Hi all! Excited to say I just bought an 88 4runner for $1600. Supposedly rebuilt 3vze engine 40,000 miles ago, but 240,000 on the odometer (drivetrain seems real strong). Everything is stock. and its definitely seen some use. Looking to gradually build it up and make it a decent adventure vehicle. So far i've;

Gutted the interior and cleaned everything (extremely dirty)
Fixed the manual shifter boot
Lubed the chassis
Oil change
Air filter

To do;
Fix the terrible windshield trim surround (held with duct tape now)
Fix the heater blower (vibrates the whole dash)
Fix the power windows (neither rolls down)
Fix the A.C. (doesn't come on at all)
Touch up the various surface rust
Fix (or at least stop) the slight quarter panel rust
Stereo
Rear bumper replacement
Suspension and wheels
And (lastly) new paint

I'm sure other problems/desires will come up as I go along... Any advice you guys have would be welcome.

 

Welcome to YT!!!

First gens rule.

 

Great find

 

Welcome to Yotatech

:wabbit2:

 

Welcome to Yotatech.

 

^^^This.

 

Thanks for the warm welcome! I'll try to take some pics as I go along. So far just an interior tear out, pictures didn't do much justice (couldn't convey the smell!). Here's a few pics. I've taken off the stickers, that's about it for the exterior....










Dirtiest air filter I've ever seen!!

 

Nice 88.
Got one just like it. Mine's getting a 3.4 swap and becoming a trail mule. Right now it's a dd until I finish my 95 4Runner 3.4 swap 2WD.

:wabbit2:

 

i know ima little late to the band wagon but welcome to yotatech!
thats a great find! looking forward to the progress, keep it up!!!!

 

Where did that air filter come from? I've had my '88 for 20 years and never seen anything like that. Mine's 99% stock.

 

Nice truck, welcome to yotatech.

 

Good looking runner.
Welcome.

 

Hey all. Thanks again for the warm welcome! I decided to degrease the engine/underside with some degreaser and a car wash. Subsequently my alternator went out (leaving me stranded by the roadside, but that's another story)-coincidence? Probably not! Usually im pretty careful about these things, but there was a lot of scrubbing required on this one. Oh well, ill add it to the list of things to do.

Speaking of things to do, here are some pics of problem areas on the truck

Bumper. Pretty simple, remove and discard! Anyone want a dented rusty bumper ?




Surface Rust

And more


This one goes all the way through


Some duct tape held window trim=real classy!


My now clean(ish) engine bay


On another note, I took the runner to a local glass shop to inquire about a universal gasket. The guy said he wouldn't do it (thought it would come up at the corners). He did say that he would do all the chrome trim, as long as i got a top piece, including removing the windshield cleaning out rust, and reinstalling windshield. All for $100 assuming the windshield didn't break. He said hes done a lot of them, could do it well with a good seal, and he definitely seemed knowledgable. Any thoughts/pros/cons of the universal gasket?