The SURF RUNNER Build: 2001 Stellar Blue Limited 4WD

[RussToy]

Hello Sir! I want to thank you for the kind words you said about my rig over on the hood scoop thread!! It's much appreciated!!

I saw you had a build thread at the bottom of your signature...I've truly enjoyed looking at your pictures! When I have more time I'll go back and read everything. I want you to know...I absolutely love the blue on your 4R (blue is by far my favitor color)!! I think you're going to be my new best friend! Love the blue...you're an Aggie...and from Texas!

I too am from Texas...Edgewood, which is out by Tyler in East Texas. One Grandpal and one Grandma each went to Texas A&M. One for Mechanical engineering and the other for raising hogs! So we have some thing's in common! Oh yeah..we both drive awesome 4Runners!!

Thanks again...

-Russel

 

[SURF RUNNER]

Thanks for the kind words RussToy. There are so many nice 4Runners on this forum. I like to see when someone tries something a little different (like how you painted your hood). When I finally get my paint scheme (and graphics) on it is really going to look different from anything else on the forum. Right now I have a lot more ideas than money!

This hood will be installed in less than a week! Thanks to Brent in Long Beach for all his help. Below is a thread about shipping a hood on Greyhound...

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/183299-help-needed-wilmington-long-beach-cali-area-bought-stellar-bue-sports-hood.html

 

[BigSur]

:snacker:

 

[THatfield]

So jealous of the sport hood! It's going to look great! Someday I'll have one.

:nicethread:

 

[SURF RUNNER]

OEM Stellar Blue Sport Hood Shipped, Received, Installed and Detailed

Thanks THatfield...

After searching for almost a year I am driving around with a Stellar Blue sport hood off a wrecked 2002 Sport Edition from Southern California. Fellow forum member Brent from Long Beach did everything necessary to get the hood intact from Long Beach to College Station, Texas. I would not have this scooped hood if it were not for Brent. Here is the thread detailing that little adventure... http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/183299-help-needed-wilmington-long-beach-cali-area-bought-stellar-bue-sports-hood.html

Photo below taken Saturday (12/20/14)

My newly acquired sport hood has not been buffed yet and the west side of Kyle Field is still standing...

Photo below taken yesterday, Sunday (12/21/14)

In the same spot 24 hours later... my hood has been buffed and the west side of Kyle Field has been demolished.
(Video of implosion >) http://www.saturdaydownsouth.com/tamu-football/video-watch-live-kyle-field-demolition/

Other photos taken yesterday on campus and around College Station...

I had dropped off my 4Runner at the mechanic in Bryan early in the morning on the same day that Greyhound let me know that my hood had arrived from Long Beach, California. Most of that adventure is chronicled in the thread linked below. Thanks to fellow forum member Brent from Long Beach or there would be no Stellar Blue Sport Hood to install.

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/183299-help-needed-wilmington-long-beach-cali-area-bought-stellar-bue-sports-hood.html

As you can see in the linked thread I loaded the hood on top of my economy rental car and made the best of it. I dropped off the hood the next morning and asked the mechanic to install it for me. He did get it installed, but this and a few other issues resulted in a few things not getting done. I picked up my 4Runner at 5:30 on the Friday evening before Christmas.

I put some Seafoam in with my oil and in the gas tank a few days before my oil change. I wanted to add it into the intake which is where you see the most dramatic results, but I did not get the chance... I'll save this for just before the next oil change.

Below are the parts I bought in advance, where I purchased them, and the price before taxes:

Seafoam - Anywhere for between $7.00 and $10.00
TRD Oil Filter (PTR4300080) Atkinson Toyota/Bryan $10.20
OEM Oil Toyota Filter (90915-YZZD3) Atkinson Toyota/Bryan $4.33
Mobil 1 Synthetic High Mileage 5W-30 Oil (5 quart container + 1 quart) Walmart $34.66
OEM Spark Plugs (Denso K16TR11) Rock Auto $24.64 for 2 boxes of 4
Same as Denso Spark Plug Wire Set/Blue (NGK 4412) Advance Auto Parts $35.99
OEM Toyota PCV Valve (12204-62010) Atkinson Toyota/Bryan $8.46
OEM Toyota PCV Grommet (90480-18001) Atkinson Toyota/Bryan $4.18
OEM Toyota Fuel Filter (23300-62030) Atkinson Toyota/Bryan $33.34
OEM Toyota 4th Gen Washer Fluid Nozzles (85381-135090) Atkinson Toyota/Bryan $30.76 or $15.38 each
OEM Toyota Front/Upstream Air/Fuel Sensor (Denso 234-9002) Rock Auto $108.99 each
OEM Toyota Rear/Downstream Oxygen Sensor (Denso 234-4261) Rock Auto $47.99 each
Valvoline Max Life Full Synthetic ATF Dex/Merc Dexron III Transmission Fluid 2 Gallons (773775) AutoZone $19.99 each
PTD Automatic Transmission Filter Kit (FK333) O'Reilly Auto Parts $27.99
Differential Oil (supplied by mechanic) $60.00
OEM Toyota Stellar Blue Sport Hood (Salvage Yard) Mike's Foreign Auto Parts/Long Beach $300

Beware of your local Toyota dealer if they are anything like mine! My initial quote was almost twice as much as I ended up paying. I had a list of part numbers and prices from Toyota of Dallas and was able to get them down close to Toyota of Dallas prices. Here is a thread about the outrageous prices from my local Toyota dealer...

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/184398-disappointing-local-toyota-dealer-trying-almost-double-prices-parts.html

I was not sure whether to get a Toyota or TRD filter, so I purchased both to visually inspect them. My mechanic used the TRD filter, but here is a thread I started about Toyota vs TRD filters...

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/186135-toyota-oil-filter-vs-trd-oil-filter.html

I got a tip on a thread about transferring everything from the flat hood to the sport hood. I ended up not having to worry about it since the sport hood came in while my 4Runner was already at the mechanic. Unner suggested that I upgrade to 4th Gen 4Runner washer fluid nozzles because they have three jets instead of two. That sounded like a good idea so I added that to my Toyota parts list. Here is the thread where that was suggested and there is some other info about transferring everything from the old hood to the new hood.

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/184148-switching-hoods-transferring-washer-fluid-tubing-connections-without-tearing-stuff-up.html

As you can see the 4th Gen nozzles are slightly larger than the 3rd Gen nozzles.

The mechanic in Bryan got everything got done except for installing the oxygen sensors and the fuel filter. He charged 4 hours labor at $80 an hour for a total of $320. I didn't think that was bad considering how much I got done.

 

[benjamin247]

Looking good so far! I'm enjoying following the transformation. The sport hood looks bada$$...

 

[RussToy]

Congratulations on getting your new hood!! So tell us...was it worth the wait??? I have a funny feeling I know your answer...lol!!!! I know the stock scoop doesn't do anything...but damn, it sure does look good!!

IMHO...this blue has to be one of...if not the sharpest color Toyota has ever offered!! You my friend, were very smart to hold out until you found this color Toyota :hatsoff: !!

Keep the build going...excited to see what's next :snacker:

 

[SURF RUNNER]

Thanks for the comments. For anyone who wants a scooped sport hood I can give you some tips on how to find one at a salvage yard while the wrecked 4Runner is still "fresh" as they say in that business. Most of the info and tips you need are already on post #8 on this thread... http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/184098-official-3rd-gen-4runner-scooped-sport-hood-photo-thread.html

In my opinion you don't save that much money going the aftermarket route, especially if:

1) Your 4Runner is one of these 6 colors (Black, Imperial Jade Mica, Millennium Silver, Thundercloud, Sunfire Red, or Stellar Blue)

2) You have Thundercloud, Silver or Black trim and are willing to let the hood stay that color (idea - paint the scoop insert to match your factory body paint color)

3) You are willing to paint and keep it flat back for a while.

Congratulations on getting your new hood!! So tell us...was it worth the wait???

It was definitely worth the wait. I would just check Car-Parts.com and HollanderParts.com once a week until a Stellar Blue hood all of the sudden showed up in Long Beach, California several weeks ago. I was deliberate about it, not desperate - that is key.

 

[skcolb]

IMHO...this blue has to be one of...if not the sharpest color Toyota has ever offered!! You my friend, were very smart to hold out until you found this color Toyota :hatsoff: !!

I have to agree -- but I'll add that I think it's the two-tone Limited trim that really makes it. Not as big a fan of the Stellar Blue on its own.

 

[TxBxSx]

Does anyone have a photo of this bumper with two jerry cans mounted side by side? I've seen this on other bumpers, but not on the Shrockworks bumper.

 

[NuclearN8]

first off great find on a clean runner and I applaud your attention to research and detail. I was hoping to hear you'd make the aftermarket bumpers the same tan color as the bottom so it blends better. (I've seen color matched fenders to the body color before but never color matched to the 2nd color on 3rd gens, I think that would look truly custom, almost like it should have come from the factory that way...) again i love your truck but I would lose those damn stickers... it's not an offroad version, it's a limited with a sport hood, I'd urge you to be more period & model correct and be content with that... lastly, I think you should put a rigid industies 10" SR2 combo light bar recessed in that hood scoop... it can happen and it actually brings some function to the hood scoop. I look forward to seeing how your build develops.

 

[SURF RUNNER]

Thanks for posting the pic TxBxSx. I already have your Shrockworks decal on my rear window... I can't wait to get my bumpers mounted.

I was hoping to hear you'd make the aftermarket bumpers the same tan color as the bottom so it blends better. (I've seen color matched fenders to the body color before but never color matched to the 2nd color on 3rd gens, I think that would look truly custom, almost like it should have come from the factory that way

NuclearN8,

Thanks for posting your comments on my build thread...

The aftermarket front and rear bumper, fender flares, and Limited trim will all be the same color. At first it was going to be a medium blue, then Millennium Silver, now it looks like everything on the bottom 1/4 of my 4Runner will be Teal Blue (steel blue variant) from the 1968 Camaro. Pontiac used this same color in 1968 - they called it Aleutian Blue. Visually replace everything that is Thundercloud on my 4Runner with the Teal Blue color in the Camaro.

This is a Steel Blue type of color with a tiny bit of green in it. This color is the perfect medium shade - it isn't too dark or too light. It is very difficult to find a Steel Blue color that doesn't look too gray. I've painted quite a few monster cans as tests to come to this conclusion. Toyota did a great job in selecting Thundercloud as the most common Limited trim color late in the generation, but the color had to look good with all of the factory colors. It looks great on the Imperial Jade Metallic and Millennium Silver 4Runners, but it looks a little too light on Stellar Blue. There is too much contrast between the Stellar Blue and the Thundercloud in my opinion.

i love your truck but I would lose those damn stickers... it's not an offroad version, it's a limited with a sport hood, I'd urge you to be more period & model correct and be content with that...

I actually love the TRD OFF-ROAD decal. I understand where you are coming from, but I'm not concerned about being period and model correct with my 4Runner. I have more ideas than money, but eventually SURF RUNNER will be a blend of the following:
- 2001 Limited 4WD 4Runner
- TRD Off-Road/Supercharged Additions
- JDM/Hilux Surf Influence
- California Surfing Beach Cruiser
- Baja 1000 Racer

I have a paint scheme in my head that is going to include Stellar Blue, Teal Blue, another blue (probably Cadillac Opulent Blue), Corvette Electron Blue, Millennium Silver, and white. There will be twin racing stripes and graphics to tie it all together. The Electron Blue will be for the Tundra calipers, D-Rings, and other accents. All of the tubes or bars (rock sliders, ARB hoop, tire carrier/jerry can holder on the rear Shrockworks bumper, roof rack. etc) will be Millennium Silver. I wish I could post the picture I have in my head.

I think you should put a rigid industies 10" SR2 combo light bar recessed in that hood scoop... it can happen and it actually brings some function to the hood scoop.

I saw the writeup papabeach did on this mod and I think that it is brilliant. http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/185361-led-bar-hood-scoop-write-up-3rd-gen-4runner.html I may eventually do that, but I am still entertaining the idea of trying to make the scoop somewhat functional as a heat extractor or cold air intake. It really isn't positioned correctly as a cold air intake, so that is probably out of the question. I have an Injen air intake on order and plan to make a custom cover for it similar to the Volant air box, but more tube-like. It may be possible to incorporate the LED light bar and also use the scoop as a heat extractor. My old 2001 Corvette had a functioning heat extractor hood, so I like that idea. Does the LED light bar generate much heat on its own?



Several days ago I started a SEC COUNTRY - 3RD GEN 4RUNNER thread on this forum. If you live in one of these 11 states and root for one of the 14 schools in the SEC please post here...

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/185592-official-sec-country-3rd-gen-4runner-thread.html

 

[NuclearN8]

That sounds like a real interesting (and expensive) paint job. I look forward to seeing how it turns out and hope you love it when it's done.

 

[BrianSD_42]

. it's not an offroad version, it's a limited with a sport hood, I'd urge you to be more period & model correct and be content with that..

There is no "offroad version" , any stickers were likely added by owners or the original dealer on any 4Runner. I don't know for sure but I don't believe 4Runner shipped from the factory with stickers.

Nothing wrong with those stickers. Everyone knows they add 10hp per side. I have them on my Limited 4WD Locked 4Runner and I think those stickers rock. At least it isn't a gigantic Tapout sticker.

About the paint job - I'd suggest you photoshop it first.

 

[SURF RUNNER]

TRD OFF-ROAD Decals/Paint Job

There is no "offroad version" , any stickers were likely added by owners or the original dealer on any 4Runner. I don't know for sure but I don't believe 4Runner shipped from the factory with stickers.

Nothing wrong with those stickers. Everyone knows they add 10hp per side. I have them on my Limited 4WD Locked 4Runner and I think those stickers rock.

Agreed! The graphics design of the TRD OFF-ROAD decal is so well-done that I think it looks great on almost any 3rd Gen 4Runner as long as you get the placement and color combination right.

The only factory decals for the 3rd Gen 4Runner were for the BADLANDS edition in Canada and the WILD RUNNER edition in Puerto Rico. The Hilux Surf 185 (same as 3rd Gen 4Runner) had a bunch of available large decals from the factory.

About the paint job - I'd suggest you photoshop it first.

I probably will. Anyone have any comments on the idea of repainting my bumpers, fender flares and Limited trim from Thundercloud (light gray) to Teal Blue (steel blue)?

Visually replace everything that is Thundercloud on my 4Runner with the Teal Blue color in the Camaro.

 

[skcolb]

I probably will. Anyone have any comments on the idea of repainting my bumpers, fender flares and Limited trim from Thundercloud (light gray) to Teal Blue (steel blue)?

I really like the color scheme as it is, with the Thundercloud on the bumpers, fender flares, and Limited trim. To me it's an excellent contrast against the Stellar Blue. I don't think that the steel blue would look good against the Stellar Blue.

 

[BrianSD_42]

I probably will. Anyone have any comments on the idea of repainting my bumpers, fender flares and Limited trim from Thundercloud (light gray) to Teal Blue (steel blue)?

Street price for a legit shop, with you doing all the removal work and re-install of the actual flares: $500 - $750. In California it is on the higher end.

If you know someone who paints or can do it yourself then the price goes down a lot. Maybe to like $300 or $400.

Source: I've removed my flares and painted them professionally twice. The second time was just this year.

 

[papabeach]

First, love the build. Very well thought out from the beginning. I look forward to the transformation!

Does the LED light bar generate much heat on its own?

The bar does get quite hot though not sure it causes more heating of the hood above then just the engine (s/c in my case) below. Regardless, I am debating rebuilding my mount to make it look a little less ghetto fab and at the same time can add some heat shielding to the underneath of the hood above the bar.

 

[MattJakobs]

I would agree with using photo shop before painting. One of my problems is that I have trouble trying to match bumpers, flares/cadding, and wheels. The Stellar Blue and Thundercloud don't leave us many options, especially since there aren't any pictures (that I can find at least) with 4Runners of our color code built up. On a stock vehicle, I feel that our color combination looks great but once you bring different colored bumpers and possible wheel combonations into the equation, things get a little tricky.
In my opinion, I think the blue that you're aiming for with the flares/cadding might take away from some of the glory from the Stellar Blue as the color can be so easily manipulated by light among other things. I've personally thought about having mine painted Stellar Blue to match the body, black to match the bumpers (which would probably look great on yours with the TRD wheels you have), or some sort of silver.
Whatever you end up doing, I'm sure it will look great and I'm looking forward to seeing what the final product is.

 

[Hepar]

it's not an offroad version, it's a limited with a sport hood, I'd urge you to be more period & model correct and be content with that

Guess all of us should remove our lifts, wheels, tires etc etc if they aren't stock since that would make them no longer period and model correct. Lighten up a bit and learn to have a little fun! Life is a lot more fun if you don't always follow the rules.

I probably will. Anyone have any comments on the idea of repainting my bumpers, fender flares and Limited trim from Thundercloud (light gray) to Teal Blue (steel blue)?[/IMG]

If you strip all the cladding off and do all the prep work, the cost will be much lower to have someone just spray them.