Curtis Glenn’s Rough & Tough ’02 4Runner

We all want to go further off the beaten trails to find those hidden spots that are exclusive only to those with the proper rigs to reach them. This is what daydreams are made of, but turning wishful thinking into a reality requires developing a plan and executing it in a timely fashion. Reaching a goal such as this can potentially turn into a long, expensive ordeal but it doesn’t have to, as Curtis Glenn of Chandler, Arizona has recently proven.

“Even though the bumper is a new creation and the lights and winch are state-of-the-art products, the overall styling still meets that OEM+ style of the late ’90s/early 2000s that I was wanting to also capture during the build.”

“I originally bought this 4Runner so I could go camping,” Curtis says. “I had fun but would eventually reach areas that I couldn’t access due to not having the right whatever. I figured I’d have to start purchasing what I needed to get me down the trail farther and more reliably.”

While there was no real need to dramatically alter the factory 3.6L V-6 under the hood to propel Curtis’ Toyota into the great wide open, he would most definitely have to make some upgrades to its mildly modified chassis setup.

Up and Over

To say that the marketplace for capable suspension components is vast is an understatement, but Curtis did his homework and landed on parts from Total Chaos to handle the ride height lift. A set of upper and lower control arms were ordered after considering buying similar units from other manufacturers.

“I have found that Total Chaos does their research and product development well before anything is ever made available for purchase,” he adds. “This means that the customer is never the guinea pig for untested components. Everything has worked just fine for me and would stand up to the parts of most competitive brands.”

“All the really cool parts and upgrades happened over the last couple years, even though I have owned this truck for 10 years now. One thing just led to another, and at this point I think I’m about finished.”

From there, Curtis reached out to EimKeith for a set of upper and lower 4-link gussets to reinforce the frame and to accommodate a custom front bumper that would come soon, which would require the front frame rail to be shortened 4.5 inches. Next, it was time to shop around for the rest of the suspension components the 4Runner would need to make its way onto the rougher, tougher terrain that awaited. Curtis selected shocks with remote reservoirs from ADS Racing, Eibach 650-pound front springs and rear springs from Synergy designed for Jeep JK/JL platforms. To assist in preparing the chassis for battle, Curtis reached out to AZ Toy Pros in Mesa, Arizona, to install all the new parts he had gathered, and for the fabrication the frame would need, Tommy Gun Fab in Phoenix was contacted to really make things happen.

Although the 4Runner was freshly equipped with a suspension system truly capable of reaching those far-off locations, Curtis still had a few more major components to lock down first. A fresh set of wheels was a necessity, and KMC’s Impact Forged units would suit the truck nicely. To make impactful ground contact, a set of Toyo M/T tires were chosen for their all-terrain prowess. And to assist in bringing the 4Runner to an abrupt stop, the front factory braking components were swapped out for a big brake conversion package from Powerbrake.

Just like that, Curtis was ready to take on regions previously unknown to him.

OEM+ Vibes 

While the 4Runner was now physically ready to take on just about any terrain imaginable, Curtis decided there were still a few modifications needed to be done before packing up for an extended trip out. That custom front bumper was finally fabricated by Tommy Gun, and was rightfully outfitted with LED lighting from Baja Designs, as well as a Warn Xeon 12K winch.

“Even though the bumper is a new creation and the lights and winch are state-of-the-art products, the overall styling still meets that OEM+ style of the late ’90s/early 2000s that I was wanting to also capture during the build,” Curtis says.

To further push the moderately modified factory aesthetic, the original grille was slightly tweaked to fit more lighting upgrades, and a rear bumper from EimKeith was added to the lineup of upgrades. After an extensive amount of bodywork was made to straighten out the 4Runner’s exterior panels, Curtis could’ve chosen any paint color to finish off its outwardly surface. Instead of going with an abstract hue selection, he chose to stick with period-correct OEM Dorado Gold paint to properly maintain the desired Toyota heritage appeal. Sean McDermott of Slickshot Paint wielded the spray gun and was also ready to help in yet another important way.

Even though Sean is an extremely talented body and paint artist, he can also hold his own as an upholstery craftsman as well. Aside from sprucing up the 4Runner’s exterior landscape, he also restored the OEM seats by recovering them all in fresh factory-grade leather skins. In what seemed like a long time coming, the entire transformation of Curtis’ ride rolled out in just 24 months.

“All the really cool parts and upgrades happened over the last couple years, even though I have owned this truck for 10 years now,” he admits. “One thing just led to another, and at this point I think I’m about finished. The truck has attended over 100 events as the display vehicle for Durobump LLC and has been up and down the West coast hitting all the popular trails.”

Sounds like there’s nothing left to do except exploring even farther and embracing new unexpected journeys to come.

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UPGRADES

2002 Toyota 4Runner

OWNER: 

Curtis Glenn
Chandler, AZ
PURE 4×4 / AZ 4Runner Outsiders 

Engine & Drivetrain : 

OEM V-6 3.6L; Front radiator sway w/ 1st gen Tacoma 4 cylinder; Aftermarket custom steel driveshafts; OEM front drive axle; Yukon chromoly rear axles; Harrop electric lockers

Chassis & Suspension: 

Fabrication by Tommy Gun Fab, Phoenix; Suspension components installed by AZ Toy Pros, Mesa, AZ; OEM frame reinforcement and lower and upper 4-link gussets by EimKeith; 2.5-inch lift by Total Chaos upper and lower control arms; Heim lower ball joint conversion; Rear Total Chaos upper and lower link; Eibach 650-pound front springs; ADS Racing shocks 2.5 coilovers w; remote reservoir; ADS Racing rear smooth 2.5 body shocks; Synergy rear Jeep JK/JL front coil; Front frame rail shortened 4.5 inches to accommodate front bumper and Warn Xeon 12K winch; Custom skid plates by Tommy Gun Fab

Wheels, Tires & Brakes: 

17×9 KMC Impact Forged wheels; 35×12.50R17 Toyo M/T tires; Powerbrake front big brake conversion

Body & Paint: 

Extensive body and paint work performed by Sean McDermott of Slickshot Paint; OEM Dorado Gold paint; Modified OEM grille; Morimoto BI-Xenon Mini D2S 5.0 headlights; Custom one-off front bumper from Tommy Gun Fab, rear bumper by EimKeith; Tubbed front wheel well to body mounts, mini tub rear; Baja Designs accessory lighting; Custom wiring harness w/ Deutsch connectors; Switch-Pros RCR-Force-12 panel

Interior: 

OEM seats reupholstered in leather by Sean McDermott

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Editor’s Note: A version of this article appeared in TREAD Sep/Oct 2024