Kwik's BS Thread FEAT. BRONX!

1998 Toyota 4Runner Limited

The COVID build, because why not?

The 4Runner could've stayed as a daily driver, but after comparing back and forth between what it offers versus my Tacoma, the 4R made more sense -



Some comparison pictures.

Before -



After -










Suspension

• King 2.5 Ext 600lb Fronts
• King 2.5 W/Reservoir Rears
• OME 890 Rear Springs
• Durobump Stops Front and Rear
• Sonoran Steel Panhard Bar
• Resz Rear Lower Arms
• Ext travel CV axles

Exterior

• Nguyen Works dual swing out rear bumper
• Bud Built skid plate
• Sherpa Equipment Co roof rack
• Lotus lower control arm skids

Interior

• $329 Kenwood DMX7706S 6.95" Digital Media Receiver w/Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
  Kenwood DMX7706S stereo
• Kenwood KSC-SW11 subwoofer
• Ultragauge

Accessories

• Sherpa Traction Board mounts w/Maxtrax
• Waterport Day Tank
• Roam Adventure Co 83L case
• Smittybilt Gen2 awning

Pending Install

• Uniden 520XL Pro CB radio
• 4XInnovations rock sliders
• Extreme LED amber chase lights
• AMP'D Up Hidden winch mount
• B&M Super Cooler transmission cooler

Future shit

• Who knows?

 

Fortunately for this build, I already had an idea of what I wanted and got the goodies right away.

First thing's first; the stock suspension has to go!



Here one can see the difference between the OME 906 coils (left) vs the OME 890 coils (right). The 890's will go on once I get my rear swing out -



Decided to tackle the rear since this would prove to be easier. At this point in time, I had just got hit with sciatica so really I was in no shape to be doing any automotive work.

I said fuck it -



Unlike the Tacoma, the 4R sports a 4 link rear with panhard bar. Really, this setup is just so simple to work on!

That is of course, with the exception of the rear shock. Toyota decided to use this mount, and place it in the most awkward place you could think of. You're supposed to use an allen key on the top of the shock, and get a wrench to turn the bolt to loosen things up.



Fortunately, I was able to just man handle the shock body and unscrew it right off.

After undoing the sway bar end links, drop the rear end low enough to be able to pull the coils out.



New OME 906 going in place for the meanwhile; meant to give a 2" lift over stock payload -



It was only fitting to remove the rear bump stops while I was there; just a bolt for each one and out they come.

Here you can see how the stock rears compare with the Kings -



Those Durobumps sure look pretty -



But they're missing something...



I decided to try and tackle the front, which I started but didn't get to finish.

My sciatica was seriously kicking my ass, and the hard part while doing this was not having a long enough screw driver to twist the bottom of the shock to line up with my LCA's -



Ended up using my lift at work and after all was said and done, Kings were on -

 

After the suspension was done, and Moab right around the corner, I was unsure if I wanted to use the 32" Falken Wildpeaks on the 4R, or mount up the 33" Cooper ST Maxx and use those.

Here you can see the size difference -





Still on stock tires, I had to make a decision quick. You can only get so far looking like this while being lifted -



Yet, with time running short, and the peanut gallery on my shoulder telling me what I should do, I got the 33's on -





Now that the tires were on, and it being aligned, I just had to yank off the running boards and sway bar and I was ready -

 

Seeing as how the 4R had received everything from a timing belt 40k ago, steering rack 30k ago, and other odds and ends, this thing was ready to go off road!

With the help of several members here, I took the truck on a TW Meet out to Moab, Utah.

There's a whole other thread on that which you can check out here -

2020 Lunchtable Meet Moab, UT

Few wheeling and scenic pics -



Apparently, I like lifting the front wheels











I will say, the Durobumps were really put through the paces. I can't imagine having left the stock bump stops on because I never felt the rear end even when I slammed on the bump stops hard.

Truck ran admirably through the 30 hour round trip, as well as through the trails we ran while we were out there.

 

Oddly enough, I did have two issues that came about soon after coming back from Moab.

The first being that my truck would suddenly fail to start. Fortunately this was an easy fix as all it was, is the ECT sensor -







The next issue resulted in my CV axle boot tearing up. I had already ordered a set of O'Reilly 'extended' travel axles but was finding it hard to find time to install them.

Here's the torn boot -



And the new axles; only took one out for pictures -







Seeing as how I've been making quite the drive each week to see my significant other, I finally found the time to replace it a few weeks after -

 

For off roading, I've been a co2 fan for obvious reasons; it's fast, it can reseat a tire, and you can use it for tools, etc.

The downfall being that it's fast to run out, especially a 5lb tank.

I love to venture out to the many fire roads near me, and found that it wasn't practical getting my co2 tank filled up every 2 months or so.

So based on a friend's recommendation, I got the Viair 400P -



Sad to say I'll most likely retire my Powertank, but only once I use up the co2 in it; it's full at the moment.

Other little oddities are the Ultragauge and

$329 Kenwood DMX7706S 6.95" Digital Media Receiver w/Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto

Kenwood DMX7706S double din stereo I installed. I had the same stereo in the Tacoma and I liked it so much, I bought one for the 4R -



While I wait for my links and other odds and ends, I threw on my Sonoran Steel adjustable panhard bar -



I don't know if it's in my head or not but I feel like the rear is a bit more ''controlled". Definitely a quality piece, that's much thicker and stronger than stock.

I'm sure I'll say the same for the lower rears once I replace them -



Fast forward a month...my long awaited dual rear swing out has been built and is ready for pick up!

It's one of these I'm sure -



Made the 6hr drive down to So Cal to meet up with the Nguyen brothers. Work started right away as they got the factory bumper and tow hitch off -



Not sure what it is exactly with Limited models, but a 2" x 2" piece of the frame ends needs to be trimmed. Bumper goes on right after -



Stood out of the way for the most part, until parts went on then I'd snap a pic. From the welds, to the fold out cooking tray, and the swing out catch, everything looks good -







And the final product -



The jerry can and spare weren't mine; they wanted to snap a pic for IG so I said why not. Can't wait to get my full sized spare and my own fuel jug on.

Though as fate would have it, my other CV axle boot bit the dust during the drive out to LA so out with the old -



and in with the new -

 

One of the little odds and ends that I took care of was getting an LED light for my license plate. Fortunately this was made easy as the wiring was pre-tapped for a hitch though I removed the wiring -











A quick 5 minute mod that I've not only heard good things about, but watched interesting videos on -





Following up after the LCA skid install, I got the rear lowers in -

 

FIRST

 

Reserved

 

@jbrandt

You get a specialty tag that no one else got

 

I feel so special now!

 

Reversed biatch!

 

This the fail thread tho; ain't shit getting welded, nothing is custom, and I'll be done with it real quick

 

No, not a fail. You are doing as much work yourself as possible given where you have to work right now.

Don't worry, you'll grow up to be a big boy soon

 

I need to stop being so lazy and hit up @GHOST SHIP for some sliders.

Maybe something to match the sides of my new rear bumper.

 

Or order up the 4xInnovations like I have and come see me for a weekend...

 

You were down here getting that bumper and didn’t swing by to say hi.

 

$310 for DOM is cheap...damn

I got there at 230 for install, left at 430, and still got home at 11pm with only 1 stop for gas and a drive thru.

Then I had to work the next day