JT's 88 4 Runner Build

[jtaco1]

Well I finally have the 4 Runner ready to go again from when I blew the rear brake hard line. Whne I blew the line I also blew the master cylinder and booster. So I replaced both with units out of a V6 4 Runner.

I also beat the hell out of the stock skid plate on Trail 20, so I built a new one from a skid plate that Skid Row makes for a Nissan Xterra. I modified it a good bit, but it is good to go now and is made from 3/16" steel.

While I was at it I also pulled the rear t-case and had 4.7 gears put in it by Kajo Built. He did a great job and got it done fast. i also installed a set of Trail Gear Twin Sticks. It is great idleing along at 175:1

Finally here are what my Corbeau Baja SS suspension seats look like mounted to the stock sliders with a piece of angle.

Dana got me the seat covers for my B-day.

So that is where it is at this point, just a few more parts to assemble for the SAS that may happen this winter.

 

[hardontoyotas]

Nice build i had a 92 toyota truck that had 35x15.5 x15 TSL super swampers on it and it did great off road. never had a problem with th IFS font end.

 

[jtaco1]

Ended up breaking the main fuel line last time out as I was pulling it off the trailer at home, bu tgot that fixed up along with bending the skid back flat. Guess I should have used 1/4" or I need to dimple die this skid

Also got my new to me tires in today 37x13.50x15 PitBull Rockers

 

[4rnr]

used to run that tire. Best tire I ever ran, by far! you wont be disappointed, I would say dont judge them til they are broken in, but they look good to go.

 

[jtaco1]

Good to hear your feedback. A buddy had them on his early Bronco and put a few trail miles on them. I plan on mounting them on my 15x8's and run them around with the valve cores pulled to break the side walls in a bit more. I just hope the weather gets a little better for working on the 4 Runner since it is way too windy and cold here.

 

[4rnr]

Bead locks i hope! I ran mine at 1-2lbs, and they stuck to everything. If I had them as high as 10lbs, i lost alot of traction.

 

[jtaco1]

No beadlocks at this point, gonna see how they do without, maybe down the road though.

 

[MtnTrucker]

Bead locks i hope! I ran mine at 1-2lbs, and they stuck to everything. If I had them as high as 10lbs, i lost alot of traction.

Were those bias ply or radials? I have the 39" Bias ply PitBull Maddogs and was running them at 5 psi on MRW beadlocks. There was zero sidewall bulge and the traction was OK but not what I expected.

Is it really recommended to run these things around with 0 psi to break them in? I've also heard getting some extra siping done on them will help them flex a little better too, any thoughts on that?

 

[4rnr]

they were 37" bias.

These tires NEED EXTENSIVE break in!!! almost everyone I have talked to and my self, were a little disappointed the first couple runs. But after they break in and I fould a good pressure so they would wrap and wrinckle well, it only got better. After 2.5 years of use they continued to get better everytime I wheeled them.

I dont think cutting them is necessary. they dont have very large lugs to begin with and the pattern is somewhat caotic and I think that helped the tire to be able to flex in every situation I encountered.

Bottom line, once they are broken in I belive they are hands down the best over all tire on the market. I dont think they are the best in any area, but they are top 3 in everything, including road manners. They could be the best non sticky in the rocks.

 

[jtaco1]

Well I finally got the 37" PitBull Rockers installed on the 4 Runner. They have about 20-25psi in them right now and I will need to trim a bit in the front to get full steering, but they measure out to around 36" and dig through the snow great. Will be running them around with the valve cores pulled to break them in more in the future.

 

[Metal Head]

Looking good!

 

[jtaco1]

Well I was done early today. We started out in the comp course and the 4 Runner walked right up the Gauntlet. So we headed down to Jotters Way hill climb on the right. On my second attempt I stalled, at which point the truck rolled back down the climb 50-75' as I tried to miss trees as we went, I clipped the last one with my drivers rear tire and ended up like this.

Luckily no one was hurt.

We rolled it back over and let it sit. Fired it up and took it back up to the trailer. I would have kept wheeling, but when I hit the tree, I bent the drovers side spring pack to hell and lost a good bit of head room, but we were able to bend that back out with the HI Lift.

So far I like the Pitbull Rockers, but I hope to get a bit more use out of them next time. Right now I am going to try to bend and beat the cab back into some sort of shape and get a cage put in it.

 

[TRoss]

Ouch! Glad there were no injuries. Bummer bout' the sheet metal... oh well, now you can beat on it harder.

 

[jtaco1]

Here are some other pictures

Here is what it I am going after looks wise.

 

[EVILSPOTTER]

I have been in the same situation, I crunched the tin top of my '88 4runner

 

[EVILSPOTTER]

I got another top cut from calmini & just welded it on. I went with another tin top because I like my a/c, & my wife & kids don't like long trips with the top down. Just playing devil's advocate. Tubing is high right now.

 

[jtaco1]

Your fix looks great. I am hoping I can get mine looking that good again, at least the roof section.

After calling around and talking with a few salvage yards and parts guys, I have a new to me roof section coming in the next week or two for $50. Can't beat that.

Since DOM tubing locally is $5 a foot and I don't have a proper tube bender just a HF Kinker, I am ordering a 4xInnovations DOM Roll cage tomorrow. I am also getting the dash bar that he offers and will be installing a harness bar so that I can install my 5-points. I will probably tie the cage into the frame at some point as well if there is room.

Hoping to have everything done and back together before the end of June for East Coast 4 Runner Jamboree.

 

[GLTHFJ60]

I love the wide and low stance. Looks great

 

[jtaco1]

Thanks, it is incredibly stable the way it is setup unless you hit a tree at 20 mph going downhill

Cage is ordered and should be here by mid-May. Can't wait.

 

[Dedtruk]

Very cool. Are you doing the 4Runner Jamboree at Rausch the weekend of June 25? Hope to see your rig there ... Now to get my POS mini running halfway right so I can drive rather than shotgun! Here's a couple pics of a rig my buddy is building. Those are just 31s, rear is bobbed since it was hit in the rear, it'll have a 4.7 TC, locked in the rear.