it's been a little while since my last updates. After finishing up my new version of the fenders we've just been out enjoying the 4runner for a little bit. We got to take a few trips to the beach and a few picnic areas.

I found a crack in the rear axle and stripped it down to just the axle housing and had it welded. Too big a job for me and my MIG.


this fall and winter I'm planning on pulling the windshield out to take care of the windshield frame plus the cracked windshield. I'm also thinking about tearing the engine down. (At least). It runs strong but I suspect the head gasket is on its way out or more.

 

I did some more nonessential repairs this weekend, finally hooked up the vintage fog lights and swapped the doors for better doors we got with some spare parts that came with the 4runner. The passenger side window fell out of the track so I was going to need to take the door card off anyhow. I decided to just put the other doors on. Origanly I was planning on painting them to match but want to keep the old graphics. I still will do that.


look how that switch fit in😉



this decal may have been on the door since it early life in California so we heated it off and reglued it on the replacement door.

 

I really like that decal on the bottom of the door you put on, looks awesome! I have never seen that style decal before.

 

Exsactly why we have to try and save it!😃 it's actually in good shape too. I just need to come up with a plan for painting around it. My first new vehicle, 1990 Toyota 2 wheel drive pick up had similar stripes in silver. I only saw one other like that .

 

A little bit of a camping trip in the western part of CT this past weekend with some folks from FJNorteasters. The wife brought out our FJ on Saturday. It's warm out now but Friday night was a low of 35. Crazy. The tent is also from the 80s.

 

Last weekend was camping and thus weekend finishing up the welding rear quarter panels. I sacrificed the old drivers side door for perfect panels.

 

 

I suddenly feel dumb. After doing all my bodywork last summer it now occurs to me i could have used door sheet metal as you did, for part of it.
Oh well, next time.

 

I like how you added "next time" 😉
Addict, ha ha.

Origanly I had hopes of using parts of the old front fenders for the rears but it did not work out. This idea of using the door didn't come to me till last week. I planned on welding these sections way back in June but just slapped some decals over them and waited. Procrastination paid off!

 

I did know about the concept of using front fender(opposite sides) to repair rear fenders but after considering it, it just wasn’t right for mine.

looks like you are making good progress!

 

The idea of front fenders for the rears would have been nice but I still would have been fabricating some.

Some before and afters:


this is just tractor paint rolled on and it really needs more sanding and filler but I wanted it sealed before winter and I'm not in the process of restoring it yet.

 

all back together again and it was time to get some of my time back from it for all the welding, again 😉😁

 

another crazy idea, using old parts to fix cancer. The top of the fender isn't shaped exsactly like the rocker panel but was easy to manipulate into the shape.



I've been wanting to put this old antenna on the 4runner since we got it. I used an old muffler for it hanger bracket for the mount on the bumper.

 

another part of the fender ended up somewhere else on the 4runner 😂

 

I modified the old swing set a bit for my one man top removal. Next I'm gunna reconnect the swings themselves to hold it up in front. It could use a little more hight in the front because origanly I was planning on a idea of bolting the cap to the bar but didn't like that idea after thinking about it.

 

Hey, aren't you going in the wrong direction? I'm about to put the hard top back on! (with the help of three others)

 

No the top has to be off for Foilage Cruise time! Lol

I took it off to weld the final piece on the passenger side. It really just needed to be moved back but I had been working on the new swing set for it and wanted to see how it works.

 

It's not too cold for the top off😉😂

 

I finally got around to finishing welding up the floor pan and added some floor matting. I went with vynal matting just in case something still leaks😉 I thought the windshield still leaked but it turned out to be the door seals leaking into the door check rod. I replaced them seals and that was fixed.