The Wife's 2003 Build

[Rockdawg84]

Hello,
I'm new to 4th Gen Runners but not to Runners themselves. I currently have a 85 chopped runner on 39's, A 98 5speed, 3.4 supercharged, and now as of yesterday I have a 2003 v8, 4x4. I found it online and flew to San Diego to pick it up. 9500 cash. It is a one owner 165k that was fully serviced at the Dealer. Clean Carfax and was able to get all the service records on Toyotaowers.com

There are a couple of cosmetic blems that I will take care of but this thing runs great and was a pleasure to drive 350 miles back to Tucson. Averaged about 18.5 coming home with the AC on and Cruse set at 75. It was almost hard to give to the wife when I got home. lol What I love the best is that she loves to drive it but has already asked how long it will take to get it lifted with bumpers, sliders and 35's. Not to tall though she said since she has to be able to get our son in and out of his car seat. lol I am a lucky man.

So the plan so far is this tell me if I am way off since I'm new to 4th Gens.

front will be Ballistic Fabrication 8inch travel coilover hybrid's
Rear will be 9 wrap LC coils with extended LC Shocks.
Reworked rear Panhard mounts and an adjustable panhard bar.
Addicted offroad's 4th gen sliders
up in the air about front and rear bumpers.

looking forward to hearing what you guys think. I am no stranger to reworking fenderwells and trimming plastic to get the 35's to fit.

 

[Rockdawg84]

OK question 1 are the rear axles of FJ Cruisers the same as 4th Gens. I picked up a rear FJ axle a while back to get the elocker and put it in the 98 but now I am wondering if I can simple bolt it into the 4th Gen and wire the locker in? Also what is the general axle ratio on a 4th gen 4x4 with a v8. The FJ axle has 3.90's in it.

 

[gaterose]

Sounds like a sweet build!

I'm fairly sure the axle ratio on all v8 and v6 5 speed models is 3.73. The 4 speed v6 has 3.90s but I don't think any other models do.

It seems like it would bolt in since the 4r and fjc have the same suspension and (I'm guessing since they use the same ARB) internals. But I can't find anything to back me up.

toyota120.com may be a better place to ask this. The guys there are more off-road and custom fab oriented, they're also an FJ (& 4runner) forum.

 

[Rockdawg84]

So I got my first mods done on the wife's runner. Tinted to 18% all the way around and then Just had this put on. Great Easter present for the Wife. She absolutely loves the new front bumper.

The Man himself - Jason Demello

Jason and his staff were great to work with. The bumper is total quality and is going to be an awesome addition for a great build.

 

[Rockdawg84]

On the way home jumped off the freeway to play in the sand just a little. We need a lift and some 35's:biggrin2:

 

[gaterose]

Nice, looking good, what's next?

Also did you ever find any more info about putting the FJ e-locker in the 4R?

 

[Rockdawg84]

Nice, looking good, what's next?

Also did you ever find any more info about putting the FJ e-locker in the 4R?

What i found is that they are the same axle but the FJ is a 3.90 gear and My runner is a 3.73 so I will need to find a v6 4th gen to get the front diff out of so that it will match the FJ Rear. 3.90's will work well as we move toward 35's then it is a simple matter of wiring in a relay to work the rear locker. Here are some more pics including a before and after of the tint.

before tint

After Tint

more of the new bumper

 

[Rockdawg84]

Well the wife and I are on our anniversary vacation and instead of going to the coast this year we headed to the mountains. We are going to spend a couple of days in SW CO in Ouray. As we drove here we spent the night in Farmington NM and had a little fun out in chokecherry Canyon. We will be doing some wheeling here in CO as well and I will be posting up pics. What is for sure is that my wife wants her runner lifted ASAP. When we get home I will probably be calling Jason at Demello Off-Road for a set of Icons for up front. Here is a taste:bravo:

 

[Rockdawg84]

 

[Casper421]

Get that ICON lift quick, she looks like a lowrider with that bumper, winch and V8!! :repuke: I love the bumper!! :cheers:

 

[Rockdawg84]

LOL I totally agree. its gotta get up in the air. With 35's and its my wife's daily driver. I don't even have to push for mods. lift, sliders, and rear bumper are all on the list. We just have to keep saving up. lol

 

[knightsfs4]

What kind of bumper is that?

 

[Rockdawg84]

What kind of bumper is that?

Its a Demello Off-road bumper. they are available with 3 hoop (what we have) 1 hoop center. or no hoops. I personally think they are the sweetest front bumper on the market for our 4th Gens.

Here are some more pics of us in CO.

and some waterfalls its not something we see everyday in Tucson

 

[texastony]

nice pics , I really like the front bumper

 

[Djrashonal]

On the way home jumped off the freeway to play in the sand just a little. We need a lift and some 35's:biggrin2:

Off the 8 by Yuma?

 

[Rockdawg84]

Off the 8 by Yuma?

Yep

 

[Rockdawg84]

So I was back in SoCal for a conference and happened to swing by Demello Off-Road and picked up some goodies for the wife's runner.

The only piece that I have left to get is rear springs. I am going back and forth about what to get. I am leaning toward the allpro 3.5 inch lift springs because I want a little bit of rake. There is a new rear bumper in the near future as well that will weigh the rear down a bit.

Also I have to say that the folks over at Demello are great. Jason and Jessica were super good to work with. Give them a call and pick up some stuff.

 

[Rockdawg84]

So over the last couple of days I have found and ordered the last couple of pieces to complete this current project. I ordered tires this week and they should be here by the middle of next week. 5 - 35x12.5R17 Cooper STT's, a set of 3.5 inch lift rear allpro springs, and today I found a front diff with 3.91 gears to match the rear Elocked axle that will go in with the suspension. Consequently I plugged the ratio's and tires into a calc. and the 35's with 3.91's will be almost exactly the same as the stock gears and 265's. this rig is gonna transform almost overnight. Gonna be fun:hunter:

 

[Rockdawg84]

The lift is on :guitar:

Before the lift went on I had one of the new tires mounted on the spare so I could see where the problems were gonna be.

Next to a stock tire

Removed the mudflaps and installed the 35's really not bad at all.

Got out the surgical tools for the clearancing.

Got to work. trimmed, cut and pounded.

When it was all over and done there was a nice little pile of scrap

 

[Rockdawg84]

OK so I lied. So excited to get the tires on I totally forgot to take some pics of the Runner with the stock tires. Oh Well. Here is how she sits now

The only rubbing I am getting is from the side tread on the tire contacting the UCA on the forward side of a full turn (if that makes any sense) Also I almost jumped it and got just a little rubbing at the top of the fenderwell. Extended bumpstop in the front should take care of that. I'm not totally sure of how to deal with the UCA. Maybe a 1/4 wheel spacer.