2Strokes 2001 Build

Ah, I know nothing about the 3.4, clearly lol. I really do hope to score a nice older 4 runner one of these days though, just have to wait for the right deal. My 2016 Tacoma eats enough of my money between payment and mods, I really don't have much to spend on another project.

 

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS OUT!! Replaced the forward Fuel/Air sensor and the code cleared instantly on startup. Old one looks pretty rough:


To start the truck up and see if the code had cleared while ruling out a vacuume leak I wrapped the split boot in some tape and seemed to work. Still waiting on the new correct one:


PCV Valve installed as well as a new grommet, no issues:


New Engine sticker:


Installed LED kit from Low Range Off Road in the door lights and wow what a difference! Ordering 2 more kits for the front and rear to, my dad and brother want one now to after seeing how much light this things put out its really ridiculous. Wish shipping from Low Range wasn't 14$ standard since the kits are only like 5$.

The last issue I'm dealing with is the spark plugs, After trying to remove two of them and both being VERY tight I stopped. Didn't get either one of them out. The truck was cold but still worries me that I was using all of my strength on a 3/8 ratchet. I have sprayed penetrating oil in the plugs bores for now and I'm gonna wait until after inspection to try and change them, Maybe Ill use 1/2 and heat the truck up a little.

 

Well I took the 4Runner in for inspection and she didn't pass No biggie nothing major. Failed for a few reasons:
-Front brake pads
-Both inner Tie Rods worn
-Tie Rod Bellows ( Which I knew about )
-Driver side Lower Ball Joint
-Rack and Pinion Bushings
-Hatch Tail Light

....And some total BS. about the flange coming off the back of the muffler. Its rusty but I can't feel any leaks whatsoever.

So far this week I have done the front pads, the bushings on the rack and Pinion, Which by the way Is a job I NEVER want to do again. What a pain in the rear. Also did the inner tie rods and tomorrow I plan to do the driver LBJ. I may do the outer tie rods as well since they're so easy to do and I can see some free play in them even though the inspection didn't say anything. I had no clue hot to do any of this but after watching a few youtube videos I saved myself the money of having a shop do the work!


Also replaced the old TRD decals that looked goofy with a better set:


Painted the chipped chrome grille gloss black. Nice little touch:


And finished up the interior conversion to LED. All the interior lights now have LEDs and its crazy bright with them all on! Gotta fix that taillight to!

 

Finally got the 4runner on the road and through inspection. Decided to do the outer Tie Rods since I was in there already and The truck steers great. Also did the Bellows boots that were torn.


New Tires! Went with a set of Falken AT3s All Terrains and got a smoking deal from discount tire direct. They ride great and look awesome. Just wish they would have come with White Letters.


Also scored a almost perfect bumper at the local junk yard with no rust holes, Ill paint it black and swap mine out since mine has lots of rust.

 

Spent most of yesterday doing lots of painting on the 4Runner. Started with the wheels, I had never painted rims before and I think they turned out pretty good. I had to remove LOTS of flakes and oxidation in the rims and doing so I went to deep in a few spots and you can tell. But Ill get over it. Used VHT Wheel Paint primer, paint, and gloss. Degreased and cleaned before hand and let 30 minutes between coats in the sun.







Then went to change my rear bumper over from the rusted original to the nicer one I found last week. But the mounts where different, so I had to modify and weld The old mounts to the new bumper and it ended up working. What made me more mad was when I went to install I see there are some offset holes that may have worked! I assume Toyota changed the mounts but not the body for these few years. Also Cut and installed some flush mounted LED's for backing up and light at night. Ill wire them to a switch on the dash somewhere.Cleaned up the rusted hitch while I was in there and painted the bumper but it didnt turn out as nice as I would have liked.

 

Looks great, I love the color of the wheels. Works great with the silver truck, well done. I'd love to find one of these that needs work cheap. I need new project I just don't want to spend much on the platform.

 

Thank you, Its a Graphite color. I like it to. Amazing that a little paint makes stock rims look aftermarket with no center caps.

 

Not really much happening recently I have been busy building a motor for my boat so it doesnt carry over into the winter. Still working on the 4Runner though. This week I converted the interior dash lighting to LED and I love it. Half of my climate controls and right hand buttons were out anyway. Pretty easy to do, just a little time consuming.


Also wired up the rear LEd's but I dont have a picture, simple wiring with a red light rocker switch in a factory blank. Looks good.

-I bought front sway bar links and frame bushings but have not gotten around to it yet, will most likely paint the sway bar to. while I have the paint out Im planning to hit the roof rack and spoiler to, they have been killing me with there faded, sunburned, flaking look! I have Been driving it everyday for 2weeks now and over that period I averaged 17mpg 90% off highway driving. Hard to complain about those numbers.

-Im headed to Up State PA week after thanksgiving for hunting camp an for the first time in 5 years the Tacoma wont be headed up with me, Gonna give the 4Runner a shot and see how she does. My fiance's father thinks Im crazy taking a truck with 200k+ miles on a 400 mile trip through some sketchy mountain roads. I think ill be okay

 

Needle gun cleaned and painted under the rear and the spare tire carrier, really the only rusty part on the truck.



Took the front bumper off and plastidipped it, painted behind it to to keep the rust away in the future:



Removed and painted the roof rack since it was so chipped and faded:





Just got back from my 300 mile trip and the truck did great, I averaged 22mpg with engine temps never getting above 198 and trans temps jumping between 150 and 190 degrees. Cant complain there:

 

Would.

 

trade you

 

For?

 

Your taco

 

I would too. Harder than you.

 

I doubt it

 

Getting a few things done recently:

Installed some CBI Ditch Light Brackets in anticipation for my christmas present from my Grandparents which is a set of LED square pods with a spot beam. Should look really good.


Painted my windshield wipers since they were really faded and chipping like every other sun faded black piece was. little changes make the difference. lol


wasn't a fan of the switch I had installed for my rear LEDs so I ordered these two with labeled rockers and always illuminated bottom light. Pre-wired everything for the Ditch Lights to.


not a bad looking driveway Eh

 

Well the holidays are over and I have been a little busy....

Settled on my first home two days before Christmas


Installed the LED pods on the CBI Ditch Light brackets and wired them up. Ran the wire under the windshield bracket and I painted it while I had it off. Used a black plastic paint and it worked out great.


Also painted the plate bracket as it was faded from the sun.


Replaced the end links and sway bar frame bushings, Painted the sway bar red just because.


And painted the rear track bar red, kind of sets it off.


Then finally got around to detailing the interior and pulled the seats out to work on the carpet, Got them pretty clean, but some of the stains were pretty rough.


Everything back together with a new set of 4RUNNER floor mats


Then I came across a friend selling a gauge pod holder off his Tacoma and I grabbed it from him for Super Cheap, I painted it and moulded it to fit a 4runner. Ordered a set of Glowshift gauges that read Oil Pressure and Oil Temp. IN the picture they look more Blue-ish, but they are actually white and match my LED Converted dash quite well.




Had to move my Scangauge here to make room for the Gauges and turn the brightness down because it reflected on the windshield at night. really don't mind it here, I thought I wouldn't like it at all but it doesn't block much of the view.


Lastly installed my new HeadUnit I got for Christmas. Nothing special just a double dinn Pioneer. I really do like the BlueTooth phone connect feature and the fact that you can change the color of the entire unit. Of course to match the rest I chose White.

 

Picked this up over the weekend, literally been looking for one since the first day I broight the T4R home.