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Sterling - '05 V8 LTD Build

Discussion in '4th Gen Builds (2003-2009)' started by iamincrediboy, Mar 2, 2022.

  1. Mar 2, 2022 at 10:54 AM
    #1
    iamincrediboy

    iamincrediboy [OP] New Member

    Joined:
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    Male
    South FL
    Vehicle:
    2005 V8 4Runner Limited - Silver
    So Ive never actually put everything Ive done to the runner so far down in one place, I figure I should start. I dont have a ton of pictures of everything just a few random ones, but let me know if you want to see anything or about the work I did. Everything here done by me, save for the weld work. Purchased Sept 2019.

    List of mods and general work to date:
    • Replaced hood struts - Toyota OEM
    • Replaced glass - Safelite
    • Replaced 5 tires - Falken Wildpeak AT3W in LT 255/80R17
    • Replaced spare wheel with full size matching - American Racing AR172 Baja's
    • Water pump replacement + thermostat - replaced individual M8/M10/M12 nuts with SS hardware as able
    • Full fluids flush: rear diff, front diff, transmission, transfer case, engine oil, engine coolant - Valvoline Maxlife ATF, Mobil1 engine oil, Toyota OEM oil filter, Valvoline gear oil, Toyota pink coolant
    • Added lubrication to front and rear propeller shafts: slip yokes and U-joints - Moly lube to spiders and lithium chassis grease to slip yoke
    • Removed mud flaps all 4 corners
    • Upgraded skid plates - RCI steel skid set engine/trans/transfer case/gap under radiator/fuel tank
    • Upgraded stock air intake - Volant V8 4runner CAI
    • Replaced stock battery - Interstate group 24F
    • Replaced stock spark plugs - Denso Iridium
    • Upgraded rear light housings - 06-08 LED version
    • Upgraded rear lights with LED - Protuninglab
    • Upgraded front light housings with blackout 06-08 version - Yotamafia
    • Upgraded low beams with HID - Protuninglab 6000k
    • Upgraded high beams with LED - Protuninglab
    • Replaced turn signal flasher relay to delete hyperflash - DiodeDynamics
    • Full interior light LED swap - Amazon
    • Upgraded fog/turn signal unit w/ pods - DiodeDynamics SAE Max 3" light in white driving/amber fogs respectively
    • Spliced new flush mount amber LED turn signal wired to stock harness - amazon 3/4" button LEDs
    • Replaced front and rear sway bar bushings - Energy suspension (now removed)
    • Replaced front and rear sway bar end links - Overland custom design adjustable heim joints with joint boots (now removed)
    • Upgraded panhard bar - Dobinsons adjustable
    • Upgraded rear upper control arms - Dobinsons adjustable
    • Upgraded rear lower control arms - Dobinsons adjustable
    • Front body mount chop - Relentless Offroad plate, Iron Pig Offroad, VA weld work
    • Replaced CVs and inner/outer seals- CVJ Reman with red inner boot, National seals oil seal
    • Replaced all 4 corners wheel bearings - Koyo fronts/Timken rear
    • Upgraded brake rotor/caliper/pads - PowerStop Z36 w/ 13.1" fronts
    • Upgraded stock front brake lines - Stop Tech SS extended lines
    • Upgraded stock rear brake lines - Apache Offroad SS extended lines
    • Added A-pillar ditch light brackets - SDHQ
    • Added ditch lights - Baja Designs Squadron Pro White Driving/Combo
    • BlueSeas switch panel w/ 6 switches wired into overhead sunglass holder w/ custom wire loom to relay panel
    • Overland Expeditions fuse block/relay holder wired in engine bay w/ 80A circuit breaker
    • TPMS light delete mod
    • Safety screws in rear license plate holder
    • Added rear backup LED pods - Rigid Industries Ignite 1" floods wired to Backup/Off/On switch
    • Added Kilmat sound deadening interior matting 50 mil - under floor, all doors, rear hatch
    • Replaced fiberglass hoodliner with Dynamat aluminized foam sound deadening hoodliner
    • Added extra layer of Siles aluminum covered foam sound deadening hoodliner over Dynamat
    • Replaced stock exhaust manifold - Doug Thorley long tube SS (cat delete)
    • Replaced stock Y pipe - Doug Thorley Y pipe SS
    • Replaced stock cat-back exhaust - Bad Ass Mufflers w/ custom 90 exit behind passenger rear wheel
    • Added 90 degree O2 sensor mini-cat adapter to eliminate CEL - ebay
    • Added front and rear tow points - Trail Tailor 1/2" plate
    • Plasti-dipped upper grille to matte black
    • Added Sprint Booster v3
    • Added Scanguage II + transmission temp (X-gauge)
    • Upgraded rear hatch struts to stock+200lb capacity - liftsupportdepot.com
    • Added Accessorides remote start system
    • Added HewittTech secondary air bypass system w/ blockoff plates for V8 4runner
    • Upgraded to Sherpa Equipment Co Princeton roof rack
    • Added ExtremeLED 40" LED amber/white roof light bar wired to interior switch panel
    • All recovery hardware moved to Pelican Vault case on roof
    • Upgraded to Pioneer DMH-1500NEX stereo with line level stereo inputs
    • Upgraded to Soundstream Picasso 5ch amp under passenger seat
    • Upgraded to Polk Audio 8" high excursion sub fabbed into stock enclosure
    • Upgraded to JL Audio coax front speakers and Kicker coax rear
    • Upgraded Icon tubular UCA uniballs to Icon delta joints
    • Replaced Icon tubular UCA bushings
    • Upgraded to Dirt King LCAs with Moog heavy duty ball joints and Delrin bushings
    • Upgraded trans cooler to Hayden aftermarket (2x surface area for better cooling after a close call with overheating going up a mountain)
    :cheers:
     
    Last edited: Mar 4, 2022
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    #1
    Jackstraw and Curt56 like this.
  2. Mar 3, 2022 at 7:03 AM
    #2
    iamincrediboy

    iamincrediboy [OP] New Member

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    South FL
    Vehicle:
    2005 V8 4Runner Limited - Silver
    The day I bought it

    4EA05C05-EBC7-4395-A0BD-CF5500B5E241.jpg
     
  3. Mar 3, 2022 at 7:04 AM
    #3
    iamincrediboy

    iamincrediboy [OP] New Member

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    Driving it home. Quick stop at Bonneville salt flats

    86B565C8-CF3C-4B4D-947E-7A943F814407.jpg
     
  4. Mar 3, 2022 at 7:05 AM
    #4
    iamincrediboy

    iamincrediboy [OP] New Member

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    Quick run through Moab

    0EFFCD2B-FBF5-4A17-B806-EF8A81E8F9EF.jpg
     
  5. Mar 3, 2022 at 7:06 AM
    #5
    iamincrediboy

    iamincrediboy [OP] New Member

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    Headlight assembly upgrade

    89F0B8D9-1AE9-49E4-9837-2C1AED8ED9CB.jpg
     
  6. Mar 3, 2022 at 7:07 AM
    #6
    iamincrediboy

    iamincrediboy [OP] New Member

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    2005 V8 4Runner Limited - Silver
    Water pump, thermostat, timing belt, tensioner pulley, and accessory belt swap

    898E3ED5-E9DC-4FC0-95F3-DC0D3CC5754B.jpg
     
  7. Mar 3, 2022 at 7:07 AM
    #7
    iamincrediboy

    iamincrediboy [OP] New Member

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    In the middle of new CVs and oil seals

    1082111C-7601-4FEE-9051-8006CBD8416D.jpg
     
  8. Mar 3, 2022 at 7:08 AM
    #8
    iamincrediboy

    iamincrediboy [OP] New Member

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    Interior prepped for sound deadening material

    3B89AF38-141B-4301-ACFE-AD8A21239789.jpg
     
  9. Mar 3, 2022 at 7:09 AM
    #9
    iamincrediboy

    iamincrediboy [OP] New Member

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    New fogs, ditch lights, light bar, and switch panel

    2CF4786E-D26A-43CA-95F2-2089E2AE54F2.jpg
    0E8CD5D4-C4CC-4A7D-BF80-9E5799713A55.jpg
    6DEBBA62-2990-43C6-8715-E1C01E86269E.jpg
     
  10. Mar 3, 2022 at 7:10 AM
    #10
    iamincrediboy

    iamincrediboy [OP] New Member

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    Prep for and install complete for Dirt King LCAs

    26EE1E26-5590-462F-8897-2BE111341305.jpg
    92A2D5E9-3C04-4A22-A1F6-05DA85A7984F.jpg
     
    Curt56 likes this.
  11. Mar 31, 2022 at 7:44 AM
    #11
    iamincrediboy

    iamincrediboy [OP] New Member

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    So in case anyone happens along my lineup here and wants some background info, I think I'm one of relatively few people who have the Icon Delta Joints in their UCAs as well as aftermarket LCAs. Ive no data to refer to but reading everyone elses info just seems so...

    Anyway I figured Id give a little insight into reasoning and after effects. All of my decision making came down to feeling some slop, or looseness, or non-planted feeling on the road. I dont know if others have a better way to describe it or know the feeling at all but having had Sterling for about 20k miles by the time I felt this, I knew I didn’t like it, even though I also knew everything was adjusted, torqued, lubed, and everything else as it should be to operate right. Not to mention this particular thump of the front suspension cycling I wasn’t a fan of.

    So internet searching I went, and clearly cost had its part to play, but overall capacity for this being my daily and my wheeling rig meant I couldn’t necessarily just go top of the line for it all. Everyone knows heim joints and uniballs are literally stronger, but their maintenance and general upkeep is much more often than ball joints, and longevity wise they CAN last as long or longer, but since theyre usually open to the elements they usually don’t.

    Enter the Icon Delta Joint for my Icon tubular UCAs and Dirt King LCAs. This is no paid promo or some crap I’m just giving praise where I feel its earned. The DJ I think was a little easier since I already had the UCA itself. The DK LCAs were also easy as the Moog LBJ has reportedly gotten better again over recent history, theyre WAY easy to source compared to Yota OEM LBJs which we know are non-existent by themselves, and I had figured out that’s where the weird thump came from.

    All in all, install was not without some choice words when my vice broke, but all came together and my suspension is WAY tighter and more secure feeling compared to before.:cheers:
     
    Flydaddy4 likes this.
  12. Apr 6, 2022 at 10:54 AM
    #12
    iamincrediboy

    iamincrediboy [OP] New Member

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    Hit a big milestone for Sterling today on the drive in. Woo! :cheers:

    miles.jpg
     
  13. Apr 20, 2022 at 7:49 AM
    #13
    iamincrediboy

    iamincrediboy [OP] New Member

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    All rightly so awareness post for the masses to not get complacent!! I did a quick oil change and tire rotation this weekend as Sterling was due. Was up at all 4 corners on jack stands to do the rotation, put all four wheels back on and gave each lug a touch with the impact, though not torqued. Then I went around to the front with the floor jack to pull the stands and DIDNT GRAB MY WHEEL CHOCKS. I even stood there for a sec and thought 'Should I grab them' and didnt, and wound up with the first pic. As you can infer, once I pulled the front stands and went around to the pumpkin to pull the rears, Sterling started to slide away from me... HOOEY thatll get your heart racing. Thankfully I unlock before doing any work so I ran to the door to slam on the brakes, but not before Sterling ended up sitting in the second picture. I started parallel down my driveway and ended up super not parallel.

    I know many of us pride ourselves on being able to do a lot of the work, even the regular intervals, but dont forget the small stuff and being safe! :facepalm::facepalm:

    67191332900--3B2DDDA7-2A9C-441E-8D65-FA0CC5B568F3.jpg
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  14. Apr 21, 2022 at 9:52 AM
    #14
    iamincrediboy

    iamincrediboy [OP] New Member

    Joined:
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    Male
    South FL
    Vehicle:
    2005 V8 4Runner Limited - Silver
    Another thing I installed amidst the chaos of my tire rotation... Front Runner double jerry can holder. The unit is pretty simple to put together, albeit with some small ass hardware. As for getting it mounted, I just moved the Sherpa rack cross bars in place, and then used some spare hardware I had from the rack install. I have another can on order already but it all fits well. For those curious its in the place it is as the space behind it and to the other side will be taken up by Roam 95L and pelican vault storage boxes. But this'll help in the meantime for travels while saving up for a LRA secondary tank to go in my spare location :cheers:

    67183845990--52CB99DB-0B1E-4E81-AFAA-98A8C39908D3.jpg
    67183847647--3225789E-27A7-4B5C-8ED8-98278EF4A43A.jpg
     
  15. Aug 2, 2022 at 8:16 AM
    #15
    iamincrediboy

    iamincrediboy [OP] New Member

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    Vehicle:
    2005 V8 4Runner Limited - Silver
    Been a little bit but got a new toy. 23Zero Peregrine 180 awning with LST. Took a minute to mount as I did it by myself but its awesome for this Miami sun! Best part about this thing is its one of the only 180 awning that doesnt require you to put guy lines and poles down every time you open it. Also for awareness I used Sherpa Motorsports HD awning mounts instead of 23zero's mounts, theyre a little more suited for say a Rhino Rack than the Sherpa or Prinsu extrusion racks. :cheers:

    awning.jpg
     

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