shawkins 1997 4Runner Build: Poor, Starving College Student Edition

wmflyfisher

Observer
Looks great man!! Give us a little review on the Morel components. I'm looking for a set for my 02. How was the install? Any problems with fitment or anything??
 

shawkins

Adventurer
wmflyfisher said:
Looks great man!! Give us a little review on the Morel components. I'm looking for a set for my 02. How was the install? Any problems with fitment or anything??
I love the Morels! A huge improvement over stock (I would be ticked if there wasn't since they cost so much). At first I thought the tweeters were a tad harsh, but not anymore. Maybe I just got used to them or they broke in (I have heard speakers do have a break in period). The woofers are great, lots more bass than stock but they aren't obnoxious.

The install was fairly easy, just remove and replace. Oh and some wiring.

I would recommend adding sound deadening to the door skins and door panels though, with the better woofers you can get some vibration on the really low notes. Its on my list of things to do (its a very long and distinguished list), but I havent gotten around to it yet.

I have a set for the rear, but I have yet to install them because you have to make a custom mounting plate for if you want to run 5.25". The stock rear speakers are some weird size that no company makes replacements for.

When I install the rears, I plan to run all new wire directly to the head-unit, bypassing all the factory wiring. The factory wiring is tiny, I think its 18 or 20ga.!
 

wmflyfisher

Observer
Thanks man! Yeah, I've been into stereo stuff for years now. I picked up a set of Pioneer Premier components. A ton of REALLY good reviews on them all over the net. Trying to find an amp for them too. Do you have the crossovers run to your components or is your system active?? I'm debating on this issue...
 

shawkins

Adventurer
wmflyfisher said:
Thanks man! Yeah, I've been into stereo stuff for years now. I picked up a set of Pioneer Premier components. A ton of REALLY good reviews on them all over the net. Trying to find an amp for them too. Do you have the crossovers run to your components or is your system active?? I'm debating on this issue...
I'm running passive, I wish I had the money to go active!
 

shawkins

Adventurer
Great news! The Johnny Joint ball arrived today and it is a perfect fit for the lower link mounts! However, it will not fit the upper link mounts as they are narrower. I never planned on running JJ's on the uppers anyways though.

Now I just need to figure out what heims I want for the upper links and panhard.
 

shawkins

Adventurer
Progress has been slow on the build-up due to not having a lot of time to work on the rig, and being continuously sick for the past few months, but I have been collecting parts! I'm hoping to do some installs during spring break.

So far I have collected:
- Chromoly tubing for lower links
- The rest of the Johnny Joint parts
- Poly front sway bar bushings and bump stops from Wheelers
- Poly steering rack bushings

Now I just need to have the links TIG welded together, heat treated and powder coated.

Next comes the collection of parts for the upper links and panhard. Dang, heims are expensive!

The shocks on the rig are pretty much done for, so I'm trying to decide on what to replace them with. I may be able to get Fox Shox at a hefty discount so I'm leaning towards their remote reservoir coil overs. I just can't seem to find anyone who has them on a '96 to '04 Taco or '96 to '02 4Runner to get some feedback. They do seem popular with the '05 and newer Taco guys though.

Before I found out that Fox makes coilovers for my year of rig, I was planning on going with Kings, so they are my fall back if the Foxs don't work out.

I also can't decide if I want the regular travel or the extended travel coil overs. If I went with the extended ones, I would run the Total Chaos upper arms...which cost an arm and a leg. It's only money right?:rolleyes: Do the replacement upper arms make a nice difference or should I just stick with regular travel?

Any help in deciding is greatly appriciated!

Thanks!
 

shawkins

Adventurer
I have amassed a pile 'o parts!

- Fox extended length C/O's
IMG_3059.jpg


IMG_3060.jpg


- ARB locker for the front
- OME 890 rear springs
- Poly steering rack/sway bar bushings
- Chromoly Johnny Joints & Chromoly tubing
IMG_3069.jpg


- E-locker axle housing
IMG_3079.jpg


- Stubbs HD-SKO sliders
IMG_3082.jpg


Along with a 4.30 E-locker and 4.30 front diff.

Two things are holding me up from installing most of those goodies. First is I still need to order Total chaos UCA's and second is this:

IMG_3075.jpg


IMG_3078.jpg


I'm hoping to have it back together enough to roll it out of the garage this weekend so I can swap in the E-locked rear axle on the periwinkle mobile.
 
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shawkins

Adventurer
It got too dark for pics, so I'll get some today.

In about 9 hours I accomplished:
New rear axle with 4.30 geared E-locker is in.
OME 890 coils with N86 shocks are in.
Fox coilovers are in!

I took it for a test drive when I got finished at 4AM and I can't believe the difference! The 4.30's made a very noticeable difference and the Fox coilovers are amazing. I'm not too happy with the N86 shocks but they are a temporary solution until I get another set of Fox's for the rear.

Time for a shower and a nap!
 

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