Our Family's Exploration Rig - '98 4Runner

[Go4Lo]

Just starting to slowly build my wife's '98 4Runner up for exploring the back roads here on the east coast with our 15 month old.

Vehicle Specs:
1998 4Runner Limited - 135K
5VZ-FE 3.4L, Auto, 4wd, 4.30s, E-Locker
Anthracite Metallic
Interior is Tan Leather

Upgrades to Date - 7/19/12
Fresh paint on roof, hood and gate
Old Man Emu Suspension 881 Front, 906 Rear both paired with Nitrochargers
Poly Rack Bushings
Rola Vortex Rack
265/75r16 Falken Rocky Mtn ATS
Stock 4Runner 16x7 5-Stars
Magnaflow Muffler
Deck Plate Mod w/K&N Drop In

Future Plans
Go exploring!
Rear Diff Breather Mod
Magnaflow Cat (stocker is clogged)
1" Wheel Spacers
ARB Front Bumper
New paint on flares, lower cladding and ARB Bumper

Thanks for looking


Day One
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New Rubber and Suspension
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[achampagne]

Looks nice, good work so far.

 

[Go4Lo]

We took a quick trip out to Uwharrie National Forest last weekend to test the new suspension and let the little guy play in the dirt. It was a typical HOT July afternoon here in the Southeast so we didn't stop but a few times only for a cold drink, snacks and to stretch the legs.

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Friend's LJ Rubi
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Starting young....off roading the John Deere
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The perfect ending to a good day in the woods......a quiet ride home
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[4RunAmok]

Very nice so far. Nice set of plans too, but....Don't forget sliders before it's too late


And if I may offer some advice... forget the K&N air filter. I have one, and have gone back to stock... too many times coming back from a trail where I've been behind and in dust clouds and the "behind the filter" side of the airbox is AS DIRTY as the outside. K&N=USELESS. I have the deckplate, but I also keep that in most of the time. I track my fuel/mileage with an iphone app, and the plate/K&N combo did nothing for me. Yeah, more airflow, fine on the street, but if more air gets through, so does more dust, and it's cost me an injector and a Mass Airflow Sensor.

Get a nice FRAM, slightly more airflow than the toyota stock filter, but 1000x cleaner than the K&N.

Other than that, you've got a good vision!

 

[upndown]

Big day for a little guy.. priceless!!

 

[Go4Lo]

Very nice so far. Nice set of plans too, but....Don't forget sliders before it's too late


And if I may offer some advice... forget the K&N air filter. I have one, and have gone back to stock... too many times coming back from a trail where I've been behind and in dust clouds and the "behind the filter" side of the airbox is AS DIRTY as the outside. K&N=USELESS. I have the deckplate, but I also keep that in most of the time. I track my fuel/mileage with an iphone app, and the plate/K&N combo did nothing for me. Yeah, more airflow, fine on the street, but if more air gets through, so does more dust, and it's cost me an injector and a Mass Airflow Sensor.

Get a nice FRAM, slightly more airflow than the toyota stock filter, but 1000x cleaner than the K&N.

Other than that, you've got a good vision!

Thanks for the words of wisdom. Sliders are on the longer version of the wish list. I don't plan to much if any rockkrawling with the truck as it's our second vehicle and my wife's mode of transportation through the week. Regarding the K&N, I've run their filters on several vehicles in the past with success so it will stay for now and we will just pop in the deck plate cover for dusty situations.

Big day for a little guy.. priceless!!

Yep!

 

[AxleIke]

Very nice so far. Nice set of plans too, but....Don't forget sliders before it's too late


And if I may offer some advice... forget the K&N air filter. I have one, and have gone back to stock... too many times coming back from a trail where I've been behind and in dust clouds and the "behind the filter" side of the airbox is AS DIRTY as the outside. K&N=USELESS. I have the deckplate, but I also keep that in most of the time. I track my fuel/mileage with an iphone app, and the plate/K&N combo did nothing for me. Yeah, more airflow, fine on the street, but if more air gets through, so does more dust, and it's cost me an injector and a Mass Airflow Sensor.

Get a nice FRAM, slightly more airflow than the toyota stock filter, but 1000x cleaner than the K&N.

Other than that, you've got a good vision!

I agree completely on the K&N. As stated, it may cost you money. I bought my 99 with one installed by the PO. Removed it immediately. Mine completely oiled up my MAF sensor, and coated intake tubes with dirt and slime. I spent hours cleaning it, and with the stock one, it is good and clean months later.

 

[wnckeith]

check your messages! Thanks!

 

[Go4Lo]

I agree completely on the K&N. As stated, it may cost you money. I bought my 99 with one installed by the PO. Removed it immediately. Mine completely oiled up my MAF sensor, and coated intake tubes with dirt and slime. I spent hours cleaning it, and with the stock one, it is good and clean months later.

Ok, you guys have got me thinking about this K&N thing. The goal for this truck is to keep it simple and functional so maybe a standard issue paper filter is in order. Are you guys running the ISR and Deck Plate mods or just negating those as well?

check your messages! Thanks!

Responded.

 

[98roamer]

We have very similar 4Runners: 165k, 98 Limited, e-locked, removed the elbow mod, small rack, new muffler, Tundra brake upgrade, rear dif breather ext, OME 880+906- 265/75r16 Toyo AT on factory taco rims, Amsoil filter- now replaced with paper to check mileage with cleaning the MAF sensor.

I've always run aftermarket high flow filters but it didn't seem to help at all with the 4runner. I'm testing the papers for the next 5-10k miles.

This is not a rock crawler but an overlander and from Ohio I drive hours before I get somewhere to need what the 4runner can do, so I need all the mpg I can get.

Let me know what you find out about the K&N.

 

[4RunAmok]

I didn't do the ISR mod as it has zero effect on anything. But I do have the deckplate mod, which I now keep closed more than open.

 

[98roamer]

I didn't do the ISR mod as it has zero effect on anything. But I do have the deckplate mod, which I now keep closed more than open.

I agree with you about the ISR mod and I didn't want the extra noise that some have reported. I just removed the plastic elbow in the fender that leads to the air box. Couldn't tell a difference, except the box is more exposed to water intrusion.

 

[Go4Lo]

I'm with you guys I'm not going to bother with the ISR mod either. My time and $$ is going to be directed at more beneficial upgrades.

I do have a pile of maintenance parts sitting in the garage that when I can find them need to installed including:

Rear Axle Seals
Ft/Rr O2 Sensors
Magnaflow Cat
Rear diff breather/hose
New Ft Sway Bar links
New Tranny mount

 

[HARDTRAILZ]

K&N Real testing...

http://home.roadrunner.com/~jbplock/ISO5011/SPICER.htm

Basically, the K&N lets in ~100x as much dirt as the AC Delco, flows a little better for a little bit, then clogs up quicker and flows worse...

 

[4RunAmok]

K&N Real testing...

http://home.roadrunner.com/~jbplock/ISO5011/SPICER.htm

Basically, the K&N lets in ~100x as much dirt as the AC Delco, flows a little better for a little bit, then clogs up quicker and flows worse...

Exactly. I never blew mine out with air or anything, but it seemed to allow dirt through as though it wasn't there. 100% marketing if you ask me, just like Monster Cable.