88 4Runner Project

[jynx]

Well, I guess I have put it off long enough so I might as well just bite the bullet and start a build thread. This is going to be a relatively slow process.

I bought the 4Runner in 2009 with a thrown rod for pretty cheap. I was looking for a project and the price was right. It has been camped out 2 hrs west of Nashville ever since, parked at my folks place.

It is a 3.0 auto. Not the best but I had a line on a motor and so the party started. So here she is the day I unloaded her off the trailer.

Mismatched interior and banged up tailgate and all.

 

[jynx]

First order was a new tailgate and to straighten the tail light housing up. I just picked up the tail lights from Lowe and last time I was home there was a blue jay nest in there so I will wait to plug that in until later this fall.

I am not a body man but I think we did pretty good since all we had was a ball peen hammer and some other misc. tools. Window regulator swapped and now it rolls up and down from the switch and the tailgate, when I hook up a battery.

I also swapped on a good trim piece, but I have to find that picture.

 

[jynx]

I will do a better job with the pictures as I go, but I am being lazy right now and don't feel like hosting them to photobucket so that I can properly insert them into the posts.

Currently I have a rebuilt V6 with all new internals, cleaned and cut heads with OS valves sitting on my stand. It will soon be at a point of loading it up to take to swap in over a long weekend.

As it sits right now it is in decent shape, the T-bars were cranked high and it has a set of blocks in the rear that have to go.

Short term plan is to get it running and bring it to Middle TN. Probably a set of BJ Spacers and drop the T-bars down, some new or rebuild leafs in the rear and a new set of probably 32x11.5 on the Awesome aluminum wheels that are already on it. Regear down to probably 4.88 or 5.29s and just have some fun. Replace the rear carrier with a Detroit or ARB since the PO welded it and I am not a big fan of the lincoln locker, especially since I know how well everything else seems to have been maintained.

I will post updates as they come but since I am building this one up from 100+ miles away the process will be slow, at least until it makes it back this way.

Long term I hope to do a Lexus 4.0 swap, SAS, Armor, etc. and make it into my family Crawler.

Yes it needs some love, but I apparently cant buy something that just goes, I need to have something to fiddle with, and for that it is perfect.

 

[jynx]

Well I am slow but I have 22RE parts coming so in an effort to get the engine stand cleared, I got the heads on the V6. So progress is slow but steady. Crappy cell picture of the motor with heads on.

Not special but something is better than nothing.

 

[jynx]

Forgot to attach pics.

 

[jason in tn]

nic erunner much better than what I stated with on my 86. good job on the body repairs mine were caved in on both sides. look forward to seeing it come together.

 

[jynx]

Thanks Jason. I saw yours in the readers rigs section, the yellow one, right? Any good pictures of it?

Since I am finally getting close to doing the engine swap I am now looking for some shoes since the ones on it are shot. Two of them won't hold air and it is sitting on some block to keep them from going completely flat I am now thinking of some 33x10.50 BFG KM2's for it.

I think that when I do the new gears, they will be my first try at setting up a set from scratch.

I also read a couple threads on deleting the EGR and PAIR from the 3VZ motor that I am going to see about doing. I will have to add a CAT to the exhaust since Nashville does check for that but as long as it will pass the snooper Test then I will be good to go. Anyone done a EGR/ PAIR delete that has emissions? Curious as to how that will affect the testing.

 

[jtaco1]

Looking good. Rig looks like it is in great shape body wise.

 

[snobdds]

Nice project.

 

[jynx]

Thanks guys, Overall aside from the tailgate the body is pretty solid. The PO did put a few dents in it but they look like they will be relatively easy to pop out.

The interior is pretty rough and I have been slowly trying to gather bits to get it back in decent shape. Swapped in some new seats last trip home and I started stripping the motor preparing for the swap and to get the 88 knock sensor off the top end to drop into the rebuilt motor.

I need to gather up all my pictures and do a proper timeline on it for you guys. And if anyone has a set of 33s or a front IFS diff already set up with 5.29s I am in the market.

 

[Sam Stewart]

Waitin on some more pics.

 

[jason in tn]

I dont have a diff a diff with 5.29s but I do have one with 4.88s if your intrested. I also have a few extra interior parts might have something you need. I just painted my 86 a few weeks ago still trying to get put back together so all I have is some pics of it sitting around the shop.

Sent from my detachment from reality.

 

[jynx]

Wow, I am slacking on this thread. I think I have officially taken the "slowest build" title away from Sam and his pickup, he is running strong on 37's and I am still not running. With a little persuasion, you know who you are , I am going to skip ahead a little on my schedule and sell the 3.0 and go ahead and jump into gathering up parts for a lexus swap This is also going to force the SAS to start to make sure I don't have to go back and swap the oil pans later too...

Been checking around and I may have a line on just what I need, gonna follow up tomorrow. I will try to do better and get my butt in gear on this rig. Especially since Steve and Sam need somebody to beat around on the trails with (TN board reference, sorry)