MaK92-4RnR

Hey Yotatech,

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:

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

Had a few people ask me over on ih8mud 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.

ChefYota4x4

iTrader: (5)

Great start to what I'm sure I'll be a fun journey... 37 hey? I thought about that, but I found a good deal on these I figured I couldn't pass it up, pretty much just like you. Its work out well for me... I was wondering, you said you wanted to bring it down... Like mine? Could you take a measurement between the wheels of the frame in two spots and let me know what it is? Obviously your an inch higher with those tires, butits just so hard to tell from pictures how much taller it is. I am pretty close to 6 foot and I don't seem that much different next to it. The reason I'm asking is not as some mine is taller than yours comparison. Lol... Hahahahaha... I'm not sure why that crack me up so much.... rather, I am asking because I really like how it sets in the rear in comparison. with all the gear that I carry on trips and so forth, my rears have already settled... I'm on trail-gear 4" springs which are really five and a half inch I guess, from what I've heard...and even though the fronts are beginning to settle, I still have rake to the rear. I do have the rack and spare, but all together that can even be a hundred pounds. I don't really care about sagging fully loaded... It's just on the trail heading up on John Bull and so forth, it can get a little hairy at times being raked in the rear. (Holy CRAP....I won't even tell you what Google thought I saidand types for me on those last four words! Hahahahaha... Seriously dude, that just about cause me to pop an eye out I was laughing so hard)...

obviously you're on 63s, so it's a little different story... But I'm curious what your measurement is from top of rim 2 trim of top of wheel well.... front and rear. I know the difference is 2 inches from front and rear... The front mean cut out more. Just curious. If you don't have time I understand. I think it looks bad ass, but I can understand it being a little bit much to feel comfortable in all situations.be careful with that setup coming over steep stuff and heading down... Even with my setup rake in the rear I had a couple Harry moments last weekend.

GREAT to see you starting a new thread! Nice job with the CB and everything else, can't wait to see what's next!

93Xtra-Cab

Subscribed!

MaK92-4RnR

Ill grab a tape and see what the difference is. All I know now is my frame height to the ground. lol

thanks

highonpottery

iTrader: (1)

new rig looks good, didn't even realize you got another so quickly. next snow (yeah right that's going to happen), lets get a group run or hit up something like greenhorn or eagle lakes

84 yota dude

Sweet 4runner!! I am Nor Cal too and I definitely don't see them that often.

2DoorJoRunner

Subbed. Lookin great so far man!

ToyoTech559

Ahh that was your rig a pismo. I remember seeing it. It's a clean 1st gen. I'll say you scored

ChefYota4x4

iTrader: (5)

That would be ok as well.... what is frame to floor?

MaK92-4RnR

yeah that wont be happening this year. hell I just got something in the mail saying that if im caught wasting water in my county, its a huge fine. neighbors, and parking patrol can report you.... lol

thanks, you've probably seen me driving around, I'm sure.

Thanks man

Yes sir! I saw you there as well. Were the loud rowdy crew there every year. green camp ftw.

Front tire to edge of the fender = exactly 10"
Rear tire to edge of the "fender" = roughly 9"
Frame clearance is 29"

MaK92-4RnR

Got two gauges for Christmas. I have an SR5 gauge cluster, but because my truck used to be an automatic, its got an ECT gauge in place of the volts. So, im going to add a 3 pod gauge pod and slap these in here. still deciding what I want for the 3rd. but here's volts and water temperature:

MaK92-4RnR

Took a quick trip to Dillon's beach and Bodega bay for 93yotaSR5's birthday.

Always tradition to get Chipotle before any trip:


Just getting there:




Shot of my interior at night ( climate control lights are getting a little tired, might be time to replace them with LEDs ):


Next morning:






Shot of camp and the area:


All in all, not a bad trip. 270ish miles. No wheeling, just driving around most of the time.