Jrock, I'll explain how 'the dealer' screwed it up.......... Because 90% of the time, THE DEALER'S SUB OUT THAT WORK, especially the older motors like that, but even many newer ones. Like many companies or even a County Sheriff's Transportation offices, they find machinists/builders that are both well known and reasonably priced in the area. My first machinist, the cause of; THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE MY 2010 SUMMER; is now the official builder/machinist for my local Dealership. I SHOUTED from the top of my lungs, ...'PLEASE, don't use them, they're NOT who they used to be... Just read through my build thread and talk to my NEW machinist about how many things that guys shop screwed up on my motor!'...... THAT, my friend, is 'LIKELY' how it happened. The PO's dealer might have just had an in house builder/machinist.... But I doubt it. And EVEN IF THAT'S SO..... the guy's a tool, right? lol.

 

Sorry to hear about the erm MAJOR SCREW loose somewhere! As far as machinist I know a couple people here locally ,that I go to, who love their job with a passion. In fact its their hobby too. As far as rebuilding an engine or tranny that will be me! I really do not trust anyone anymore except certain things to the mechanics on my autos! Which is one of the MAIN reasons I am here learning everything I can about my Toyota.
But I do understand not everyone can or has the space/tools to do certain things.

 

Yeah I planned on using this as a major learning experience and doing all the work myself and using the mechanic as only help when I needed it. However, the more went way before I could afford the tools and all to rebuild it, so what do you do ya know? Haha it's either be years without it till I can afford that stuff or let my trusted mechanic get it back on the street in a week... still kinda hurt my feelings I didn't get to do it and learn though.

 

NO HURT FEELINGS ALLOWED!............ Go to Pirate for a day, .... just start typing on threads... you'll see what real hurt feelings are, relating to 4WD commentary, in no time! hahahaha. No, but really.... we ALL have to do what we have to do... If I couldn't wait to do what I've wanted to finish on my rig..... it'd HAVE to be done by pro's, I"d have no choice, ya know? You do what you can, bud! Then, ..... when the opportunity arises... you'll do one yourself. That could be years down the road, and considering these parts are getting more and more scarce...... GET COLLECTING, NOW, YA FEEL ME? HAHAHA.

Have a great weekend, J!

 

Going to be honest with ya! DO NOT as Chief said feel bad or hurt feeling! Hang around here and do what ya can with what you have. Which is what I am doing . Reason I said I do my own vehicles means if I have the tools for it I will, if NOT then I gotta go to someone who does. Then if it is fixed correctly I'm happy! If not then ... <--- things will not be pretty. Having to pay some one $50-$100/hr sucks in itself. Finding out it wasn't fix after paying that rate pi$$e$ anyone off. So anyways I like yourself am new to Toyotas. What is sweet about them they are really simple to maintain, trouble shoot, and BEST OF ALL get help RIGHT HERE!!!!

P.S. They got the best smilies I have ever used

 

Thanks guys! And no more hurt feelings for me, I just got back from the beach and spring break and had a crazy good time. So I'm all good now haha.

Now if I can just get my laptop back before I go back to college Sunday, I'll be good to go. haha

 

GREAT news, man! Any pics from 'break'? lol..... Hope you had a great time and have a great year to come, man!

 

CONGRATS!!!!!! Hopefully you showed off your Yota!!!! As Chef said WE WANT PICS WE WANT PICS!!!! Seriously though if ya got some i'll gander .

 

Finally got my laptop back so I should be back on here more. haha but sorry guys only have a couple pics, I forgot my camera in Alabama. I'll post a few later if I have time.

 

Well guys can't find any pictures worth posting. They are all crappy cell phone pics so you can't see much anyway. Next time I go on a trip, I'm making sure to have a camera with me. haha

But on a lighter note I checked my gas mileage and I'm getting a much healthier 23 mpg with mixed but mostly highway driving and thats not being too easy on the throttle. So needless to say I'm real happy with my 4runner and how she is performing. Now on to ordering parts for my zuk mod and getting this baby off the overloads. haha

 

Ok, now that's pushing it..... YOU'RE NOT ALLOWED TO NOW END UP WITH BETTER MILEAGE THAN ME!!!! hahahahaha. Jk....... GREAT news!

 

I think with a little adjustment to my right pedal foot I could get a little better but I'm definetely happy with it. After another 4000 miles I think I'm gonna swap the whole drivetrain to synthetic and maybe pick up a little more.

Do manual locking hubs help gas mileage?

And a little random but where can I get a grille guard similiar to yours?

 

Well, the grill guard is one of the last two that were out there..... Jim, the owner of Downey Off Road(now out of biz) had two left... one black and one white... I took the white one for 75$, IIRC.... Met him at his pad, .... cool guy! He's still got lots of product, but none of these. I see the Procomp ones all the time..... VERY cheesy, IMHO, compared to the gauge/strength of this one.... And yet, ....... it will probably cave in my grill if I ever hit on it hard, simply due to how it mounts. It's VERY strong, don't get me wrong... But the top bolt mounts go through the bumper. I managed to drill through and mount mine through the risen supports/bumper mounts.... But still, ya never know, lol. I think the Rhino ones are probably the most sturdy(of the kind where you get to keep your stock bumper)..... buttttttt, ....I don't like them very much, lol. Dont' hate em... just not crazy about em either.

PERSONALLY, if I were you, and you like that look...... I'd just save for the TG Front Bumper with a MILD stinger..... I've even seen some that Scotty of Addicted Off Road has done that are squared off on top, like my grill guard..... That's what I'll go for if I go that route, eventually.

 

I understand what you are saying about the TG bumpers and I've looked into them, but they are a bit drastic to me for a vehicle that's going to see mostly highway use.

Chef, can you do me a huge favor and take some close-ups of the bumper, especially where/how it mounts? I may talk myself in to building one just for the simple fact I'm hunting a reason to weld. haha I've always wanted to know how and I've got a guy that will teach me so I may just dive on in and see where that gets me.

You wouldn't happen to know what material its made of, would you?

 

Hey there, .....

Yeah, that's great to have someone helping you with that... I'll get pics soon... But I know I have some up somewhere... I'll look in my photobucket, k? It's nearly impossible to get pics of the inside of the bumper, where it mounts to the bumper bracket... but you'll get the idea when you dig in there... and in fact, if you don't mind bending whatever you weld to fit right over the bumper mounting, top bolts.... VOILA, then you can just drop a bolt right through those bumper mounting slots in the bumper on top and put 2 in on each side through the crossmember, like mine is.

I think it's pretty thick DOM, but not sure.... I'd have to look into it by sending Jim a message to find out..... As I said, it's no longer made, ya know?

You'd also want to weld on off road light tabs, if you want em... And another thing is this; This bumper guard is actually made to fit Downey's own skid plate......It has mounting tabs and all... But he'd sold them all. It helps protect the radiator and more when you remove the valance, ya know? OH, that's right..... with this style, you almost HAVE TO remove the valance or cut slots in it.... Reason being, if you want the guard to have some actual integrity/ability to prevent damage, ... it has to have main/bottom supports that are installed at an angle right through the valance into the crossmember(which the valance hides).

I'll be bock! lol.

 

This is why you have to remove the valance....



And this is where you mount the top bolts... I put them right in front of the bumper mounting brackets/to the side of them... Not through, now that I think back... So hopefully the brackets should stop any collision from shearing through the bumper and into the grill. You could probably find a way to do a cut out on the face of the bumper and just bolt the top guard brace right through the bracket or mount it right to the frame to prevent grill cave in syndrome, lol...



It would be a bit of work, ...but I think as long as you have a guy helping you bend DOM and weld it all up right.... you could do it without too much work/cost. And yet, .... the TG bumper can be found used/built by a fab guy and save the whole front end in the event of a wreck......... ???? Totally up to you(obviously)... and wasn't trying to discourage you... just sharing my thoughts on the most 'effective way to protect your front end/get the look you want. Ya know?

 

I'm still debating on what I want to do. I'm not necessarily worried about strength with this idea more for looks. Just really looking for something cool to mount lights on. May just use the holes somebody already put in this bumper for fog lights and save up for a plate bumper.

As far as the plate bumper goes, I'm looking at something like this:


May wait till its not a DD before I go this far with it. I don't know honestly just thinking out loud I guess. lol

 

What kind of bumper is that? Custom?

 

Yeah I have to admit I really like both of them. The later one looks really futuristic