So this adventure starts off with me relocating back to Kansas City, Mo after a 2 yr relocation run with my company in Wichita, KS. I quit the Corp Job after 15 years and went to work at a family owned company which meant I was back in KC. It also means I had to give up the free company car. So off to pick a new car to drive.
I test drove a hand full of different cars but kept going back to look at 4runners. I've always loved the first gens but i needed a daily driver and this time i had a bit more funding to get something new and nice and still make some necessary improvements.
I stumbled onto this ad one sunday morning on Craigslist.
I was the 2nd person to get in contact with the seller so the first guy had the rights to it. I kept offering more, knowing the other buyer was just probably a CL troll looking to try and flip it for some quick cash. After a VERY long process i managed to buy the car from the seller for $4k. It had 194k mostly highway miles and it ran a good portion of those on dirt roads. Super clean other than the dead motor and the dirt that collects when you live on a dirt road and dont wash your car much.
The P.O. claimed their ASCE certified mechanics inspected the car and that the pistons were frozen/locked into the cylinder and that the motor was toast. I could tell that they had let it overheat as there was coolant stains all over the engine compartment. I towed it home and without hesitation my curiosity said, but a fresh battery in it and lets see whats really broken.
Dam thing fired right up. It had a tick, like a lower end tick but ran like a top. I only let it run for about 30 seconds but was stumped. Then it occurred to me that if it overheated, then there's probably no coolant in the block. I filled it with tap water and repeated the investigation. This time you could tell that the head gasket had blown and was dumping water into the cylinder(s).
So knowing that the engine was overheated, had almost 200k on the odo and a nice oil leak, I decided to search a new engine. Scored a 34k mile motor from a 2008 T4R from car-part.com and started the engine removal process.
Old Engine came out pretty easy. Had it out in a day and waited for the new one.
Dropped the new one in and turned the key. Dam thing fired up on the first try. Iver dropped in probably about 10-12 motors in my time an never had one fire up perfect the first turn of the key. I should have gone straight to the store and bought a lottery ticket. anyway...
So, my Craigslist searching paid off the next weekend with this little baby just a few hours north of me in DesMoines. Nice Shrockworks Front bumper in excellent condition, just needing a little cleanup and new paint/powdercoat. The guy I bought it from bought his truck with this bumper already on it and took it to the dealer to have it removed as it didn't fit the look he wanted. I didn't say much else other than thanks for the deal. Scooped the front bumper for $400.
So now its licensed, legal and driving me to work till I source my suspension upgrades.
I intend to get a double swing-out rear bumper/carrier from CBI. Man, if could only find one of those on craigslist too
So I will be running a front heavy bumper ( winch in the future ) and a heavy rear bumper with tire carrier. Sliders are going to happen too.
Coming from the FJ-40 world i was already familiar with the reputation of OME suspension and started to research this first. Too many people on here were speaking of their dislike for the OME set up so I started looking into the ToyTec Ulimate, as Icon is just to far beyond my budget. I know that a lot of people really enjoy their TT Ultimate set up but what I can't find out is if the springs are really set up for the additional weight I plan to carry. Also, im tempted to do a 1" BL and I need to make that decision before I talk to the guys at CBI as that's one big factor in the rear bumper.
I've read about the first 50 pages of the suspension FAQ and will continue to do more research but I know sometimes its easier to just ask the question that's been asked a bunch. Any thoughts on the Lift considering the weight? My only other thought was an OW set up, but half way thru my research I leaned Im about a year late on that deal so no luck picking their brains.
Anyway, heres how she sits, stock and ready to be upgraded.
I test drove a hand full of different cars but kept going back to look at 4runners. I've always loved the first gens but i needed a daily driver and this time i had a bit more funding to get something new and nice and still make some necessary improvements.
I stumbled onto this ad one sunday morning on Craigslist.
I was the 2nd person to get in contact with the seller so the first guy had the rights to it. I kept offering more, knowing the other buyer was just probably a CL troll looking to try and flip it for some quick cash. After a VERY long process i managed to buy the car from the seller for $4k. It had 194k mostly highway miles and it ran a good portion of those on dirt roads. Super clean other than the dead motor and the dirt that collects when you live on a dirt road and dont wash your car much.
The P.O. claimed their ASCE certified mechanics inspected the car and that the pistons were frozen/locked into the cylinder and that the motor was toast. I could tell that they had let it overheat as there was coolant stains all over the engine compartment. I towed it home and without hesitation my curiosity said, but a fresh battery in it and lets see whats really broken.
Dam thing fired right up. It had a tick, like a lower end tick but ran like a top. I only let it run for about 30 seconds but was stumped. Then it occurred to me that if it overheated, then there's probably no coolant in the block. I filled it with tap water and repeated the investigation. This time you could tell that the head gasket had blown and was dumping water into the cylinder(s).
So knowing that the engine was overheated, had almost 200k on the odo and a nice oil leak, I decided to search a new engine. Scored a 34k mile motor from a 2008 T4R from car-part.com and started the engine removal process.
Old Engine came out pretty easy. Had it out in a day and waited for the new one.
Dropped the new one in and turned the key. Dam thing fired up on the first try. Iver dropped in probably about 10-12 motors in my time an never had one fire up perfect the first turn of the key. I should have gone straight to the store and bought a lottery ticket. anyway...
So, my Craigslist searching paid off the next weekend with this little baby just a few hours north of me in DesMoines. Nice Shrockworks Front bumper in excellent condition, just needing a little cleanup and new paint/powdercoat. The guy I bought it from bought his truck with this bumper already on it and took it to the dealer to have it removed as it didn't fit the look he wanted. I didn't say much else other than thanks for the deal. Scooped the front bumper for $400.
So now its licensed, legal and driving me to work till I source my suspension upgrades.
I intend to get a double swing-out rear bumper/carrier from CBI. Man, if could only find one of those on craigslist too
So I will be running a front heavy bumper ( winch in the future ) and a heavy rear bumper with tire carrier. Sliders are going to happen too. Coming from the FJ-40 world i was already familiar with the reputation of OME suspension and started to research this first. Too many people on here were speaking of their dislike for the OME set up so I started looking into the ToyTec Ulimate, as Icon is just to far beyond my budget. I know that a lot of people really enjoy their TT Ultimate set up but what I can't find out is if the springs are really set up for the additional weight I plan to carry. Also, im tempted to do a 1" BL and I need to make that decision before I talk to the guys at CBI as that's one big factor in the rear bumper.
I've read about the first 50 pages of the suspension FAQ and will continue to do more research but I know sometimes its easier to just ask the question that's been asked a bunch. Any thoughts on the Lift considering the weight? My only other thought was an OW set up, but half way thru my research I leaned Im about a year late on that deal so no luck picking their brains.
Anyway, heres how she sits, stock and ready to be upgraded.
