RogueTRD's Daily Driver '98 T4R SR5 "Wampa" build

So after a couple years of looking intermittently for a nice clean 3rd Gen T4R my search came to an end. I bought a really nice '98 Natural White SR5, 4x4, 5speed, with factory e-locker. It has 225k miles, but doesn't drive like it. I really like this rig so far and I have a few plans for it.

It seems that most 3rd Gen 4 Runners in the PNW are super expensive or beat to shit, or both. I test drove quite a few and the only one that I really wanted was an '01 Limited with just over 100k miles. It was in really perfect shape on the exterior and the interior was amazing as well, sadly it had horrible frame rust that someone had tried to cover up with a nasty undercoat. I passed on it and continued to browse Craigslist and ask around before a friend on Facebook who works at a car dealership told me about this rig that they took on trade. With the miles it has on it they couldn't sell it on their lot and were going to wholesale it. It had only been at the dealership for 2.5 hours before I went and test drove it before they could do so much as give it a wash. Everything works other than a broken rear cup holder and broken trailer plug. It drives nice and tight, and it seems it was lovingly maintained. I made them an offer, we worked out the deal and I signed the paperwork contingent on a couple issues. It had a CEL which turned out to be the IAC, so they swapped it out, gave it a safety inspection, lube job, and I wrote them a check.

I plan on doing a few mods and using it as a daily driver so I don't put too many miles on my Tacoma, and occasional weekend warrior. Lift, wheels, tires, some sliders, window Tint, maybe skids, and camping/recovery gear. My plans may change, but that's it for now. This will be a pretty slow build, but I'll post updates and adventure pics when they happen.

Feel free to offer input, advice, and ideas. I am super stoked to finally have a nice 3rd Gen 4 Runner!

Vehicle:
1998 Natural White Toyota 4Runner SR5 V6 5 speed with factory rear locker

Performance Mods:
None as of yet

Suspension:
Ironman 4x4 medium duty front springs/struts with 3/8 top plate spacer
OME 890 rear springs with Bilstein 5100 shocks
Poly sway bar bushings front and rear
Poly front bumpstops
Wheelers braided extended rear brake line (not installed)

Wheels/Tires:
(5) 265/75/16 Falken ATW3 load E
(5)16x8 Level 8 MK 6 in matte black, 4.5BS
2nd Gen Tacoma Off Road wheels 16x7 5.75 BS

Lighting:
99+ Clear headlights
Old school rectangular Hella fog lights
Rigid Radiance 20" LED bar (not installed)

Recovery:
Wheelers 20x3 snatch strap
Smittybilt reciever shackle

Coms:
Nothing yet


Misc mods:
OEM bug deflector
2nd Gen "Tacoma" floormats (fit almost perfectly)
Locker "anytime" mod

Future mod list:
Weathertechs/Husky floormats
Sliders
Tint
Skids (maybe)
Tundra brake upgrade (maybe)
Flip tow package, or cut it off and weld it between frame rails
Seat covers
Front recovery points

 

Bye bye running boards!



I went to visit @YotaDan today and got some goodies.

 

She got a detail today. Cleaned up really nice!!

 

I dig it. I owned a 93 that just wouldn't/couldn't let me down no matter how much I abused it.

 

Lift installed today, look at that tire gap!!!!

 

This is moving along nicely

When do the tires go on? You look like you skipped leg day

 

Tires in a couple weeks. It looks so out of sorts right now! Lol

 

Tag and curious what you had to shell out for it. The prices are out there for sure on what most want for beat up 15-20 yr old rigs. Looks super clean from your pics.

 

I paid 5500 for it, which is a great deal for my area. Especially with 5speed and e-locker. It has a couple small dents but otherwise is in great shape and drives really nice.

 

Here is a pic after the lift in the daylight. I got a little over 2" of lift in the front and 3.5 in the rear... lol it should settle a bit, and I don't have the spare or tow package on it currently. I don't mind a little rake but I'm hoping it settles at about 2.5 in the rear.

 

That is a great deal. I'm a few hours north of you so I know the prices but at least most of our rigs don't have to worry about frame rot as bad as other parts of the country. Great start.

 

So the lift went in fairly easily although there were a couple hiccups. I was lucky to have a buddy helping me who had done the rear springs on a couple T4 R's. The rear shocks were pretty stuck on, so we used channel locks to twist the shock body and finally got them off. The fronts were pretty straightforward, but the stock bump stops gave me a problem... one of them that is. lol The first 3 came off really easily but the last one was a biiiiiiiiatch. I have decided to sell my ST Maxx and get some Falken Wildpeak AT3W's in 265/75/16. I think that will be a more fuel friendly option, plus won't require trimming or pinch weld surgery.

 

So my first tank MPG was less than impressive. 14.4 mpg... I'm gonna pull the EFI fuse and run some Seafoam through her to see if that helps.

 

After the sea foam, I'd run it a couple days and change oil, filters, pcv, clean throttle body and maf , change plugs get a baseline on it, but that's me. Really nice truck, I wish I had built a white 5speed. Sub'd as it looks like you know what you're doing.

I recently acquired a 5speed 95 crawler with 3.4 on 37's. It's getting an incredible 18-19 mpg. It's shockingly as good or better than my 4Runner.

 

Thanks! That's a good idea. I am gonna give her a tune up. I know the fuel filter is pretty new, it has a new IAC and when that got replaced the mechanic cleaned the MAF and TB. I think I have a bad upstream O2 sensor as well. It threw a code and I reset it but it hasn't come back. I'm thinking it's running a bit rich.

 

Did some trading with my buddy today and got a Rigid Radiance 20" light bar. I'm thinking of running it in the lower bumper opening and relocating the Hella fog lights to mount outside of it. Oh! I also am getting a set of 99+ headlights from another buddy.

 

New shoes go on tomorrow!


Falken Wildpeak AT3W LT265/75/16E

 

Got the tires mounted up on my stock TRD OR wheels today. Looks way better!!

 

The boy and I went out to visit grandpa today and decided to make a little detour to test out the new tires. Found a little mud and a little snow. I like these new tires, plenty of traction and a smooth ride.