"The Stormtrooper" 4thGen 4Runner build/adventure/shenanigans thread

[Roody]

Hey everyone!

Joined a little while back but have yet to do a proper introduction. Figured I'd just skip that and get right to the truck itself. This thread will serve as the hub for my 4Runner, with everything from upgrades and modifications to adventures and so on.

Some of you may recognize this truck, as I bought it off a fellow member on here-- djtc is his username, he's a great guy and not just a true 4Runner lover but a true off-roading and adventure enthusiast.

Anyways, the truck: 2005 V6 Limited, purchased in January of 2017 in Ottawa (Canada) and imported into New York by yours truly [spoiler alert: it was a PITA but is totally do-able]. Here's how it sits as of this writing:

Modifications as of now (Feb. 2017) are:
-Toytec Superflex HD springs (rear) and Eibach springs (front)
-Bilstein 5100 shocks
-16" steel wheels and 255/85/16 BFG Mud-Terrain KM2s
-SPC upper control arms
-Custom front bumper w/secondary DRLs and integrated LED lights
-Front skid plate
-Snorkel
-Sleeping platform w/drawers and cargo area track lighting
-CB radio w/Firestick antenna
-Projector headlight conversion
-Custom roof rack w/Smittybilt awning and LED camp lights
-Rock sliders
-Deep cycle batter
-High-clearance tucked exhaust w/Dynomax muffler

The plan for the truck is to use it to take me on the trips I've been dreaming of doing for fifteen years or so but have never been in the position to make happen. Moab, Rubicon Trail, Black Bear & Imogene Passes, and so on-- that's just the tip of the iceberg. It'll also be used for trips to the "local" wheeling areas: Rausch Creek, AOAA, Maine, etc. And, of course, it will be subjected to the usual stuff, like beach trips and getting to the trailhead for hard-to-reach hiking spots, and the likes. It won't see much day-to-day use as I have a WRX for that, but should supplement the Subaru nicely.

I write for an automotive site, Hooniverse, and will be writing about the Stormtrooper on a semi-regular basis (i.e., whenever something of interest happens). For reference going forward, all in-depth Stormtrooper updates I've written for Hooniverse can be found on the site by clicking this link:
Stormtrooper 4Runner

Plans for future mods are limited, but may happen when the need arises. Lockers, belly skid, on-board air, heavy duty rear bumper, back-up camera, winch, LED reverse lights, and an auxiliary input (for phone/iPod) are all on the to-do list, but will undoubtedly take a long while to make happen.

So that's about it for now. I don't have any huge plans for the truck itself in the coming future, but plan to take advantage of it as a platform for exploring and knocking off bucket list adventure items alike. Despite having ridden thousands of miles off-road on my Kawasaki Brute Force, and having grown up around my father's lifted YJ Wrangler which we wheeled occasionally, *and* having driven a Chevy Avalanche Z71 4x4 for nearly eight years, this is my first time owning something capable of trail runs and my first time owning a 4WD Toyota.

I'm pretty damn excited about this truck and can't wait to start wheeling it. Hope to meet some of you in the future, and see some of you on the trails!

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Cheers,
Ross

 

[blackoutt]

So you ended up with this one. It was a great deal if you're willing to do the import thing. Nice start to your build. Welcome!

 

[Roody]

So you ended up with this one. It was a great deal if you're willing to do the import thing. Nice start to your build. Welcome!

Thank you!

And yes, it's found a new home on T4R! Hell of a great truck to start with for sure, especially for the price paid.

 

[Roody]

Posted in the Catalytic Converter thread but posting this in here as well just for the sake of consistency.

So I'm up against my first problem. Need to pass inspection but have a check engine light in the way of that. At first we thought it was the crank position sensor, then a solenoid, and now the shop the truck is at is saying it might be the cats. I'm going to check the codes and go from there, probably starting with replacing the O2 sensors. Will update as I go.

 

[Jslum]

Gorgeous rig and if I remember right you got a good deal on it too

 

[Roody]

Gorgeous rig and if I remember right you got a good deal on it too

Thank you, and yes I most certainly did

 

[Roody]

Quick update on the Stormtrooper:

Overall, things are good. I've probably put close to 1000 miles on it and in general, the truck is doing great. However, it does need attention in a few places:

-Skid plate: needs to be re-attached on the passenger side
-Seafoam & spark plugs: the engine runs well but I’m hoping to improve MPG
-Suspension: not imminent, but will need to be replaced by summer
-Sway bars: the previous owner removed the sway bars entirely, and it could certainly use a set for road-going purposes. Cornering is… interesting. A setup with quick-disconnects would be ideal.
-Passenger side upper ball joint: about half-way through its life, needs attention in the coming months
-Driver seat: needs to be re-stuffed
-Rock slider surface rust: needs to be sanded and re-painted
-Shift knob: spins freely

Most crucially, the "major" issue is that something is causing a clanking noise in the rear end. I tend to think it's the parking brake sticking, but friends and those on the 4th-gen Facebook page have suggested looking into the wheel weights banging on the caliper, brake dust shield, or a heat shield smacking against something. Basically, it's a speed-sensitive noise of something hitting metal. It sounds somewhat hollow, but it's hard to place where it's coming from when I'm driving. It definitely comes from the back but I haven't had time to check it out just yet (hoping to this weekend).

A semi-related problem may be the truck's inability to coast. I figured that with the skinny tires (low-ish rolling resistance) it would coast well but speed comes off very quickly as soon as I let off the gas, even when going downhill. I'm thinking maybe the parking brake isn't completely disengaged even though the dash shows no light, which might be verified by the fact that the above-mentioned noise only started after I had the truck sitting with the e-brake on for a couple days.

Otherwise, things have been going smoothly.

I've written a few more pieces for Hooniverse which can be read at the links below. In them I go into much greater depth about the maintenance and upkeep I've done thus far.

Stormtrooper 4Runner: Modifications Explanations*|*Hooniverse
Stormtrooper 4Runner: Odds and ends, fixes and updates*|*Hooniverse

That's about it for now. I'll be cross-posting this on the other sites I'm maintaining build threads (ExPo, FJNE) and am hoping to have updates on the things that need attention in the coming weeks. If nothing else, I need to sort out the noise issue and bolt the skid plate back down for the trip to AOAA that a few of us T4R members are working on, and then for the big 10th Anniv. FJNE event at Rausch Creek at the end of April. Time to get to work.

 

[Roody]

Quick "master list" of what I still need to do to make it 100%...most of it is maintenance that I'll get to in the coming months.

-Parking brake needs to be adjusted
-Rear windshield wiper not working
-Won't coast / clicking noise in rear...stuck caliper? Parking brake stuck?
-Driver seat needs re-stuffing
-Driver side mirror needs replacing
-Seafoam, spark plugs
-Needs sway bars still
-Hood struts need replacing
-CEL still on for what is likely O2 sensor or cats
-Suspension needs replacing
-Rust on bottom of tailgate needs attention
-Hatch spoiler needs to be re-installed
-Tires need balancing
-Left SPC upper ball joint needs replacing
-Slight crack in bottom of windshield
-Need to buy/install 2 of the 3 rear seatbelt buckles
-Speakers not working great
-Shift knob is spinning, needs to be mounted better

Not a ton of super labor-intense or money-heavy things, but still quite a bit for it to be where I want it. I could probably knock it all off within a month, by FJNortheasters at the end of April at least, but have two other projects to juggle as well. Hopefully I'll make some progress soon. In the meantime, I've put probably 2k miles on the truck since buying it and it's proving to be a great vehicle. Keep an eye on Hooniverse too for adventure stories in the coming months.

 

[CruzadoBlanco]

is that a homebrew front bumper the PO put on or is it a northwest trail innovations DIY kit? was considering the NWTI kit but it always looked enormous to me, and if thats it then my worries were proven true at least in my mind

 

[wadle5]

Talked to you on facebook, and glad to see you were able to bring it stateside okay. Exciting to see how the vehicle treats you and what all you end up doing to it and with it. Also I have to make the obvious comment. . .another 4runner and Subi owner on the forum! whoop whoop.

Have looked around the hooniverse site and has been a great read. keept it up!

 

[Monkey Wrench]

Do you have much weight in the rear? How do those heavy duty superflex springs ride, especially when you don't have a ton of weight? I installed the standard superflex springs, and part of me regrets not going heavy duty...

 

[Roody]

Clearly I've been bad at checking and updating this thread...

is that a homebrew front bumper the PO put on or is it a northwest trail innovations DIY kit? was considering the NWTI kit but it always looked enormous to me, and if thats it then my worries were proven true at least in my mind

Not sure about the front bumper. I was told it was custom built, but could be a weld-together kit for all I know. The bumper is certainly bigger than I'd like (has the aerodynamics of a fridge), but it gets the job done.

Talked to you on facebook, and glad to see you were able to bring it stateside okay. Exciting to see how the vehicle treats you and what all you end up doing to it and with it. Also I have to make the obvious comment. . .another 4runner and Subi owner on the forum! whoop whoop.

Have looked around the hooniverse site and has been a great read. keept it up!

Thanks! The WRX is gone but I've replaced it with something that I'm already loving. See below :bat:

Do you have much weight in the rear? How do those heavy duty superflex springs ride, especially when you don't have a ton of weight? I installed the standard superflex springs, and part of me regrets not going heavy duty...

Not much weight in the rear...no heavy bumper, at least. The drawer system probably adds 50 lbs or so plus all my tools and gear. The springs ride fine...or at least I thought it did when I had only really my WRX to compare it to...but admittedly now the suspension is pretty shot at this point. It did bounce a bit, but that could be the dead shocks too.

 

[Roody]

And on that note...

In a very roundabout way, I added a 5th gen as a daily and to supplement the 4th gen which isn't as daily-driver friendly as it could be for a ~100 mile round trip commute.

Build thread-- and story of how I ended up with the new truck-- can be found here:
The Enabler: 2018 Magnetic Gray TRD Off Road Premium build thread


First time getting the two trucks together:

 

[Roody]

After much neglect and deliberation on what route to go with replacing worn parts, the Stormtrooper is finally getting some love.

Quick teaser:

 

[bbardet]

Awesome build, definitely an inspiration for my future build

 

[Roody]

Doing my best to keep this thread updated. Spent a Sunday working on the truck a few weeks back...

Relocated the mic for the CB. It was up to the right alongside the passenger-side cupholder, but it made for difficulties in reaching it while off-roading and it also occasionally would hit a passenger's left knee. Moved it to a much more accessible spot. Drilled the mount right into the ash tray lid.




Sanded down and re-painted the rock sliders. Went with a Home Depot-bought bedliner. One full can got a full coat on both sliders; could have done another but I ran out of spray, and they're only going to get bashed up and need a re-spray anyways. Came out pretty nice, actually.







Rear wiper "mod," AKA remove the functionless wiper




And, coming soon...




Also ordered some brighter reverse bulbs which should be here today.

 

[tv4184]

Rear wiper "mod," AKA remove the functionless wiper

You might want to consider a button cover like this here. Maybe not something that costs so much because this one is for glass mounted wipers but just an idea.

wiper delete button

I was going to use this on my CTR. Not a bad idea getting rid of the rear wiper though. One less maintenance item to worry about.

 

[Roody]

You might want to consider a button cover like this here. Maybe not something that costs so much because this one is for glass mounted wipers but just an idea.

wiper delete button

I was going to use this on my CTR. Not a bad idea getting rid of the rear wiper though. One less maintenance item to worry about.

I like the looks of that but, truthfully, when it comes to allocating funds for mods on this truck I have a lot of other things that need doing first

 

[Ed_C]

You can also find a rubber or plastic plug at your local hardware store or big box store (ie Home Depot,Lowes if they haven't closed down LOL) for probably a tenth of the cost of that aluminum plug :nod:

 

[Roody]

Once again: it lives!

OME 3" kit installed. And no rub from the rear tires, so far...









Swapped in some interior LEDs:






And got the old LEDs on the front working: