Rics 2004 4Runner V8

[Ric]

Rics 2004 4Runner Lift Kit:
The lift kit was bought from www.toyteclifts.com for a couple reasons:
1) I had the full ToyTecLifts on my 99 and absolutely loved it, flexed like crazy, rode so nice on the street.
2) Customer service is a major deal for me, and they have awesome customer service, awesome products, at great prices.
Well Ive got the adjustable coil overs up front, The ToyTecLifts springs, and Bilstein shocks in the rear along with the rear lower control arm Sliders (had them on my 99 also, and they are rock SOLID, more than worth the money)
Heres the parts list:
#TTAFCS-6005 Front Coil Overs
# SBR-129 Swaybar Relocate kit (Included with Coil-Overs)
#RFJ-BIL Rear Bilstein shocks
#RCC2.0 Rear Springs
#RFJ-CAS Rear Lower Control Arm skids

I called them on Thurs, picked it up on Fri. they had everything I wanted, in stock, since I lived close, I saved on shipping, the install went smooth, and in a few hours, I was driving home.
http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd139/Rix4rnr/2004%204Runner-new/Mods/IMG_8225.jpg
http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd139/Rix4rnr/2004%204Runner-new/Mods/IMG_8241.jpg
http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd139/Rix4rnr/2004%204Runner-new/Mods/IMG_8244.jpg
I got right 3" of lift :thumbup:
Before pic:
http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd139/Rix4rnr/2004%204Runner-new/IMG_8177.jpg
After lift (stock tires)
http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd139/Rix4rnr/2004%204Runner-new/Mods/IMG_8252.jpg

[Ric]

CB install:
Since Im going to keep the Boise system, finding a place for my Cobra 18WX was a challenge, this is what I came up with as Im still thinking about the Cobra 75
http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd139/Rix4rnr/2004%204Runner-new/CB/IMG_8254.jpg
Held in place with Industrial velcro:
http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd139/Rix4rnr/2004%204Runner-new/CB/IMG_8257.jpg
Since I dont have "real" bumpers anymore lol, this is what Ive got:
http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd139/Rix4rnr/2004%204Runner-new/CB/IMG_8258.jpg
More to come later. :D

[Ric]

Sorry I havent keept you all up to date, but Ive got the full set of BudBuilts installed.
http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd139/Rix4rnr/2004%204Runner-new/Mods/BudBuilt/DSC_0003.jpg
http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd139/Rix4rnr/2004%204Runner-new/Mods/BudBuilt/DSC_0004.jpg
AND did the 4Crawler 1.5" bodylift.
http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd139/Rix4rnr/2004%204Runner-new/BodyLift%20and%20Wax/DSC_0002.jpg
http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd139/Rix4rnr/2004%204Runner-new/BodyLift%20and%20Wax/DSC_0005.jpg

the Stubbs sliders should be here on Monday

[Ric]

Ive also removed the front swaybar, on these 4th gens, you cant just disconnect them, thier either on or removed :shake:
I did take measurements with and without it..
WITH swaybar on:
http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd139/Rix4rnr/2004%204Runner-new/swaybar%20removal/IMG_5023.jpg
http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd139/Rix4rnr/2004%204Runner-new/swaybar%20removal/IMG_5031.jpg
WITHOUT swaybar:
http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd139/Rix4rnr/2004%204Runner-new/swaybar%20removal/IMG_5036.jpg
http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd139/Rix4rnr/2004%204Runner-new/swaybar%20removal/IMG_5032.jpg

[Ric]

Well I finally got some sliders they are from Stubss Welding. This are truely a "one off" or as Richard says, these are the "Ric Lopez" set, there are none others like these, there are two others that he did that are real close, but anyways.
Heres a pic how they came:
http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd139/Rix4rnr/2004%204Runner-new/Mods/Sliders/DSC_0004.jpg
http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd139/Rix4rnr/2004%204Runner-new/Mods/Sliders/DSC_0002.jpg

Ive learned from my 99, to put some sort of plate on them, to help prevent rocks, sand and mud from coming up inbetween the bars, and eventually pitting the rocker panels, so I stop at K and K salvage and got some steel plate.
http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd139/Rix4rnr/2004%204Runner-new/Mods/Sliders/DSC_0003.jpg
http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd139/Rix4rnr/2004%204Runner-new/Mods/Sliders/DSC_0005.jpg


I hope to get the step plates welded up tomorrow, then painted the next, then welded to the frame :thumbup:

[Ric]

Well Im almost done with the CargoBox, still need to put some sort of varnish on it, but the box itself is 99% done.
Open the hatch and this is what ya see:
http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd139/Rix4rnr/2004%204Runner-new/Mods/CargoBox/DSC_0022.jpg

Latch to help keep it closed as the mighty power of the V8s take off power, lol
http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd139/Rix4rnr/2004%204Runner-new/Mods/CargoBox/DSC_0023.jpg

Slide a drawer out and you see this:
http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd139/Rix4rnr/2004%204Runner-new/Mods/CargoBox/DSC_0024.jpg


NO, its not upside down, this was done on purpose, when eating lunch on the trail, we now have a make sift table top
http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd139/Rix4rnr/2004%204Runner-new/Mods/CargoBox/DSC_0026.jpg
http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd139/Rix4rnr/2004%204Runner-new/Mods/CargoBox/DSC_0027.jpg

I still have a few small details to do, AND to finish the Sleeping platform.

[Ric]

New Shoes:
Ok, heres the story of my new shoes, lol
Some of you know that I was running Dunlop’s 265/65-17 (some street tire) only because I want to go with 35s but was deciding between the Firestone MTs and the KM2s.
Well we ran Cascade Creek and Saxton Mnt. Picks can be found here: http://picasaweb.google.com/4x4Ric/C...D5sZnk59eh6wE#

The day was great, it’s an easy trail, we was on our way down and all of a sudden I hear this hissing sound, and thought “no way” so I get out, and sure enough, I got a flat, and I mean FLAT, lol the left front is done, but I still hear the hissing, look at the left rear tire, and sure enough, it’s got a nice slice in it and going flat, so we put my spare on the front, and use Shawn’s spare for the rear, put things away, and start to take off, I don’t get 5 feet, and Andrew jumps out and says “dude, you got another flat” I thought he was just messing with me, lol, so I get out and look at the right rear, sure enough, its going flat… so we grab Glens spare, and throw it on the rear.

Now I have 4 different tires on, 3 different sizes, what a mess, lol. I my stock tires on the front, a Dueler H-T 265/70-16 on the left rear, a Geolander MT 305/70-16 on the right rear, and Mich. 265/60-17 on the left front, Dunlop 265/65-17 on the right front.
So today I go and new shoes, and returns Glen and Shawn’s spare tires.
3 flats in one day, on one trail, by one person, within 5 feet, what’s the odds ?

The moral of this story is, “never wheel alone” if I was alone, I have no idea how I would have made it home…
So I went to Tires Plus and picked up some Firestone Dest. MTs in the 265-70-17
http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd139/Rix4rnr/2004%204Runner-new/Tires/DSC_0104.jpg

[Ric]

well since there aint anything new to post, heres a couple pix:
http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd139/Rix4rnr/2004%204Runner-new/Flex%20Shots/DSC_0014.jpg
http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd139/Rix4rnr/2004%204Runner-new/loading%20dock%209-7-09/DSC_0005.jpg
Im such a psoer, lol :shake:

[Ric]

ever hear of PlastiDip ?
well people use this to dechrome, seems that its easy to use, and if at any point you want to remove it, it just peels right off. Im wondering just how strong it really is, so I got some.
BEFORE:
http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd139/Rix4rnr/2011/Mods/DSC_1678.jpg
http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd139/Rix4rnr/2011/Mods/DSC_1676.jpg
AFTER:
http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd139/Rix4rnr/2011/Mods/DSC_1680.jpg
http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd139/Rix4rnr/2011/Mods/DSC_1683.jpg

[Ric]

I forgot to add a few things to the list..
Demello bumper:
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-drtMjgP8eic/Tq3T-rIcFKI/AAAAAAAASiA/3Muz97_u_is/s576/DSC_2445.JPG
Treadwright tires, I went with the mud dawgs in the 285/70-17:
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-7vnQHvu8YW4/To9u0BowoQI/AAAAAAAASiM/CNX2LCi3gQA/s640/2011-10-07_11-38-38_211.jpg
Also added some lights:
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-m0qgsRoGkY0/UDunO7QTmxI/AAAAAAAASnU/MjFDFZgXt_s/s640/DSCN4919.JPG