Dirtco's 1999 4Runner Build-Up Thread
#41
So my bumper is sorta like yours, in a distant sorta way but going through the turbo build and seeing the reference pic I think I am gonna follow your example and mount 4 HID's like your down the road.
Hopefully I'll be able to find 2 floods/fogs and a couple of pencil beams. Not even sure if you have a choice with HID's just getting to the research stage.
But for me the big attraction is tons of light output with low amp draw.
Last edited by dropzone; 06-02-2011 at 09:03 PM. Reason: Wrong pic
#42
You are correct sir, camping it was! had it out 2x camping already and thinking about heading out to Eagle Rock or Longwater Gulch this weekend. Good luck with the new build i'll keep an eye on it in case you pinch off any new ideas that might be win for the turbo 4runner
Congrats Seven! You've got an amazing rig there.
Dirt- Looking forward to seeing the new one in action. Won't be at the Jambo this year though...
#43
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So my bumper is sorta like yours, in a distant sorta way but going through the turbo build and seeing the reference pic I think I am gonna follow your example and mount 4 HID's like your down the road.
Hopefully I'll be able to find 2 floods/fogs and a couple of pencil beams. Not even sure if you have a choice with HID's just getting to the research stage.
But for me the big attraction is tons of light output with low amp draw.
Hopefully I'll be able to find 2 floods/fogs and a couple of pencil beams. Not even sure if you have a choice with HID's just getting to the research stage.
But for me the big attraction is tons of light output with low amp draw.
#44
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Thanks! Sucks that you can't make it to the Jambo. If your ever up in Summit let me know, I'm always down for some wheeling (once I have a rig).
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I got the body lift installed. I hate body lifts, but with a 3rd Gen you don't have a whole lot of choices. I want this rig to set as low as possible without creating a bunch of work, but I couldn't talk myself into ordering a 1.5" or 2.0". So I ordered a 1" kit from Toytec, it should give me a little more clearace without being noticeable.
I didn't bother taking any pictures during the process, I'm sure there are plenty out there and it's a straight forward install.
Here's a couple after pictures. The tires are 275/70R16 (which the Red Rock calculator measures at 31.2x10.8x16), they are pretty much a 32" tire.
I didn't bother taking any pictures during the process, I'm sure there are plenty out there and it's a straight forward install.
Here's a couple after pictures. The tires are 275/70R16 (which the Red Rock calculator measures at 31.2x10.8x16), they are pretty much a 32" tire.
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I would love to get some input on this
On 3rd gen 4Runners and Tacomas you need to install a spacer at the steering rag joint. The spacer has holes drilled in it for the longer bolts, and some voids machined for the studs coming off the steering rack side. The voids do not go all the way through the spacer. I installed it with the wheels straight ahead, and it looked like this (but at a lower angle).
I took it for a drive and the steering felt like it had a little more resistance to it. I brought it back to the shop and loosened the slip shaft to release any tension that might be stored. I also looked at the spacer from another angle and it looks like this.
The studs are bottoming out in the machined voids and stressing the rag joint. So... I'm sure it costs more to machine a void, than to drill a hole. Does anyone know why they are constructed this way? Is this done on purpose? In stock form there is no pressure on the studs. I'm not complaining about the product, it just seems odd to me. I plan on calling them Monday to see what they say.
On 3rd gen 4Runners and Tacomas you need to install a spacer at the steering rag joint. The spacer has holes drilled in it for the longer bolts, and some voids machined for the studs coming off the steering rack side. The voids do not go all the way through the spacer. I installed it with the wheels straight ahead, and it looked like this (but at a lower angle).
I took it for a drive and the steering felt like it had a little more resistance to it. I brought it back to the shop and loosened the slip shaft to release any tension that might be stored. I also looked at the spacer from another angle and it looks like this.
The studs are bottoming out in the machined voids and stressing the rag joint. So... I'm sure it costs more to machine a void, than to drill a hole. Does anyone know why they are constructed this way? Is this done on purpose? In stock form there is no pressure on the studs. I'm not complaining about the product, it just seems odd to me. I plan on calling them Monday to see what they say.
Last edited by DIRTCO; 06-03-2011 at 07:49 PM.
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And the HIDs
They are super bright! (almost too bright) I'm sure you will be happy them
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This has to be the first washer/dryer I've seen in any shop... you are quite the clean-freak, eh? That is a pretty unique color, are you going to keep it 2-tone?
We met the new owner of your turbo Runner yesterday at the dog park; might be working a deal to buy his friend's bobbed 87 4Runner... which will get 3.4 goodness later.
>>Dan
We met the new owner of your turbo Runner yesterday at the dog park; might be working a deal to buy his friend's bobbed 87 4Runner... which will get 3.4 goodness later.
>>Dan
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After looking through hundreds of pages of built 3rd gens I found that all of my favorites rigs were on 35's with no body lifts. But... running 35's with no BL takes a lot of cutting and being that mine is a Limited w/ the flares it adds even more work. Heres a couple of examples.
I went back and forth for days, but I decided that I would take the middle road and I bought the 1" BL. I will still have to trim a lot and I might have to tub the firewall but it's only 1/2" difference from what the Sonoran Steel site says.
I can see why most people run 33's, and if I did the normal Summer wheeling thing that's what I would run. The problem is I do a TON of snow wheeling (it’s my favorite!) and where I live the Summer wheeling season is only 3 months long (A-Basin still has a 80" base). A 285 is not going to offer me the flotation and clearance I need.
#54
im sure youll make it work. .5 inch doesnt seem to much and im sure you might get away with it.... im not a fan of BL as well but if thats what it takes for the 35s, it must be done. anyways i love snow wheeling too. wish it was snow all year or similar to yours, only have summer 3 mounts of the year lol
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This has to be the first washer/dryer I've seen in any shop... you are quite the clean-freak, eh? That is a pretty unique color, are you going to keep it 2-tone?
We met the new owner of your turbo Runner yesterday at the dog park; might be working a deal to buy his friend's bobbed 87 4Runner... which will get 3.4 goodness later.
>>Dan
We met the new owner of your turbo Runner yesterday at the dog park; might be working a deal to buy his friend's bobbed 87 4Runner... which will get 3.4 goodness later.
>>Dan
I wasn't a huge fan of the color when I first bought it, but now I love it. On a sunny day the metallic paint looks like copper, you really need to see it in person but this picture is a good example.
The two tone is going to stay, but I might paint the fender flares and cladding. I want to color match the bumpers and sliders to the fender flares but it's an odd dark silver and I have not found anything that's close in color. I need to touch up the bumpers and sliders when they get chipped/scratched, so I might have to repaint the flares/cladding in a lighter silver that matches the bumpers. This would also let me touch up the flares when they get scratched (being that they stick out a couple inches they will get more abuse than the rest of the paint).
It seems like Ryan really likes the 4Runner! Theres several people that have spotted it out and about in the Colorado Springs area. It really makes me happy that it stayed in Colorado and is being used the way it should!
Good luck buying the 87'!
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im sure youll make it work. .5 inch doesnt seem to much and im sure you might get away with it.... im not a fan of BL as well but if thats what it takes for the 35s, it must be done. anyways i love snow wheeling too. wish it was snow all year or similar to yours, only have summer 3 mounts of the year lol
The snow gets old after a while, but the wheeling is fun and those three months of summer are AWESOME!
Last edited by DIRTCO; 06-07-2011 at 05:09 AM.
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I got my fuel tank skid plate installed today!
The old green 4Runner only had the stock skid plate, and it would run out of gas at a 1/4 tank!
On the Turbo 4Runner I welded steel strap to the stock skid plate, it worked but it still deformed a little and there were a couple places where the stock skid was starting to crack. It did it's job, and worked well for what it was but there was room for improvement.
While researching 3rd gens I came across the Lil' Skips' fuel tank skidplate.
http://lilskipsoffroad.wordpress.com/
I thought about building my own, but time is money and I can see that there was a lot of time put into this skid plate. It's not cheap, but after you see it in person you understand why.
Here's the stock skid plate, just stamped sheet metal
And here is the new one
Overall I'm very happy with it. The directions were great, the customer service was awesome and the skid should do it's job. I really love how flat and smooth it is!
The old green 4Runner only had the stock skid plate, and it would run out of gas at a 1/4 tank!
On the Turbo 4Runner I welded steel strap to the stock skid plate, it worked but it still deformed a little and there were a couple places where the stock skid was starting to crack. It did it's job, and worked well for what it was but there was room for improvement.
While researching 3rd gens I came across the Lil' Skips' fuel tank skidplate.
http://lilskipsoffroad.wordpress.com/
I thought about building my own, but time is money and I can see that there was a lot of time put into this skid plate. It's not cheap, but after you see it in person you understand why.
Here's the stock skid plate, just stamped sheet metal
And here is the new one
Overall I'm very happy with it. The directions were great, the customer service was awesome and the skid should do it's job. I really love how flat and smooth it is!
Last edited by DIRTCO; 06-04-2011 at 07:05 PM.
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No kidding; that puppy is sweet! It'll prove its worth after the first rock slides under it. Do you know the paint code for your truck? I could whip up some touch-up paint if you want it... then the hard part would be getting it to you.
It must've been asked a million times before, but where do you work? Summit County or C-DOT maintenance? I completely forget.
>>Dan
It must've been asked a million times before, but where do you work? Summit County or C-DOT maintenance? I completely forget.
>>Dan
#60
No kidding; that puppy is sweet! It'll prove its worth after the first rock slides under it. Do you know the paint code for your truck? I could whip up some touch-up paint if you want it... then the hard part would be getting it to you.
It must've been asked a million times before, but where do you work? Summit County or C-DOT maintenance? I completely forget.
>>Dan
It must've been asked a million times before, but where do you work? Summit County or C-DOT maintenance? I completely forget.
>>Dan