Yeah I definitely did my research and even started a thread to ask for advice from the guys on here before I made the investment. Here is a link to the thread that will hopefully help answer any questions you might have: https://www.yotatech.com/forums/f120...earing-235138/ With the front diff, rear diff, and the Yukon Grizzley locker everything came out to about $1,800 from ECGS (excluding the $250 core charges, which they don't charge you for until 4 weeks after you receive the diffs).

I think that you will be able to do the rear yourself without a problem. Here are a couple of threads that you can look over the take you through the process step-by-step. I just followed these and I was able to get it done without any major issues.

https://www.yotatech.com/forums/f128...rental-225412/
https://www.yotatech.com/forums/f129...nstall-163698/
http://www.4runners.org/writeups/rearseal/index.htm

Your welcome, I'm glad that I could help! If you decide to take it to a shop to get the front installed, just be sure to do your research and ask for price quotes becuase I had some shops tell me it would cost $300+ which is ridiculous for a simple drop and replace.

 

You've inspired me to get a sport hood on my white 3rd gen :-)

 

Cool! I'm glad that I could be an inspiration. You should definitely try to find the hood on ebay, craigslist, junkyard, etc. because the stealership will charge you an arm and a leg.

 

Since I installed my external transmission cooler, I had to remove my voltmeter in order to make room for my transmission temperature gauge. I was kind of bummed because I had a $50 gauge just sitting around, so I tried to find a good place to mount it so I could actually use it. Thanks to BigFishAllDay, I found the perfect location...

Before:


During:
The hole saw got away from me a little bit...I might have to pull the piece of the bezel off use some bondo to fill in the scratches and repaint it...




After:




Thanks again BigFishAllDay!

 

Personal Update:

Last weekend my fiance was visiting her sister in Washington D.C. and did some (rental) house searching while she was there. We ended up picking one that we both liked and put in an application. Then we played the waiting game...Until today...We found out that we got it so we officially have a place to live when the time comes! Its a 3 bed, 2.5 bath townhome in the neighborhood of Shirlington in Arlington, VA for those who know the D.C. area.

 

sweet! congratulations.

 

Nice work on the regear bud and congratulations on the house! I've been too lazy to do any wrenching lately but will be picking up an ARB for my finace's 4Runner (yeah, we both drive 4WD 4Runners...thats why she's my fiance and not my gf!) Been super busy planning the wedding and all that so haven't logged on much. Good luck with your move...wait, when are you leaving? We'll probably start doing more group wheeling trips in September if your still around.

 

Thanks Ian! I am looking forward to being able to do some quality wheeling once I get out there and I will probably need a tour guide, hint hint

Thanks man! I am really excited about finally regearing and having a nice place to live.

Yeah I don't blame you man, it has been hot as hell recently, which doesn't make wrenching much fun especially when you don't have a garage...

Haha she definitely sounds like a keeper, good job! While my fiance doesn't share my love of Toyota's she does love my creativity and ability to work on my own truck.

Good luck finding an ARB! I am hoping that I can afford to get a bumper by the end of the year, but with the wedding and the move who knows what will happen...

Yeah I definitely hear you on the wedding planning, it is keeping me busy too. The regear was the final hoorah before diving into wedding and "move" planning. It is crazy to think that we are just over a month away!

Thanks man, we will definitely need it. We will be leaving Austin at the end of August, wedding in Albuquerque (where we both grew up) on September 3rd, 1 week honeymoon, then moving to D.C. in mid-late September, and starting our new jobs on September 26th. If you happen to plan a trip between now and late August let me know! I would love to be able to wheel one last time here in Texas before the big move.

 

This Runner is coming along great! I love the LED gauge cluster.

 

Thanks man! If you are interested in the LED cluster mod, there are a ton of threads on here about it.

 

I am quickly approaching my 500 mile break-in period for my new gears and I need to change out the gear oil. So, yesterday I went out to get the gear oil and while I was out I got supplies to do an oil change and replace my spark plugs so I can just do it all at once. I am only at about 25,000 miles on my spark plugs but I would like to be running as efficiently as possible on the long trip, so I figure it can't hurt to replace them a little early.



75W-90 Royal Purple Synthetic Gear Oil for the front differential and the transfer case
85W-140 Royal Purple Synthetic Gear Oil for the rear differential


10W-40 Mobile 1 Full Synthetic High Mileage motor oil. (I normally run 10W-40 in the summer when it is warmer, and 5W-30 in the winter when it gets colder)


Purolator Pure One oil filter


Toyota/Denso OEM pre-gapped spark plugs
Copper-based anti-seize thread lubricant
Dielectric grease (for the spark plug boots)

 

So I was able to get all the oils changed and the new spark plugs in this past weekend. I also did a thorough check of my other fluids and made sure that everything is working as it should. I think that I am finally ready for the road trip!

Here are a few pics that I was able to take during the process:

Old plugs - not too bad actually


New plugs - for comparison


New plug ready to go in - don't forget the anti-seize


Magnetic drain plugs before cleaning - now i know why you should change out the gear oil after 300-500 miles...

 

I know its a little late, but what did you think of the Grizzly Gears, and where did you purchase them at?

 

Well so far I love the Yukon gears and the Grizzly locker. I finally feel like I have some power back with the 4.88's and the locker is exactly what I was looking for: affordable, high quality, and functional. I purchased everything through East Coast Gear Supply: http://eastcoastgearsupply.com/. If you read through my thread a couple pages back, I actually ended up buying the completely assembled 3rds so the gears and locker were already installed so it was just a matter or dropping the old differentials and installing the new ones.

 

Sorry guys not much going on with the build at the moment, I have been really busy finishing up school (Finally done!!), preparing for my parents who are coming in for my graduation, packing up our stuff for the move, and planning for the wedding. Needless to say life has been pretty crazy recently...

But I parked next to a stock 3rd generation 4runner at school the other day and I just had to take a pic

 

haha, your rig is "all grown up" compared to that stocker

 

Haha ya I love it

 

i see you changed your sig... settled in now?

 

Shoulda went with Redline fluids man! Ha I'm a little bit biased because I put Redline in my diffs, transfer case, and transmission. How's the royal purple treating ya?

 

Quote:

Originally Posted by madbomber08

Shoulda went with Redline fluids man! Ha I'm a little bit biased because I put Redline in my diffs, transfer case, and transmission. How's the royal purple treating ya?

The Royal Purple fluids have been great! I had Redline in my diffs and transfer case before I regeared and I think the Royal Purple fluids are just a little smoother. They also keep the locker relatively quiet. I know that it is impossible to make it completely silent, but the Royal Purple fluids have helped a lot.

Quote:

Originally Posted by irab88

i see you changed your sig... settled in now?

I haven't gotten any work done on my truck for a while because I have been super busy. Here is a quick rundown of everything that has been going on:
-August 20: I graduated with a Masters of Accounting from St. Edwards University.
-August 20-22: My fiance and I packed up our apartment in Austin
-August 23: We used my truck to tow a Uhaul trailer with all of our stuff from Austin, TX to Albuquerque, NM
-August 24-September 2: We did final wedding planning and preparations
-September 3: I married my best friend after dating for more than 5 years
-September 6-13: We went on a honeymoon in Montego Bay, Jamaica
-September 15-17: We rented another Uhaul trailer and drove our stuff cross-country from Albuquerque, NM to Arlington, VA (I am really happy with how the truck performed and didn't have any issues at all towing a full 5X8 trailer at 65mph).
-September 18-25: Moved our stuff in and got settled as best as we possibly could.
-September 26: Our first day of work at our new jobs.

Needless to say I have been pretty busy but our new townhouse is finally starting to come together. On a side note, I think the 3 days of driving with a full Uhaul may have bent my rear springs because the rear end has been sagging ever since. It should be a pretty simple and inexpensive fix but is still a little aggravating. I will post some pics as soon as I can find my camera . Well I think that is enough for now.