tobryant07

Hello again everyone. I have sold my CAMO 1991 4x4 4Runner SR5. I loved that thing but I needed a bed to haul stuff around more. I was originally going to swap a 3.4 into my 4Runner so I bought all of the swap parts including an engine which I rebuilt boring it .40 over, new heads and the works.

So anyways I found a heck of a deal on a 1997 T100 4x4 SR5 that needed a bit of work so I bought it in hopes of turning it into my ultimate project truck.

Work that I have done so far:

Painted steel rims black(temp till I need new tires)
Replace both front axles
Installed New Gibson Cat Back performance exhaust
Installed new optima red top 800CCA battery
Installed Painless hotshot kit
Installed new alternator
Installed new starter
Installed new Idler Arm
Installed new Pitman Arm
Installed CURT class V hitch
K&N filter

I just received 4 new Bilstein HD shocks that I will be installing this weekend.

Up next?
remove plastic liner and go with either Rhino liner or Line-X
looking at installing a softopper but not sure yet
replacing 60/40 bench with bucket seats

Eventually I will swap out the old engine with the new one I have rebuilt but I do not see the need in replacing a perfectly good engine, yes she may have 183k on her but she purrs and no leaks.

I will post pictures this afternoon.

tobryant07

Here is a picture she is kinda dirty now but still looks good.

tobryant07

Here are the rest of the exhaust pics. The Gibson exhaust kit sounds good and it was really easy to install. The worst part was removing the old exhaust, it was very rusted and a real pain to unbolt.

tobryant07

I was also looking at headers but the only ones that I have found that fit are the OBX ones but not sure if it is really worth it for minimal gains. Another option that I am looking at is just adding all the cool upgrades to my rebuilt engine. At that rate I would even think of adding the TRD super charger/injector upgrade to the rebuilt engine. I have not seen a first gen super charger for sale in a while so we shall see.

I really want to make this my camping/bike hauler truck. Here is a picture of what I want to do.

matt92yota

truck looks good, i must admit im a little jealous i've always wanted a t100 but i just cant find one in good shape

tobryant07

Has anyone had luck installing aftermarket bucket seats into a T100. I have found a set that looks good but not sure if I should reupholster or just go with new buckets. I have not found any original T100 buckets but I am always looking.

250000_yota

All I can say is good luck on OEM buckets. I've been looking since I bought my truck. There just weren't enough of them around.

On the other hand though, I've been toying with the idea of trying to use the seat brackets out of a T100 and trying to mount a set of buckets from another Toyota on them. Keep us posted on the aftermarket seats though.

tobryant07

Ok, as funny as this sounds I may have found some seats that will work in my truck and the color matches. Now for the joke they are from a 1995 ford escort....haha...I know it sounds silly but from the looks they may work. I am going to meet the guy this week to take some measurements.

Also my wife has given me the green light on buying a Tepui roof top tent.(http://www.tepuitents.com/models/kukenam-camo.html) I am going to mount it onto my Lets go aero trailer.(http://www.letsgoaero.com/ProductDetail.asp?Pid=54) I am trying to make a off road camping machine that I can take hunting and fishing across the country.

I need to custom fab a lid for my trailer to mount the tent, so my buddy and I are gathering materials for the build.

here is a picture of my old 4runner with the trailer attached as a ref.


I will also post pics of the shocks being installed this weekend as well as the truck and trailer hooked up and ideas for the build.

tobryant07

Well new shock are installed and I love them. The ride is stiffer but much more comfortable and predictable than with the old shocks. The hardest part of the install was removing the old front shocks the bolts were in pretty bad shape since they were the factory ones from 1997. The rear shocks were easy to install, but all the shocks were shot no more life left in them.

The bilsteins are so much larger and better looking




There was an issue making the front shocks fit into the bottom bracket I had to bend it out just a bit to fit the new ones in, then when I tightened them down they butted right back up.


now she looks good underneath sporting the blue and yellow


The truck looks like it is a little higher and more level

tobryant07

Tomorrow I am going to check out the Tepui tents in Santa Cruz. I have plans drawn up for my trailer to make a lid for it and then mount the tent on top. My next upgrade on the truck will be the brakes. Power stop makes a towing kit for the front brakes. Has anyone used them before? I tow a lot and I need a bit more stopping power and this kit includes new rotors and pads with the claim of 18% more stopping power.

I also just ordered new spark plugs, I notice when I get up around 4-5k rpm the engine stutters a bit like a fouled plug.

This truck is running so much better since I bought her about 2 months ago and all the work I have been doing is very therapeutic.

X88&94GT

MAke sure that the Escort seats are from a 2 door or they will not lean forward enough to access the extended cab. Honestly I would pass on the Escort seats as most any domestic vehicle from that timeframe were not exactly know for quality. Aren't they older than your truck?? You can make any buckets fit, just get some measurements from each vehicle and see what will work. THe 1st gen Tundra seats should match up really well.

I want to keep my bench for seat space, but would like to upgrade to something that has a fold down center seat. Pull-a-Part is the best bet for both of us. As long as the color is close I am fine with it, would prefer to get a canvas seat cover like what we have in our 4runner anyway.

tobryant07

yeah after looking at them I have decided to either completely reupholster the seats new foam and all, or continue to search the local junk yards. I have only come across a few T100's and only 1 Tundra. The only usable part I have got so far from the yard is a driver side interior door panel. My old panel was ripped the new one looks great now.

t100_yota

Good looking truck seems to be coming along pretty well.

tobryant07

Ok it has been a little while so here is a recap, I will post pictures later tonight. So I was working on my off-road trailer the other day and I used herculiner to protect the lid that I made. The application was really easy and this stuff is tough so I decided that I could do the same to my truck. I ordered it off of Amazon again for $77, then I began prepping my truck bed I started off removing the old liner, which was in great shape and underneath the bed looked great no rust just dust and a few nails. I washed out the bed 2 times using dawn dish soap to remove any oils, then after drying I used acetone to further remove any unwanted oils or dirt. The I began to sand the bed with the green pad that comes with the kit...that was taking to long so I got out the angler grinder with 2 different wire brushes and that sped up the job a ton. The green pad worked well in the hard to reach areas and the bed rails. Next I washed out the paint dust and again used acetone to clean it dry. Then I taped off everything, all in all the prep time was 2 to 3 hrs.

Next the application, for everyone trying this please wear gloves, I am a moron and thought I could do it without gloves, Haha yeah right my hands were stained black for nearly a week. I applied 2 heavy coats about 20 hrs apart to ensure the first was dry enough to work on. The end result was amazing my buddies thought I paid someone to do it at a shop. I have enough left over from my trailer and the truck bed to do the rocker panels, that might be my next project.

Again I will post pictures soon, I have to go get boat ready for salmon season which opens next weekend, Weeee.

X88&94GT

Looking forward to the pictures. I wanted to do a DIY bedliner as well but my bed looks well used / dented under my factory plastic liner.

tobryant07

I am so scattered brained some times. So I have not posted pictures yet because I was watching videos on you-tube and came across the amazing sport of drift trikes, then I started to build one, haha it is pretty crazy. i got an old BMX bike cut it up and now I am ready to start welding. I will post pictures soon of the truck bed.

tobryant07

Ok the long awaited pictures of the herrculiner bed kit before and after.

Here the the before with the oem liner

now the Herculiner

side rails L

R

close up

tailgate


I got a quote out in town for $500, then I got to thinking this is an old truck and I am pretty handy so for $80 I ordered herculiner off amazon and did it myself. I am pretty happy with the way it turned out and this stuff is tough, I have already used it pretty hard and it holds up great.

I have also finished my trailer and Roof top tent is installed I am ready to get out. but before we hit the trails Salmon season this weekend....cant wait I will post pics of our catches too.

thekeith86

very nice. i've been looking into doin somethin with my motor for more power. would love to find a second 3.4 to build up.
that truck will run forever man haha i've got 211K on mine. it's the 98 model. i jacked my torsion bars up a little to make room for my 33" bfg mudders. cut the cat off. flowmaster muffler with the pipe dumping out right before the rear wheel. passes smog without the cat too haha and sound pretty nice for a yota. :-) but really i've beaten the snot outta this truck off-roading and to this day no problems. by far the best choice i ever made was gettin this truck in 05. put 105K on it myself. just a new clutch and some sensors here and there along with new front rotors and calipers. did you get some arp head studs in the new motor? would be a good idea. the block is bullet proof. i've heard of guys runnin the motor with double the hp on all stock internals. just new pump, injectors, and a piggy back for the ecm. i also swapped the blinker with the running lights. had to pull the bumper off and lost the blinkers so i just clipped the harness at the light connector and ran the blinker wires to the running light connector and capped the running light wires. so now it blinks super fast but i like it since a faster blink is more noticeable.

CJY91LUXXY

The Herculiner turned out great! Good job! think ill be ordering some now, Was it tricky?

86bedlesstoy

I just bought my first 97' T100 and was also thinking of Herculiner.