BassAckwards’ 2006 4Runner SR5 Build

Here’s my 2006 picked up recently from a family member with 207k miles. The plan is to leave it mostly stock and make a nice driver out of it.

How it sits today


Early pictures



Did head gaskets at 193.5k miles about a year ago. It was puking coolant into the overflow and then the radiator would get low and it wouldn’t pull anything from the overflow back in. Did the basics during this job like timing chain guides, water pump, hoses, thermostat, etc.




Engine/Drivetrain:
- Stock- head gaskets replaced at 193k miles: 9-17-22
- Secondary air filter removed: 11-17-23
- URD Spec-U LT headers: 12-10-23
- URD o2 extension harnesses: 12-10-23
- ARP 434-1301 LS1 exhaust manifold studs: 12-10-23
- 5th gen 4Runner 70mm throttle body & URD adapter: 3-17-24
- NST water pump pulley: 3-23-24
- NST ribbed alternator pulley: 3-23-24

Suspension:
- 3rd gen Tacoma OEM Hitachi front coilovers: 12-9-23
- MevotechSMS81081 FJ cruiser rear coil springs: 5-30-24

Armor:
- RCI aluminum fuel tank skid: 12-8-23
- Greenlane Offroad aluminum sliders w/ 12.5* angle & kickout: 3-19-24
- RCI aluminum IFS skid: 7-1-24

Towing:
- Toyota 7 pin connector
- DrawTite Class IV receiver hitch: 12-19-24

Interior:
- Auto Custom Carpets black vinyl flooring: 9-17-22
- Toyota console w/ dual 12v outlets 74110-35010-B0: 11-13-23
- Toyota shifter 33504-35070-C0: 11-20-23
- Wet Okole black front seat covers: 1-1-24
- 3D printed cupholder insert: 3-28-24

Lighting/Electrical:
- Passenger blinker harness replaced: 8-29-21
- Throttle body connector repaired: 10-21-23
- Cleaned up ignition wiring: 10-22-23
- Cleaned up 12v outlet wiring: 11-13-23
- Sylvania 168 LED license plate bulbs: 3-2-24
- Everstart Platinum AGM 24F battery: 3-17-24

Wheels/tires:
- Michelin LTX A/T2 P265/70R17 OWL: 11-24-23 & 207,700 miles
- Stock 17x7.5 alloy wheels: 11-24-23

Exterior:
- Cerakote restoration on OEM headlights: 10-28-23
- Toyota stainless exhaust tip: 11-16-23
- Toyota Limited 202 black grille 53100-35A03-C0: 12-15-23

Removed:
- Stock running boards: 10-29-23
- 2nd Gen Tacoma TRD Off-Road 16x7 wheels & P265/70R16 Michelin Defenders: 11-24-23
- Stock KYB replacement front struts: 9-17-22
- Stock chrome grille

Awaiting install:
- URD 3” catback
- 3* retard exhaust cam gears

Future Plans:
- A750E oil pan with dipstick from 2003 Land Cruiser
- Coupe billet aluminum battery tie down
- SDHQ billet aluminum battery terminals
- Replace climate control bulbs
- Repair sun roof
- Replacement front wheel well splash guards
- Limited mirrors in 202 black
- Door handles in 202 black
- Rear shocks
- Aluminum IFS skid
- Lower link skids
- Upper belt idler 16604-31020
- aFe stage 2 pro dry intake
- 3* exhaust cam gears
- Intake manifold spacer
- Detroit TrueTrac
- Icon lower links
- Icon upper links
- Backup camera
- Transmission cooler
- Oil cooler
- Replacement fog lamp housings
- Brite box anytime
- AWD conversion
- Custom y-pipe
- Custom catback exhaust
- Lightweight wheels

 

Quick summary of the past couple of months

Before and after cleaning up the headlights



Removed the stock running boards today 10/28



Installed an OEM console with two 12v outlets since the lid on my original one was broken and wouldn’t stay closed. Part number 74110-35010-B0. The wire harness for the second outlet was already in place nearby, so this was plug and play. 11/14


Changed out my shifter for a new Toyota one and threw on an exhaust tip I had laying around for the Tacoma. Also ordered some URD equal length headers and an RCI aluminum fuel tank skid for Black Friday 11/21



Added some new Michelin LTX A/T2 in P265/70R17 on the stock alloy wheels yesterday. 3rd gen tacoma coilovers should be here soon to level it out some and then I can align it. Aluminum RCI fuel tank skid should be here soon too 11/25


URD equal length headers and ARP hardware showed up today 12/4



Aluminum RCI fuel tank skid installed today. ARP header studs and URD headers going on tomorrow. 12/8


Installed some 3rd gen Tacoma hitachi shocks and springs today. Before the lift, from the center of hub to bottom of fender was 19”, and after it’s about 21.75”. I am hoping it settles a little, but we will see. I also got started on the URD equal length header install. Got the more difficult driver side one installed, which required disconnecting the steering shaft. Started getting dark after that so I’ll finish up tomorrow. Things should be downhill from here hopefully. 12/9





Finished up installing the URD headers and LS1 ARP header studs today. Install was time consuming, but it turned out nice overall. 12/10

 

Very nice, truck and frame look clean

 

Thank you, that's one thing we have going for us in Texas. Even Toyota frames have a chance to last lol

 

Added a color matched limited grille and some wet okole seat covers for the front recently. I need to install the rear wheel bearing and give it an alignment but then it will be the primary driver



I also bought and installed a URD 65-70mm TB adapter and a 2019 4Runner throttle body only to find that it would not work with the stock air box. So I pulled that back off and went back to stock

 

@BassAckwards how do you like the URD headers I'm thinking about ordering a set

 

The URD headers are a nice upgrade. If you keep the stock ypipe & cat back then it won’t be much louder than the stock setup. That is what I’d recommend

 

Which Y pipe are you using? I had the Doug thorley pipe on and hated how raspy it sounded

 

I have the stock y-pipe on the 4Runner and a JFR ypipe on my Tacoma, which also has the URD headers. It’s quite a bit more raspy with the JFR ypipe vs the OEM one. The cats in the y help a lot with limiting that

 

Thanks for the info now i have to save up for some of those headers lol

 

Working on a new driver rear wheel bearing today. Got it torn down and new bearing pressed on. Time to clean things up and assemble what I can, then I’ll be waiting on a new caliper to come in. Going to start trying to reassemble the parking brake puzzle too. Parts were falling out during disassembly so that will be interesting lol

 

Back together and as good as new. So much quieter at 40-50mph. It was a low pitched hum/roar before. Bled the brakes by myself with my vacuum bleeder. Parking brake needs a little adjustment but other than that she is a driver

 

Did an alignment tonight at home. SPC tool made it easy

 

I installed a 5th gen 4Runner 70mm throttle body with a URD adapter plate today. I managed to keep the stock air box but had to ditch the stock engine cover because the studs no longer line up. The stock clamp also had to go, because it wasn’t physically big enough, so that was swapped out with a hose clamp that I had on hand. I reset the battery and it idled down to around 700rpm after warming up so I’d call that a win. Also installed a new sealed AGM battery today and some new hood struts yesterday

 

Installed some Greenlane aluminum sliders/steps today. Beautiful welds and they fit perfect. Also only weigh 25lbs per side, so about 50lbs lighter than steel per side. For the light use this thing will see, they are perfect for me. These are the 12.5* angled version with kickout

 

NST water pump and alternator pulleys installed yesterday. Also replaced an upper idlerthat was missed last time everything was apart.

 

Installed some FJ cruiser mevotech SMS81081 rear coils today. These leveled things out nicely and it has a little bit of rake now. They were $62 shipped for a new pair and have the same 81081 part number as the Moogs, but for half the price roughly. Ride quality is unchanged and as of right now they gave me about 1” of lift. I expect them to settle a little though.

 

Hey there Robert - I like what you’ve done with your 4Runner. Would you believe that my wife still has a 2005 V8 4Runner that she bought new!? It’s got 120K miles on it. Several years ago I replaced the timing belt, tensioner, pulleys, T-stat, and hoses back when it hit 90K. They are great vehicles. All the best to you!