Fast for a Toyota, Slow for a Race Car
1999 Toyota 4runner
Summary of the build
Suspension and Tyres:
The front includes Tig welded uniball lower ball joints, Total Chaos’ +3.5” Long Travel Suspension with KING Coilovers. The Rear includes a 12/14” rear coilover conversion, Total Chaos’ 5 link kit, and 4” long, ICON hydro bump stops. Each corner has 12”+ of suspension travel.
The Tires are BFGoodrich AT2’s 295/70R17’s.
Roll Cage:
SCORE invokes the tubular clause of AWS D1.1. Unlike most offroad shops, GMR qualified Tig (GTAW) welders to 6G per AWS D1.1 before production began on this one-off roll cage.
This roll cage design is unique. Before this project, there were no plans available online, and no one has designed a race-spec roll cage for a 3rd gen 4runner that is by-the-book AWS D1.1 compliant. Since it’s an SUV, it’s a rarity in offroad racing. GMR plans to make the cad models and plans available online after completing the Baja 1000.
Drivetrain:
The engine, transmission and drivetrain are 100% stock and all original miles. 283,000 miles on the odometer (454.400 Km). The engine is the legendary 5VZ-FE. It’s a humble 3.4L V6 paired to it’s original 4 gear transmission with a 2.85x transfer case. Diff gear ratio is 4.10. Top speed is 104 MPH (167 KMH), governor limited. To date, max Race speed is 67 MPH. It’s probably not worth mentioning, but it goes 0-60 in 16 seconds. It goes from 60-0 in 6 seconds (tundra brake upgrade). The 4runner weighs 4800 lbs dry, and 5040 fully fueled (2180 Kg and 2290 Kg respectively).
Fire, Fuel and Safety
3 Fire extinguishers onboard, including one LifeLine 2000 hard plumbed to the cabin, engine bay, and fuel compartment.
A complete firewall separates the occupant compartment from the fuel cell and other flammable fluids.
40 Gallon Fuel Cell is made by Fuel Safe. It’s mounted behind the rear axle, and as a 1/4” aluminum skid plate.
Multiple IFAK and multi-day first aid kits are onboard, NAR and My Medic.
Lights and sirens:
We’re borrowing a complete set of Baja Designs Bronco lights. A Rigid Chase light bar is in the rear. We don’t have it yet, but we need a roof mounted light bar. The light bar in the grille is generic.
Passing/Police sirens are generic.
Horn works and is OEM.
Navigation and Comms
The GPS is Garmin’s Tread XL, Baja Racing Edition. It does turn by turn off road navigation, integrated sat comms with Garmin In-Reach, and can be integrated with other in-car accessories. It broadcasts it’s data realtime and includes SOS emergency signaling.
Race Radio is a rebuilt ICOM 2730A, along with redundant HAM and GMRS radios.
4Runner’s Timeline
Long Travel Suspension
Daily Driven until
Bought New at Toyota of Longview
December 1998
August 2017
August 2017
Fire, Fuel and Safety
March 2022
Spec Roll Cage Fabrication
February 2020
October 2019
Spec Roll Cage Designed
Toyota Jamboree Stampede
April 2018
June 2023
Lessons Learned / Race Prep
1st Race: Cinco De Baja
May 2023
Nav Integration
March 2023
4Runner Show - Arlington TX
November 2023
October 2023
Baja 1000
Race Prep:
Like many sanctioned auto-racing organizations, SCORE requires race cars to be made to certain requirements. From roll cage to fuel cell, from lights to navigation, this 4Runner has be made to meet spec.
Nathan Sumrall, the owner of Good Mayhem Racing, is degreed welding engineer that works full time in oil and gas fabrication. SCORE invokes the tubular clause of AWS D1.1, he took very seriously. Unlike most offroad shops, GMR qualified GTAW welders to 6G per AWS D1.1 before production began on this one-off roll cage.
This roll cage design is unique. Before this project, there were no plans available online, and no one has designed a race-spec roll cage for a 3rd gen 4runner that is by-the-book AWS D1.1 compliant. Since it’s an SUV, it’s a rarity in offroad racing. GMR plans to make the cad models and plans available online after completing the Baja 1000. The images below show but a taste of what it takes to design and manufacture a code compliant roll cage in an OEM car.
Check out youtube, ih8mud and instagram if you’d like to see more of this process.
Keep scrolling to learn more about race prep as well!
