As if I don't already have enough to fix already, I told my younger brother who's in the Army that I'll fix up his 85 4Runner while he's in Iraq. He is stationed at Fort Riley, Ks with the 1st Infantry Division. Well this was before I actual saw it in person, lets just all make a note NOT to buy a vehicle from Ks or any area that gets heavy snow.
My brother Jeremy,
Me and Jeremy, old pic but I still rock the BYB Tee..
This is his 85 4Runner that he got off of craigslist for $2500 with over 330k miles!
It actual runs very good for having over 330k miles on it. He drove it from Ks to SC and was getting over 20mpg. It doesn't look like it's in bad shape from the pictures either but it's what you can't see is where the problem is. It's got the cancer very bad, as first we thought it was just the normal Toyota rust on the rear half. So we pulled the factory rubber flooring up and uncovered major rusted out holes in both the drivers and pass floor pans. The drivers floor pan has a hole so big you can use your foot for added braking power and it's rusted all the way around the body mount. The passenger side floor pan is almost as bad as the drivers but the rust isn't all the way around the body mount, the hole is big enough stick your fist through. Both rocker panels are rusted out with large holes, the slightest touch just makes the paint push through. The rear 1/4's are rusted very bad too, there isn't anything left of the factory pinch welds. With the interior panels in the cargo (bed) area pulled off you can see day light all the way down both sides. There is large rust out holes in corners of both wheel humps, we had a rock kick up off the road and hit my brother in the back of the head. Two of the rear body mounts are rusted out. Needless to see the body isn't worth saving. We had to change out a U joint and while I was under the 4Runner I looked the frame over and it's actual in good shape compared to the body. I'll take some pics of the rust later..
At first my plan was to find a 1st gen 4Runner body that wasn't rusted out and swap the bodies. I've actual found few but just couldn't get the deal to work out. But I now have a 88 4Runner with a rust free body/frame locked on for $300. The guy that has it was restoring it so it's had the frame redone, has fiberglass front fenders, downey off road 26mm torsion bars, downey steering rods, and all new brake lines/brakes. The body is primed and has been fully dynamated inside (guy says there $1500 of dynamat), could be plus I guess. On a down side there's 3" body lift, could be another plus but I've never liked body lifts. There isn't a engine or trans but it was a 22re 4 cylinder, which are cheap and easy to find. The guy also has some rock sliders, a ARB bumper, and has a brother in law with wrecked 93 chevy pickup with a "3000 miles on rebuild" 4.3L. The 4.3L would be a great engine but I'm going to let my brother pick the power plant. I actual have a set motor mounts to put the 4.3L in a 4cylinder Toyota truck and I hope already have my 4.3 swapped into my 4Runner before I get that point on his.
What I'm thinking about doing is swapping in a engine of my brother's choice and keeping it IFS but going to a Long Travel kit from Home Page . This kit actual cheaper then a SAS and gives 12" of wheel travel and around 3" to 4" of lift. The rear lift will more then likely be a Deaver Spring mini pack which is what Blazeland uses to match their long travel, if I don't go them some good old 63" Chevy truck springs will great. As for tires I think 35's will be perfect with 4.88 gear depending on what engine we go with, if he wants the 22re 5.29 gears. This will be a daily driver for him and needs to be reliable. He doesn't want a show truck and as you see he does like to wheel. I think have it painted here on base but colors are limited to white, aircraft gray, or dark aircraft gray. For bumpers they will tube bumpers front (if I can't get the ARB) and rear. The rock sliders will be coming with the 88 4Runner so the rocker protection is covered.
I'll be picking up the 88 4Runner next Fri and I hope to work deal for the ARB bumper and rock sliders. I haven't seen pictures of it yet but the guy is suppose to be sending them this weekend. I will post up pics of everything when I get the 4Runner. This will be a long project since he'll be gone over a year but I would like to at least have it drivable by Sept, when he comes home for R&R.
I always watch the "Overhaulin" show and think how there should be a show like that for 4wd's. Maybe one day someone will start it up. I'm going to post this up on pirate and a few other forums with hopes of getting so good deals or help with the build. I'm more then willing to haul the 4Runner to where ever for help if I have to. I already emailed the guy that owns Blazeland Long Travel about a military discount and will be trying to get touch with Deaver Spring about their "Mini Pack".
Thanks
Steven
My brother Jeremy,
Me and Jeremy, old pic but I still rock the BYB Tee..
This is his 85 4Runner that he got off of craigslist for $2500 with over 330k miles!
It actual runs very good for having over 330k miles on it. He drove it from Ks to SC and was getting over 20mpg. It doesn't look like it's in bad shape from the pictures either but it's what you can't see is where the problem is. It's got the cancer very bad, as first we thought it was just the normal Toyota rust on the rear half. So we pulled the factory rubber flooring up and uncovered major rusted out holes in both the drivers and pass floor pans. The drivers floor pan has a hole so big you can use your foot for added braking power and it's rusted all the way around the body mount. The passenger side floor pan is almost as bad as the drivers but the rust isn't all the way around the body mount, the hole is big enough stick your fist through. Both rocker panels are rusted out with large holes, the slightest touch just makes the paint push through. The rear 1/4's are rusted very bad too, there isn't anything left of the factory pinch welds. With the interior panels in the cargo (bed) area pulled off you can see day light all the way down both sides. There is large rust out holes in corners of both wheel humps, we had a rock kick up off the road and hit my brother in the back of the head. Two of the rear body mounts are rusted out. Needless to see the body isn't worth saving. We had to change out a U joint and while I was under the 4Runner I looked the frame over and it's actual in good shape compared to the body. I'll take some pics of the rust later..
At first my plan was to find a 1st gen 4Runner body that wasn't rusted out and swap the bodies. I've actual found few but just couldn't get the deal to work out. But I now have a 88 4Runner with a rust free body/frame locked on for $300. The guy that has it was restoring it so it's had the frame redone, has fiberglass front fenders, downey off road 26mm torsion bars, downey steering rods, and all new brake lines/brakes. The body is primed and has been fully dynamated inside (guy says there $1500 of dynamat), could be plus I guess. On a down side there's 3" body lift, could be another plus but I've never liked body lifts. There isn't a engine or trans but it was a 22re 4 cylinder, which are cheap and easy to find. The guy also has some rock sliders, a ARB bumper, and has a brother in law with wrecked 93 chevy pickup with a "3000 miles on rebuild" 4.3L. The 4.3L would be a great engine but I'm going to let my brother pick the power plant. I actual have a set motor mounts to put the 4.3L in a 4cylinder Toyota truck and I hope already have my 4.3 swapped into my 4Runner before I get that point on his.
What I'm thinking about doing is swapping in a engine of my brother's choice and keeping it IFS but going to a Long Travel kit from Home Page . This kit actual cheaper then a SAS and gives 12" of wheel travel and around 3" to 4" of lift. The rear lift will more then likely be a Deaver Spring mini pack which is what Blazeland uses to match their long travel, if I don't go them some good old 63" Chevy truck springs will great. As for tires I think 35's will be perfect with 4.88 gear depending on what engine we go with, if he wants the 22re 5.29 gears. This will be a daily driver for him and needs to be reliable. He doesn't want a show truck and as you see he does like to wheel. I think have it painted here on base but colors are limited to white, aircraft gray, or dark aircraft gray. For bumpers they will tube bumpers front (if I can't get the ARB) and rear. The rock sliders will be coming with the 88 4Runner so the rocker protection is covered.
I'll be picking up the 88 4Runner next Fri and I hope to work deal for the ARB bumper and rock sliders. I haven't seen pictures of it yet but the guy is suppose to be sending them this weekend. I will post up pics of everything when I get the 4Runner. This will be a long project since he'll be gone over a year but I would like to at least have it drivable by Sept, when he comes home for R&R.
I always watch the "Overhaulin" show and think how there should be a show like that for 4wd's. Maybe one day someone will start it up. I'm going to post this up on pirate and a few other forums with hopes of getting so good deals or help with the build. I'm more then willing to haul the 4Runner to where ever for help if I have to. I already emailed the guy that owns Blazeland Long Travel about a military discount and will be trying to get touch with Deaver Spring about their "Mini Pack".
Thanks
Steven
