Stealth Custom Series 2013 Holiday Contest

[Chandlerdoom]

I guess this is my story, and it was love at first sight. It wasn't 3 miles into the test drive she spills her guts all over the road for me. Rear coolant lines rusted through, But that didn't stop me from taking her home that day. It couldn't have been a worse beginning and most would have left her stranded.

But I knew this was the one. I have learned a lot with her, It wasn't 2 weeks until I tore her apart to change the timing belt with no prior automotive knowledge besides changing oil and brake pads. The year we have been together has been nothing short of a learning experience. Either way if I am chosen or not Ill have a set of wheels from SCS at some point. But treating her to proper maintenance comes first for now, as I know she will take care of me.


<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/chandlerdoom/10812778413/" title="DSC_3132-Edit by ChandlerDOOM, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2890/10812778413_9ea5b59e3a_c.jpg" width="800" height="531" alt="DSC_3132-Edit"></a>

 

[rickashay]

But treating her to proper maintenance comes first for now, as I know she will take care of me.

Great photo and also a great mind set to have. Maintenance before mods!

 

[K0nfusion]

My Journey started back in 2000. I was 15 and starting to look into cars. I knew someday I would be driving soon and wanted something that fit me. I raced dirt bikes and ATV’s so I was naturally driven towards off road capable vehicles. My father worked construction and my mom stayed at home, so money was tight. During the summer months my Dad got me a job being a laborer for the company. While browsing through wanted ads I came across the beautiful 4Runner. I believe I was looking at a 1996ish model but instantly thought it fit me. I thought sure enough I would have one by the time I was 16. I saved all my money, and worked hard to get it. In the end, discovering the actual costs of owning a vehicle, I had to settle for a 1991 Geo Prizm. Yup….way off. LoL. But I was taught a valuable lesson my father, grandfather, and great grandfather always told me, that if I wanted something bad enough I would work hard enough to earn it.
When I turned 18 I joined the military, served overseas, and completed my Bachelors Degree all by the time I was 23. It was no easy tasks. Long days with longer nights. I can remember being up for more than 24 hours multiple times just to get the mission done. I eventually moved to AZ back in 2008, I owned a small pick-up. Not my first choice, but once again it got the job done. Fast forward to May 2013, I just reenlisted in the Air National Guard to earn a little extra cash. I work varying shifts in my civilian job, and sometimes average 4 hrs of sleep. I’m married, and after losing a son in premature birth, I have a beautiful daughter who is my world. I gave my wife everything she wanted and she knows that. When it came time for a safer vehicle for our family she was convinced on the new Dodge Durango. I pleaded with her to finally allow me to get the 4Runner, I showed her how reliable Toyota was, and they hold their value. Two of her friends got the new Dodge Durango, she loved it. My fate was all but sealed. I told her I would get her whatever would make her happy and keep my daughter safe. So one day this past May, I’m taking a shower after getting home from a midnight shift. Just handing my head and letting the hot water run to relax my muscles. My wife walks in and asks if I’m ready to go car shopping. I’m exhausted beyond belief, my body aches, and I just want a pillow. But I’m not that kind of man. I tell her I will if I can get an energy drink along the way. She says fine, but we’re going to the Toyota Dealership. During the drive there she exclaimed how I deserved this for all my hard work and giving her the life she’s always dreamed of. I’m nothing special; I just take care of my wife and kid. We ended up getting the SR5 and I was able to squeeze in 4x4. It’s still bone stock, today it just had it’s 5k mile service performed. I don’t have the cash to lift it, put bigger tires on it, or any of the other cool stuff I read about on here. But I come on here every day to feel like part of the club. I save pictures of others off-roading adventures and dream of having that opportunity someday. I’d love to have these wheels, perhaps a tip of the hat that that hard work, and labor are still acknowledged among men.


Sorry, I don't have any pictures, but my Avatar is exactly how it still looks.

 

[JohnBill53]

Well, let's give this a go. My name is Jp, I'm 21 years old, currently a junior at the University of Oklahoma, and my pride and joy is Frankenstein. I come from a long line of Toyota's, my old man had two 2ndgens he used to run his one man survey company out of, that is until the sequoias came out. Now he's got two of those, and two 1st gen tacos that he runs 3 crews out of. His love of the trucks influenced my brother to buy and build his 85 LC60 was his DD until my niece and nephew were brought into this world, he now drives a sequoia as well.

Frankenstein was a gift from my dad, being the youngest of four it was pretty much understood through my teens I'd be purchasing my own vehicle but after going to look at it, we got back in his truck to head back home and he handed me the keys. Naturally I was ecstatic. My old man has his principles and and always taught me "never pay some one to do something you can do yourself." Having said that, I've done every oil change and tackled every maintenance issue within my/our ability from 140k to 216k where my truck is at today.

In eight years I have learned far more in my 4runner than it's mechanics and how to work on it. As a teenager it was always the road tripping truck for my boys and I and I loved it. Some of the most fond memories being the parentless college visits we took the summer before my senior year including Texas Tech, UT Austin, OU, and Arkansas. That was back when I had the Toytec spacers and some OME's out back with the stock shocks, road like a chuck wagon but it was my chuck wagon none the less. Now that I am working my way through college and student loan payments not to mention the real world in the uncomfortably near future, it seams every spare dollar saved goes into my 4runner as I know how hard it will be to put money to it in the immediate couple of years after school. I'm grateful my dad has been willing to lend me money here and there to help me mod the 4runner and still keep up with rent and bills. I don't think Frankenstein would be where he is today without that, I have to give my pops a lot of credit.

I've been close to making the purchase before on the F-5's before, talked to you guys I think twice specifically when I was the closest to having the money but could never do it. Way back when y'all had another deal like this Vin sent me some free stickers been rocking those on the truck ever sense kinda wish I had a couple more (I'm a sticker junkie). Even painted my stockers poser matte bronze...ish. Well, yeah...I guess that's our story. I feel like everyone on the forum has a pretty deep connection with their 4runner. I've learned alot on this website, made cross country friends I've never met and some I have met, who's names are still associated with their 4runner in my mind. I think this is a great idea [MENTION=88453]SCSPerformance[/MENTION] and thank y'all very much for doing badass stuff like this for us I mean....making sick wheels was cool enough haha Thanks again!

Frankenstein

 

[LuckyRunnerLTD]

Alittle different story..

So my 4runner addiction just started about half way thru this year. I have always been a honda guy, swearing id never drive anything else. Well one august morning 2 years ago I was driving down a mountain road in my 90 integra. I was going through a pretty sharp right turn and the driver side rear tire came off the rim, resulting in a loss of control of course. I went off the 2 lane road knowing I was about to lose my life with the view of telephone pole, lots of trees, and tall weeds. I missed the pole but hit a rock on my driver side door that came up to about the side molding, crushing the side and bottom of the car to the exhaust. I rolled the car along with the rock about 30 ft landing next to a tree on my wheels, when the car landed on its wheels I opened my eyes in shock that I wasnt seriously injured. I unbuckled my seat belt and crawled out the window to look at the mess I was in. in much pain i crawled to the road to get help from a field worker that happened to be driving by, who didnt speak english but let me use his phone to call for help. I was taken to the hospital because i was bleeding from my left ear, and my back seriously hurt. I ended up fracturing my skull behind my left ear, and compress fracturing my T-9 vertebrae along with minor aches and pains. I stupidly checked myself out of the hospital because I wasnt receiving any help there at escondido palomar medical center (old terrible hospital). So I got on with my life and bought a 90 civic with a LS motor swap a few months ago by and on that same road I dozed off just before my house and hit a telephone pole on the exit of a left hand corner at about 55 mph, again I flipped the car onto its roof and slid over a barbwire fence about 20 ft only scraping my arm on the fence. I again unbuckled my seat belt and fell out amazed I was alive again and uninjured this time.

So that was it for little cars, about 10 months later me and my girlfriend found out we were going to be expecting blessing and an angel, Harley Monroe C. We wanted a family vehicle which we can go on family adventures just about anywhere with.She went into her 401K and we picked up a 1999 limited runner with factory locker. Since I first drove the runner I fell in love and just wanted to start the mods, but that has to wait awhile. So I endlessly search the forum and expedition portal to find out what I want on for my uses.

We'd love to show off your wheels on all of our ventures. Safe travels everyone!!!

 

[downpour11]

I rolled the car along with the rock about 30 ft landing next to a tree on my wheels, when the car landed on its wheels I opened my eyes in shock that I wasnt seriously injured.
….a few months ago by and on that same road I dozed off just before my house and hit a telephone pole on the exit of a left hand corner at about 55 mph, again I flipped the car onto its roof and slid over a barbwire fence about 20 ft only scraping my arm on the fence. I again unbuckled my seat belt and fell out amazed I was alive again and uninjured this time. !

Damn! Sounds like a haunted stretch of road!

Glad you made it out alive :cheers:

 

[SCSPerformance]

Thank you for the kind words everyone! I wish I could enter my own contest, lol. My love for the Tacoma stems from my dad and my addiction to modding cars and trucks is b/c of him.

I see a lot of similar stories posted so far which I think is great. Thank you for sharing!!! Keep them coming along.

 

[4Running Daily]

Thank you for the kind words everyone! I wish I could enter my own contest, lol. My love for the Tacoma stems from my dad and my addiction to modding cars and trucks is b/c of him.

I see a lot of similar stories posted so far which I think is great. Thank you for sharing!!! Keep them coming along.

Where are the pictures of this second gen you own? I loved how simple and clean your 1st gen was.

 

[SCSPerformance]

Where are the pictures of this second gen you own? I loved how simple and clean your 1st gen was.

I've never been good with creating a build thread for myself and I typically don't take the time to take a lot of pictures which I know I should. It's going to pop out once I get it to where I want it. There are few pics floating around if you're good at digging, lol.

 

[4Running Daily]

I've never been good with creating a build thread for myself and I typically don't take the time to take a lot of pictures which I know I should. It's going to pop out once I get it to where I want it. There are few pics floating around if you're good at digging, lol.

White, long travel 2nd gen, a ways down your instagram page right?

 

[Intruder]

Best. Idea. Ever. Really loving all the stories in this thread and for such a great prize too.

P.S. I promise not to pull a [MENTION=63060]rickashay[/MENTION] and sell my 4Runner after putting F5's on my 3rd gen haha

Don't say his name! The big ging is a 4Runner traitor!

Common Connor I sold my 4Runner on F5's so I could get a LX with F5's and Stealth 6's on my Tundra! lol

See? Traitor!

That looks a lot like an intruder you've got tied on there. In case anyone ever wondered where I got my username from...

 

[SCSPerformance]

White, long travel 2nd gen, a ways down your instagram page right?

:bolt:
at its current state yes.

 

[bofa]

I'll hold onto my story because it sounds like some of these young guys would get better use of them.

I just wanted to chime in that I think it's very cool that you guys are doing this and enjoyed reading. :thumb:

 

[Ducmonsta]

Ducmonsta's Story

Hello folks. My name's Roscoe and I'm here to tell you about my former owner, Bobby. Most of you know him as Ducmonsta. I used to be his one and only. Here I am in front of his shop, back in the day.


A long time ago, I met a wonderful, young, sexy gal named Candy. I always told her that her name really fit well. She was red and white and well, sweet as candy.


We had a long relationship with Bobby. I took him on long road trips across the country. We spent 8 weeks out on the road. Bobby always took good care of me. She took him to some of her favorite places. She really loved the track. I told her to make sure she keeps the shiny side up. Candy really took care of Bobby.


Some time went by and Candy and I wanted to start a family. So in April of 2011 we had a baby boy. Here's the day I brought him home. Isn't he cute?


It wasn't long after when Candy and I had to move on. I went to a great young couple in Maryland. Candy spent most of her time in Colorado. We still maintain contact. I miss her, though.
It's nice to see that our son is taking good care of Bobby. He sends me all kinds of pics of their adventures. I heard he's made a lot of good friends.


I know they've done a bunch of camping like I used to take Bobby.


I've heard of some of the late night parties with some other Toyota friends. All the young kids these days are always changing things up.

Although I wish he'd stop getting all these tattoos.


I ABOUT BLEW A HEAD GASKET when I saw that. He laughed and finally told me that it was a temporary tattoo. He did it for his mother's memory.

Anyway, that's pretty much the story of how Bobby became a part of our family. He's a dedicated Toyota enthusiast. He loves this online community. He just moved to a new area and is still trying to get used to being a stay at home dad. And I bet he'd love to get some new wheels for our son.

 

[5RUNNERZ]

My 4runner connection!

It all started in 2005, right before I got my drivers license. I remember finding a 4x4 manual trans truck and thought that would be the coolest truck ever, but it was over an hour away and my parents are not big into cars. I asked my dad to go look at the 4runner but he laughed and said to find something closer. With me still being in high school at the time and I played sports. Apparently my team was going to have a meet in the town were the 4runner was! so I convinced my dad that it had to be destiny and he laughed once again. Once my sports stuff was over we met up with the 4runner. At the time she had 20 inch chrome wheels and low pro tires, so at lest we know it was not bet off road at all! Long stories even longer the truck was immaculate so I bought her and brought her home



Of course I was a teenager and did not appreciate cars like a I do know, so she was beaten up very very very hard over the past 8 years. Through all of that she only had to be flatbeded home 2 times, once because I did not clean the mud off the brakes and they locked up and the second time was because I hydrolocked the engine and though 2 rods though the block. None of that stopped me. I just kept fixing her up with a new motor and all new suspension and eventually she looked like this



When I was 19 I had a great job making way more money then an 19 year old should, so I spent 13k on a diesel jeep liberty and spent 4k on fixing it up. Short story long, 2 year later she blew the engine and it was going to coast 5k with me doing all the work, subsequently I cut my loses and went back to driving my 2nd gen! After taking such a big loss on that jeep I went back to my roots and started looking for a 3rd gen. I found a hideous looking 3rd gen on craigslist about an hour and a half away. Once I started reading what the kid did to it I realized he was just really bad at taking pics! for some reason or another he said he would drive the truck to me and did not ask for anymore money or a ride home. That struck me as weird, but I went with it. Once I saw the truck in person it was what I thought it was and I bought it. So for the past 2 ish years I have been waiting for it to self destruct, but i guess their are some very nice people in this world!!!!

This is how I brought the 3rd gen home



after a lot of work and actually starting a build thread to track the building of her this is how she sits today



and some were along the line I bought a lifted tundra, just because I love toyotas!



now we have some of my history of me and toyotas here is the connection with all of my toyotas!!!

Going back to 2005 I was the first of my friends to get his license, so most of my friends stories originate with " we were in Rich's 4runner when...." I could go on about all the stories that go along with the 2nd gen. Here is my favorite; Once a year since I have owned her, me and my friends go to American la mans series racing in Sebring, Florida, which is a 2 hour drive. For me as a kid I felt like I was trucking across America. Every year different friends would come in the 4runner and we would abuse/have fun. With a full truck and all the "fun" she would never have any problems! so for years we have been doing stuff like



some years were worse then others!!!!



Needless to stay I have moved on to the 3rd gen which I have put nothing put toyota brand parts on, some of which are from Tundras or Land Cruiser or Camburg but nothing but the best for this one!!! I plan on taking some cross county trips with her, so she needs to be in tip top shape!!! This year I took the 3rd gen from Florida to New York 1200 miles each way, 3k round trip! She has some cheep wheels on it now and for some reason wheel weights will not stick to her well, so during the drive she slung all the wheel weights off and needless to say the drive was like sitting in a back massager!!! other then that she was fine the hole way and I got to squeeze in just a little off roading!! so until I get some new wheels she is grounded from long road trips :redbrick:!!!!!!!! I love seeing the county with her and if you have not accomplished a rather long road trip like that with your toyota, you just can not understand the bond you have with you and your Toyota!!!

Her are a few pics from my trip












Side note- When every time I get into your truck(for me the past 8 ish years) I think in my head how much I love this truck or every time someone ask who is going to drive you pipe up without any hesitation!!!!

Thats my story, I am sticking to it, and I love toyotas!!!!

 

[Robmills72]

Aw hell why not

My truck is a 1994 Toyota 4runner SR5 that my father bought new and handed down to me when I turned 16. We always drove around on the beach and camped in it, even cooler than that I have baby pictures with it. The only mods my father had done to it before he gave it to me were some tires, rims, and a SWEET ARB front bumper that was a replacement for the stock bumper that decided to catch a tree that we were falling on a new property. I remember shooting my first gun out of the back, and I've done a lot of prone shooting out of her. Since the moment the keys landed in my hand my obsession with my money pit started, but she is a well deserving money pit. The first thing on the agenda was to restore it to its former glory so we got her repainted to a very beautiful green to fix the awful Texas sunburn she had gotten. Then my father and I installed a Old Man Emu lift along with a set of BF Goodrich KM2's on Pro-Comp Crawler rims. We then installed a Smittybilt xrc8 winch and a pair of KC lights in the bumper, a Rola rack and a 24" led light bar on the roof. Next thing was to make her truly trail worthy which I believe was greatly achieved through a Spartan Locker, Cobra CB radio, and rear bumper, spare tire carrier, and rock sliders from 4xInnovations. I have taken her on many camping trips and a couple serious wheeling trips but love hitting the beaches and rivers with her too. I've saved a few full sized trucks out of some sloppy muck and helped a few people in first aid situations, I Try to stay prepared for everything. I've gotten some very shocked looks when i just putt right through loose sand and over obstacles that bigger trucks have trouble with, and theres no better feeling than someone telling you that they like your car, because I know that they don't like it nearly as much as i do I have really enjoyed working on and wheeling this rig with my father and I have met a lot of great people along the way, people who love their yota's just as unhealthily as i do. It keeps me humble and I love it. Being considered for this contest would really be a testament to my hard work, not to mention SCS rims are the sexiest out there thanks fore your time and keep wheelin'!

Video:http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=muXyXL47Olc
Pics:

 

[BrickSwindle]

So here's my story:

I'm new to the forum and new to Toyotas in general. I grew up mostly around American made cars. I learned to drive on my grandfather's Chevy Cheyenne. My first vehicle was a hand-me-down 2000 Jeep Wrangler. I had been driving it for approximately 7-8 years before I graduated college, got a job, and had to commute approximately 70 miles round trip every day. And with making a monthly 900mi roundtrip to visit the fiance while she started grad school (Louisville, KY to Clemson, SC), the gas mileage of the Jeep wasn't worth it anymore. I was on the verge of making my first big purchase of my adult life. I was very tedious about my selection and my requirements.

I narrowed it down to a few vehicles and ended up going with a 2011 Chevy Equinox due to the really good fuel efficiency (and I got a discount through my job). I was thrilled with it. I could make it to my fiance's apartment on a single tank. It was awesome. And this is where things start going south.

Flash forward 2.5 years later and I am stuck in a small town in a different state with a dead car. I found out the hard way, but my engine had been experiencing an oil consumption issue. Even between regular oil changes, the engine burned through an incredible amount of oil, leading to increasing mechanical damage. Over time, I had been getting gas into the timing chain oil. That was what went first. The broken timing chain then bent up valve stems, etc. It was a nightmare. Trying to get my dealership to honor the powertrain warranty was even worse (even though they changed my oil regularly and did the repairs after a small accident).

I spent around 6 weeks driving rentals, family and friend's vehicles to get to work, all while fighting to avoid dropping several thousands of dollars on a new engine. Finally, I bumped into a college friend that now works as a marketing coordinator at Toyota. She convinced me to drop by, test drive a few models, and meet with a sales manager that had repped GM for several years prior. Ended up gaining quite an attachment to the 4Runner after the test drive. It was everything I was looking for previously, but with the extra capability I was missing from my Jeep and terrific reliability.

Anyway, after several open and honest conversations with the sales manager, he hooked me up with someone that could fix the Equinox and eat most of the cost. And he was willing to give me a good deal on the trade in. Luckily, the initial 4Runner I really liked was still available and had dropped in price.

And here I am today, a mod wish list a mile long from reading this forum. I've had the truck for six days haha. :biggrin1:

 

[Dirtyfingers]

If this were a vote I'd have to say 4running daily deserves it. That is quite a connection. I had that same connection with my old sport trac and it's unexplainable.

 

[HHIRunner]

If this were a vote I'd have to say 4running daily deserves it. That is quite a connection. I had that same connection with my old sport trac and it's unexplainable.

This is going to be a vote

 

[Dirtyfingers]

I should probably specify "if this were up to a vote" haha