The New Daily 4Runner

[stivine6]

Tiny update

Off work today so decided to add a slight tint to the front headlights and rear turn/reverse signals. Did about 2 coats front and back

Before

Protege getting neglected in the garage

I also plastidipped the rear emblems. I did not realize there were so many back there (total of 5!) on the tailgate. I will probably remove the "Toyota" and "V6" logo to make it look cleaner.

 

[stivine6]

Update

Hey guys,

Just wanted to update the progress on my 4runner. After looking up some potential maintenance ideas i went with new axle seals and LBJ with all oem parts from Toyota. Unfortunate that it does cost quite a bit more up here in Canada.

Also ordered B&M 70268 Transmission cooler which will be installed within the next few weeks. This way i knock out any potential failures with it. Should be solid and ready to hit some long distance trips.

Afterwards I'm on the hunt for some fender flares and possible small lift in the future.

 

[trook]

Nice vehicle at a great price!

 

[stivine6]

Nice vehicle at a great price!

Thanks man!

Update

Ended up doing some late night wrenching. My B&M transmission cooler arrived yesterday and I really wanted to throw it on before I go on a cottage trip next week. Reading all these threads about milkshake has gotten be really paranoid even though my truck has 99k. But in the end it was worth it for the extra piece of mind.

I ended up going with the 70268 cooler, the install went pretty smooth. Most time was spent making sure i routed everything properly with some slack and abrasion protection. I bought 10" transmission hose which really came in handy to wrap some areas from sharp edges.

Most of my maintenance has been crossed off the list including
Rear axle seals + bearings
Lower ball joints
Transmission cooler
New brakes front/rear
Oil change
Fresh Transmission fluid

I think its about time for more mods!!

 

[Greatvoid]

Very nice! I think I may have to remove my running boards based on how yours turned out. Don't really see the point either.

Looks like you got a bit better deal than I did, but there's a big premium in my area for 4Runners.

 

[stivine6]

Very nice! I think I may have to remove my running boards based on how yours turned out. Don't really see the point either.

Looks like you got a bit better deal than I did, but there's a big premium in my area for 4Runners.

Thanks! I think it really looks better without the side steps and gives it a few inches of ground clearance. I think 4runner in the states have a higher demand and higher price as well. You won't see many cars with over 190k here with a clean body

 

[fan of fanboys]

I have been looking on craigslist and autotrader for a couple months for a 99-02
that is a lower mileage, cleaner, more equipped model for a lower price than anything I have found
insanely jealous

 

[stivine6]

I have been looking on craigslist and autotrader for a couple months for a 99-02
that is a lower mileage, cleaner, more equipped model for a lower price than anything I have found
insanely jealous

Thanks man. This was the only one that I looked at. I was originally browsing for fun and didn't come across anything that really caught my interest but when this one popped up on my way home from work I had no choice but to go see it. I still browse kijiji to look at if there are any deals but I haven't come across anything close to what I got.

 

[Greatvoid]

Thanks man. This was the only one that I looked at. I was originally browsing for fun and didn't come across anything that really caught my interest but when this one popped up on my way home from work I had no choice but to go see it. I still browse kijiji to look at if there are any deals but I haven't come across anything close to what I got.

I looked around for about 7 months for a '99-00 Limited with a rear locker at a reasonable price. Saw a couple real deals come through, but they went before I could take a look. Everyone else was asking a couple grand over KBB for stuff like 160K rigs needing a couple grand of work.

Mine's in good mechanical shape, but the interior is a little rough and some of the non-critical items are in crummy shape -- broken outlet caps, one leather seat has the stereotypical side wear-rip, cargo area plastics are dinged up pretty badly. Sunroof doesn't operate right, key on rear door was damage (seems common, and a few hundred bucks(!!) for the plastic bit) that kinda stuff.

Getting what seems to be really lousy fuel mileage as well, so I suspect I've got some serious tuning up to do.

 

[stivine6]

So nothing too crazy lately. Vehicle is currently stored away so I can drive my Protege. I'll be bringing the 4runner back out in November for winter. This gives me some time to work on the vehicle and do a few more mods.

I bit the bullet and purchased a set of Bushwacker fender flares and spidertrax 1.25 wheel spacers. I'm working on installing the flares, currently painted the fronts (need to install). The rears I need to figure out how to even mount them... instructions from bushwacker aren't too clear regarding how to line up the flares on the door.

Duplicolor perfect match

Doing some test fitting here with my dad.

Also discovered today while starting up the car after sitting for 4 weeks that my valve cover gasket is leaking pretty bad. Decided to look up some things on T4R and discovered a lot of people have had issues with loose bolts. Decided to go check it out and long behold... all bolts on either side were so loose I could almost tighten them with my hands. Has anyone else had this issue? I'm hoping that fixed the issue, will have to find out tomorrow.

 

[ComradeVlad]

I just recently did my valve cover gaskets, because looking at them they were leaking. I assumed the gaskets were bad, but low and behold as I was taking the valve covers off the bolts were loose enough to remove by hand.

I still ended up replacing the gaskets anyway.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[stivine6]

I just recently did my valve cover gaskets, because looking at them they were leaking. I assumed the gaskets were bad, but low and behold as I was taking the valve covers off the bolts were loose enough to remove by hand.

I still ended up replacing the gaskets anyway.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Hmm wonder why this is such a common occurrence. I checked today and nothing seems to be leaking now. But I found what I believe is an exhaust leak under the hood right where the exhaust manifold connects.

I got one flare installed today along with the wheel spacer. It looks so much better!! I have a bit of rubbing now, what method did you guys use to get rid of the rubbing?

 

[Beaumont67]

stivine6 - Beaut. of a 2000 4Runner there / you stole that SR5...great job !!
- I paid 2x for mine / and thought I got a good deal (one owner 4x4, with 129,600 Km / out of St. Catherines, Toyota-Lexus)
- clean/low Km ones, without the undercarriage rust, are few and far between here / living in ON.

Mine will be left completely stock (with original SR5 alloy rims) - except for changing the P265/70R16 (2 ply / C load) to LT265/75R16"
(10 ply / E load) tires....pulling a tandem axle camper trailer, in the future / passenger rated tires, gotta go.
- I want to avoid tire rubbing, on inner pinch welds / should I be OK ?
BTW - very nice build, enjoying this thread !!
Cheers, Larry & thks.

 

[MisterMo21]

Wow!

You got a very nice looking car man! its hard to find a 4runner that clean down here in texas ha

 

[stivine6]

stivine6 - Beaut. of a 2000 4Runner there / you stole that SR5...great job !!
- I paid 2x for mine / and thought I got a good deal (one owner 4x4, with 129,600 Km / out of St. Catherines, Toyota-Lexus)
- clean/low Km ones, without the undercarriage rust, are few and far between here / living in ON.

Mine will be left completely stock (with original SR5 alloy rims) - except for changing the P265/70R16 (2 ply / C load) to LT265/75R16"
(10 ply / E load) tires....pulling a tandem axle camper trailer, in the future / passenger rated tires, gotta go.
- I want to avoid tire rubbing, on inner pinch welds / should I be OK ?
BTW - very nice build, enjoying this thread !!
Cheers, Larry & thks.

Thanks man! If you go 265/75 you shouldn't get any rubbing at all. I'm getting some rubbing now because of the wheel spacers. This is primarily going to be my winter vehicle but I'm still going to take really good care of it and make sure no rust shows up. May do some mild off roading if I can find some trails here.

You got a very nice looking car man! its hard to find a 4runner that clean down here in texas ha

Thank you, I haven't come across another like it again for the same price so I would like to think I got a very good deal. Though I have changed a lot out already including new axle seals and lower ball joint. Plus new tires/rims/flares.

 

[stivine6]

Update

Hey guys,

So I'm still working on installing the flares (taking my time painting and making sure everything fits. I got all 4 flares on now and I'm just working on the end caps right now. I think overall this really changes the appearance of the truck!

This is with all 4 flares installed (1.25 Spidertrax wheel spacers up front, no spacers in the rear)

I knew after installing the wheel spacers I would be rubbing the inside wheel well so I pulled out a heat gun and started hammering away a section on each side and trimming the flares.

This ones with the rear spacers installed, beefy looking! (Better pictures to come)

Also took my Protege out for an open lapping event, did great overall but need some better brakes as my next upgrade!

 

[Kyngfish]

Black Wheels

I really like the look of those wheels. I missed the brand? Does anyone have pictures of what black wheels look like on a black 3rd gen? too much black?

 

[stivine6]

I really like the look of those wheels. I missed the brand? Does anyone have pictures of what black wheels look like on a black 3rd gen? too much black?

Thank you, they are steel wheels made by rtx. They can also be found from pro comp or soft 8s.

Should look good on any 3rd Gen 4runner regardless of color. Just don't black your tailights and you'll have a nice balance.

 

[stivine6]

Small update

Finished up the fender flares and installed the end caps plus rear spacers. Looks boss!! So much better than before. So happy I went this route

 

[stivine6]

So it's that time of the year again where I store my protege again. Though this year I'm more excited because I have the 4runner which should be a blast in the snow! I went ahead today and got the truck undercoated.

The shop did a great job with the oil spray