Black_1985_SR5's 85 EX-CAB Build and background story
03-18-2013, 01:02 PM
#1
Black_1985_SR5's 85 EX-CAB Build and background story
So I joined this site around 3 years ago but have been using it for 6+ years. Anyway my truck has come a very long way and i never made a thread for some reason so now ill start the build thread and do a formal introduction. My name is Cody I live In Federal Way Washington and I've been here all of my 25 years. Growing up I Had always liked my Uncle's 4runner that he bought new in 86 my dad had an 85 when I was young but so long ago that I can't recall it besides pictures and stories. I have a long time friend who is about 20 years older than me who has had his yota for 20+ years and has 500k+ plus on his cab and has done tons of various mods and upkeep including turning his regular cab short bed into a custom 4runner like truck.
But my true toyota love hadn't started yet. Around the summer that I was 19 the motor in my 1970 gmc pick gave up on me and I needed a vehicle to drive. Well remember that 1986 4runner that my uncle had? He had been maintaining it but not driving it since around 2002 when he got his dodge ram. He gave the 4Runner to my cousin but he had no real interest in it. One day i suggested to my cousin we go to the mountains to go shooting and just explore in the 4Runner. We beat the ever living hell outta that truck all summer long around Mt. Rainier completely stock that thing just would not let us down. Needless to say I was hooked and was on the search for 4Runner to call my own since my cousin wont let go of that 4Runner. Heres a year old picture its still the same minus the running boards and we finished the brake job my uncle started in summer.
I then went out and bought my own 1986 4Runner with 223k on it in perfect shape stock for $1500 with full records from day one. I started with general upkeep and then the addiction grew First all terrains 31's then i scored some 32in swampers, followed by trail gear bumpers, sliders, twinsticks, offroad lights, etc... It served for 43k until my luck ran out and tragedy ensued I blew the lower radiator hose in the middle of the desert instantly blowing the headgasket. I had to drive 30 miles to the next town middle of night and no cell service so when we trailered it almost 300miles home it was time for a new motor. I put a used DOA racing engine in it for around $1000 and got her back up and running good to go. Planned on keeping it forever doing an SAS and the works.
Fast forward a couple of months I am on craigslist looking for yota parts and I happen upon my unicorn. A Black 1985 SR5 5spd EFI Extended cab 4x4 with 116k on the clock almost no rust with a lift 35's 5.29's and lockers about 160 miles from me actually in Oregon. His asking price was $4300 i think... I talked with him for over an hour on the phone and feeling confident I decided to travel down there to see it. It came with way too many spare parts to list And i got it for $3800. I drove it home loaded down with way to many parts only 3 shocks and a broken center pin on the rear axle. Halfway home it was getting kinda warm and the oil pressure dropping. So I pulled over and let it cool down we got a new radiator cap and away we went no more issues. The next day i drain the oil to change it only to find it half empty I drove it for a while adding a quart every 1000 miles or so until i finally decided to rebuild the head and timing chain guides. Big mistake the new head increased compression and made me burn twice as much oil... So after living with this for a while I went for the whole rebuild no expense spared. Including my 4runner i took the bumpers off and sold it to a friend to fund this. Here it is the first two pics i snapped of her
Ever since that I went nuts First I put my bumpers on it and got 36in Iroks. That was good for a while i did all the little stuff like stereo and luxury items as well, Then it was time to get rid of my old suspension I had stiff as heck allpro springs up front and frankenyota aal/shackle lift in back. Sold it on craigslist and got my wallet out for Trail gear 4in springs front and rear, Bilstein 5125 shocks, IFS steering box, crossover steering, v6 front brakes, Trail gear rear disc conversion, a Trail gear front spring hanger, Big master cylinder, a Trail gear front driveline, and custom one piece rear drivline. all at once man what a different truck I built lol, but still wasn't enough so I dual cased it with everything Trail gear and got new drivlines again lol. So here my truck sits the truck of my dreams and then bam it happens 15,361 miles since the motor was rebuilt it develops a small Head gasket leak... It took about 10 months to get it fixed (under warranty) It seems long still but i guarantee you its the short version by a whole lot.
Heres my truck 850 miles since the most recent rebuild hopefully i have good luck for a while. Only things i really want to do to my truck in the future is replace my rear detroit with an e-locker, a hydro assist, bedline the whole thing while retaining the SR5 stripes, and some point swap in an OM617.
But my true toyota love hadn't started yet. Around the summer that I was 19 the motor in my 1970 gmc pick gave up on me and I needed a vehicle to drive. Well remember that 1986 4runner that my uncle had? He had been maintaining it but not driving it since around 2002 when he got his dodge ram. He gave the 4Runner to my cousin but he had no real interest in it. One day i suggested to my cousin we go to the mountains to go shooting and just explore in the 4Runner. We beat the ever living hell outta that truck all summer long around Mt. Rainier completely stock that thing just would not let us down. Needless to say I was hooked and was on the search for 4Runner to call my own since my cousin wont let go of that 4Runner. Heres a year old picture its still the same minus the running boards and we finished the brake job my uncle started in summer.
I then went out and bought my own 1986 4Runner with 223k on it in perfect shape stock for $1500 with full records from day one. I started with general upkeep and then the addiction grew First all terrains 31's then i scored some 32in swampers, followed by trail gear bumpers, sliders, twinsticks, offroad lights, etc... It served for 43k until my luck ran out and tragedy ensued I blew the lower radiator hose in the middle of the desert instantly blowing the headgasket. I had to drive 30 miles to the next town middle of night and no cell service so when we trailered it almost 300miles home it was time for a new motor. I put a used DOA racing engine in it for around $1000 and got her back up and running good to go. Planned on keeping it forever doing an SAS and the works.
Fast forward a couple of months I am on craigslist looking for yota parts and I happen upon my unicorn. A Black 1985 SR5 5spd EFI Extended cab 4x4 with 116k on the clock almost no rust with a lift 35's 5.29's and lockers about 160 miles from me actually in Oregon. His asking price was $4300 i think... I talked with him for over an hour on the phone and feeling confident I decided to travel down there to see it. It came with way too many spare parts to list And i got it for $3800. I drove it home loaded down with way to many parts only 3 shocks and a broken center pin on the rear axle. Halfway home it was getting kinda warm and the oil pressure dropping. So I pulled over and let it cool down we got a new radiator cap and away we went no more issues. The next day i drain the oil to change it only to find it half empty I drove it for a while adding a quart every 1000 miles or so until i finally decided to rebuild the head and timing chain guides. Big mistake the new head increased compression and made me burn twice as much oil... So after living with this for a while I went for the whole rebuild no expense spared. Including my 4runner i took the bumpers off and sold it to a friend to fund this. Here it is the first two pics i snapped of her
Ever since that I went nuts First I put my bumpers on it and got 36in Iroks. That was good for a while i did all the little stuff like stereo and luxury items as well, Then it was time to get rid of my old suspension I had stiff as heck allpro springs up front and frankenyota aal/shackle lift in back. Sold it on craigslist and got my wallet out for Trail gear 4in springs front and rear, Bilstein 5125 shocks, IFS steering box, crossover steering, v6 front brakes, Trail gear rear disc conversion, a Trail gear front spring hanger, Big master cylinder, a Trail gear front driveline, and custom one piece rear drivline. all at once man what a different truck I built lol, but still wasn't enough so I dual cased it with everything Trail gear and got new drivlines again lol. So here my truck sits the truck of my dreams and then bam it happens 15,361 miles since the motor was rebuilt it develops a small Head gasket leak... It took about 10 months to get it fixed (under warranty) It seems long still but i guarantee you its the short version by a whole lot.
Heres my truck 850 miles since the most recent rebuild hopefully i have good luck for a while. Only things i really want to do to my truck in the future is replace my rear detroit with an e-locker, a hydro assist, bedline the whole thing while retaining the SR5 stripes, and some point swap in an OM617.
Last edited by Black_1985_SR5; 03-18-2013 at 01:11 PM.
03-18-2013, 01:16 PM
#2
Here is a pic of the 1985 4runner I had for about a year it was an auto and couldn't afford two toyotas so i traded it for a rifle after the flexplate broke and pissed me off it had 249k on it a newer engine and everything else wearing out lol i decided a pick up with canopy is better than a 4runner cause you can just bolt a seat in the bed if you need passenger room and you don't have to listen to them
And here is the most recent pic of my pickup when i sealed the window up on saturday
And here is the most recent pic of my pickup when i sealed the window up on saturday
Last edited by Black_1985_SR5; 03-18-2013 at 01:18 PM.
03-19-2013, 05:50 AM
#5
Registered User
Hey nice truck u have there. It looks great. A few of my friends bedlined their trucks...they all hate it because after a month it looks terrible. The dirt stains it so its impossible to look nice. Just something to think about. I think the truck looks good now but if you painted it with a fresh coat of black it would look awesome.
Trending Topics
03-19-2013, 02:47 PM
#8
Hey nice truck u have there. It looks great. A few of my friends bedlined their trucks...they all hate it because after a month it looks terrible. The dirt stains it so its impossible to look nice. Just something to think about. I think the truck looks good now but if you painted it with a fresh coat of black it would look awesome.
03-22-2013, 07:15 AM
#13
Thanks man! yeah it was an interesting process cutting 5 60mm holes in my dash. I did it with the dash installed and just kind of eyeballed if there was enough space behind them and i got lucky they fit with the control boxes and all. The fact that these gauges cost more than some peoples rigs prompted me to immediately get an alarm for the truck...
03-23-2013, 10:36 AM
#17
Thanks, I got the mic at Truck City CB a few years back and I love it.
and a fecalpheliac is anyone who is obsessed with everything pertaining to poop.
Someone who's life revolves around poop: smelling it, eating it, touching it, rubbing it on themselves, talking about it, slipping it into conversation occasionally to get a laugh but secretly salivating over the idea of it.
Did you her John make that joke about poop. He must be a fecalpheliac.
and a fecalpheliac is anyone who is obsessed with everything pertaining to poop.
Someone who's life revolves around poop: smelling it, eating it, touching it, rubbing it on themselves, talking about it, slipping it into conversation occasionally to get a laugh but secretly salivating over the idea of it.
Did you her John make that joke about poop. He must be a fecalpheliac.
03-27-2013, 07:45 AM
#19
Took her out for to some forest service roads for some light wheeling and exploration found a Cressida way out in the woods shot all to hell. I drove up it higher just don't have an e-brake so this was the shot I took posin on the poor Cressida. Funny even with the condition it was in I was still looking for usable parts... there were none
