Transformation: Grocery Wagon to Something More Capable (1 Viewer)

[bamachem]

Transformation: Before and After Pics...

Now that my wife got a Convertible Solara, I decided to keep the Cruiser as my mode of transport and sell the 4Runner.


Pics from 3-years ago when we got it:

It still looked just like this - until yesterday.

So Far...

Wheels and tires go on today - 285/60/18 Cooper Zeon LTZ. In searching for info, I saw where some said these weren't AT tires.. WHAT??? And a Nitto Terra Grappler is? Anyway...

Yesterday, I stripped off the Flares and cleaned up all the mess that the fender gasket adhesieve made. Uffff... (Notice the nice StinkBug stance here)

The bad news is that I found body damage (dents) on both rear panels from the damn flares pushing into the body by exterior contact. Nice - adding more to the "to-do" list.

This morning, I cranked the torsion bars to raise the front just over an inch. It had over 2" of rake. I got it back to 1", and may go just a hair higher after the new tires are on.

Next up : Running board removal...

 

[4Peanut]

Keep the updates coming Andy. I can't believe this stayed stock for three years [I realize you had the 4Runner until recently, but still]. Those are some aggressive AT's, I can't wait to see them on the 18's and under your 100.

 

[2000UZJ]

Looks good.

Those look like a cross over between street and all terrains. They look pretty nice by the way.


Is the tbar adjuster bolt 32MM? Can't remember.

 

[bamachem]

30mm. With an 18" drive bar and a 16" cheater extension pipe, they turn pretty easily with the wheels on the ground.

 

[bamachem]

tires and wheels on... MUCH BETTER.

 

[lndcruz]

nice, those new wheels and tires look much better

 

[anthonycds]

lookin good! what else is next from here?

 

[highonpottery]

those are some nice tires! i've never seen those coopers before. they've got a TON of siping on them. nice rims, too.

 

[4Peanut]

Looks great Andy! I've got 18's, and those might be my new favorite tire. I had BFG AT's on my 4Runner and loved them, but I'm looking for something less "off road looking" (maybe it's just that it doesn't have the trademark BFG AT tread pattern) and almost as capable. The Nitto TG's were at the top of my list until this post. I look forward to your feedback about how they drive, both on and off road.

 

[bamachem]

thanks.

next is either a custom aluminum or steel bumper or possibly painting the OEM tupperware so that it's all black. i haven't decided if i want to paint first, or wait on the bumper before painting.

i'm also going to make some step sliders in the near future. i may just let my local fab shop make them (the guys that are going to make the bumper for me).

i've already swapped out the door speakers for some Polk DB's and ditched the stock sub for a DVC 12 - all powered by a 6-channel alpine amp.

i have a set of 100-Watt Hella Rallye 2000's sitting in the garage - think 9"+ dinner platters.... if it looks like it's going to be a while before they can get to the bumper, then i may fab up something with my 110 machine to mount them temporarily while i test my patients. we'll see...

so far, these tires are VERY quiet on the road - almost as quiet as the worn out Michelins. this was the first set the guys at the shop said they have seen and they were all drooling over them. they said they were very true and balanced out very well with very little wieght - which shows with the smooth ride on the road. i'm getting an alignment tomorrow, since i jacked the front up over an inch and threw the caster/camber all to hell.

 

[2000UZJ]

MoUnted my lights on the stock bumper. I'm just playing around with the Tupperware bumper now.

you could do the same. Looks good,

I also vote black rims

 

[bamachem]

did you take the bumper off to mount them or just remove the grill? i took the grill off yesterday and there's some plastic junk down there where i would need to access to tighten things up. did you use some flat bar stock above and below the plastic to stiffen things up?

 

[2000UZJ]

did you take the bumper off to mount them or just remove the grill? i took the grill off yesterday and there's some plastic junk down there where i would need to access to tighten things up. did you use some flat bar stock above and below the plastic to stiffen things up?

well, you do have to remove the whole bumper to mount them (thats the only pain). when you looked down, you saw a box like deal on the inside of the bumper. you must unclip that (clips near the lower air dam) and them you can access where you would drill. I left mine unclipped so I can slide underneath and look straight up and can access the bolts to tighten them/adjust the lights


half the screws uptop (where the grill mounts to body and the bumper mounts to that bracket was missing) were missing off my bumper. so it was pretty flimsy. I just replaced all the missing screws with bolts and nuts and pushed the bumper as FAR back as i could, tightened everything and it was real stiff.

I also used 1" washers on the lights so their weight is more evenly displaced.


hope that helps

 

[bamachem]

Thanks. I doubt I put them on the plastic to be honest. These things are about the size of trash can lids (9+ inches dia) and are pretty heavy. I imagine they'll bounce all over the place using the plastic.

 

[2000UZJ]

yea, my ipf's bounce pretty good going over potholes and bridges.

I have yet to test them since I did all this junk to the bumper. I doubt it will make a difference. but it makes me want that ARB 10X's more.


what are you long term plans with your 100?

 

[bamachem]

see post #10 above...

nothing serious - i've had that and didn't use it enough. i want to have a comfortable, streetable vehicle that is equally capable and "at home" offroad. i have the experience (4runner) and now i have the platform to accomplish that. front bumper, sliders, possilby skids, and not much else to be honest. i don't go wheeling anymore, and there's nowhere near here for rocks anyway - on the beach.

 

[slider35]

Looking good Andy. I'll post pictures of the new wheels on the LX soon.

 

[TheSurvivalist]

Looks alot better with the new wheels and tires. Nice work.

 

[4Peanut]

Andy, any updates here? How do you like the tires? Inquiring minds want to know.

 

[Clint_D]

I've been running the exact same setup (18's and Cooper 285/60/18's) for the last 10K miles and have been very pleased overall. They are a slightly louder but I like the ride, a little stiffer but they feel good. I've been so busy with work that I haven't had a chance to get out on the weekend and try them out offroad so I've got no impressions there. It felt and looked like a whole new truck after I had them mounted and I would definitely do it again in a heartbeat. The only thing is that I wish I would have had my wheels powdercoated before I had the wheels mounted. Next time....