Bought this vehicle with the goal of making it into a thoroughly capable off-road trail
explorer while still maintaining the ability to drive highway distances to find
trails out of state. Using inspiration and tips from Yotatech...
...this is what I started with on 6/10/2005 with 200,500 miles on the odo.
Original Specs:
3.0 V6, 5spd, SR5, 31" tires, no dents, no rust.
The following pic was taken approximately 6 months later:
Additional Mods at time of pic:
SAS from Marlin with an '85 Toyota front axle, rear leaf swap from All Pro, 4" front
springs, 6" rear springs, 35" tires, 5.29 gears, ARB rear locker, square front driveshaft, RB 1" body lift,
Sirius Radio, Pioneer deck, speakers, subs, amps, seat covers and skull floor mats
Couple shots of the interior. Added CB (ashtray mod), Kenwood deck with Sirius satellite receiver and I-Pod dock (running a 30GB I-pod), Tilt-O-Meter, switch bank in the old shelf opening. Tried to keep everything as "factory" and clean as possible.
Then I did a bunch of engine work....
Under the hood:
Optima YellowTop, Performance dual core Hi-flow radiator, Flex-A-Lite fan, Intake from
Home Depot
(don't laugh, it works), intake plenum and heads cleaned, valves adjusted,
injectors cleaned, new timing belt, oil pump, water pump, O2 sensor, Downey headers,
150 AMP alternator, "Big 3" wiring upgrade, Centerforce II clutch, new clutch slave and master...
The following pic was taken approximately 6 months after that (10/06/06):
Additional Mods at time of pic:
TJM front bumper, Warn M8000 Winch, 100' 5/16" Viking winch line, Marlin sliders, 10lb Powertank, Aussie front locker, removed RB 1" body lift, beginnings of a custom rear bumper.
Update 2/19/07:
Rear disc swap:
http://www.yotatech.com/showthread.php?t=107749
Update 2/26/07:
Dual Ultimate Marlin crawler installed. 2.28 front, 4.7 rear. All that attached with a FROR crossmember and armor. Also installed long slip front DS and new rear DS with 4th Gen 4Runner U-Joints for maximum strength.
Update 4/07/07:
Rear bumper completed. 3/16 steel used throughout. 2x4" main bar. Recessed 2" trailer hitch and fully welded shackle hangers.
Update 8/17/07:
Built a traction bar doubling as some additional drivetrain protection. Seems to work well... but time will tell.
http://www.yotatech.com/f88/traction.../#post50595855
Update 12/21/07:
The 3.4 swap has been completed. Man does that motor scream over the 3.0!!
http://www.yotatech.com/f116/elvotas.../#post50652420
In action on 09/28/08:
Traction bar, 3.4, dual crawler and disc brakes all working very well together.
Thanks for looking.