MattAK's '08 V8 Sport Build & Adventures

June 2022 sold this 4Runner to my cousin and moved to a Tundra. I will miss it a lot.

This is my 4th 4Runner since I got my first one in 2005, a 1994 SR5 4x4.

In August 2018 I decided that I couldn't keep my 2016 that I'd had for ~2 1/2 years and needed to get into something with a lower payment. I had a hard time deciding between sticking with a 4Runner or going to a truck but in the end I found this bone stock one-owner 2008 V8 Sport with a pile of miles for a decent price. Had a bunch of cosmetic issues but the engine sounded good and ran well and since it lived in Utah it's entire life where there is rust it's only minor surface rust. Purchased it 8/25/2018 with 195,670 miles.

Current photo 05/2021
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MPGs:


Interior:

Scangauge II
Husky Liners
TRD shift knob
Cargo Shelf delete
New OEM cargo carpet mat
Bluetooth steering wheel controls
'09 Trail steering wheel
RAM X-Grip phone mount attached to A-pillar grab handle
RAM tablet mount attached to center console
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Exterior:

Toyo Open Country ATIII 285-70-17
Level 8 MK6 17x9 -12 Gunmetal​

Dobinson's 3" lift

Front: C59-300R, GS59-220B, 1/4" spacer
Rear: C59-675VR, GS59-705B

Pre lift measurements (driver's side only, no spacer):

Front: GTF 33.5" HTF 19"
Rear: GTF 35.75" HTF 21"​

Post lift measurements:

Front: GTF 36.5" HTF 21.5"
Rear: GTF 38" HTF 23"​

Gains: Front HTF +2.5", Rear HTF +2"​

JBA Upper Control Arms

5th gen brake upgrade Front
4th gen brakes replaced Rear

Centric rotors, Bosche Premium ceramic pads rear, OEM Toyota pads front, O'Reilly's calipers all around
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Running board delete
Victory4x4 roof rack
3rd gen Taco wipers
BMC

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Electrical & Lighting:

Interior Cool White LED's from superbrightleds.com
Smoker's Kit
LUYED LED reverse lights
H9 low beam conversion
Auxbeam F-S2 LED high beam lights
40" 4WDKING light bar on roof rack w/ AOB switch
Overland Equipped fuse block bracket
BlueSea 12 circuit split block with negative
BlueSea 187-series circuit breaker
​

Armor

Victory4x4 aluminum front skid
Victory4x4 steel mid skid​

Engine/Exhaust:

aFe Pro Dry filter
HCF delete
Exhaust routed out right side w/muffler from local shop
Fumoto valve​

Stereo:

Pioneer MVH-2400NEX w/XM module & 6' USB-C cable
Kicker CSC693 6x9 front speakers
Polk DXi 650 rear speakers (from my old '01 4Runner)​

Comms:

Kenwood TM-V71A HAM radio

Body under driver's seat, faceplate mounted in place of sunglasses holder in overhead console​

CBI antenna mount, driver's side
Comet LD-5M antenna base & cable
Diamond NR770HB 2M/70cm antenna
Garmin inReach mini
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Misc. Gear:

20' 18k lb snatch strap
Hitch receiver with shackle
Smittybilt shackle
Rhino soft shackles
Antigravity Batteries XP-3 jump start battery
Traction boards from no-name Amazon company
Victory4x4 rear window molle panel, driver's side only
First Aid kit, emergency supplies kit, 28" Fiskars axe mounted to molle panel​

Repairs done since purchase in Aug 2018:

Zip tie bumper back on
fasteners for radiator shield replaced
burned out bulbs in HVAC replaced
front driver marker light replaced
rear window scraper replaced
Air filters changed
Center console disassembled and cleaned
Multiple interior carpet cleanings
Ozone treatment for 2 days
Lift gate switch replaced
New tires
Brakes replaced
Drilled out rusted-in and broken-off right-side rear license plate screw and replaced with stainless
Transmission fluid exchange, pan drop, shudder stop added
Dash cluster plastic replaced
PAX side downstream O2 sensor replaced for code P0430
PCV valve replaced
license plate lights replaced
spark plugs changed
new serpentine belt
sunroof rattle electrical tape fix
new front driver's door window scraper
new windshield
replaced front pax wheel bearing hub assembly
replaced positive battery terminal
new front pax CV axle
new Rad Rubber splash guards
replaced upper pax bumper support
replaced lower grill with OEM replacement
new gas cap for P0456
replaced both side view mirrors and housings
TB, WP, new radiator, new tensioners and pullies, new power steering pump @ 236343 miles
New hatch struts
New TYC headlight housings
bad seal replaced for coolant crossover tube underneath intake​

Parts on hand to install:

Slyfox75 SAP bypass kit
Pioneer back-up camera
Intake resonator delete
Victory4x4 console molle panels​

Things needing fixing:

Replace front pax inner fender liner
Replace driver's side kick plate and A-pillar cover beneath dash
Weatherstrip between roof rack mounts missing
Replace liftgate body opening gasket
Fill hole in liftgate from previous owner screwing in license plate
​

Previous Runners:

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Good looking 4Runner. What’s this 5th gen brake upgrade?

 

5th gen 4runner front and rear brakes bolt right onto the 4th gen with 0 modifications. The reason most do this is to try and avoid the notorious seizing caliper issues the 4th gen has. Plus the 5th gen calipers and rotors are a little bigger so you get a bit more stopping power. The only thing you have to be sure is that they'll fit whatever wheels you have. My stock sport wheels work just fine.

 

Cool! I’ll have to look into this and see if my wheels will clear. Thanks

 

No problem. I should say when I was buying parts I used 2010 as the reference year. I think they might have changed the calipers in 2014 for the refresh, so to be safe I'd go with an early 5th gen year.

 

Found some pics of a few of the things I've done so far.

First thing I did was a complete brake replacement. I didn't really notice the brakes being bad during my test drive but after a week or so of owning it the brake issues were fairly obvious. After doing a bunch of reading on the seizing brake caliper issue these have I decided to try upgrading to 5th gen fronts as they seem to have fewer issues. Stuck with 4th gen rears because they were a little cheaper. Centric rotors, Bosche Premium pads (garbage, do not recommend) and O'Reilley's calipers so if they seize I can get free new ones.


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Doing my sister's 3rd gen at the same time. Shout out to my old Satoshi grill I made for my 2001.

 

Few more random mod pics.

Bluetooth controls. Works perfectly with the CRUX steering wheel controls adapter I have and my Pioneer stereo.

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Wheelskin size AXX installed.

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TRD shift knob. Love this thing.

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I had the exhaust routed out the side by a local shop. They threw in the tip for super cheap so said why not.

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Hit 200k miles a month after I bought it.

 

Tried to install my intake resonator delete tonight, but I need a new hacksaw blade and different drill bits. Did the hydrocarbon filter delete and replaced the serpentine belt.

 

Messed up the aluminum tube for the intake resonator delete and I don't like the 90 degree elbows I bought, so ordered another tube and different (more expensive) elbows.
Took out the stupid cargo shelf and put in a new OEM carpet mat I got for cheap. Need to scare up the trim piece from a non-cargo shelf 4Runner so there's not bare metal showing.

 

Out with the old


and in with the new

 

Dimpled leather...

 

The new steering wheel is really making me want to replace the audio controls on the left side. they look quite worn compared to the wheel and the new bluetooth controls on the right.

 

They look good to me. I didn’t even notice them till you said something.

 

It's quite noticeable in person. But I'd rather spend my $100 on other things I think.

 

We tried to take a trip to the White Rim this weekend, but sadly this was our view as we sat in Moab trying to decide what to do.



I did get some neat pics from a couple of overlooks but haven't pulled those off of the camera yet.

 

Me waiting for my new wheels to get here tomorrow.

 

New wheels + some judicious cutting of the bumper and fender liner + front mudflap removal = happy me.

Level 8 MK6 17x9 -12 offset in gunmetal. Looks sooooo good in person and the width with the 265 Coopers is perfect.

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Went on a road trip this weekend into Utah's west desert and then swung down around Great Basin NP. Not much wheeling but got to test out some new backpacking gear while I was out. Sadly only took one shot of the 4Runner. Next mod on the list up is a new roof rack.

 

The aftermath of a 2500 mile road trip through Texas and New Mexico and back to Utah. Really liking the Victory4x4 rack and I added a cheap light bar to it. Didn't do much offroading as that wasn't the point of this trip but the truck ran great. 222,000 miles and going strong!

 

'Overlanding' level up achieved.




(I hate that word.)

 

awesome....

I am at 187k..
hope my '06 goes to 300k or 400k then I use it as my casket

 

Front passenger wheel bearing is bad. Not sure what happened to it but that is the corner that the original owner hit in an accident so maybe the extra stress from the lift over the last year finally made it go? It's been making a grinding sound for the last week or so that I could also feel in the steering wheel, pedals, and body at higher speeds. When I lifted it up today to check there was a definite wiggle. New wheel bearing hub assembly already in the back of my car, thanks O'Reilly's.

 

Finally got around to installing my Victory4x4 skid. Once I figured out how it was supposed to be installed (non-existent installation instructions for the 4th gen prompted a couple of grumpy emails from me, poor Corey).

 

3rd gen Taco OEM wipers fit perfectly on a 4th gen. I am pleased with this.

 

Camped about an hour and a half from my house up above 10,000ft last night for fun. General rifle bull and spike elk season opened here yesterday and the mountain was just crawling with hunters. Still managed to find a decent spot. Didn't take many pics due to the smoke but grabbed one of the sunset I really liked.

 

Put on some Toyo AT3 285's today. Had to trim off more bumper on both sides and I'll need a BMC for sure. They look nice though.

 

236343 miles, had the timing belt, water pump, tensioners, pulleys, radiator, and power steering pump replaced this week. Should be good to go for another long while.

 

BMC done by a local shop. Turned out pretty nice I'd say. Also hit 240,000 miles today.

 

Replaced hazy, condensation-filled headlights with some TYC's from rockauto. Beam pattern isn't the greatest but they were 1/2 the cost of OEM replacements.


Never noticed this 'fix' until I went to replace them. Original owner was in a front end accident that wasn't reported so it didn't show up on the Carfax and I keep finding bent/broken parts. I bent this bracket mostly back into place but ordered a replacement anyway.

 

Awesome build, it sucks you had to let the 5th gen go. Where did you get the TRD knob?