For anyone reading this, make sure you book time to wheel with xlcaferacer sometime. He's a hell of a wheeler and a hell of a trail guide.
Build is looking great! How did I miss this all these years?
I spent many months daily driving a 2nd Gen 22re powered 4Runner and I felt the V6 I drove was far more powerful. Is it a 3.4 or 4.0? No, but it beats a worn out 4cyl. LC Engineering has an ARP head stud kit that I would be looking at if the HG ever failed.