Builds Mak92-4Rnr's 1988 4Runner Build

[MaK92 4RnR]

Hey Ih8mud,

Haven't been around here as often as I should, been focusing on other things lately and haven't really been floating around on forums. But as everyone knows, I had a 92 4Runner that was pretty well built for being IFS still, and I always wanted a "mini" land cruiser. So, after contemplating and dealing with the 3vz in the 92. I sold her, and picked up an 1988 4Runner that had been built previously, but still had a lot of room to grow. I've owned the 88 now for a little over a year and she's been a great rig / dd. Definitely an upgrade from the 92. I actually enjoy the patina of this truck ( oxidized, manual locks/windows, no cruise control ). So i'll post what I have done to her in the past year, as well as keep updating it continuously with ideas / mods as I go.

I bought the rig with 195k miles on her back in June of 2013. The previous owner had 33s mounted on her, which were entirely way too small, So I made a deal with the previous owner and bought her without tires and 93yotaSR5 was kind enough to let me borrow his 37s. I loaded em up in my work Tacoma, took them over to the previous owners house, mounted them, got it home and then swappped the tires back onto his rig. Here's what she looked like when I brought her home:

[URL="http://i850.photobucket.com/albums/ab64/MaK92-4RnR/Other%20Vehicles/1988%204Runner/IMG_3396_zpsb2b30c7d.jpg"][/URL]

[URL="http://i850.photobucket.com/albums/ab64/MaK92-4RnR/Other%20Vehicles/1988%204Runner/IMG_3402_zps7eb515de.jpg"][/URL]

[URL="http://i850.photobucket.com/albums/ab64/MaK92-4RnR/Other%20Vehicles/1988%204Runner/IMG_3397_zps35efb639.jpg"][/URL]



[URL="http://i850.photobucket.com/albums/ab64/MaK92-4RnR/Other%20Vehicles/1988%204Runner/80008b09-fd6b-482a-8897-d54addd334e3_zps38d82cb2.jpg"][/URL]



[URL="http://i850.photobucket.com/albums/ab64/MaK92-4RnR/Other%20Vehicles/1988%204Runner/IMG_3401_zpsd6be802d.jpg"][/URL]

[URL="http://i850.photobucket.com/albums/ab64/MaK92-4RnR/Other%20Vehicles/1988%204Runner/IMG_3396_zpsb2b30c7d.jpg"][/URL]

 

[MaK92 4RnR]

The Interior was exceptionally clean for an older rig. It didn't have a stereo ( The truck was previously stolen. The driver side lock, steering column cover and a few interior trim pieces were broken and replaced, also the stereo and battery was removed from it ) The top has only two tears in the head liner, and the dash has two cracks in it. Nothing I wasn't used to in the 92.





The drivetrain of the truck was definitely gone through. The previous owner had just finished a new top end rebuild on the 3.0 ( I know, another 3vz. shoot me now ) It purred like a kitten, no valve tick at all and always filled with Toyota red. The truck was also swapped to a 5 speed at some point, which is why it carries the ECT SR5 gauge cluster. It has a v6 transmission out of a 95 truck. The 3vz is 100% stock short of a few silicone vacuum lines and an optima yellow top.

 

[MaK92 4RnR]

Being that the truck is an 88, it was obviously solid axle swapped. Done exceptionally clean. It drove straight when I test drove it and was extremely smooth at 90+ mph on the freeway. Right when I bought it, I bought a lifetime alignment for it through Firestone and its been smooth ever since. The truck is SAS'd with a 1985 front axle, that's been trussed and strengthened. The gears have been swapped to 5.29s with an open rear and e-locked front. Stock birfs and what not. it sits on Trailgears 5.5 HD springs on the front and chevy 4 leaf 63s in the rear with blocks. Shocks are pointed inward on the rear with a custom shock mount between the frame. Bilsteins all around. All driveshafts were custom built and both have CV joints in them. The front is also a balanced drive shaft, but due to the height of the rig and the angle, its not comfortable to drive over 50-55 with the hubs locked.

 

[MaK92 4RnR]

Shortly after buying the truck, I had to put it on jackstands and give 93yotaSR5 his tires back until I found some tires. I bought some 37s off craigslist for 700 bucks. They're the Treadwright 37x12.50r16.5s and came with rims. Couldn't pass it up even though they were retreads. They've been great. kind of a pain to balance, but I've had no problems with them. Not to mention they are brand new. With those on, I tested out the flex a little to see how she did and was pretty pleased with it. its taken some time to get used to the soft suspension and how tippy the rig feels, especially coming from an IFS rig. Here's a couple baby flex shots shortly after putting the new 37s on.

 

[MaK92 4RnR]

First camping trip the first weekend I bought it. Just an easy trip up to kyburz, nothing crazy. But during this trip, the starter wire fell off, I didn't notice since it still has the original automatic wiring harness underneath. But I noticed it had a bosch starter, So I replaced it with a denso after a weekend of popping the clutch to start it:















I also added a new radio before this trip:



New starter:

 

[MaK92 4RnR]

Also went to rattlesnake bar for a day just to have some fun in the lake and wheel around ( sorry, all poser shots ):








Shortly after the trip to rattlesnake bar, I was sent to do some work down in fresno. and being that my hotel was within walking distance of trailgear, I couldn't resist:





I also grabbed some hella lights, and some light tabs from Ruffstuff and welded those on:



I grabbed 6 tabs from ruffstuff and had two welded onto the current rear bumper. at first I didn't like it. but its grown on me. its welded to the frame of the truck and extremely rigid. initially I was going to cut it off and add a swing out, but I kinda like how close it is to the body, and since I was adding a Cb in the near future, and going to Pismo. I needed an antenna mount and a flag mount. Took the time to repaint the rear bumper as well.



Also added some more stickers for all my years I've been to the Pismo jamboree ( 4 total now ):



Also added a CB radio & a PA sometime before Pismo:

 

[MaK92 4RnR]

Then came the 2013 Pismo Jamboree. A group 4 of us caravan down from Sacramento each year and camp out. Pretty interesting driving around a tall SAS'd rig down at Pismo, again, used to the IFS height still:

 

[MaK92 4RnR]

Since Pismo, I haven't really done a lot to the rig short of maintaining it. ( did I mention, oil changes are a breeze on a 3vz with an SAS? cant even spill a drop! )

Here's a trip up to foresthill I made when we got snow here in Sacramento. This is at the China Wall staging area:

Good height comparison next to a 6 foot man.

 

[MaK92 4RnR]

For Christmas, I received two glowshift gauges for the truck. ( water temp and volts ) So im going to be ordering one more gauge and get the 3 gauge pod. that way I can just keep a closer eye on the 3vz temps. the stock needle gauge just isn't cutting it, especially since it jumps to the middle of the gauge even on start up ( probably a lose wire behind the cluster )

 

[KLF]

Very sweet looking truck. I'd be making plans to get rid of those rear blocks if'n I were you.

I wouldn't make it around the block in New England with a truck lifted that high.

 

[MaK92 4RnR]

Very sweet looking truck. I'd be making plans to get rid of those rear blocks if'n I were you.

I wouldn't make it around the block in New England with a truck lifted that high.

well, as of now. the blocks are needed to match the height in the front. Sure, I could put some lifted chevy springs in the back and what not. but plans are to lower it down a little, pull a spring from the front pack, and put heavier duty chevy springs in the rear.

Yeah, as long as the tires are under the fenders and aren't sticking out too far. we don't get harassed much in California. Plus, they're more worried about the typical "bro" trucks ( lifted chevy, fords, dodge and full size tundras )

If you see from some of the pictures next to 93yotaSR5's landcruiser. its barely taller than an 80 on a "J" OME lift and 37s. My frame clearance is ridiculous, but height overall is not that much different than a full size. Sure if I have to jump into the rig, but if my 5'1 girlfriend can climb in there without any complaints, its not too too tall!

 

[93yotasr5]

damn!. awesome build thread bro! this thing has even come a long way over the last year.
soft top time!!!

 

[jynx]

Very sharp rig. One of these days I will have me a 1st gen. i just hope mine is a clean as yours.

 

[ROBsSON]

Truck looks awesome man! Love the 37s! Really enjoyed reading your thread looking forward to see what else gets done!
Can't wait to put some work into my truck!

 

[MaK92 4RnR]

****!. awesome build thread bro! this thing has even come a long way over the last year.
soft top time!!!

thanks, broski! couldn't have done most without your help, especially on the tires!

Very sharp rig. One of these days I will have me a 1st gen. i just hope mine is a clean as yours.

haha yeah, mine isn't as clean anymore. the previous owner kept it in the garage, but he also had it on 33s. it no longer fits in a standard garage with the 37s on it and in the past year, the whole truck has begun to oxidize. Plus I took off its factory chrome fender flares, and there was some slight surface rust on it, and it has a dent in the driver side fender now. all minor stuff to see on a 26 year old truck, but ill tend to it soon enough

Truck looks awesome man! Love the 37s! Really enjoyed reading your thread looking forward to see what else gets done!
Can't wait to put some work into my truck!

haha yeah, the truck is definitely a tank on the 37s. but im thinking of changing the tires soon. they're retreaded ( treadwright ) military 37s, so they're extremely hard to balance. The truck has developed a shake at 65-70 mph and only gets worse past that. But it drove fine on 93yotaSR5s 37" km2s and on the 33s it had when I test drove it. Alignment and suspension geometry is kept correct religiously, too. so just the tires are being a pain.

 

[MaK92 4RnR]

Had a few people ask me how I mounted a full size CB radio in the 1st gen. Here's how:

Drilled out the small bolt on the side of the stereo bezel, put a 12mm bolt and a nut through the CB mount and tightened it down. mounted the CB on there, and doesn't interfere with my leg at all. its also extremely easy to monitor/use in its currently location.

 

[ROBsSON]

haha yeah, the truck is definitely a tank on the 37s. but im thinking of changing the tires soon. they're retreaded ( treadwright ) military 37s, so they're extremely hard to balance. The truck has developed a shake at 65-70 mph and only gets worse past that. But it drove fine on 93yotaSR5s 37" km2s and on the 33s it had when I test drove it. Alignment and suspension geometry is kept correct religiously, too. so just the tires are being a pain.

Makes sense all our humvees do the same when I take them down the road at those speeds lol
Hope the new tires fix it all though knowing the retreaded military tires do that though kinda makes me not wanna get them for my truck.

 

[TYM4FUN]

Nice 4Runner.

 

[MaK92 4RnR]

Makes sense all our humvees do the same when I take them down the road at those speeds lol
Hope the new tires fix it all though knowing the retreaded military tires do that though kinda makes me not wanna get them for my truck.

Yeah, I'd love to be able to swap them to something a little more quality. Maybe once this set gets a little worn out, and starts to shake more I'll get a new set

Nice 4Runner.

Thanks man

 

[MaK92 4RnR]

gauges for Christmas. gonna get a 3 pod gauge pod, and pick out a 3rd gauge. keep a better eye on my water temperature ( 3vz )