The 1987 4Runner SR5

[thetoyotaman]

Meet ???, the parts rig or latest project? A few years ago I started thinking about building an 80’s rig. I started collecting some drivetrain parts and have been leaning towards an Xtra Cab. The right one just hasn’t turned up. This is only because the 82 pickup that I thought I was gonna build looks like my daughter wants to get it going. And then I thought this 4Runner I had been talking about with a buddy could be a donor of parts to the 87 turbo 4Runner my other daughter has. Well, she’s been so busy as well and I don’t want this truck sitting around forever what to do? I do have a bad habit of trying to bring old Toyotas back from the dead. The good news is that this thing is not rusted out. The bad news is the frame is bent forward of the front axle and the interior is in pieces although it came with most of it. It also doesn’t start. What does Mud think? Well, I’m not sure if I can make this a project unless I can come up with a name for it so reaching out to mud for some ideas. Or maybe I should use the parts for something else.

 

[thetoyotaman]

There are some loose wires under the intake that may be part of the starting problem. Does anyone know where these wires go? One is red on the left side of the picture and the other brown and blue with a yellow twist cap.

 

[aztoyman]

I have a soft spot for these 4Runners so I hope you save it. Hopefully @gnob chimes in. He's quite the guru on these, especially on wiring.
Good luck with whatever you decide to do with it.

 

[gnob]

There are some loose wires under the intake that may be part of the starting problem. Does anyone know where these wires go? One is red on the left side of the picture and the other brown and blue with a yellow twist cap.View attachment 4124195

the red wires are the reverse lights and the wire nut thing is the wires to the cold air valve (iac thing)
if you don't have a wiring diagram, dm me and I can shoot over my 86 ewd

 

[thetoyotaman]

More pics of the ole ride. It came with some black painted 16” white wagon wheels I sold and picked up these early 80 series wheels.

 

[thetoyotaman]

Last night I thought I would teach my son how to clean and test the bulbs in the cluster. I should have taken a picture of the cluster before cleaning it up as you couldn’t hardly see a thing and it even had a wasp nest on it. Some of the numbers have faded on the trip meter and I’m not sure how to clean or restore that.

 

[thetoyotaman]

the red wires are the reverse lights and the wire nut thing is the wires to the cold air valve (iac thing)

Thanks! I see three red wires two are going through that connector and one broken off pointed towards the engine. I also realize there’s two other connectors with nothing coming out the other side so posting that up here.

Curious, if anyone would happen to know what connector is needed to plug into the back of the IAC valve.

 

[thetoyotaman]

Bought a new fusible link to see if I could get it started.

 

[thetoyotaman]

Started cranking it and noticed a fuel leak. I tightened the flare and leak went away. I’m not sure if I have the other 2 hoses connected right. I just installed it where the hoses were together on the way to the tank.

 

[thetoyotaman]

Got her going. One of the hoses was broken as I could hear an air leak. Rusty water coming out of the tail light. Side note, when I originally purchased the truck I fogged the cylinders .

 

[thetoyotaman]

The oil pressure gauge got going after a bit. For some reason the temp gauge goes to the middle when starting the car before warmup so I don’t know if it works. Fuel gauge may be suspect too but I just put about 2 gallons in it. Voltmeter works.
Tested the lights and they all work except front turn signals. The sliders for the vents don’t all the way.

 

[thetoyotaman]

It was running a little rough, so I added some Techron to see what would happen. I let it warm up real good and it started running a lot smoother. I also have light smoke coming out of the tailpipe. Since I was told this motor was recently rebuilt I think I will try to warm it up for several days to see if it clears out a little more. I'm wondering if the rings are stuck with it sitting so long. I might change the oil to some Valvoline Restore and Protect to see if that helps.

 

[thetoyotaman]

She started right up this morning running great. Gonna do several warm up cool down cycles.

 

[thetoyotaman]

I picked up a differential I believe is an 8” with 4.56 gears and a Detroit locker. Not sure if I’m gonna use it or not as I’d like to find a E locker, but I was wondering if somebody can identify the gear brand from this picture:

 

[thetoyotaman]

One of the most rewarding things for the car project is when your kids want to help out. So today we soaked down the bolts for the rear quarter panel plastic bumper sides, and the back to the future bumpers. I taught my kid how to be careful with rusty bolts by giving them a hair of tightness and then going slow and if it gets hard go back-and-forth. He broke one bolt so we heated it up for a couple minutes with the propane torch and then took a vice grip and got that one out.

 

[thetoyotaman]

Wrangled the rear bumper off with my helper.

Started the front bumper.

 

[G-Cat]

I picked up a differential I believe is an 8” with 4.56 gears and a Detroit locker. Not sure if I’m gonna use it or not as I’d like to find a E locker, but I was wondering if somebody can identify the gear brand from this picture:View attachment 4129732

ChatGTP claims that the number indicates it is a Toyota 8/8.5” E-Locker. I’ve found Chat’s AI to be less than 100% reliable, but it puked out a long-winded explanation discounting the possibility of Detroit or ARB, and indicating it is a Toyota unit.

 

[thetoyotaman]

Thanks for the help! It's definitely not a Toyota e-locker and I have identified I believe a Detroit locker in it.

 

[thetoyotaman]

Found some more parts

Recognize this? It’s a 1985 4Runner frame. I’m considering a frame swap.

 

[thetoyotaman]

Then I found some axles I think they are from an 82. I was told by the seller that yellow paint on the pinion means 4.56 gears. Not sure if that is correct. I tried spinning the pinion and counting turns but couldn’t get that to work right.