I just did some horse trading and ended up with a really clean (but red) '92 SR-5 4Runner. The interior is nearly perfect with the exception of a small tear in the drivers seat. Everything works great, all the windows, locks, sunroof, stereo/cd etc. I do need to charge the a/c though..It has the 3L, which is a dog but should be fine for what I intend to use it for. The red paint is doing what typical early 90's red paint does, chiping and fading. I was going to get a cheapo paint job, but....I changed my mind.

So..thanks to this great site that I just found and lurked around a bit last night, I figured out just how I'm going to build her up for a trail rig. All you guys and girls out there need to keep in mind I live in N.E. Florida, so the terrain is flat and sandy. Not to much mud (none I plan on seeking out) and I typically crawl around well marked as well as well used ohv trails.

Here goes: I have a spare set of tires for my daily ( a 2004 Chevy 2500 HD cc) which are 33x12.50x16 Trxus sTs's. They pull great in the sand and only have 9k miles on them. My Toy has nice alloys, but they're only 15", so I need new wheels. I think I'm going to go with a 16x8 Pro Comp flat black, bullet hole type wheel that retail for 128 ea.

From what I've read, I should have little to no problems running 33's so long as I lift it a little. I think I'm going to go the bj spacer/80 coil route and look for 2 inches. I'll do any extra clearancing needed via 3lb hammer massage.

The body is solid, no rust and really straight. A sligt ripple in the driver side rear quarter do to someone backing into something...nothing bad. Rather than paint it as mentiond above, I'm going to Camo-Clad it (probably an off brand as that stuff is a bit steep). After that, I'll get some sort of safari rack with trail light provisions, etc.

I really hope to be able to come in under 1500 bucks total build cost. I think so far, it's a very attainable goal. So, 2" lift, flat black wheels, some kinda camo scheme, safari rack (may be home built), lights, and thats it.

I do need to do a timing belt. How difficult is that? I've built many a hot rod, and I can't even count the number of sbc's I've built. I've never wrenched on an import though. I look forward to the challenge though.

I'll be checking back for thoughts, opinions and ideas. You're input and knowledge is greatly appreciated. I'll post up pics as soon as I take some...tomorrow evening or sometime wed. afternoon.

Thanks for reading my lengthy first post,
-Brad

 

Brad!

Welcome to the world of Toyota! You'll never leave, i swear.

As for choosing to trail-ize your sr5, i commend your decision. I wish i had an sr5 instead of the 22re, but i'll complain some other thread.

Re-doing your timing on the 3vz-e shouldnt bee too hard. Although i have the 22re and have never dealt with a timing belt, i would assume that the hardest part will be choosing where to buy your timing kit from. I recommend engnbldr.com as would i'm sure 90% of us here. Im currently in the middle of my rebuild, and have never torn down an engine in my life, considering im only 21 I've managed to do it, and i considered taking off the timing cover to be a fairly easy part...

No idea how it will go on the V-6, but i HIGHLY recommend browsing your handy forum search bar for 3vz-e timing threads and see common problems other people have had.
A Haines manual should be all you need though, considering you've built a few sprinters in your lifetime Expect a few swear words and maybe a bloody knuckle...although i swear thats all you'll go through.

I recommend taking out your radiator. The engine compartments arent very big on yotas... Your choice though...i took mine out and it made it a breeze.

Toyota likes to hide bolts to confuse us all, maybe you'll run into that problem as well.

Now, for the LIFT!
I used a 4 inch lift for mine. I run 33's. Your right by saying a 2 inch lift will clear 33's. And ive never been to Florida but i can imagine its flatness. You should be fine with only using 2 inches, if your on a budget. But i recommend a 4 inch.. only cuz i like lifted yotas.

Camo? Really? maaaaaan... to each his own

Although if you thought about it, your right...real fire doesnt belong on a yota hahaha

 

holy if you decide to camo-clad your 4runner..PLEASE..post of an A$$LOAD of pics for me..

i'd loooveee to do it..lol..

and dont skimp out on that..CAMO-CLAD is THE best stuff out there for CAMO'ing a vehicle..i've seen trucks with other stuff..and honestly it doesnt look as good for one..and 2 it doesnt last as long..even if the other stuff says "permanent" its not..
however the CAMOCLAD IS permanent (if you get that kind..they also have a removable kind too)..it will last for years and years and years..and it also WILL NOT FADE

i've seen alot of trucks done in camo clad..and seriously..dont try to do it yourself..(unless you apply body graphics for a living)..it will REALLY look a helluva lot better if you get professionally done..

more than half the trucks i've seen with camo clad were done by the owner..and they didnt look good up close..but from about 4ft away..you cant see any of the problems..because its camouflaged..lol, but once you get up close..you see the wrinkles, the little knicks that had to be takin out because the installation went wrong..

so please..get it done professionally and it will last for more than 10yrs..and look good then entire time!

 

Welcome!

FYI- ball joint spacers will lift the truck up enough to clear the tires but they will not keep the front suspension from compressing any more than stock so if 33's would rub without the spacers, they are likely to rub with the spacers if you hit a bump hard enough to compress the front end. If you are only out for clearance to clear the tires, put a body lift on- it's cheaper.

And if you're in to SBCs, you know it's possible to put one in a yota, right?

 

Alright, so 1 guy is for the Camo-Clad, one not so much. I can deal with that...Not as bad as a flame as I was expecting. As for the body lift rather than spacer style, I see 4Crawler makes a nice kit. How much of a pain is it to install a body lift on a 2nd gen?

I have seen where people swap sbc's into these things..It's all I can do to not reasearch that any more. I have this aweful "overkill" gene...It sucks! It would not bother me a single bit to put a 500+ hp stroker in there backed by a th-400 and a Ford 9"...It would bother the outta my wallet though. So I need to cease and desist with that!

Thus far, I'm changing up to a body lift and sticking with the Camo-Clad...Thanks for the replies and ideas guys, I appreciate it. I'll get pics up tomorrow.

-Brad

oh- and whats "SR-5" mean?

 

just the "better package" and not the base model...you have a tach, oil, and voltmeter guages and of course power everything...and x2 on camo clad my buddies 93 F-350/ 450 quad cab 4x4 dually is done in it....its badass, def gets alot of looks wherever you go, and yeah ide do a BL for now and you can do something to the susp later if need be

 

Another vote for camo here. Appearently back in the day sr5 stood litterally for sport rally 5 speed. today it means its got power options.

 

Don't know about the Camo-Clad stuff, a BL for now is a good idea. With a 5 speed there are not as many concerns as with the auto trans. It's an easy process. Just do one side at a time and final tighten it on the ground with weight on it.

Oh, you forgot to post pics. We want before and after pics. The more pics the better.

Welcome to Yotatech.com. You'll enjoy it here, I know I have. Read and learn. Read and laugh.

 

Some one stated it being a 5 speed, it is not, it is an auto. I think it may have gotten confusing when some one was telling me what "SR-5" meant.

Thanks for the tips on the body lift install. I'm going to go ahead and order a 4crawler kit in a week or so. Right now I'm detailing the interior, it's filthy but in really good shape. A smoker owned it (nothing against smokers) so alot of the plastic and glass is yellow'ish and sooty. So far she is cleaning up well. Thanks for the help guys/girls, I appreciate it.

As for pics, I forgot my camera today. I hope to get some pics of it soon.

-Brad

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