97 4Runner Crawler

Discussion in '4Runner Builds' started by JTFisherman, Feb 26, 2023.

  1. Feb 26, 2023 at 9:17 PM
    #1
    JTFisherman

    JTFisherman [OP] Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Feb 19, 2019
    Member:
    #283636
    Messages:
    1,587
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Jake
    Texas / Missouri
    Vehicle:
    4Runner
    Bought @theesotericone 4Runner in October of 22.
    upload_2024-6-23_17-55-56.jpg
    upload_2024-6-23_17-55-31.jpg
    5AD23B6D-DA36-4414-B112-B98910248B2D.jpg

    Armor
    Stubbs HD-SKO welded sliders
    Savage 3/16 steel skids 1st generation
    Relentless Predator front bumper w/10K X20 gen2 synthetic winch
    Savage Dual Swingout rear bumper w/ tire carrier, hi-lift mount and rotopax mount
    eimkeith lower link mount skids
    welded rear diff armor
    tube doors
    Removed -
    Engo 12k synthetic winch - it got loud


    Suspension
    modified 3.5 2wd camburg kit - coilover moved to clear CVs and increase travel, heim uppers
    2.5x8 kings 18x500lb springs
    Locked offroad 2x2 hydro bumps, revalved and de-stroked to 1.2" 250psi
    Kartek 8" straps on adjustable clevis
    2.5" King Piggyback extended travel rears
    OME 861 coils
    Front Range Off-Road upper heimed links
    Metal Tech adjustable lower links
    Eimheith panhard correction kit (PCK)
    Durobump 5.25" rear.
    333 Fab alignment cam eliminator plates.
    TK1 Racing rear sway bar - 45" U4 bar, 18" double shear arms, 10" links
    Removed -
    2.5" King Ex-Travel fronts w/650lb springs
    Durobump fronts

    Drivetrain
    Trail Gear Crawlbox w/ Marlin 2.28 Total Spline Input, Rad Design twin stick.
    Custom mount on stock crossmember with Marlin HD mount.
    RCV CV's
    ARB lockers with Nitro 5.29s
    ARB CKMA 12 mounted under hood.
    Tom Woods Custom Driveshafts F/R
    Power Stop Tundra front brakes
    333 Fab billet rack clamp - still bent
    Camburg rack clevis
    Heim inner tie rods
    37" Yoko MT on Method 703 17x8.5
    Removed -
    35" PitBull Rocker on MB Motoring 17" 352's


    Tunes/electrical/lights
    Interstate AGM MTZ 34R relocated
    Attwood 9065-1 battery box
    500A fuse off battery
    Blue Sea Winch on/off 350A
    Blue Sea 12 circuit fuse box.
    Bussman 100A circuit breaker.
    300W inverter in dash mount
    Dual Electronics DV526BT head unit
    Hifonics Zues 4ch 1000W peak amp powering
    Polk Audio DB651 6.5" rear door speakers
    Infinity Reference 6500CX 6.5" front doors speakers and tweeters
    Boss AR1500M 1500W monoblock powering
    Pioneer TS-W259S4 10" sub. Custom enclosure using rear storage compartment.
    Full Butyl sound deading on floor and doors.
    Noam n4 speakers on tube doors
    7" electric cooling fan for trans.
    trans temp gauge mounted on A pillar.
    SS3 Pro Fogs in bumper
    SS3 Sport driving on top of bumper
    Mictuning 7" round headlights
    Mictuning rock lights
    Removed -
    Nilite 4" spots in bumper
    Nilite 6.5" flood on top of bumper.
    SS3 Pro fogs wired to low beams to replace headlights
    SS3 Sport driving wired to high beams to replace headlights
    SSC1 Pro wide for side shooters

    To do:
    KPOffroad cam tabs
    replace failing PS pump, add cooler and filter
    revalve front coilovers, open bleed and stiffen high speed
    rear link slop
    ABS wiring rear
    Stronger intermediate shaft / tundra 9" diff
    raisin gas tank
    collapsing core support
    Delete crap on inner fenders- charcoal canister / evap, abs…?
    valve cover gaskets
     
    Last edited: Jun 23, 2024
  2. Feb 26, 2023 at 9:30 PM
    #2
    Just_A_Guy

    Just_A_Guy Rain is a good thing

    Joined:
    Oct 4, 2021
    Member:
    #378864
    Messages:
    3,834
    On the hunt
    Vehicle:
    A truck
    theesotericone likes this.
  3. Feb 26, 2023 at 9:32 PM
    #3
    JTFisherman

    JTFisherman [OP] Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Feb 19, 2019
    Member:
    #283636
    Messages:
    1,587
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Jake
    Texas / Missouri
    Vehicle:
    4Runner
    Things I have done so far:

    Repair blown out coin buckets - beat back into place, welded all cracks, ran a 5/16 steel rod around the outside lip and ran a 2x1/8” strap over the top and welded it all up.
    9A8D8AE8-4F69-4B30-A7FE-5A4F9E4B3C02.jpg
    2916FEBD-0F5E-4414-A158-DFD1E2A250E7.jpg
    21DA739E-64FB-4150-A53E-04DA1B4295D7.jpg
    7F90C94B-1834-480F-B23E-BC936574D588.jpg

    Added hood pins after breaking the hood latch
    54D79CF2-5494-4994-AFB4-A92B597D8342.jpg

    Headlights kept going cross eyed so I took them out and put in some diode pods. Not a huge fan of how it looks so ill be redoing this sometime. I want like to find some plastic headlights to keep the weight down on the old tired core support.
    781491A8-FC03-4663-98D9-CE4D27B1F899.jpg

    Blown add extension housing and stub shaft - replaced with manual hub tube and shaft
    4E6B7381-261C-4ADD-9A03-8B0870A0FDBF.jpg
    E10AE148-75AF-4757-8554-D5A9A8882704.jpg
     
    SR-71A and Just_A_Guy like this.
  4. Feb 26, 2023 at 9:40 PM
    #4
    JTFisherman

    JTFisherman [OP] Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Feb 19, 2019
    Member:
    #283636
    Messages:
    1,587
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Jake
    Texas / Missouri
    Vehicle:
    4Runner
    Tore it all apart over the weekend for some possible suspension changes, rear axle refresh / armor, and new link hardware to try and get rid of some play. Also added some Allen head magnetic plugs to hopefully resist being destroyed by rocks so quickly.
    FC35E951-838E-43EF-A1E8-1B857665981D.jpg
     
  5. Feb 26, 2023 at 9:43 PM
    #5
    JTFisherman

    JTFisherman [OP] Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Feb 19, 2019
    Member:
    #283636
    Messages:
    1,587
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Jake
    Texas / Missouri
    Vehicle:
    4Runner
    Gotta have someone to buy it back after I break some more :jpow:
     
  6. Feb 26, 2023 at 10:50 PM
    #6
    theesotericone

    theesotericone Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jul 27, 2018
    Member:
    #260800
    Messages:
    12,243
    Gender:
    Male
    Bishop CA
    Hopefully I'll be solid axle by that time. That said, between what I've broken on it and you are breaking on it it might hold the TW record for most broken parts in a single rig. Stoked to see the tradition carrying on.

    I also saw your post on IFS about LTing it. I'm pretty sure there's someone selling a four and a half over LT kit in the first gen marketplace. I never want that route because I like the narrow profile of stock.
     
    Just_A_Guy likes this.
  7. Feb 26, 2023 at 11:04 PM
    #7
    theesotericone

    theesotericone Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jul 27, 2018
    Member:
    #260800
    Messages:
    12,243
    Gender:
    Male
    Bishop CA
  8. Feb 27, 2023 at 6:27 AM
    #8
    JTFisherman

    JTFisherman [OP] Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Feb 19, 2019
    Member:
    #283636
    Messages:
    1,587
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Jake
    Texas / Missouri
    Vehicle:
    4Runner
    Found a +3.5 kit with kings for only 2k that I should be picking up this Friday so hopefully that works out. It’s already customized so I shouldn't feel bad about cutting it up to make some changes.

    I wanted to stay skinny but when I really thought about it +3.5 and 0 offset wheels in the front is another 1.75 over what it is now which isn’t terrible. Hopefully it will help make it a little more stable offroad. The crawl box and the extra reaction time it gives has saved me from flopping a lot and I don’t like it which is why I would like to lower it. I have a feeling it may get a little sketchy to drive on the hwy with light springs in the front but hopefully I am wrong.

    I’m hoping 0 offset may also help steering and lbj life. LT is also the only good way to really stop rubbing the frame especially if I think about 37s. Lower arms should also give me a bit more firewall clearance. Hopefully these fat ass tires don’t rub the upper ball joint too bad.

    Hopefully I can finish this project - rework rear axle / springs, LT front, and reinforce inner fenders / delete stuff on them I don’t need by mid April. That would give me time for a shakedown before I drive back to missouri for an event then an event then Toyota jamboree in tx the next weekend.
     
  9. Mar 1, 2023 at 10:25 PM
    #9
    JTFisherman

    JTFisherman [OP] Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Feb 19, 2019
    Member:
    #283636
    Messages:
    1,587
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Jake
    Texas / Missouri
    Vehicle:
    4Runner
    3/16 on the back and some 1/8 across the bottom. 1/8 is doubled up to keep the diff drain in a little better shape. Probably don’t need so much but I lost minimal clearance and it will be much harder for the drain plug to loosen on a rock now.
    9ECAF7BA-FE0E-4C93-AD9F-79EE9B715811.jpg
    6FF10CF5-538E-4345-9E44-B2971C1A07C0.jpg
     
    theesotericone likes this.
  10. Mar 3, 2023 at 7:56 PM
    #10
    JTFisherman

    JTFisherman [OP] Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Feb 19, 2019
    Member:
    #283636
    Messages:
    1,587
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Jake
    Texas / Missouri
    Vehicle:
    4Runner
    Some new some used parts.

    71999D57-6884-4D0B-93E3-0B992D990C59.jpg

    Still thinking I convert the uppers to heims so I can leave the lower cam eliminators full forward and still align it. I think I need to cut open an upper to see the wall thickness of the 1.5” uppers. Then I know a tube to size the ID down to 1” for the bungs to 3/4 heims. Then I just need 3/4 to 9/16 or 14mm misalignments.

    I’ll also probably make an angle on the front of the arm to slide up over rocks. It will also protect / reinforce the shock mounts which I might move them also.

    also got some old 2.5x10 kings with resi and dual rate springs that I am trying to figure out a use for… they were the right price so I just got them.
     
    theesotericone likes this.
  11. Mar 10, 2023 at 7:14 PM
    #11
    JTFisherman

    JTFisherman [OP] Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Feb 19, 2019
    Member:
    #283636
    Messages:
    1,587
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Jake
    Texas / Missouri
    Vehicle:
    4Runner
    Cleaned axle up and painted
    EF87BFA9-04D6-42BB-B244-90D40AEE6380.jpg
    Installed driver side LT
    8CAB39E9-619C-4381-AEE6-41B67839F832.jpg
    Need to cut a lot up top but tire is pretty clear from tub
    1F6FA7F0-B292-4104-BA6D-BF6423380DD6.jpg
    need to chop off the lower mounts and inboard / inset them for more compression and clean them up. Kings fully compressed will be 16 3/4 so the mounts will be low.
    6976A937-C130-4D4F-918D-1036D12E3BE8.jpg
    pulled the 3rd member out to reseal but as I RTVd the third member I found a small junky spot every 5 revs of the pinion. Couldn’t see anything so I installed it but I decided to pull it back apart tonight and actually figure it out. I’m thinking some old rtv in a bearing but who knows.
    E67BCE11-C5AA-46BC-8C5F-D22B5FCED1EC.jpg
    ordered lbjs and outer tie rods as well as heims and bungs to convert to heim inner tie rods with a camburg clevis kit. also went with offset heims for the uppers. And got 18”500s. May swap to some 450 or 400s if I’m still not flexing the front much
     
  12. Mar 10, 2023 at 7:25 PM
    #12
    Squeaky Penguin

    Squeaky Penguin Nothing Ventured, Nothing Gained

    Joined:
    Apr 5, 2012
    Member:
    #76340
    Messages:
    10,043
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Brett
    Steamboat Springs, Colorado
    Vehicle:
    '01 4WD, SR5, TRD & '13 TRDOR AC
    Lots of dust and custom dents, Check Build
    Good work getting this rig back on the trail! :cheers:

    Looks like you'll be good for a while, but I just cut the drain plug off entirely. It was loosening up as I drug it, and I almost lost all my diff oil more than once.
     
  13. Mar 10, 2023 at 7:40 PM
    #13
    JTFisherman

    JTFisherman [OP] Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Feb 19, 2019
    Member:
    #283636
    Messages:
    1,587
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Jake
    Texas / Missouri
    Vehicle:
    4Runner
    Yea the threads on the drain are fucked up from it dragging on rocks so long. If the Allen loosens on me I’m welding it I’d just like to keep the drain instead of sucking it all out because that sucks and I feel like you leave a bunch of the worst glitter in it to keep floating around.
     
  14. Mar 10, 2023 at 7:41 PM
    #14
    Squeaky Penguin

    Squeaky Penguin Nothing Ventured, Nothing Gained

    Joined:
    Apr 5, 2012
    Member:
    #76340
    Messages:
    10,043
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Brett
    Steamboat Springs, Colorado
    Vehicle:
    '01 4WD, SR5, TRD & '13 TRDOR AC
    Lots of dust and custom dents, Check Build
    I replaced one of the lower 3rd member studs as with a bolt. Works great as a drain, just a bit slow.
     
  15. Mar 25, 2023 at 9:06 PM
    #15
    JTFisherman

    JTFisherman [OP] Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Feb 19, 2019
    Member:
    #283636
    Messages:
    1,587
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Jake
    Texas / Missouri
    Vehicle:
    4Runner
    Hacked up and redid the LT kit. Heim uppers and lowers are sunk in, inboarded and moved forward a bit more.

    turns out I’ll have to do them again and push it forward more which sucks

    it cycles 14 5/8 limited by uniball and shock length on compression and cv bind on droop. Still need to check with tie rods to see if outers bind
    A8D1E401-6535-46C6-BDD8-E303241DE85E.jpg BB8EE8F0-E6BD-46F3-96C9-15891532F8FA.jpg 97DBB5EA-32C4-441C-90F7-FC48108DE5E8.jpg 89588A99-1DA2-49F6-B535-83D3D4D51264.jpg E9C8DEDE-4127-4056-9030-9D9E6B5D29EC.jpg
     
  16. Apr 1, 2023 at 10:57 AM
    #16
    JTFisherman

    JTFisherman [OP] Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Feb 19, 2019
    Member:
    #283636
    Messages:
    1,587
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Jake
    Texas / Missouri
    Vehicle:
    4Runner
    Trying to distract myself from rebuilding the lowers so I bought 37s with the plan to run these on longer trips and put the pbrs on the beadlocks… now I’m kinda debating maybe just throw these on the beadlocks and run them all the time.

    I just think this thing would hold up a lot better beating on it with 35s vs 37s. Any opinions?
    ED219B36-A9BF-4D17-A0AB-84C571794439.jpg
     
  17. Apr 3, 2023 at 4:40 PM
    #17
    JTFisherman

    JTFisherman [OP] Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Feb 19, 2019
    Member:
    #283636
    Messages:
    1,587
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Jake
    Texas / Missouri
    Vehicle:
    4Runner
    Driver side clearance is good. Satisfying to see it sitting on its weight on a jack.

    passenger side spindle seems tweaked and cracked forms something I did to it. Repaired and hopefully got it set at the right angle.

    now burning in limit strap tabs, bump pads, and moving the coilover mount on passenger lower a third time to tweak it a bit. Want more droop and a little more clearance on coilover body

    95ECCCC5-5846-4F01-B86A-4EBDA4892BF2.jpg 65C7C804-82E5-4D17-8DA0-5FFEFE421F74.jpg 3BEB7415-A0F2-4662-A879-37B57D9406F5.jpg FE836E6B-AAD6-4C91-9013-63A2DA1AEA33.jpg
    22B8280B-67B7-4D80-B5F3-E8650316E737.jpg
     
    theesotericone likes this.
  18. Apr 16, 2023 at 12:47 AM
    #18
    JTFisherman

    JTFisherman [OP] Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Feb 19, 2019
    Member:
    #283636
    Messages:
    1,587
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Jake
    Texas / Missouri
    Vehicle:
    4Runner
    Less dash lights than I started with
    7B984D22-6F23-4BC3-9B3D-2B53CD887742.jpg
    8EFCC9B3-ECD3-43E5-A1F3-944DF35C6986.jpg
     
    theesotericone likes this.
  19. Apr 16, 2023 at 9:16 AM
    #19
    theesotericone

    theesotericone Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jul 27, 2018
    Member:
    #260800
    Messages:
    12,243
    Gender:
    Male
    Bishop CA
    The only dash light was the ABS light. lol
     
    JTFisherman[OP] likes this.
  20. Apr 16, 2023 at 9:52 AM
    #20
    JTFisherman

    JTFisherman [OP] Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Feb 19, 2019
    Member:
    #283636
    Messages:
    1,587
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Jake
    Texas / Missouri
    Vehicle:
    4Runner
    Yea it will probably come back since I just twisted the wires and taped it lol.

    Had a p446 code on and off so I replaced some of the vacuum hoses. maybe it will stay off or maybe it’s just off since I have no battery in it haha.
     
    theesotericone likes this.
To Top