ARCHIVE 317k 1997 4runner aka: "Back Alley Sally"

[mexellent]

Allow me to introduce myself.

First and foremost, I am a complete and utter idiot. I really dont know what I was thinking. Actually, what I was thinking was "WOOOOO $1500 bucks is a steal!"


She runs and drives and has COLD AC!

Little did I know....

Outside, she looks pretty decent. Shes scuffed up and paint is a little faded here and there. Interior is.... bad. Seats are literally worn out. They are no longer leather, they are foam. The radio is gone and there are bits of trim hanging here and there. My girlfriend sat in it and said "I think Im going to get AIDS."

But none of that stuff really bothers me. I really wanted to go wheelin' and I figure she's going to get dirty and all banged up so she's the perfect candidate!

Thats the amazing part. Everything works. AC, cruise control, most of the power windows, all the mirrors, the 4x4, etc. They are all still functioning! Hats off to Toyota!

Ideally I'd just throw a lift on it and go wheelin'! But it has many issues which really are to be expected from a rig that has 317k miles on it.

Here is where things start to go downhill:
-Took it to get aligned at sears and they said it was "too loose" to be aligned.
-Steering rack bushings are shot
-Tie rods may be shot
-LBJ's may be shot
-Wheel bearings should probably be replaced
-Rear 4 link bushings are shot
-Axle seals are shot
-Valve cover gaskets leak

Anyway, I priced up all the things that need to be replaced and I could easily spend $2000 on parts to fix the ball joints, bushings, bearings, brakes, etc. I am going to have to re-evaluate where my money is going to go because putting that much money into this truck would be silly. I will keep you guys updated and I will post more pics tomorrow!

 

[jynx]

The LBJ's are a wear item and should be replaced, they are about $90 each from one of our great MUD vendors. Rack bushings are pretty easy and I would go with poly replacements from Energy Suspension or similar. I think they will be around $20 for the pair. OTR's are about $40 or $50 each. The wheel bearings are probably fine. They are a large sealed unit that generally don't give issues. They also require a 20T press to remove and reinstall.

I would start there on the suspension. Next I would see what you can find out about the timing belt. At 317k it should be on belt number 3 with the 4th one due in about 40k miles. If you can't get any history I would make plans to do that next. Belt, idlers, etc will run you around $250-$300 bucks if I remember correctly. Can be done pretty easily in a weekend. I would plan on doing crank and cam seals while you have the front cover off. I ended up just doing the crank on mine since the cams were still good.

VC gaskets I would do when you do plugs and wires. Not a bad project but the DS is a bit of a pain due to the way the wiring harness is routed.

If the axle seals aren't too bad I'd wait and do those and the rear bushing for last, that is unless either of those items are causing safety problems.

Also, if this is a DD or a weekend rig would dictate how I moved forward with each of those items. Also sounds like a set of seat covers may need to be high on you list if you want the GF to ride along on those trips.
Look forward to seeing more pictures.

 

[mexellent]

Thanks jynx. If I start with LBJ's, Rack bushings, and OTR's first, I think the whole project wont be so overwhelming. Even though it is not my only car, I think it's going to be my DD. I think the next item after those 3 will be rotors and a brake flush.

The timing belt was recently replaced, although I dont know if they touched the idlers. Ill ask the previous owner. It also has a new radiator and radiator hoses.

Here are more pictures (I hope they aren't too large):

She's already marked her spot! Awww...

A speedo shot just to show ya'll the milage.

The radio was stolen supposedly. Ive been cruising without one for a couple of weeks now.

This window does not roll down. I think the previous owner tried to fix it but did not succeed.

There is a big dent on the tail-gate. I wonder if that's the reason that it doesn't roll down...

Here are the tires it came with. The rims were the split 3 spokes. The front tires were wearing heavily on the inside. One of the tires started showing threads so I put the wheels and tires in the pictures above. I want to fix the front suspension ASAP so that I can get it aligned.

The paint is fading in several places...

The front drivers seat is pretty much completely shot. The passenger seat is ok. I really want to find some non-power seats to put in there.

However, other than wheelin', I use the truck for biking (its actually the primary use for this thing!). I keep my bike in the back and I usually go biking straight after work. This saves me an hour a day when I decide to exercise. I like the torn up interior because I dont care that Im sweaty and gross when I get in it.

Anyway, even though the car is really beat up and gross, I actually find it quite endearing. It suffers the typical Toyota fate, which is its so reliable that its often neglected to a point of complete and utter disrepair. Every time I get in it, it reminds me of a faithful old dog who is at the end of its life, and yet he gets up and does as he is told. Every. Time.

Just little bits of TLC here and there have made a big difference in this rig. So Ill keep workin on it. Hopefully I can get it to a point where I can wheel it mid-november.

 

[nukegoat]

WTF that seat

 

[nukegoat]

can you get a salvage title issued for that interior

 

[jynx]

New rad, hoses and t-belt... you are set. The front end stuff won't be too bad.

If you feel froggy, when you do front brakes, do some reading on the 231 mm tundra upgrade. I think the calipers will fit under those wheels. If not the 199 mm calipers will fit for sure.

The radio isn't a huge deal, pretty much any single DIN will fit and Crutchfield will send you the brackets and a pocket to fill the gap under. That radio wasn't stolen, it was removed. Trust me, Toyota has the best installation method from the factory and to steal one you will basically destroy the dash. No sweat, just pick up a cheapo and bolt it in.

That seat... wow, that needs an award for the most worn ever still usable, EVER. Just slap on a cheapo cover if you get tired of having yellow foam stuck to your butt.

Overall, looks like a solid rig and looks to be just what you needed.

 

[Brake Weight]

Do the LBJs, OTRs, and rack bushings at the same time. I'd say about 2-3 hours work of planned properly. That should get it alignment ready. Check a few U-pull yards for seats from anything. Different post/bolt patterns are an easy fix. Walmart sells cheap single din radios and a something to fill the other slot can be fabbed out of most anything.

$1500 isn't too bad.

 

[mexellent]

Thanks!

What about the inner tie rods? Should I do those as well?

 

[mexellent]

I wanted to give you guys an update on "back alley sally". She just hit 330k miles! I initially thought i could buy the truck for $1500 and just start adding cool stuff to it. Boy was I wrong. It's been a year since I've bought it and I've spent about $5k total on it (and it's still stock ).

Here is where the money has gone:
-New UBJ, LBJ, ITR, and OTR's.
-Poly Steering Rack Bushings
-New steering rack and power steering pump (moving the rack to install the bushings busted the seals on the old unit)
-"New" Cloth seats
-265/75R16 KO2's
-Tundra Brake Upgrade
-Denso Starter
-Toyota heater hoses and radiator hoses along with a Toyota Thermostat and Zerex Asian coolant

Purchased and pending install:
-Toyota brake lines
-Toyota fan clutch
-Toyota fuel filter
-Upper and lower A-arm bushings
-CB Radio

Pending Purchase
-Bluetooth radio and some new speakers

Slowly but surely she's coming along. Hopefully by next year I will be able to install an e-diff or lunchbox locker and some armor. Im really happy with how good she's been.

 

[peytonkristen]

I'm doing pretty much the same thing with a 96 4Runner. Where did you get all of your bushings and tie rod stuff?

 

[mexellent]

I got them from Worldpac. My brother and I have a shop and that helps out a ton. I used all Sankei 555 parts. About a year has gone by and everything is holding up pretty well.

 

[Tigerstripe40]

Does it have the rear diff lock?

 

[mexellent]

Does it have the rear diff lock?

We just installed a Grizzly locker in it!

This truck has had a ton of work done to it in the last couple of months. I need to post a big update on it.