The '85 has a little brother...

[KidVermicious]

A big little brother.

1999 Highlander, 3.4/auto/elocker, 180k, no rust. This is replacing our venerable and tired Explorer, and will be the wife's daily driver/occasional wheeler and the family hauler. As such, I've got no immediate plans for it, beyond replacing the radiator and lower ball joints in the near future. We'll probably be pulling off the 285/75 KM2s and replacing them with something a little smaller and more street friendly, because the diffs are still stock (4.30, right? I haven't checked yet). Any further mods will be up to wifey, but first she has to get it dirty and earn them.

So - ball joints, radiator, any other weak points on these I don't know about yet?

 

[farmerjon]

Welcome to the world of 3rd gens, Kid! Glad to have ya! Sweet rig!

 

[Hepar]

Looks good! Looks cold too.

 

[SCRunner12]

Nice you bought sixstring's 4runner. Looks good to me and it seems like the original owner took care of it, so those two items should be about it.

 

[KidVermicious]

Nice you bought sixstring's 4runner.

That's the one. He's a good friend, so I'm quite sure I know everything he knows about it.

 

[Bishard]

You're lucky! Have fun mon

 

[quicksilvr]

Nice! Those are 285's!? They look like 265's.

 

[quicksilvr]

And yes, there's a 95% chance you have 4.30's. 5% chance you have 4.10's.

 

[KidVermicious]

Nice! Those are 285's!? They look like 265's.

Yup. The pure undiluted awesome of the truck makes 'em look small, I guess.

 

[KidVermicious]

Got down to Cruiser Outfitters this morning for a little OME love to match the rear...

It's about a 1/4in high in front, so it should settle out just perfect. And my goodness, the difference in feel is amazing. I've never had an OME suspension before, and I always laughed when people said it was firmer and more forgiving at the same time. I will not laugh again, I have seen the light. The truck drives with so much more authority, but at the same time it's definitely a more comfortable ride than the OEM struts. It's amazing. I'm sold. This suspension rocks. I can't wait to get it out in the dirt again, and I can't wait to get the OME/Dakar setup on my '85!

 

[smallfry]

Is this the 4runner that Steve was selling from RME4x4?

 

[KidVermicious]

Is this the 4runner that Steve was selling from RME4x4?

Yup. He couldn't tolerate being seen in a such a sexy truck, he had to go get that ugly Tacoma instead.

 

[smallfry]

I thought it looked familiar.

 

[KidVermicious]

I thought it looked familiar.

Are you back yet? We're heading out to play in the snow somewhere this weekend, if you're in town you should join us.

 

[smallfry]

Are you back yet? We're heading out to play in the snow somewhere this weekend, if you're in town you should join us.

I wish I was but my company decided to keep me in excile and is sending me to Wyoming for a year.

 

[the great him]

one thing i might sugest for a add-on or mod, is a set of sliders, you dont have to go out and buy some crazy high dollar ones, just buy the ones from trail gear, they will hold up just fine for moderate 4wheeling. but what i like most about sliders is the protection from parking lot dings they offer. when careless idiots just swing their doors open and hit your truck they will be left with a nice dent in their door and you will laugh. trust me, one trip to the body shop or PDR to have a door ding taken out will be as much as a set of sliders... and if you set them up right they can be used almost like running boards or steps -take a look at my build, i tucked my sliders up tight to the body to keep as much ground clearance as possible, sure they gave a little bit and i had to tweak them back down on a frame rack but i was also beating hard on them and being abusive with my sliders trying to see what they could take.

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/105400-rescue-runner-build-thread.html

 

[KidVermicious]

one thing i might sugest for a add-on or mod, is a set of sliders, you dont have to go out and buy some crazy high dollar ones, just buy the ones from trail gear, they will hold up just fine for moderate 4wheeling. but what i like most about sliders is the protection from parking lot dings they offer. when careless idiots just swing their doors open and hit your truck they will be left with a nice dent in their door and you will laugh. trust me, one trip to the body shop or PDR to have a door ding taken out will be as much as a set of sliders... and if you set them up right they can be used almost like running boards or steps -take a look at my build, i tucked my sliders up tight to the body to keep as much ground clearance as possible, sure they gave a little bit and i had to tweak them back down on a frame rack but i was also beating hard on them and being abusive with my sliders trying to see what they could take.

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/105400-rescue-runner-build-thread.html

Trailgear sliders are in the shop now, just waiting for good weather so I can roll around my driveway without freezing. I've been wheeling my 1st gens for a while, I know all about sliders.

 

[KidVermicious]

I wish I was but my company decided to keep me in excile and is sending me to Wyoming for a year.

Mountain Wyoming or flat Wyoming?

 

[the great him]

i figured that you knew about them and there uses and value off road. i just wanted to make sure that beauty of a 3rd gen says that way...

 

[Slow_T4R]

Nice! That's a good starting platform for sure.