That sounds unreal man! Do you have a part number, or could you point me in the right direction as to where I could get one of those?

That's the exact sound I'm looking for.

i just got mine at a local muffler shop.
can get them anywhere really just google it haha
 
for the lift i think you wont be disappointed with the toytec coilovers im very happy with mine i just need a winch now to set the springs and the rear i have the LC 8 wraps they giva about 4'' of lift but the thing i dont like bout them are they sag alot under load im looking into getin some more hd coils like the ome 861 and i personly think the 5125 series bilstien shocks are a little short for the 8 wraps if i would of know i would just get the exstend ones

i also have the 40 series flowmaster on my runner its sounds good and sick wen your mud boggin but i think i will take it off because i do alot of hunting with it so yea

th e locker man i saw one on cl for 550 to bad u aint around here but try an open it and clean it might jus work

hope that helps
 
Thanks Mien,

Good input, Toytec just added a new rear option on their ultimate which is the way I'm leaning right now.

My buddy from another forum suggested a Thrush, which is similar to the 40.

Yeah 550 is a good deal!

James.
 
4) Rear Locker My rear e-locker was working when I first purchased the truck. Apparently the motor has conked out. It's $880 for a new motor from Toyota. WTF? Lol. Anywhere to get a cheaper motor for it?

5)Roof Basket I want a big roof basket where I am able to mount a hi-lift, off road lights and reverse lights on the rear. I want it to sit as low as possible. I have found some Thule M.O.A.B. racks locally, and you can buy extensions. I'm unsure whether I'd be able to mount everything on that or not? If not any recommendations?


Once again thanks for any help everyone is able to provide.
I want to have this beast ready for next season!

Truck is nicknamed Truck Norris :P

First off, welcome to the forum!

Regarding your Locker I would just watch Kijiji and look for a wrecked Limited 4Runner being parted out in your area. I'll bet you will be able to score a new-er motor that works from there in no time! Also, have you pulled your motor/solenoid apart and tried cleaning it up? I saw a thread on it somewhere....

I currently run a Thule MOAB roof basket on my 3rd gen. I got it for free so I put it to use. It does a good job of keeping random things on the roof, but that's about it. Mounting a Hi-Lift on it would be a PITA as you'd have to make custom mounts (Thule doesnt make any that I know of). The mounts that come with the rack make it sit VERY high and it's not a small basket to begin with. I bolted mine straight to my factory roof rack crossbars and it still is too high IMO. If you can get one cheap, it might be worth a look BUT if you want something designed to be hella-low profile, designed specifically for our 4Runners, and more appropriate for mounting things like a Hi-Lift - I'd say you have no choice, buy a Whitson Rack. Plus the owner, Josh, is a solid guy to deal with! WIN
 
BUT if you want something designed to be hella-low profile, designed specifically for our 4Runners, and more appropriate for mounting things like a Hi-Lift - I'd say you have no choice, buy a Whitson Rack. Plus the owner, Josh, is a solid guy to deal with! WIN

yup, and they're half the price of the Gobi racks!
 
for the lift i think you wont be disappointed with the toytec coilovers im very happy with mine i just need a winch now to set the springs and the rear i have the LC 8 wraps they giva about 4'' of lift but the thing i dont like bout them are they sag alot under load im looking into getin some more hd coils like the ome 861 and i personly think the 5125 series bilstien shocks are a little short for the 8 wraps if i would of know i would just get the exstend ones

i also have the 40 series flowmaster on my runner its sounds good and sick wen your mud boggin but i think i will take it off because i do alot of hunting with it so yea

th e locker man i saw one on cl for 550 to bad u aint around here but try an open it and clean it might jus work

hope that helps

can i get a link to that???????

edit: never mind i found it. 2 actually
http://sacramento.craigslist.org/pts/3406912568.html
http://modesto.craigslist.org/pts/3400606584.html
 
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Thanks Mien,

Good input, Toytec just added a new rear option on their ultimate which is the way I'm leaning right now.

My buddy from another forum suggested a Thrush, which is similar to the 40.

Yeah 550 is a good deal!

James.

no problem man
 

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