Rock Slide's 2002 Sport

[Rock Slide]

2002 4Runner Sport 4WD


At Date of Purchase on 4/20/06:








As of 4/20/07:






[SIZE=3]**CURRENT MODIFICATIONS**


Engine Mods:
Air Elbow Mod
True Flow Air Filter
Oil - Mobil 1 Synthetic
Filter - Purolator PureOne

Suspension Mods:
1" WabFab Body Lift
Sonoran Steel 7.1 Lift Kit:
Front - 2.5" Lift:
-Tundra TRD 4WD Front Coils
-Toyota Heavy Duty Front Shocks
-SS Front Diff Drop
-Bamachem Top Spacers
Rear - 3" Lift:
-OME 890 Coils
-FZJ-80 Land Cruiser Rear Shocks
-Adjustable Trac/PanHard Drop Bar
-Extended Bump Stops
-SS Etended Brake Lines


Tires & Rims:
265/75/16 Nitto Terra Grapplers
16x8 TRD Ivan Stewarts


Brake Mods:
Tundra Brake Upgrade:
Brembo Blank Tundra Rotors
OEM Tundra Pads (199mm)
Reman Tundra Calipers (S12WE) - Powdercoated High Gloss Red
Brake Lines:
Front - Goodridge SS Braided Brake Lines
Rear - Sonoran Steel Extended SS Braided Brake Lines


Exterior Mods:
Stubb Sliders
TJM T-15 Bumper
OEM Black Pearl Emblems
Rear Mud Flap Mod
EGR Bug Deflector
Burtman Clear Corner Lenses
Burtman Protective Door Sil Plates
Extended Rear Diff Breather Mod
OEM Sunroof Wind Deflector
OEM 2005 Tacoma TRD Decals


Interior Mods:
Ashtray Mod
Tinted Windows
Sound Deadened
OEM Cargo Liner
OEM All Season Floor Mats
Hilux Surf Overhead Field Monitor
Modified 1st Gen Roll Bar w/ 3D Mag Lite


Electrical Mods:
Fog Light Mod
Disabled DRLs
Disabled VSC/TRAC/ABS via rocker switch
Disabled Keyless Entry Chirp
Tripp Lite 375wt 12V Power Inverter


Lighting Mods:
LED Dome Lights
LED Map Lights
PIAA Headlights
PIAA Corner Lights
PIAA Reverse Lights
PIAA Tag Lights
Since I've removed my rack, these lights are not currently in use:
2 55wt PIAA Flood Lights mounted on the rear of the Roof Rack
2 OEM rocker switches to control the Rack lights


Stereo Mods:
Head Unit: OEM Double-Din CD/Cassette Unit
Front Door Speakers: JBL GTO607C 6.5" 2-Way Component - 70W RMS
Rear Door Speakers: JBL GTO527 5.25" 2-Way Coaxial - 45W RMS



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Web Sites worth visiting:

Parts & Service:
http://www.wabfab.org/"]WabFab Off Road[/URL]
http://sonoransteel.com/"]Sonoran Steel[/URL]
http://www.4by4connection.com/"]4x4 Connection[/URL]
http://www.burtmanindustries.com/"]Burtman Industries[/URL]
http://www.trdparts4u.com/"]TRD Parts[/URL]
http://www.stubbswelding.com/"]Stubbs Welding[/URL]
McMaster
http://www.summitracing.com/"]Summit Racing[/URL]
http://www.performanceproducts.com/default.aspx?make=ALL"]Performance Products[/URL]
http://www.provantage.com/"]Pro Vantage[/URL]
MJM Auto Innovations
Auto Lumination


Knowledge:
http://www.top4runners.com/topsites/index.php"]4Runner Top Sites[/URL]
http://www.onandoffroad4wheeldrive.com/gear_ratio_guide.htm"]Gear Ratio Guide[/URL]
http://www.wickedbodies.net/Tire-Size-Calculator.htm"]Tire Size Calculator[/URL]
http://www.4x4wire.com/toyota/maintenance/tacoma_4runner_30k/maintenancep4.html"]Toyota Maintenance[/URL]
http://www.4x4wire.com/"]4x4 Wire[/URL]




**

[Rock Slide]

Purchased a set of 15 deg sliders from Richard Stubbs, of http://www.stubbswelding.com"]Stubbs Welding[/URL] and had the sliders powdercoated a medium black. Brian of http://www.wabfab.org"]WabFab Off-Road[/URL] welded them on:








I also picked up a 1st Gen Roll Bar and had it powdercoated black at the same time as the sliders and had Brian modify it to fit:








If you install a Maglite somewhere inside your vehicle, the batteries inside the Maglite may begin to rattle while you're driving, thus causing an irritating noise. To aleviate that problem, I came up with a simple soultion:

I purchased a 4" x 8" piece of adhesive felt at Lowe's Home Improvment. I cut 3 small strips and stuck one strip to each battery. Now, my maglite is the quietest thing in my 4Runner.

I've also done the L.E.D. bulb conversion on the maglite to save on battery drain, so I shouldn't be replacing batteries that often:







Found a Hilux Surf Field Monitor Console and installed it in the 4Runner. This Field Monitor is a temperature gauge, barometer, compass, altimeter and relative altimeter all in one. The unit has scrolling green lights that start up once the vehicle starts moving. A lot of wire tapping & splicing was done to make this unit work since Toyota never intended it to be an option on U.S. built 4Runners:

Barometer reading:




Altimeter reading:




Night shot:





**

[Rock Slide]

I read how Bob_98SR5 did some sound deadening on his 4Runner and thought I'd give it a try. I have not put forth as much work as he has, but mine's a work in progress. For more information on his work, check out: http://www.4runners.org/articles/sound/index.html"]Sound Deadening[/URL]

It all started with a troublesome leak I had in the cabin of my 4Runner that I couldn't locate. Thanks to the advice of some members here, I found the leak and plugged it. Turns out, when I ran some additional wires through the firewall grommet, I accidentally pierced it. Every time it rained, water rolled off the hood, onto these wires and straight into my 4Runner causing the carpet insulation to mildew! I used some black silicone and sealed both sides of the grommet.

I removed the one-piece carpet and the thin factory padding that was glued to the carpet. Since I had half the truck torn apart, why not go ahead and lay down some sound deadening material and new padding.

My process in 3 steps:

Step 1 - The Cab
Step 2 - The Cargo area & Hatch
Step 3 - The Doors

For more information on the Sound Deadening material I used, visit: http://www.mcmaster.com/"]McCaster-Carr[/URL]. Part Number: 9640T2 in the 6" roll. It has a very strong adhesive on one side and an aluminum cover on the other. For the cab and cargo area, I used 4 and 1/2 rolls.

For the new padding, I picked up some 8lb carpet padding at my local Lowe's Home Improvment Store. They sell a 6ft wide by 9ft long piece for around $30.00. I lucked up and got the 9ft roll for $17.00 due to mispricing the item. I tried to find some for free, but no one was willing to let the 8lb stuff go!

Carpet padding is sold as 4lb, 6lb, 8lb and so on. When you need something above 10lb, the padding becomes heavier, stiffer and more expensive. It's also only offered as a rubber compound above 10lb I believe. 8lb is very firm, but molds very easy to many contours.

To secure the padding, I purchased 2 cans of 3M Adhesive Spray Glue #90 at Lowe's as well. This stuff's expensive, but well worth it.

I do not feel I need to further sound deaden my headliner, so for now I have only done Step 1 & 2 of my Three Step Process.


Step 1 - The Cab:

First was the cab. I removed all 4 seats, trim pieces and console pieces and then removed the one-piece carpet.

The sound deadening material is very easy to cut with a utility knife and molds to the floor contours very well. I applied it anywhere bare metal showed:









Next, I installed the padding everywhere I saw fit:









While the carpet was out, I went ahead and cleaned it. It was drying while I installed the padding:





Reinstalled all trim pieces and console pieces:








Put the seats back in and that's it! Step 1 is now complete!




Step 2 - The Cargo Area & Hatch:


I removed the roll bar, trim pieces and rolled the carpet back. I installed the sound deadening material all over. I then installed a layer of the new carpet padding down over the sound deadening material. The OEM padding was still in good shape on the fender carpet pieces, so I just reused those 2 pieces. You'll also notice I stuffed extra unused padding pieces into the empty spaces in the fenders between the sheet metal and trim pieces.

This picture shows the new sound deadening material layed and carpet padding over it:





Rear Hatch:





I've since reassembled everything and now Step 2 is complete!



To date, I have not done anything to the doors. I'm still trying to find time to finish the 3rd Step in this process. As time permits, I will post my progess.


As it stands now, the cabin and entire vehicle is much quiter while driving than it was before. This project was time consuming, but very worth while.




**

[Rock Slide]

I took an idea out of member J.A.'s book and purchased a 375wt Power Inverter. It's nice b/c of compact size and can plug into any aux. outlet.

375wt Power Inverter:




I bought an aux. outlet for $5.00 and installed it under the passenger's seat. There was already a pre-drilled hole in the seat frame, so I simply bought a bolt, lock washer and wing nut. I tapped power and ground into the existing OEM cigarette lighter in the dash, that I never use and ran the wires under the trim and under the carpet.

Aux oulet under Passenger's seat:




Installed:






This Inverter has been a great investment. I've used it more than dozen times to charge my cell phone, digital camera, cordless drill batteries and even plug up my soldering gun to do some electrial work.



**

[Rock Slide]

My 4Runner had fell victim to a severe case of undercarriage rust. Fortunately, it was only surface rust. Just a few weeks after purchase, I undercoated the entire truck with POR-15.

Now, for the "quick-n-easy" fix, check your local auto parts stores...Napa, Auto Zone, Advanced Auto or something similar. They stock many different varieties of undercoating in aerosol spray cans. If you do decide to use an aerosol undercoating, it might be a good idea to buy a few different varieties and test each one before you decide on a final selection. Some cans go on thicker than others. Some will also be in a brown colored undercoat, while others come in black. (I prefer black myself.) Do get something in a rubberized undercoating if you decide to go this route.

I've used both por-15 and aerosol cans as mentioned above on the underside of my 4Runner and truthfully, the aerosol cans are much easier to apply and touch up when needed. Por-15 is very labor intensive to apply and quite messy to say the least. If I had it all over to do again, I would without hesitation, go with an aerosol undercoating.

Google the following phrases:

1. Vehicle Undercoating
2. Rubberized Undercoating
3. Aerosol Undercoating

This will turn up even more ideas than what I have listed. Like I have heard good reviews about the 3M rubberized undercoating, so be sure to research that product.

Now if rust has completely eaten through some part of your truck underneath, then that is a different story...I cannot help you there. But if you simply want to keep the surface rust from spreading and/or forming, the ideas I've listed above will guide you along the way.


Can't seem to find any pics of my underneath from "before", but I did find this one picture after I had finished:

[Rock Slide]

Upgraded my door speakers all the way around.

Installed the following:

Front Door Speakers: JBL GTO607C 6.5" 2-Way Component - 70W RMS
Rear Door Speakers: JBL GTO527 5.25" 2-Way Coaxial - 45W RMS

To mount the rear door speakers, I purchased a set of speaker adapter plates and speaker spacers from - MJM Auto Innovations


Front Door Speaker:

[img width=800 height=600]http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i60/Fastluck/Stereo/CIMG0323.jpg[/img]


Tweeter:

[img width=800 height=600]http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i60/Fastluck/Stereo/CIMG0322.jpg[/img]


Rear Door Speaker:

(You can see what it took to get that speaker to sit out far enough so the glass would not hit it when rolled down.)

[img width=800 height=600]http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i60/Fastluck/Stereo/CIMG0232.jpg[/img]



Install was fairly easy. Current plans are to add an amp to this setup all while continuing to utilize the OEM HU.



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Installed a Sonoran Steel Lift 7.1, TJM T-15 Bumper, Wilderness Rack & mulitple IPF & PIAA Aux Lights.

With the addition of the TJM, my front dropped 0.5 inches.








Couple shots on a nearby trail:







**

[Rock Slide]

Installed a set of 16x8 TRD Ivan Stewart wheels and matched them with a set of 265/75 Nitto Terra Grapplers. I also sold the Wilderness roof rack (I plan to reuse the lights though). It was a great rack, but I just did not care for the overall design of it. I've got another rack in mind, so in due time, I will be getting another roof rack.









A big thanks to TACOZILLA for the wheels and Discount Tire for the tires.





A couple shots out at the Cahaba River:






**

[Rock Slide]

Got an 2nd OEM Cargo Liner from a friend for free a few months back. Since I already had one OEM Cargo Liner, I took this donor one and cut it in such a way that it acts as an extension to the first when the back seats are folded down. When not in use, it simply rests under the main liner:









**

[Rock Slide]

Got around to upgrading my stock brakes to Tundra Rotors, Calipers and Pads. Installed a set of Goodridge SS Braided Brake Lines too. Even powder coated the new calipers High Gloss Red :








A big thanks to WabFab Off Road for all their help!