Jimmy's 3rd Gen 4Runner

[Jimmy01]

Decided I wanted to start a build thread for my 4Runner. Its a 2001 that is pretty much stock.

I've wheeled it a lot in Colorado doing trails like Red Cone, the Gulches, and lots of fire roads.
I moved to Texas last year for work and haven't been out since but have a buddy finishing a SBC swapped TJ on Tons. So found some motivation to start wrenching on it and get ready to start wheeling again.





How it sits right now

Ironman Nitro Shocks and Springs

Sliders from a local guy

Tacoma Takeoffs and 285s

Baja Design Sport Lights

Short Term Plans

Bilstein 6112s and 5160s - Sitting in the back seat

Marlin/Locktup Fab Front bumper - Ordered

Lunchbox Locker - Sitting in the back seat

 

[Stairgod]

Enjoy the shit out of it.

 

[Jimmy01]

Tried to get the suspension in this weekend. But drank too many beers to figure out the spring compressor. And then one of my friends spilled two gallons of trans fluid on the floor.

 

[Dukestaco]

Tried to get the suspension in this weekend. But drank too many beers to figure out the spring compressor. And then one of my friends spilled two gallons of trans fluid on the floor.

Ohhh this thread is going to be fun to follow. Be careful around those spring compressors fingers hands and faces could be changed forever and don’t let a dude in a dress piss two gallons on the floor. Not cool at all. Looking forward to the transformation of the 4runner. Take pics because you will forget what she looked like when she was unmolested.

 

[Jimmy01]

Took a day trip to Arkansas this weekend. 8 hours of highway and maybe 4 hours of dirt.

Tried to get some fishing in but was unsuccessful.

Ordered a different spring compressor so hopefully can get the new struts assembled this week. The Ironmans are worn out after 40k and they never sat level.

 

[Jimmy01]

Finally got around to putting the new shocks and struts in. First time the truck has ever sat level left to right. They ride much better than the worn out ones i had before.

 

[Jimmy01]

I also replaced my factory ball joint bolts with ARP

 

[4runner DOA]

I also replaced my factory ball joint bolts with ARP

Upper or lower? Lowers seem to be a bigger issue than uppers on these things. Seen lots of failures with the lowers on 3rd Gen runner/1st Gen Tacoma.

 

[thezentree]

Spiker Engineering did a really good study on 3rd gen 4Runner LBJ bolts on T4R.org. Definitely worth reading if you have one of these trucks.

 

[Jimmy01]

Upper or lower? Lowers seem to be a bigger issue than uppers on these things. Seen lots of failures with the lowers on 3rd Gen runner/1st Gen Tacoma.

Lower. The Spiker engineering post is where I got the info on them from.

In other news called Marlin Crawler - my bumper should be shipping Monday.

 

[Jimmy01]

Picked up an RC crawler this week and started throwing parts on it. And found a toyota body for it obviously.

 

[Jimmy01]

Got the bumper in from Marlin Crawler. Fitted right up to the factory bumper mounts, so not the most low profile. No cutting involved. Mounted up a harbor freight winch, but the bumper does not fit traditional roller fairleads.

Also drove me and the wife from Texas to the Carolinas for the holidays and did a little bit of wheeling around Lake Jocassee in SC.

Also new clunk in the front left to investigate once I get back to Texas and smoked the trans fluid.

 

[Stairgod]

Auxiliary trans cooler. Biggest you can fit.
Granny fluid life is VERY temperature dependent

 

[Jimmy01]

Work just had me move back to Colorado, so hopefully will be getting some real wheeling in soon.

I have some noises to diagnose first. Either the driver side CV or wheel bearing is going out, click every tire rotation while going in a straight line. And something in the back rattle when I turn, I suspect the worn out front links that I put on the rear sway bar.

Also need to do a little more clearancing in the front wheel wells.

 

[4runner DOA]

Work just had me move back to Colorado, so hopefully will be getting some real wheeling in soon.

I have some noises to diagnose first. Either the driver side CV or wheel bearing is going out, click every tire rotation while going in a straight line. And something in the back rattle when I turn, I suspect the worn out front links that I put on the rear sway bar.

Also need to do a little more clearancing in the front wheel wells.

Sounds like axle if you can hear it clicking. My wheel bearings I could always feel in my gas pedal.

 

[Jimmy01]

Ran Red Cone this weekend with a couple of buddies. Definitely need to get the lunchbox thrown in the back. Was definitely pushing it for me with no locker and the basically stock GX470.

No real issues, but threw a cat code. We’ll see if a reset will last another year.

 

[Jimmy01]

Found my clicking axle, broken center cap. A little super glue and the sound is gone. Seems like some of the screws that held it in are stripped or snapped.

Also moved my ditch lights into the bumper and added another set with built in turn signals. Seemed like the better solution over spending $200 on 3d printed inserts.

 

[Stairgod]

Got a link for those inserts? I likely could print for cheaper.

 

[Jimmy01]

Got a link for those inserts? I likely could print for cheaper.

Thanks for the offer. I was referring to the turn signals that go under the headlights, sold by various Toyota part sellers. I'll see how these Auxbeam pods hold up.

 

[Jimmy01]

Ran Switzerland Trail and some offshoots this weekend. Easy scenic trail.
Battery terminal popped off while backing out of some very deep ruts on a very steep and loose side trail, so that’s getting pushed up the to do list. A bungee cord is helping to keep it on for now.

Hopefully will get to run another trail or two before the snow hits.