1996 snow runner

i picked this up in april and am just going to speed through till i get this up to date. its not a hardcore wheeler (right now), more of an expo rig.

my son looked at the 4runner points and says snow, so now we have the "snow runner"

1996 4runner, 3.4L, auto, SR5, E-locker, 2-3" lift, brand new 285/75R16 tires, and brand new pearl white paint job.

cabelas parking lot an hour later and was already buying stuff for it lol, picked up some seatcovers and steering wheel cover out of the bargain cave.


that weekend i spent about $700 ordering stuff for it
synthetic winch rope
hawse fairlead (which i had to return and order a new one)
four 15W LED lights
aisin timing belt kit with water pump and timing belt tensioner (off rock auto for over $100 cheaper than the local parts stores)
timing belt tensioner tool
trans cooler with built in fan
power inverter

and i picked up a couple new tools for building stuff
tubing notcher
dimple die

 

my try at plasti-dip, which worked fine but the pressure washer at work is even better lol.

 

took it up on white mountain which is like a 2 minute drive from the shop to the base of it.







little muddy, not bad, BUT this is when i learned that plasti-dip is no match for our pressure washer

 

needed some storage and wanted to try a pull out drawer system, didnt know if i would like it and not wanting to spend the coin on the metal, here is my wood drawer.



the black box on top came out of my XJ, it had an air compressor and built in tank in there, worked good for $7, lasted about 3 years. its gone now but ill get to that later


the 15W LED lights i had on there when i had a front bumper

 

this was mothers day, we went to the flaming gorge







stopped at the reservior for lunch

 

picked up a blue sea fuse panel, built a mount for it





i was going to use my WARN 8274 but its big, bulky, weighs a ton, and blocks the radiator. found a good deal on this one though. the winch mount is not my bumper, all though i havnt finished the bumper lol


got to use my dimple die

 

took a trip through south pass, louie lake, sinks canyon, lander, and back home, got 18MPG.







it was warm up there so the next weekend i built mounts for my awning i had on the suburban

 

we then took a trip up by sheep creek and those lakes around there in Utah



enjoying the awning shade



i had always had problems with the e-locker after i tried the "grey wire mod" so i got some help from this guy



no more problems


so here is where my compressor died and here is its replacement


got the bottle here locally at airgas, the 150psi fixed regulator and bracket from wheelers offroad, i already had the hose and air chucks.

alot more room

 

and as you can see in the last pic i also redid my brakes, get rid of the warped rotor i had.

i have mentioned the pressure washer at work, well its a heated industrial washer that will burn your skin, it will also show you that the previous owner did a craptasticly cheap paint job. so to fic my paint the washer just took off, i used undercoating on the body, i have used it before and have had no issues with it.





picked up some HID offroad lights from ebay for $45 each

 

version 1.0 rear swing out bumper

also shots testing for rubbing







old ground clearance


new ground clearance


made a new nutstrip for the mounting, i know it looks all crooked but thats how the holes lined up


version 2.0 will be finishing up the sides, and building a basket for the driver side. i wont be able to use the tire cover anymore, im getting a full size spare mounted up right now.


and we are here at today, ordered a plug and play HID headlight kit and changed the spark plugs out.

 

so we started with this friday afternoon


add a little bit of this


let it sit over night and bam we have this




ok so it wasnt that easy lol

 

awesome build thread and great looking runner!

 

worked on he rear bumper a little, got the frame mounts braced and a better latch system worked out, also got some better backup lights.

 

my camera phone really doesnt give these pics justice

with headlights and my amber HID's



just the amber HID's

 

i havnt worked on the 4runner in months, did little organization work today. used an idea i had in my cherokee and adapted it into here. i ran out of rubber hose to wrap around the edges, but i can easily get another foot and install it in the missing spot without taking anything out.







closer view on how the axe is mounted.


heres a reference of what i had in the cherokee (before i loaded stuff on it)

 

roof top tent wil be showing up at the end of the month, so i built the beginnign of my roof rack and mounted my LED bar on it. once i get the tent on there and see what kind of room i have left to deal with i will add some expanded metal in the front, some sides, and protection over the light bar.





not the best camera but here is my HID headlights



and here is the LED bar, with the LED's on i can barely tell when i turn my headlights on.

 

what kind of axe is that? i've been looking for one about that size

 

http://www.estwing.com/

home depot and ace hardware have them in my town

 

thanks!

 

Sweet 4runner!