What a Difference

[RPC]

So I'm finally getting around to posting pics of my most recent mods. No, no SAS in here or anything, but what a difference FJ springs, Spidertrax and Daystar 1.25" front leveling spacers can make! I'm no Ansel Adams, but take a look:

I've read it several times and completely agree- this is how the 4th Gen should've come stock.


I also had my favorite muffler shop reroute the exhaust tip from straight out the rear to tucked just behind the passenger rear mudflap:

I noticed maybe a 10% increase in drone without the resonator at 70 on the freeway, but man, around town that Magnaflow really sounds nice now. The main reason I relocated the exhaust exit was in trying to get rid of that smell I got every now & then- haven't even gotten a hint of it since moving the tip!

 

[ARK_SWAMP_RIDER]

Looks great!!! Can you measure the height from the ground to fender front/rear? Just curious if there's still a little rake, hard to tell from the pics. Also, any clue how much lift you gained front/rear?

 

[ran]

I like the first shot and I have been to Ansel Adams house along the California coast.

 

[RPC]

I like the first shot and I have been to Ansel Adams house along the California coast.

Yeah, I'm a big fan. My favorite collection of his is the work in Yosemite, which is kept on display there also.

 

[RPC]

Looks great!!! Can you measure the height from the ground to fender front/rear? Just curious if there's still a little rake, hard to tell from the pics. Also, any clue how much lift you gained front/rear?

Thanks pal, I know you did something similar recently and had a great outcome also.

Measurements taken mid-center cap today were:
Front- P- 35 1/2", D- 35 1/4"
Rear- P- 36 5/16", D- 35 11/16" Update- Rear driver's side 36" with empty fuel tank

So there is rake, ~ 3/4", but it isn't equal on each side. As most report, the driver side is lower than the passenger side, in my case about 1/4" in front and 9/16" in the rear. The front ≠ 1/4" can probably be attributed to the battery. I was surprised by the difference in the rear, but remembered that I have a nearly full fuel tank. ~17 gal x ~6.25lbs/gal= 106.25 lbs is nothing to sneeze at, but I fully plan on running this tank to fumes and double checking the measurements.

I also took a look at the rear springs to make were they were seated correctly, and sure enough the passenger's side (my side) is but the driver's side (my buddy's) is rotated counter-clockwise maybe 7/8" out of the spot where the coil end seats. I don't think there's any way this could account for the entire difference, but I'll be rotating it into place anyway.

I'm nearly positive I didn't take 'before' measurements, and if I did I have no idea where they are, so I can't tell you what was gained where.

Long answer to a short question.

 

[CJ3Flyr]

Awesome! Glad you're happy. I have serious tailpipe/Spidertrax envy I bookmarked this so I can take your exhaust pic to my shop.

 

[jpless]

me too, I was just thinking about getting that done. I may do a muffler swap at the same time but not sure.

Does it sound a little louder without the resonator? anything noteworthy about the change?

Do you smell the amonia anymore? that is, if you did before.

how much did it run you?

 

[RPC]

Awesome! Glad you're happy. I have serious tailpipe/Spidertrax envy I bookmarked this so I can take your exhaust pic to my shop.

Chris,

The $65 I spent on relocating the tail pipe might be the best money I've spent on this thing. I haven't had it this way for long, but with the rear window down I've tried hard to get that smell and just can't. Heavy acceleration, usually freeway on ramps, were almost guaranteed to produce it, but not anymore!

Also, in the very last picture you can make out where the stock exhaust was cut and rerouted- 20" of mandrel bent tubing perfection. The other thing I love is how our rear bumpers aren't molded to show off or accommodate the tail pipe like some vehicle's rear bumpers are, leaving a gaping hole if the stock pipe is [re]moved. Even with that weight distributing hitch under there, I think it look sooooo much better without that silly looking resonator and pipe hangin' out down there.

 

[ARK_SWAMP_RIDER]

I was gonna ask what it cost you to get that done. As soon as I can decide on what to do with the exhaust (considering Flowmaster 50 series SUV muffler) and find a decent shop, I'm having the same thing done. Did they make any comments on the resonator? The local shop has always been real picky about what they do, hence the reason I've not had this done yet.

 

[RPC]

Does it sound a little louder without the resonator? anything noteworthy about the change?

Do you smell the amonia anymore? that is, if you did before.

how much did it run you?

JP, I had already swapped the stock muffler for a Magnaflow when I had the resonator removed and exhaust rerouted, so I can't speculate on how just the tip relocation/resonator removal would sound with stock exhaust. I can tell you though that the Magnaflow sounds amazing now. Maybe 10% more "drone" at freeway speeds but I so often have my sunroof open, rear window down and music up that the only thing I pick up is a little more rumble- this thing finally sounds like a V8. :thumb3:

I also almost never have passengers in the back seat, and would probably be slightly more concerned about the sound if I did, but it's usually just me and the dog. The other nice thing about moving the tip is that I'm not as worried about my pup constantly having a face full of exhaust when we're cruising with the rear window down.

See my comment to Chris (CJ) re: the ammonia smell and cost.

Cheers.

 

[RPC]

I was gonna ask what it cost you to get that done. As soon as I can decide on what to do with the exhaust (considering Flowmaster 50 series SUV muffler) and find a decent shop, I'm having the same thing done. Did they make any comments on the resonator? The local shop has always been real picky about what they do, hence the reason I've not had this done yet.

You know, this muffler shop is probably one of the best in all of California, and I just lucked out living in the same town. The guy doing the work estimated ~ 10% increase in drone w/out the resonator and I'd say he was spot on. He said he could probably do something fancy to keep the resonator and relocate the tip, but the more we played with it the closer it got to the spare. I was worried about heat damage to the tire so I told him to forget it but kept the end cut off (which includes the resonator) just in case I got out on the road and hated it. I tell you what- smile from ear to ear. :biggrin2:

I wouldn't say I was disappointed when I had the Magnaflow put in, but I felt like I wasn't getting everything out of it. Well, what I was missing was being sucked up by the rest of the stock exhaust system behind it.

 

[Dr. Gonzo]

what shop did you use?

 

[jpless]

which magnaflow did you put in? I'm leaning there rather than flowmaster, I think the flowmasters might be a little too loud.

I had a pretty loud doug thoreley hi-flow cat and cat-back system on my 98 and it got so annoying. It was the type of loud where you would hear it and expect me to be doing more than 20mph, but I wasn't.

 

[RPC]

what shop did you use?

Marco Muffler on Fulton.

 

[RPC]

which magnaflow did you put in? I'm leaning there rather than flowmaster, I think the flowmasters might be a little too loud.

It's funny you ask that because I was wondering the same thing the other day, but when I went back and looked at the work order all it says is "Magnaflow muffler". I'll probably go by and ask one of these days.

What else is funny is that I didn't tell the wife I had the work done (the second round) and I fully expect her to come home one day after driving the 4Runner around and say something like, "Weird, it's like the 4Runner got louder or something." And I'll just look at her and say, "Hmm, that is weird." :

 

[jpless]

What else is funny is that I didn't tell the wife I had the work done (the second round) and I fully expect her to come home one day after driving the 4Runner around and say something like, "Weird, it's like the 4Runner got louder or something." And I'll just look at her and say, "Hmm, that is weird." :

That is my plan! She doesn't want me putting one on this t4r since the doug thorely i put on my 98 with a high flow cat was absurdly loud. The kind of loud where it was like "DAAAANG, I"M JUST BACKING UP!"

I think without a high flow cat, it won't be as brutal but I'm deciding between the normal magnaflow 18 that a lot of people get and maybe the 24" to reduce the noise slightly.

 

[RPC]

I think without a high flow cat, it won't be as brutal but I'm deciding between the normal magnaflow 18 that a lot of people get and maybe the 24" to reduce the noise slightly.

Yeah, just measured it and its the 18". Looking around though, I think it might be tough to stuff a 24" can in that space. Who knows, a good shop can do just about anything I suppose.

If you plan on losing the resonator at the same time, I would probably advise a muffler on the quieter end of the spectrum. I am still surprised sometimes at how much more volume and rumble I got out of the resonator removal/rerouting alone. Not as much as swapping the stock muffler, but probably 65% that amount of change.

I don't know if it would even equate across the web but I was thinking about taking a spin around the block, and maybe a freeway on ramp with my video camera to try and capture the sound. I know I like to get as many perspectives on similar work that I can before making a change and if it works maybe it would help the next guy make a decision.

 

[MSU4Runner]

That looks great, RPC. I am glad to see some more pictures of the Daystar 1.25" levelling kit installed because I am putting mine in this weekend. I will also be having some new 265/70/17 tires mounted up. Good to see yours turned out the way I am hoping mine does.

I haven't bought Spidertrax yet, but seeing yours is tempting me!

 

[jpless]

thanks for the advice. I may just lose the resonator and turn it out the side for that little extra rumble. Hadn't heard about gains in that.

Also, in the middle of getting the FJ bilstein setup and looking at spacers. You just gave me another size to consider.

The front struts and springs are already assembled so throwing in the spacer will actually require more work but it looks worth it!

Great job and thanks for influencing my upcoming mods!

 

[ARK_SWAMP_RIDER]

The Daystar kit is referenced under a variety of different terms. I believe this 1.25" kit is going to have similar gains (if not the same kit) to the 1" budget boost. The 1.25 is available from Wheelers Off Road for pretty cheap. Also, there is no extra work required as long as it is a topout spacer. You stand the assembled strut upright, set the spacer on top, slide into place. There's no need to disassemble the assembly at all. I'm unsure on the Daystar, but on my Toytec we had to replace the three bolts that hold the top of the assembly in space. I think the Daystar uses extensions, but either way I doubt it'll add 5 minutes total to the install time by going with the spacer (topout).