the Rescue Runner build thread

[the great him]

so i figure i may as well jump on the band wagon and do this. i know some of this is out of order probably as far as what came when(i tried to remember as best i could, the order of things).

started of as a 97 SR5, 3.4l auto, non locker

i bought my at just over 200k in oct '10, for $5000or $5500 cant remember(a steal in the PNW either way.) and it now has just over 225k havent had a single issue, but dumped a fair amount of time and money into it. i do search and rescue so thats what im gearing it towards, as well as a family adventure rig due to the growing family(its original intent).

IMG_20181013_170221 by Isaac Yocum, on Flickr
IMG_20181013_171858-EFFECTS by Isaac Yocum, on Flickr
IMG_20180924_073054_392 by Isaac Yocum, on Flickr


Current settigns-
350+k mi
used for Search and Rescue

motor/drive train-
3.4l
170amp CS 144 alternator w/GM - Toyota wire harness adapter.
K&N intake tube w/stock box and AFE dry filter
ARB Tacoma Safari Snorkel
auto trans w/transgo valvebody upgrade
dual trans coolers, one with electric 10" fan on thermo switch, dual Magnafine inline filters w/auto meter temp gauge
power steering cooler with Magnafine inline filter
dual electric fan kit with adjustable thermo switch. (clutch fan delete)
RunCool hood vents -med hiflow


front end-
nitro 4.88, w/ARB
extended diff breather
Safari LTD power steering rack
Icon 2.5 remote resi extended travel 700lb coils
Total Chaos spindle gussets
Tundra 231 brakes w/LCE slotted and drilled rotors
Timbren bumpstops

rear end-
nitro 4.88, w/ARB
extended diff breather
OME 861s
firestone air bags
Icon 2.0 remote resi
Metal-Tech 4x4 adjustable upper and lower links
custom panhard bar drop bracket
Timbren bumpstops

armor-
ARB Tacoma front bumper w/custom Warn xd9000ce
full BudBuilt skids
LilSkip tank skid
sliders, boat sided to give as much ground clearance and protection as possible
CBI Hybrid rear bumper w/swing out, table, dual fuel can holder, light pole, hi-lift mount

other-
285 75 17 Yokohama Geolandar MT003 tires on matte silver (LTD ED)SCS stealth6 wheels -full set of 5
1999+ headlights w/Porsche Panamara projectors 4500k HID
RunCool hood vents med hiflow
2 PIAA LP570 lights on the the ARB bumper
2 PIAA RF18 bar on top of the ARB bumper
2 Baja Designs Squadron spot next to the RF18 bar
2 Baja Designs Squadron amber combo lights ton top of the arb(fog)
2 Baja Designs S2 flush mount in combo in the ARB bumper for driving/DRL.
2 PIAA 1500 lights in the CBI for backup lights
4 Rigid Ignites(defused) on the rack for side/camp lights
KC Cyclone in amber and white on the RTT as well as on the under side of the rear hatch for camp lights
2 27w LED light on the pole for camping
CBI CB antenna mount
PIAA LED DRL for setting up camp and cooking on the rear bumper
Alpine audio -deck and component type R speakers(14awg speaker wire) w/JL audio sub and Kenwood amp powering it all -monster cable RCAs
Anytone smart CB
Anytime UHF/VHF 50w mobile
full LED dash/interior lighting
wired for 7pin trailer w/ trailer brake controller in cab
2ga wire F-R for remote winch and jumper cables with Warn(anderson) quick connect plugs
34/78 series battery
on board air -ARB CKMTA12
outback air CO2 system
1st gen roll bar mod w/removable basket shelf
Yakima rack -53" cross bars
23Zero RTT
CVT awning with curtains/walls


IMG_7219 by isaacyocum, on Flickr

.

a few days after bringing it home

the mod bug bit me right away, first on the list was the TRD graphics and to lose those re****ed tacoma sport wheels, if i was gonna have 17s then they had to be tundra rims, fortunately a friend owns a couple body shops locally and i snagged a set off a totaled tundra before insurance came to tow it away(officially this never happened)
http://i1096.photobucket.com/albums/g326/toyota
mafia/IMAG0605.jpg
then came a set of 285 70 17 bighorns -yes on a stock runner, no lift, no spacers ect. they fit with minimal rub

i built my own custom roof rack

then i got my back pay from deployment and it was game on-
first on the list was to update things and take care of "weak" links,
new LBJs

B&M 70624 trans cooler + perma cool 13515 (10" electric fan) and auto meter temp gauge,

-the second cooler, the perma cool, wasnt added till after the armor, and it was added cause the B&M couldnt keep up, as you can see in the pic, in stop and go traffic i would have some issues(even with over heating -dual electric fans are soon to come as well)

-after adding both coolers, i had to relocate my horns(thankfully the previous owner had "upgraded" to american horns, so they sound a lot better and "bigger" than stock)

 

[the great him]

continued

now it was time for my ARB rear locker

-i have sense broken the locker and it is still in the truck. its stuck in the locked position and well im just waiting for one day when everything goes BOOM!

TBU, 231s!

sliders,

then it was on to other things,

the bud built skids along with a lil skip tank skid

i also picked up a full set of 99tall coils with front bilsteins, with all the weight of the armor i sit just over 1/2" higher than a stock 97.

 

[the great him]

continued

i sold my first roof rack to another guy on T4R and finally built a new one,

i liked the expanded metal flooring in the first one better, but i like this rack more overall, its shorter, weighs considerably less(the first one was way over built). and the light bar is removable on this one

ive done several wheeling trips from afternoon outings with friends to snow runs with the family, and multi-day wheeling trips in cali and around the PNW, to long extended searches in remote areas of the PNW i have never had this runner fail me or leave me stranded. my build has not come to an end and will continue. i hope to add a SC here soon, and lift it along with a ARB front bumper.
im sure i have left out a lot of stuff ive done to it, but i thought id at least share this with you guys.

 

[PitbullRescuer]

I like it. What are your future plans?

 

[the great him]

I like it. What are your future plans?

ARB front bumper soon like a couple months out, then a lift, and then ill start looking at a rear bumper but thats going to get interesting cause im going to need one with a 2" receiver as well as a winch opeing(the winch will be mounted to the frame where the spare tire was). also im gonna do the "big three" along with the CS144. at some point it will get a SC. i need to pull out the ARB locker and replace it -ill regear at that time and put a true trac up front... i almost get depressed when i think of all this cause of the amount of time it will take. i by no means make a lot of money(not currently employed full time, and what money i do make gets dumped right back into my business). so it will be a blood sweat and tears build lol

 

[RunninInGA]

ARB front bumper soon like a couple months out, then a lift, and then ill start looking at a rear bumper but thats going to get interesting cause im going to need one with a 2" receiver as well as a winch opeing(the winch will be mounted to the frame where the spare tire was). also im gonna do the "big three" along with the CS144. at some point it will get a SC. i need to pull out the ARB locker and replace it -ill regear at that time and put a true trac up front... i almost get depressed when i think of all this cause of the amount of time it will take. i by no means make a lot of money(not currently employed full time, and what money i do make gets dumped right back into my business). so it will be a blood sweat and tears build lol

off topic, but what is your business?

 

[the great him]

we build roof racks, the two that have been on my runner. we are still working on getting the design down and finding the "right" strength - weight ratio, before we officially market and release them. we also are looking into other things as well, such as bumpers, and sliders. but one thing at a time. it a ton more work than i thought. working in the shop is the easy part lol.

 

[SleekRunner]

I dont normally like brush guards but yours flows so well with your rig im loving it! Definitely a sweet setup man i really like your rack btw when i first saw it i was wondering who made it haha. Keep up the great work looking good! :gun6:

 

[JohnsD90]

What Kona u got? My buddy had Kona's dirt jumper (don't know the name) and it was sweet but he dropped way too much on the rear hub, and his marzochi fork was pinging even tho they already replaced it.

 

[madbomber08]

I just noticed your dual exhaust setup and don't see many (if any on t4r?) 3rd gens with dual exhaust. What're you running, straights, si/do, dual mufflers? A sound clip would also be awesome if it isn't too much trouble!

 

[jmt2404]

When did you break your arb? Shouldn't it be under warranty?

 

[awdjunkies]

My name for your Runner is, "Big Red" :reddance: I love it!!!!

 

[Hepar]

so i figure i may as well jump on the band wagon and do this.

You're such a little sheep. Hahaha. J/K. About time. Look forward to the progression. Hopefully we can all get together when the weather gets better.

Dig the name too. Fitting.

 

[Pikeman]

Kid--- you stole the name for my truck. I even put it in a thread a long time ago what do you call your runner... so change your Runners name, cause I had it first and going to tell mom if you don't.

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/69105-whats-ur-4runners-name-4.html

post 52.

Just kidding Kid, we both use our trucks the same and the name fits their usage.

 

[the great him]

What Kona u got? My buddy had Kona's dirt jumper (don't know the name) and it was sweet but he dropped way too much on the rear hub, and his marzochi fork was pinging even tho they already replaced it.

i have a 2009 Kula, got that after i broke the frame on my Mono Mono... raced it too much/hard and then tried to shoe off too much lol

I just noticed your dual exhaust setup and don't see many (if any on t4r?) 3rd gens with dual exhaust. What're you running, straights, si/do, dual mufflers? A sound clip would also be awesome if it isn't too much trouble!

its single in dual out 18" magniflow. i hate it, i have no back pressure, and i smash the pipes with the upper control arms the way they routed it(it was that way when i bought it). i want to swap it out for a single single... but i can get a sound clip if you want

When did you break your arb? Shouldn't it be under warranty?

i broke it thanksgiving day, it engaged, just never disengaged. we will see if ARB will stand behind it, they should.

My name for your Runner is, "Big Red" :reddance: I love it!!!!

how can it be "Big Red" when its not even lifted....? besides my old 85 pickup is "ol' Red" so if anything this would have to be "New Red", and lets face it, that doesnt have any ring to it...

You're such a little sheep. Hahaha. J/K. About time. Look forward to the progression. Hopefully we can all get together when the weather gets better.

Dig the name too. Fitting.

i know i got bored one night, ....really bored

Kid--- you stole the name for my truck. I even put it in a thread a long time ago what do you call your runner... so change your Runners name, cause I had it first and going to tell mom if you don't.

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/69105-whats-ur-4runners-name-4.html

post 52.

Just kidding Kid, we both use our trucks the same and the name fits their usage.

sorry :happens:

 

[the great him]

so the father in-law came down today and brought me a late christmas gift...

-Drivers side - 48131-AF100 Yellow/Yellow
-Passenger side - 48131-AF090 Yellow/Blue


brand new and all shinny, now i just need the tundra 5100s and a diff drop

 

[the great him]

so i went to my friends shop today, had to drop off his trailer and some other stuff to him, and he greeted me with a brand new set of IPF 900s for my runner. now both him and i are diehard PIAA guys, but he stumbled across a good deal on some brand new IPFs. i swapped out my old prototype PIAAs for these IPFs, the PIAAs are a little smaller and have done me well. i like the PIAAs very much and they give an amazing beam, i just wanted a change, and for the price i could not argue. the new IPFs have a different beam but they are just as good but in a different way, only time will tell if i like them more or not. being bigger they seam to fill the brush guard more, so they would be better suited for a aftermarket bumper(getting an ARB soon). im not sure i like how much of the grille they take up, but at least right now im not so worried about not getting enough air flow over the radiator to keep things cool. in the summer they could be a problem. anyhow yeah im happy with them

 

[Hepar]

so i went to my friends shop today, had to drop off his trailer and some other stuff to him, and he greeted me with a brand new set of IPF 900s for my runner. now both him and i are diehard PIAA guys, but he stumbled across a good deal on some brand new IPFs. i swapped out my old prototype PIAAs for these IPFs, the PIAAs are a little smaller and have done me well. i like the PIAAs very much and they give an amazing beam, i just wanted a change, and for the price i could not argue. the new IPFs have a different beam but they are just as good but in a different way, only time will tell if i like them more or not. being bigger they seam to fill the brush guard more, so they would be better suited for a aftermarket bumper(getting an ARB soon). im not sure i like how much of the grille they take up, but at least right now im not so worried about not getting enough air flow over the radiator to keep things cool. in the summer they could be a problem. anyhow yeah im happy with them

Pics?

 

[the great him]

soon enough, i took some last night, but i was just too tired to put them up...

 

[the great him]

Kid--- you stole the name for my truck. I even put it in a thread a long time ago what do you call your runner... so change your Runners name, cause I had it first and going to tell mom if you don't.

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/69105-whats-ur-4runners-name-4.html

post 52.

Just kidding Kid, we both use our trucks the same and the name fits their usage.

man i wanta tow a tow truck!