What are the MUST DO mods for my '03

TSO

TSO

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Hello again - Thanks to those of you that addressed my NOOB questions about my (new to me) 03 V8 Limited with 88,500 miles. I've been checking out the threads and it looks like I'm definitely going to take it in soon for the 90k maintenance, including the Timing Belt, checking on the Water Pump, etc etc.

I have new tires on the way (Hankook i-Pike 275/65/17) and will have them on next week. I'm also probably going to snag a set of FJ wheels and 275-width Geolander AT's for my summer tires. Also looking at some Audio upgrades as the factory JBL system is utterly pathetic. I'll probably just bypass the JBL amp and run new wires to the speakers (unless someone has a bypass-diagram so I can run the speakers right from a new Head-Unit...?)

With that said, what are the MUST-DO mods for these rigs? What have you guys added/swapped that made the biggest difference? The aftermarket options for my '10 Tundra was pretty lame (unless you spent a LOT of $$$), so I didn't really make that many changes --- best thing u could do on that was the TRD Supercharger, which was WAY out of my price range.

Oh, and this is my daily-driver, so I'm not looking at things like a 6" lift with 35's or anything.

Thanks.
 
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1. Interior/Exterior LED Swap. Many threads/writeups on this, I personally followed JA's writeup which he has on his webpage and on here. Very easy and well worth the investment to have the added lighting.

2. HCF delete, very easy, also followed JA's writeup, it's super quick and not brain surgery by any means. There are a bunch of threads on this as well.

3. Drop-in air filter (Dry), I did a dry as to not mess with the oiling/cleaning and fouling the MAF.


Hope that helps some.
 
Im new also. Whats HCF delete / and what JA's write-up ??? I searched but got 20 pages. Every search I do gives me 20 pages .
 
Guys were doing the HCF delete on the Tundra's too, and weren't really noticing any difference. What's the consensus over here about doing it?
 
Mines a daily driver too, but here's what I did relatively cheap.

1" spacer front, 1.5" spacer rear = $80
Hood Guard to protect paint from rocks = $60
Bilstein 5100's all the way around = $300
Undercoating = $25
Rear Fog lights to improve back-up lighting = $40
SS Nerf Bars = $129

I am also going to do the urethane sway bar upgrade A_S_R discusses. $40

Next will be some LED interior upgrades.
 
Map light mod, interior led lights, Gentex auto-dimming w/ homelink mirror, and LED taillight swap were the first things I did on my '03 4R.
 
My '04 is my DD as well, and the two things that made the most difference were:

1) Slotted rotors, SS brake lines, and Hawk LTS brake pads on the front (approx 35K miles). I had a stuck caliper like others on the forum, warped rotors and figured I'd just go nuts-out and redo everything. I have exceptional stopping power, zero brake fade, and a firm pedal. Total cost was maybe $375 for parts.

2) 5000K Lightwerkz HID kit. It's more expensive than the DDM kit ($150 vs. $50), but I got the relay included and the ballasts are chrome, which matches the silver engine bay. With my headlights I can see everything now. It's not blue, and it's not yellow. I feel guilty about not spending the $$ on a full retrofit - but it seemed like it wasn't a bolt-on and I really don't have the kind of time to machine/fab parts.
 
I hope i dont sounsd like the voice of decention here, but al the LED mods seemed cool and all,....but i can see sh*t just fine with the stock stuff. I aint saying it isnt cool and all, but i passed on it.

As for sound, i did the T1808 mod in my 03. Added the ipod cable, sent it up thru the ash tray, good to go. Better sound, but youre probably lookin for more.
 
zerowkul98 said:
I hope i dont sounsd like the voice of decention here, but al the LED mods seemed cool and all,....but i can see sh*t just fine with the stock stuff. I aint saying it isnt cool and all, but i passed on it.

As for sound, i did the T1808 mod in my 03. Added the ipod cable, sent it up thru the ash tray, good to go. Better sound, but youre probably lookin for more.
Click to expand...

No need to be a d!ck and brag about your eyesight!!!! Ha ha.

In all seriousness I do love my LED interior and got all the bulbs on eBay for about 20 bucks.

As far as sound for me I did a pioneer avh-3300bt and LOVE it.
 
I'm going the LED replacement on the interior lights. I ordered the lights last night. The pictures of it look great.
 
My only problem with LED lighting is the color-tone... I can't stand it. I prefer the warm light of the standard bulbs compared to the bluish tones of the LED's. Are they really THAT much brighter inside the car? ... so much that they're necessary?
 
TSO said:
My only problem with LED lighting is the color-tone... I can't stand it. I prefer the warm light of the standard bulbs compared to the bluish tones of the LED's. Are they really THAT much brighter inside the car? ... so much that they're necessary?
Click to expand...

It all depends on what you need the lighting for. If its just for everyday ingress and egress or loading and unloading groceries out of the back then no. But if you're off-roading or camping out the the sticks and there's little or no ambient lighting you'll be glad you had the extra lighting. I say for now, stick with what you have and direct your money elsewhere.

P1020541.jpg~original


As to your original question, I would start with establishing a base line on all your maintenance. This way you'll know exactly what's been done and when you have to do it again. Do the timing belt, spark plugs, brake pads and filters(don't forget cabin air filter if your year has it). Change out ALL the fluids (switching to synthetics where possible) and clean MAF. I'm sure you'll be getting an alignment when you get the new shoes.

After all that's done, get one of those portable jumper pack/air compressor things and strap it down in the back so it doesn't whack you in the head during an accident. Have a variety of spare fuses put away in the glove box and have some basic hand tools and a pair of gloves stuffed away in one of the compartments in the back. A halotron fire extinguisher would also be nice to have on hand. If you do go with HID headlight bulbs, go with 4500k-5000k color temp for the most effective lighting.

If you plan on taking the 4runner off road then sliders are a must. Your rockers will thank you for it.

P1030238.jpg~original
 
Thanks Dawg...

This truck will mainly be a pavement/dirt-road Queen... so I'll probably just stick with the factory lighted running boards. I'm planning on setting up a trip to the stealership in a few weeks, where I'll address what you mentioned (I think most of those are included in the 90k maintenance interval) as well as my power-steering, which is really heavy.

My first MODS/Changes will be the tires & window tint, then probably upgrading the stereo, adding a bull-bar & some additional lights, then maybe changing out the tail-lights (maybe the eBay altezza style), then the headlights (...same). I'm also going to come up with some type of storage/organization system for the floor console, which seems poorly designed with little "trinket" space. You can't even use that fold-out pocket under the HVAC controls if you have things in the cup-holders... :wtf:
 
Cool - thanks for that. Guys were doing the BHLM (black headlight mod) at TundraSolutions also. I just hadn't had a chance to search it yet. Anyone doing it colormatched? Might look cool with the Galactic Gray... :shrug:
 
Ive never seen it done on a Runner, jus corvettes...:-) Itd be very interesting to see tho if ur not goin for the blackout look!
 
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