Show me your old Tacos (4Runner, FJ, Landcruiser, bronco etc)

[ChickenSandwich 9824]

TR4 is always a good resource. 
 

https://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-gen-t4rs/264482-trd-pro-grille.html

[CooterBrown 18002]

I agree. That is one of the things I like about my FJ. It was made in the Hino plant where commercial trucks are also built.

I also think that the Japanese-built Toyota stuff really is one order of magnitude better built than the Toyota-USA stuff is.

Don’t know if it’s true but I’d read that back when the Toyota Matrix and Pontiac Vibe shared an assembly line, it was Toyota’s lowest rated plant for quality and GM’s highest.

[CooterBrown 18002]

 
Yeah the full-sized Bronco looks pretty bad-ass.  
There's been a decent amount of discussion about it on the Truck Nuts thread, and at least one surly poster that's on the waiting list to buy one.
 

Probably me. I got a build date of the week of September 6th. Should get delivery 4-6 weeks after that.

[Patricio Swayze 17058]

TR4 is always a good resource. 
 
https://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-gen-t4rs/264482-trd-pro-grille.html

Yeah I have been checking out that forum since it was posted up thread. But damn, it is impossible to pull the trigger on an aftermarket pro grille. I, like most others, don’t want to pay OEM prices. I’m ok with $200. Every time I find a seller and read/watch some reviews, it’s seems like half are saying it’s garbage. I was intrigued by the one from tacovinyl, but wow the reviews of their customer service are bad. Their video of the install looked great though.

So I just need to decide on which one.

Next I am trying to decide between OEM all weather mats or go with weathertech.

Just have a few badges and aesthetic crap to put on in the meantime. First is a burnt Orange longhorn badge. The. Some fog light films.

Down the road I likely will address suspension/stance and wheels.

[mbtex 683]

3 minutes ago, Patricio Swayze said:

Yeah I have been checking out that forum since it was posted up thread. But damn, it is impossible to pull the trigger on an aftermarket pro grille. I, like most others, don’t want to pay OEM prices. I’m ok with $200. Every time I find a seller and read/watch some reviews, it’s seems like half are saying it’s garbage. I was intrigued by the one from tacovinyl, but wow the reviews of their customer service are bad. Their video of the install looked great though.

So I just need to decide on which one.

Next I am trying to decide between OEM all weather mats or go with weathertech.

Just have a few badges and aesthetic crap to put on in the meantime. First is a burnt Orange longhorn badge. The. Some fog light films.

Down the road I likely will address suspension/stance and wheels.

The OEM weather mats are not as good at covering compared to Weathertech and Husky Liners. I have Husky in my Tacoma and Weathertech in Rav 4 like the Husky better.

[Anton Chigurh 3319]

Weathertechs are great. I had Husky before and didn’t like the more slimy feel of the material, but that may be different now.

[UnivTex34 1763]

I had weather tech in my Taco. I have Husky in my F150. I will by Husky again before I buy WT.

[UnivTex34 1763]

Hahaha. It seems it’s very much personal preference. Buy both from Amazon send the ones you dislike more back. 

[ChickenSandwich 9824]

Team Weather tech here. Mats in front, “tray” for rear. 

[Amos Moses 795]

Another vote for Husky. I prefer them over the weather tech mats I’ve had in the past. My wife does occasionally quip she can imagine i always was that husky kid growing up.

[Anton Chigurh 3319]

I went and looked and it looks like I had the Weatherbeater line, which seems like it might be the cheaper product of the two. The X-Act Contour looks to be the nicer product. That one is probably comparable the Weathertech.

[mbtex 683]

X-Act Contour are the better ones. That is what I have in my Tacoma.

[Patricio Swayze 17058]

Thanks for the input. Amazon doesn’t have the X-act line for 2021 4runner. But the Husky site does.

[DCA_HORN 725]

Before
After.

Swapped out the Bridgestone Dueler HT 265/70r17 for BFG KO2 275/70r17.

I am going back to them balanced. They have the same issues the originals had with a serious wobble at 60-70 mph. I wanted Wildpeaks AT3W but didn’t want to wait for them to come in.

I still plan on leveling it out with some billstein 5100s all around.

So.my buddy has basically this same one except lifted and bigger tires. There is squeaking from the front end. Lubed all the fittings and even the lower control arms. At this point is pretty much has to be the lca bushings imo. Anybody else have similar experiences?

[Anton Chigurh 3319]

So.my buddy has basically this same one except lifted and bigger tires. There is squeaking from the front end. Lubed all the fittings and even the lower control arms. At this point is pretty much has to be the lca bushings imo. Anybody else have similar experiences?

What lift?

Also we’re there a decent amount of miles on it before the lift? May be the upper control arm bushings.

[Patricio Swayze 17058]

So.my buddy has basically this same one except lifted and bigger tires. There is squeaking from the front end. Lubed all the fittings and even the lower control arms. At this point is pretty much has to be the lca bushings imo. Anybody else have similar experiences?

Have that issue in my taco. Ball joints weren’t lubed. A guy I did BJJ with owns a shop and did it for free. Went away for 6 months or so. It’s back but not as bad as it was. I was driving through a lot of deep water at the beginning of the summer so I figure that sped up the return of the squeak.

Alright, what’s on order so far:

Weathertech HP liners and cargo liner

Lumin-x yellow fog light films

Custom trim color badge to add to side (not removing the original badge, these will be next to “TRD” and just above “Off”.

Tri color grille badge. Maybe this is goofy, but it’s cheap and can easily be removed (bolted)

4runner Lifestyle TRD Pro grille. I rolled the dice. Let’s see how it works out. Saving $300+ going this route.

That’s it for now.

Oh yeah, I am not a fan of the predator bars. Came with the vehicle. Likely replace them with something more low profile and doesn’t affect clearance (my wife and girls like having something to step on).

[Anton Chigurh 3319]

The Predator bars do suck.

You can get some rock sliders that either bolt or weld on that have a step built onto them. Then you get good double usage out of it.

[Patricio Swayze 17058]

The Predator bars do suck.

You can get some rock sliders that either bolt or weld on that have a step built onto them. Then you get good double usage out of it.

Researching various rock sliders now. Hopefully I can sell the predators for $500. But it looks like good rock sliders are $800+.

I loved my Tacos, but so far I am really loving this 4runner.

Ultimate goal is an overlander lite.

[cknight 184]

I’ve been debating pulling the trigger on the front bumper and sliders from coastal off-road. Good reviews and seem to be good people it they stew weld together kits 

https://www.coastaloffroad.com/product-page/65-weld-on-rock-slider-kit/

[Chewbacca 7766]

Researching various rock sliders now. Hopefully I can sell the predators for $500. But it looks like good rock sliders are $800+.

I loved my Tacos, but so far I am really loving this 4runner.

Ultimate goal is an overlander lite.

Don't know about 4Runners, but good LC sliders tend to run about 1200 plus install.

[fattyflattie 4639]

45 minutes ago, Chewbacca said:

2 hours ago, Patricio Swayze said:

Researching various rock sliders now. Hopefully I can sell the predators for $500. But it looks like good rock sliders are $800+.

I loved my Tacos, but so far I am really loving this 4runner.

Ultimate goal is an overlander lite.

Don't know about 4Runners, but good LC sliders tend to run about 1200 plus install.

Which of course is a smoking deal compared to fucked up rockers. 

[DCA_HORN 725]

Have that issue in my taco. Ball joints weren’t lubed. A guy I did BJJ with owns a shop and did it for free. Went away for 6 months or so. It’s back but not as bad as it was. I was driving through a lot of deep water at the beginning of the summer so I figure that sped up the return of the squeak.

Alright, what’s on order so far:

Weathertech HP liners and cargo liner

Lumin-x yellow fog light films

Custom trim color badge to add to side (not removing the original badge, these will be next to “TRD” and just above “Off”.

Tri color grille badge. Maybe this is goofy, but it’s cheap and can easily be removed (bolted)

4runner Lifestyle TRD Pro grille. I rolled the dice. Let’s see how it works out. Saving $300+ going this route.

That’s it for now.

Oh yeah, I am not a fan of the predator bars. Came with the vehicle. Likely replace them with something more low profile and doesn’t affect clearance (my wife and girls like having something to step on).

I realize you did t do the work but can you ask your buddy how exactly to do this?

[Patricio Swayze 17058]

I realize you did t do the work but can you ask your buddy how exactly to do this?

Watch the first few minutes of this video.

[Anton Chigurh 3319]

The stock upper and lower control arms have no serviceable fittings, though. Were yours replaced at some point?

[Patricio Swayze 17058]

The stock upper and lower control arms have no serviceable fittings, though. Were yours replaced at some point?

Yep.

I had been using a shop close to my hood because they *seemed* honest and I didn’t need anyone to pick me up, I could just walk home. In 2019 the squeaking was extremely loud, so took it to them. Knowing now what I’m about to tell y’all, they probably replaced more than needed and charged me for it.

They said I needed new control arms and ball joints. I realize it is easier, but not cheaper, to do that. Anyways, I did it. Squeaking went away for about a year. When it came back, I returned to the shop and said what the fuck? They claimed I needed new control arms and ball joints again. I laughed at them and left. Took it to a friend’s shop in the 5th Ward and he lubed the joints. Perfect and free.

Too long a story to tell about my wife’s car and this shop, but they recently tried to fuck us out of $2000 (this was before I got the job offer). A different shop was very honest and said if the cheap fix didn’t work, it’s not worth doing the $2000 fix because metal would already be in the engine (and also the cost of repair vs value of car).

Never, ever going back to the shop by my house. Fuck em.

Sorry for the TL;DR rant.

[Anton Chigurh 3319]

Ahh, gotcha.

I’m still on my stock lowers (at 130k), but I do want to replace them whenever I get around to having the Icon coilovers rebuilt.

I am running JBA uppers now, and they’ve been solid. I like the special bushings they have that allow easy greasing without them trying to push out from the arm. They also have grease-able and replaceable ball joints.

[Patricio Swayze 17058]

Nice.

I replaced the ball joints on a 1968 Firebird. Not an easy job and potentially very dangerous (loaded Springs).

[Anton Chigurh 3319]

Yeah, replacing them is a huge PITA and it isn’t really worth it these days. Parts cost a little more but the labor is less, and you get new bushings, too.

[Patricio Swayze 17058]

I was cleaning out the Taco and found this at the bottom of the glove box. 
 

[AUinHsv 579]

Gotta love $795 for VIN etching.... 

[davidg 4036]

4 hours ago, AUinHsv said:

Gotta love $795 for VIN etching.... 

Don’t discount that nitrogen fill on the tires.

 

ETA:  Wife worked at GST for 28 years.  We bought 4 or 5 vehicles at below dealer cost.  Had a page on the employee portal that was similar to the dealer order system.   Distributor installed options had amazing markups and I imagine dealer ones are even worse.

Edited August 29, 2021 by davidg

[Patricio Swayze 17058]

Don’t discount that nitrogen fill on the tires.

Haha exactly. Over the last month I called out 5 salesmen over that utter and complete bullshit.

[ChickenSandwich 9824]

On the nitrogen, 2 months after I took delivery I was hit from behind and one tire had to be replaced. It doesn’t have the Nitro. Every time there is a pressure change outside that one tire requires air. Happens once or twice every month. Will read 32psi all other times.   Zero loss on the other three. YMMV

[Patricio Swayze 17058]

I don’t recall seeing this company’s website posted, but fuck they have some amazing restored and resto-mod FJ’s. Just don’t look at the prices. Like really don’t.

https://www.fj.co/available-now

Tomorrow my brother and I are installing the TRD Pro grille as well as some fog light films. Got the weathertech HP mats and are happy with the fit.

Loving this vehicle. One goofy thing though, the stereo controls on the steering wheel are backwards, at least to me. Left/right is volume and up/down is skip song. That should be flipped around.

[fattyflattie 4639]

7 hours ago, Patricio Swayze said:

Just don’t look at the prices. Like really don’t.

Lol. I like old FJ. Think I’ll go with a Ferrari instead. 

[Patricio Swayze 17058]

13 minutes ago, fattyflattie said:

Lol. I like old FJ. Think I’ll go with a Ferrari instead. 

Haha, yeah, the price is absolutely insane.  I get it, it is quite literally a total nut and bolt resto mod, but come on.  Although, I haven't bothered to look what a 4.0 Toyota crate engine costs.  Here is a link directly to FJs they have done that includes photos of the restoration process.

https://www.fj.co/ourwork

[Pescado_Rojo 19412]

18 hours ago, Patricio Swayze said:

I don’t recall seeing this company’s website posted, but fuck they have some amazing restored and resto-mod FJ’s. Just don’t look at the prices. Like really don’t.

https://www.fj.co/available-now

Tomorrow my brother and I are installing the TRD Pro grille as well as some fog light films. Got the weathertech HP mats and are happy with the fit.

Loving this vehicle. One goofy thing though, the stereo controls on the steering wheel are backwards, at least to me. Left/right is volume and up/down is skip song. That should be flipped around.

There are lots of these resro-mod shops popping up for various vehicles. My favorite cruiser pr0n site is Corsetti Cruisers. They sell some fenders off resto-mods and some that are just clean and well maintained. If you're into old Defenders or need a "wow" vehicle to keep at your house in Aspen or Jackson Hole, check out East Coast Defenders. 

[Patricio Swayze 17058]

Grille and fog light films installed. 
 

[Zukster 34]

Ordered a new Bronco for the wife. She drove one and decided she needs it, instead of her JLUR. JLUR had a 2” lift and 35s and the Sasquatch equipped Bronco was a little bigger. She can’t wait for it to get here, but I think it will be a long wait. 

[Pescado_Rojo 19412]

I saw my first new full size Bronco in the wild today. It was going the other direction so I didn’t get to check it out too long, but I liked it much more than the sport. It was dark blue, looked like it had a little lift, and no top. 

[Patricio Swayze 17058]

So…

Should I leave the bumpers silver?

Buy the black valances?

Buy the black rear valance and a steel front bumper?

Go fuck myself? That’s a trick question, I will most likely jerk off later.

[GottaB 594]

I’d lean towards black valance. Butt what the fuck do I know. I like the fog light film.

[Patricio Swayze 17058]

I’d lean towards black valance. Butt what the fuck do I know. I like the fog light film.

I prefer them too. And it’s cheaper than a steel bumper. And honestly, I don’t see myself needing a winch (and now that I said it, I will probably need one next week).

[Anton Chigurh 3319]

Steel bumper!!

[Patricio Swayze 17058]

Steel bumper!!

Goddamnit. I knew I could count on you to complicate my decision process.

[Chewbacca 7766]

So…

Should I leave the bumpers silver?

Buy the black valances?

Buy the black rear valance and a steel front bumper?

Go fuck myself? That’s a trick question, I will most likely jerk off later.

Chop them off and install a steel bumper?

[Patricio Swayze 17058]

Chop them off and install a steel bumper?

It’s a consideration.

[ChickenSandwich 9824]

Black valance 

[Your Mom 4805]

Steel bumper if you’re out there wheeling around rough shit. Black valance if you’re not. 

[Patricio Swayze 17058]

Nothing too hardcore, so probably just go with the black valances. Gonna wait a couple of months I guess. Pretty much done with the vanity mods. Next year I’ll do the lift. Most likely the Bilstein 5100. Watched a nice review on it and it fits my needs just fine and is inexpensive.