When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
I guess I’m late to this party but holy cow SEM paint is good stuff. Way better than the junk interior paint I’ve been getting at the local auto store. I used SEM Graphite on my center console that I finished restoring and on my steering wheel cover today.
Progress of my center console rebuild. The only thing I am missing are the correct stoppers for the middle and upper lids. I have tracked down the p/n and have ordered it all but I’m not sure what and what will not come In . Sometimes they list parts that aren’t actually still available.
Been doing some touch up painting since my SEM paint discovery. Mismatched trim screws were bugging me, so I’ve been tracking down to proper hardware for a lot of the interior parts.
Tailgate panel screws Entry scuff guard screws Radio bezel screws Radio bezel screws/spring nuts
Some small additions over the last few weeks. New oem mirrors because the aftermarket ones I had just wouldn’t stay where I put them. The oem ones no longer come with the plastic covers for the base but I still had a set so I lucked out. They do come with new hardware and a base gasket though. I also replaced the little grommet that covers the wire hole for electric mirrors. Under the hood I put some new side and front adjustable grommets and bumpers.
Actually, I would take it a step further and get a period correct Toyota OEM Technics AM/FM Cassette Deck with preset "Acoustic" modes [Classic, Rock, Pops, Jazz, Vocal, and Defeat (manual treble and bass adjustment)
I do admit that it isn't as convenient as Wallytoo's CD player version, but hey, I like my cassettes!
woah...this brings back memories! I wish there was an aftermarket stereo company that made period-looking stereos with bluetooth and other modern features. I know they exist for "Classic" cars but the stereos from the 80s and early 90s were pretty special.
Progress of my center console rebuild. The only thing I am missing are the correct stoppers for the middle and upper lids. I have tracked down the p/n and have ordered it all but I’m not sure what and what will not come In . Sometimes they list parts that aren’t actually still available. I
I am so jealous of that center console lid. Mine looks like ˟˟˟˟. I put some foam on and did a ˟˟˟˟ty wrap job with some crappy gray vinyl. If only someone would sell replacement pleather to recover it....I've seen some on eBay and they don't get good reviews.
I am so jealous of that center console lid. Mine looks like ˟˟˟˟. I put some foam on and did a ˟˟˟˟ty wrap job with some crappy gray vinyl. If only someone would sell replacement pleather to recover it....I've seen some on eBay and they don't get good reviews.
i didn’t use original material, but i recovered the center console lid with cordura nylon.
original cover nylon cover i made new cover installed
I am so jealous of that center console lid. Mine looks like ˟˟˟˟. I put some foam on and did a ˟˟˟˟ty wrap job with some crappy gray vinyl. If only someone would sell replacement pleather to recover it....I've seen some on eBay and they don't get good reviews.
I just took the lid to a local auto upholstery shop. He put in new foam and recovered it in about an hour. Charged me 25 dollars.
I made a full thread in mkre detail for the braking system overhaul, but I would like to add here that I swapped to V6 style rotors/calipers/master. I already had the FJ60 slaves in back. All part numbers are in the brake system thread. Trimmed dust shield, new knuckle seal, Marlin stainless lines The chaos Larger style rotors Some assembly required Freshhh More liquid power
took my truck to the texas jamboree and came back with a list of repairs and mods. i broke the wire on the temp sensor at the water neck (robbed one off a 1985 tercel at local pick yard), realized my winch was not clocked when i installed it which made it a real pain to engage through the ARB bumper so i had to pull it and fix that, decided my lights were way to dim so i did an H4 swap (see me new write up for that one) , blew out my LSPV, fubar idler arm, and a few other minor things. all fixed now but here are some parts and pics.
my idler arm was not OEM, i know i know, but it is now. previous was moog i believe and i got about 3 years about of it, and i rarely drive this truck. replaced aftermarket tail lamp lenses for OEM. the repops look good BUT they do not have a seating surface for the oem screws with nylon washer to mate on so they leak. oh btw if you didnt know, the oem lens screws have tiny plastic washers on them so keep water out, in connection with the packing lace around the edge packing pn 81552-89131 short screws (top 2) 81559-89124 and long screws (middle and lower) 81559-89132.
none of these really need an install write up because there are already plenty. but sometimes PN/s can help people, so here ya go.
last but not least, i was having a bad leak at my windshield. the urethane stuff had shrunk and the glass was pulling away. i decided to go back and redo it all. i pulled the glass, wired the channel and painted it with POR15, called a local glass guy to help me reinstall. he was very intimate with these old trucks. i went back to the OEM trim. costs about 300 bones for all the pieces. the rubber trim just doesnt hold up over time, i got about 4 years out of mine before it was peeling out.
oem lens vs repop oem installed, peep the newest version of my tailgate panels with the included laser etched keypanels emblems, oem idler, stupid expensive old lspv and bracket new vs old. one thing to note, the banjo bolt bleeder setup cannot transfer over to the new version. h4 housing installed and went to a clear clearance lamp because i can holy headlamps batman.
I ordered this bolt and bushing kit with my valve but the kit came in several weeks later. Had time this morning to remove the arm from the axle/valve and replace all the consumables. The rebuild kit will run you about 40 bucks.
i love driving my 4runner at this point, it is pretty great all around with all the work i have put in to it. there are still a few things im looking at changing though. first, i live in south louisiana and if you have never been here, its freakin hot. like horribly wet and hot. so i decided to take the plunge and start adding A/C, after reading everything i could on the project. i had a little 88 pickup that i am currently working on that had all the parts i needed so i yanked them all off. ill replace the evap box in it with the duct from my 4runner. so far i have added the harness in my cab, added the button, attached my compressor bracket (which required swapping over the bolts as well because mine were not long enough) added the vsv, and removed my duct piece, and last night i rebuilt the evap box. here are some photos to get us rolling. im including some parts that were still available from toyota like the tensioner pulley and some hardware. i have ordered new firewall grommets and the vacuum idle adjuster also. the compressor, condenser, and exp valve are all denso parts but not toyota oem, so i guess that are the next best thing. there was already a great writeup on MUD for this but i felt it was lacking some things like in cab details. the button is literally plug and play. you just have to swap over the jumper harness from the donor truck. my relays and fuses were already in the cab behind the radio. i have read, that the jumper harness has a change year around 87 i believe so you need to make sure the one you get matches your trucks plugs. also, the reason i have not been super active lately, aside from having a kid, is because i took on another project. i dragged my great grandfathers old gladiator out of a barn and decided to restore it. dont hate me for building a jeep, this one is worth it ha. the gladiator camper special pulley tensioner bolt pump to bracket bolts bracket for block bracket installed new goodies old parts pulled button installed, one screw keeps it in place evap box pulled open , 4 clips and 4 screws plugs for harness jumper harness vsv installed fuses relays evap box rebuilt with new thermistor and expansion valve and evap core.
Nice job on the AC, I redid mine last year, but my truck had AC to begin with so obviously mine was much easier. I'm at least 1 year on my refreshed system and it still works great. I live in South FL, and I know a thing or 2 about heat and humidity. In the front seat, my AC is great, I have no complaints at all, air coming out of the vents is cold. If my kids are in the back, they don't get the airflow and plus I have a softtop which is somewhat leaky...but for sure the AC is keeping them from becoming puddles of sweat.
Curious Cody, was your 4Runner an SR5 or DLX to begin with? Mine is a DLX and I guess AC was an option. I believe my 4Runner was originally sold in FL based on a FL Dealer decal on the tailgate, so maybe AC was a common option for FL destined trucks.
And finally, congrats on becoming a parent, nothing like it in the world.
Nice job on the AC, I redid mine last year, but my truck had AC to begin with so obviously mine was much easier. I'm at least 1 year on my refreshed system and it still works great. I live in South FL, and I know a thing or 2 about heat and humidity. In the front seat, my AC is great, I have no complaints at all, air coming out of the vents is cold. If my kids are in the back, they don't get the airflow and plus I have a softtop which is somewhat leaky...but for sure the AC is keeping them from becoming puddles of sweat.
Curious Cody, was your 4Runner an SR5 or DLX to begin with? Mine is a DLX and I guess AC was an option. I believe my 4Runner was originally sold in FL based on a FL Dealer decal on the tailgate, so maybe AC was a common option for FL destined trucks.
And finally, congrats on becoming a parent, nothing like it in the world.
my truck is an SR5 truck originally from California. Everything has been easy plug and play so far. Got the evap box in this week. I read in another thread here that the holes are all good 1.5” but that was not true. I measure the holes on my donor truck with a caliper and the smaller holes are 1”, the middle larger hole is 1.5”. Grommets are available And I’ll post the PN for them when they arrive.
my ac install is going slow to say the least. hurricane ida stalled me pretty bad. i am also still waiting for the vacuum diaphragm. order is taking several months it seems. i have my compressor installed, had to return mine and order the other style. i had the 4runner version and i needed a pickup version to work with the bracket i had. belt and all components are installed, had to order some 90 degree fittings for the service valves. will try and charge it soon. im worried that my dryer line will not work. i got one form toyota that didnt fit right but i added a loop to make it fit. i also do not have a dryer bracket so its just sitting there right now.
i also went to mardikrawl and had some fun with our local southern style offroad guys.
Apr 29, 2020 | 07:34 PM
