JT's '88 4 Runner Build

[OffRoadSolutions]

I don't know if it helps any... same thing in my 84 4runner about a month ago (LOST power going up hill and it would not idle at all... I was baffled, checked for loose vaccuum lines/etc, everything that seemed like it would cause it... Apparently my manifold burned through one of my spark plug wires while I was driving...

new wires and I was good to go!

So it goes to show its not always a hard fix.

I hope its that easy for you as well!

[jamarquardt22]

x2 look for vacume leaks,

Remember you need 3 things for that engine to work Air, Fuel and Fire

I bet its fuel or spark. they should be easy to check.

[jtaco1]

Well all the wires are good and it is getting fuel. I defiantely think it is something internal now, we were turning it over last night to see if it would start, it wouldn't, but it was making a clanging noise in teh motor, then it would not turn over any more. May pull it apart this week some after work, but looking at getting maybe a different engine from Gary.

I just want to get this damn truck on the trail before East Coast 4 Runner Jamboree June 20th. Look for a wrenchfest soon

[jamarquardt22]

I guess its time to tear into that sucker. Damn it! I bet Dana wont want to let you out and play when I stick my crawler in If you have to do all that wrenching.

your $200 truck is getting expensive.

[kb3gun]

Look for a wrenchfest soon.

Just so you know, the work we did in December was only covered for 30 days... You should have purchased the extended warranty.

[Wayneraintree]

now all ya have to do is change the date on the thread title

[jtaco1]

Ah it's ok, I still have less into the entire truck with mods than it would have taken to put a crawler into my Tacoma, plus I would have been really pissed if I put the crawler in and then had the buyback issues.

We'll get it figured out, shouldn't take too long to swap out since I know what I am doing now and it won't get torn down as far as it was when I got it, everything was torn apart with the fuel injection, wire harness, and what not, plus all the bolts are loose now and not rusted fast

[jtaco1]

Originally Posted by Wayneraintree

now all ya have to do is change the date on the thread title

I'd ratehr just change this one to something without the wrenchfest, something like JT's 4 Runner build

[jtaco1]

Well I got a few minutes to tear into the engine last night. Turns out the bolt that holds the timing chain sprocket to the cam backed out, doesn't appear to have been torqued or any type of locktight. It backed out about 1/2 and then allowed the sprocket to walk. The chain and what not are still good. it also looks like the oil and antifreeze are mixing and there is metal in the oil in the top of the head. So I think to be on the safe side, I will pull this engine and put another one in. Gary and Sean both have one, just gotta talk with them.

[jtaco1]

Well I got the old engine out last night by myself, boy was that fun. I accidentally for got to put one of the engine hoists leg lock pins in so once the engine was up and almost over the core support, the leg decided to fold up, luckily it went outside of the truck and didn't mess anything in the truck up, but it shot across the shop and into my front axle and intake parts that I had taken off. Surprisingly the intake stuff is perfectly fine and the axle just fell off the stand. Going to stop by Seans this week to see his old motor and try and put that in over the long weekend, hopefully

Looking to get this done over the next two weeks through the nights, wish me luck.

Also got my new Elocker Harness from Off Road Solutions, all I can say is this harness is a work of art. Here's some pictures.

[OffRoadSolutions]

Glad we could get you taken care of JT!
Let me know if you need anything else.

~Una

[jtaco1]

Thanks again to Sean for parts to put this truck back together, I am picking his old 22re engine up tonight to get mine done. So hopefully over the long weekend I can get the engine swapped in and the ORS Elocker harness installed and get the truck on the road and trail.

[jtaco1]

Well I only got a few hours, maybe 5 total to work on the truck the entire weekend, lots of house projects and family fun, but I was able to get Seans old motor installed. I had to swap out the injectors and fuel rail since the connectors were different between 87 and 88. Only had to partially remove the tranny and transfer case to get the engine in and lined up. Only have 3 bolts holding it together at the moment, with some jack stands, will work this week on finally bolting it together and wiring it up. Shooting for this wednesday to have it done, because I leave for a fishing trip on Thursday.

Also got the ORS elocker harness installed, just gotta run the loom back the frame rail to teh axle and zip tie everything in. Really a piece of art and very easy to install.

[jtaco1]

Finished up putting the engine in this morning, but it doesn't want to fire up, so gotta do some trouble shooting.

On a posative note, I finalized the install of the ORS Elocker harnes, WOW is it slick, flip the switch and you hear the motor turn and lock into place, flip it back and open again. Great product.

[jtaco1]

Ok, engine is in and running great, thanks again Sean. Few little things and I will have the truck inspected soon too. Shake down run at Rasuch starting June 20 at East Coast 4 Runner Jamboree.

[Straydog]

Glad to hear you got it running. Sorry I couldn't be more helpful.

[jamarquardt22]

well, what was the porblem?

[jtaco1]

No problem Sean.

Andy, timing was off, set it to TDC and put the distributor in correctly and it fired not problem. Now it is time to have fun.

[jtaco1]

Inspection today, so the truck will be legal now. I did get about 2-3 hours the other day to bend up all the pipe for the rear bumper and get it rough cut to length. Just have to finish the mounting brackets, make some notches, and weld it up. May get lucky and have it ready for this weekend, otherwise I will run with out a rear bumper.

[jtaco1]

Went to Rausch this weekend and the truck worked very well. Overall the truck performed great, but needs a few upgrades before next months trip. New shifter seat to keep it from popping out of first, do some intake adjustments, because the truck surges at idle. Really would like to get a set of 4.7 gears too, the slower the better, but the stock duals did well.

No need to SAS until I break the font end beyond simple repair, it worked very well being as low as it is.

[Lugboot]

We need some pics of the finished product!

[jtaco1]

I have to pull them off the camera and get some from my cousin.

May look for a new tailgate or the back tailgate portion of a pickup bed to bob onto the 4 Runner since I caved mine in, but it still opens and closes and the lights work

[jtaco1]

[Lugboot]

[brian]

Originally Posted by jtaco1

Well I got a few minutes to tear into the engine last night. Turns out the bolt that holds the timing chain sprocket to the cam backed out, doesn't appear to have been torqued or any type of locktight. It backed out about 1/2 and then allowed the sprocket to walk. The chain and what not are still good. it also looks like the oil and antifreeze are mixing and there is metal in the oil in the top of the head. So I think to be on the safe side, I will pull this engine and put another one in. Gary and Sean both have one, just gotta talk with them.

chain rubbed through teh back of the front cover/water pump.

[jtaco1]

Originally Posted by brian

chain rubbed through teh back of the front cover/water pump.

No I don't think so, it never got a chance to do that becase the bolt backed completly off and allowed the cam sprocket to walk off the cam and the chain sorta went slack, but the internals of the engine went byebye in the process of the crank shaft still spining. Still haven't had a chance to pull the engine apart, but will probably just pull the engine builder stuff and scrap the rest, unless someone wants it, I have another one too.

[jtaco1]

I'll be making a set of half doors here in the next few weeks, picked a set of full doors up for $10 on Ebay hoping to get them done for July 25th.

Also finished off the rear bumper mounts, boxed them in and it came out pretty well, nice and sturdy too, just have to put the hitch reciever in yet.

Installed a new shifter seat and cup to keep the tranny from popping out of 1st gear, we'll see how that does, hope it works, otherwise I will be getting a new tranny.

[jtaco1]

Well we had the NE TTORA Takeover event at Rausch this past weekend, had a blast. We ran Camel Back, the first portion of Snake Bite, one of the guys wanted to back out due to his clutch :( and Yellow Jacket, along with others that I didn't catch the name of, but mainly a bunch of Blue-blacks and blacks. It was amazing how much I really flogged this truck this weekend, several full throttle assults at some ledges, sometimes the front end would actually bounce about 2 feet in the air. yellow Jacket was by far my favorite, never been over on that side of the park. We did the black line and had a blast, gave a little show for some Jeepers that were there watching. I didn't walk it, but had a blast beating the truck into the rocks. If I had at least some articulation, it may have went better, but with stock IFS travel up front and the rear bump stopped out to minimal uptravel, it was more technical.

I will get pictures up soon, I didn't take many, but others did.

Before we left, I swapped out the intake manifold on the engine. I have Seans old engine and it would surge alittel and seemed under powered, Sean thought so as well. So I put the original intake on from the Runner and now it doesn't surge and has way more power, as much as the little I-4 can do I guess, and it idles a bit lower now too, which helps with going slower. It is almost like a totally different engine now, very nice, even got to use 5th gear for the first time on