2003 Toyota 4Runner Sport V8

In true GRM fashion, I'm starting a build thread for a car I don't even own yet. I also ordered parts for it, which arrived before I bought the vehicle, thanks to the wonders of the internet and home delivery.

The subject in question is a 2003 Toyota 4Runner, in Sport trim, with the optional V8. It has traveled more than the distance to the moon, and will require some maintenance immediately upon delivery in the form of a timing belt and a full fluid replacement.

As budget allows, the XREAS suspension will be deleted (but retained in the shed) and replaced by something else. I've no idea what, yet, but I don't want to lift it much.

Old Man Emu suspension is probably the way I'm going to go. I am thinking 2885 springs with 90021 struts in the front and 2895 springs with 60004 shocks in the rear.

IIRC that's what i did, 885/895's, its a fair bit of lift when new, like 2-2.5" in the front 3+ when empty in the back. Will max out your UCA's in the front and will not be able to get factory castor spec back. the 895's are pretty stiff if you don't have the back full of crap all the time. After 100k miles, like mine has, its sagged down and rides like a caddy.... I think I need shocks.

Oh and good luck getting the XREAS line out wiht Berking them. Mine lived in the garage for a couple moves and got tossed...

Is it worth getting aftermarket UCAs to try and get the alignment specs sorted out? I also debated going with a less aggressive lift and rate on the springs, but when this thing is loaded down it will be carrying 3 kayaks, towing a boat, hauling 4 people and all of our gear, too.

I havent gone aftermarket UCA's but im hoping too. Im close to OE caster specs, but not quite, its twitchy. Light Racing make reasonably prices ball joint UCA's. Stay away from uni ball's for DD's IMO.

With that load you will like the 895's, they are stiff empty but ride great loaded up. Stock rear and towing a boat will sag, get the stiffer ones.

Due to the deferred maintenance, I've only driven this thing about 5 miles since I bought it. I poked around a bit at it yesterday, and the belts and hoses look to be due, so I'll be doing those while I'm in there. I also picked up a crankshaft seal so I can replace that while I'm in there, too.

One thing I did see is that this thing has a wee little transmission cooler. It is 9.5" x 3.25" x 1.25" Since there will be sand driving, I'm thinking I'm going to upgrade that puppy. There isn't a ton of room in the stock location, so that is going to limit choices. 

The weather has been preventing any further work on this.

I also realized that the box end of the 12mm wrench I bought back in the early 1990s has actually worn out while trying to remove the clutch fan. I have a hare-brained scheme to cut off the worn 12 point end of the wrench, cut a 6 point 12mm socket down to size and weld it onto the end of the wrench.

That, or I'll just buy a set of 6 point combination wrenches.

You know what you must do...

Storz wrote: You know what you must do...

Storz wrote: You know what you must do...

Ehhh.... that isn't my style.

But its totally mine,I want to lower mine but so many other projects its not happening anytime soon.

kevlarcorolla wrote: But its totally mine,I want to lower mine but so many other projects its not happening anytime soon.

If you don't need ground clearance, do it. The whole reason I got the 4Runner was to have a bit more. That, and the Nissan Xterra got on my last nerve.

A cottage road is about the roughest place I'll ever go.

This is about as rough as I'm likely to want to go, but I want to build in a bit of wiggle room, just in case.

Yeah I don't get the bashing your vehicle over rocks and stuff,they make 4 wheelers and side by sides for that so...

I am still working on my timing belt change. Today, I had a HECK of a time getting the crank pulley bolt off if the 4Runner. I wound up having to run out to get a chain wrench. I managed to get the crank bolt out but somehow messed up the ribbing on the pulley *through* a double wrapped layer of serpentine belt. That, or it was already a bit messed up before I started. I'm not sure if I should get a new one or not- the ribbing is slightly deformed to the touch, but there are no sharp edges. I

So, the timing belt change is done, and I've been driving the 4Runner a bit. Even with almost 275k miles on it, there are no squeaks and rattles, and nothing seems to be leaking. The suspension, as noted above, is shot to heck and I'm going to order that today.

The transformation so far:

Shortly after arriving at the house. It stayed in this spot for a while.

The only V8 in my fleet. Puttering around at low RPMs is neat, getting 15 MPG no matter how I seem to drive reminds me of my rotary engine days without the glorious noise.

Awaiting a new suspension. It seems to sit low compared to newer 4Runners, and I'm betting a lot of that is worn components.

Looking good! I love the early 03's. 15mpg is about par for the course I belive.

What did you decide for suspension?

I am still agonizing on suspension. Since my wife is going to be driving it, I don't want to lift it too much without getting UCAs, but that will extend the budget quite a bit. Since we're getting a bit of bounce at the end of braking I kind of need new components NOW. So, I'm looking at Toytec or Bilsteins at the moment, but I've got a few more hours to change my mind.

I'm still running oe UCA's with OME medium stuff. But it could use some more caster... Coilovers are the answer, they can be dialed up or down :)

Hah, Toytec is out of stock on the parts I wanted. Coilovers are a bit out of the price range at the moment.

In reply to Brett_Murphy:

Bummer! Totally understand, hence i went OME. They are very soft after 130k... Id love some icon CO's now, but will probably use the OME for a while longer....

OME components on the way, just as the weather is warming up. Look for beach shots soon, probably in the adventure forum.

Sweet! I was just looking at the OME BP-51's a lot of $$ but my OME stuff is work out after 130k hard miles....

It's a bit taller now.