These 74Weld Portals Just Changed the 4Runner Game Forever

When you’re talking about game-changing modifications for your 4Runner, portal axles sit at the absolute top of the list. The crew at Stellar Built just dropped something special - the first-ever 4Runner running 74 Weld portals, and the transformation is nothing short of mind-blowing.

Brennan from Trail4R brought his brand new 2023 4Runner SR5 Premium to Stellar Built with one goal: turn his rig into something that could gap rocks like a trophy truck while maintaining street manners. The plan sounds simple enough - 74 Weld portal axles, 37-inch Yokohama Geolandar X-MTs on KMC Impact beadlocks, and a complete suspension overhaul with ARB’s new OME MT64 shocks.

But here’s where things get interesting. Running 37s on a 4Runner isn’t just about slapping on bigger rubber and calling it good. The firewall clearance becomes a real problem, which is why Stellar Built paired this build with JD Fabrication’s lower arm pivot kit. This isn’t your typical bolt-on modification - we’re talking serious surgery here.

The pivot kit replaces the factory cam tab mounts with beefy quarter-inch steel assemblies that get welded all around. Where the factory setup relies on two measly spot welds that’ll shift and destroy your alignment after a few hard hits, these new mounts are bombproof. More importantly, they allow the entire control arm assembly to move forward, creating the precious clearance needed for those chunky 37s.

Watching Dimitri and the team tear into that brand-new 4Runner takes some serious commitment. They’re cutting out factory mounting points and replacing them with engineered solutions that’ll handle whatever abuse gets thrown their way. The plasma cutting and welding work is extensive, but that’s what separates a proper build from a hack job.

The real magic happens when those 74 Weld portals get installed. These aren’t your typical aftermarket add-ons - this is a complete system that replaces everything from the spindles to the brake setup. The front portals bolt right up using the factory 4Runner brake components, while the rear gets a full Wilwood setup with custom two-piece rotors designed to clear the portal housing and high-positive-offset wheels.

The gear reduction from these portals is 22 percent, which translates to serious torque multiplication at the wheels. But the real benefit is that massive ground clearance increase. When they rolled the truck over a Home Depot bucket - yeah, that’s apparently the official portal test - there was still daylight between the diff and the bucket. Try that with your standard IFS setup.

Taking the rig out to Prairie City Off-Road Park really showcased what this setup can do. Rocks that would normally scrape sliders and bash skid plates became non-issues. The truck just floated over obstacles that would challenge much more built rigs. Even without lockers installed yet, the clearance advantage was obvious.

The transformation is dramatic enough that it makes a Bronco on 37s look like it’s sitting on 33s. The roofline comparison between the portal 4Runner and other trucks running the same tire size is pretty wild - the 4Runner sits noticeably taller while maintaining a reasonable overall height.

This build represents something bigger than just another modified 4Runner. It’s proof that the portal axle game has evolved beyond custom one-offs into legitimate bolt-on systems that actually work. The 74 Weld kit includes everything needed for the conversion - portal housings, brake components, ABS sensors, breather systems, and all the hardware.

The attention to detail is impressive. Those blue anodized portal housings look like jewelry, and the engineering behind the brake setup shows real thought went into making this a complete system rather than just a clearance hack. The rear full-float axle conversion alone is worth the price of admission for anyone serious about strength.

What’s coming next for this build makes it even more interesting. Brennan’s planning front and rear lockers, new gearing to compensate for the portal reduction, and a billet steering rack from 74 Weld to handle the increased leverage from those big wheels and tires. Descent Off-Road is also cooking up new high-clearance bumpers specifically for this application.

The goal is turning this fifth-gen 4Runner into something that performs like an 80 Series Land Cruiser - high clearance, bulletproof reliability, and the ability to tackle serious terrain without breaking a sweat. Based on the initial test results, they’re well on their way to achieving that goal.

This isn’t just another lift kit and tire combo. It’s a complete reimagining of what a 4Runner can be when you’re willing to do the work properly. The combination of portal axles, proper suspension geometry, and bulletproof mounting points creates a platform that’s genuinely capable of handling whatever you throw at it.

For anyone considering a similar build, the message is clear - do it right or don’t do it at all. The fabrication work required isn’t something you tackle in your driveway with basic tools. But when it’s done properly, the results speak for themselves. This 4Runner gaps rocks that would challenge much more expensive rigs, and it does it while looking like a factory option.

The portal revolution is here, and it’s not just for custom rock buggies anymore. This 4Runner proves that with the right parts and proper installation, you can have the best of both worlds - street manners and serious off-road capability that’ll leave other rigs wondering what just happened.