LIVES4CRAWLIN91's 1985 4Runner Build-Up Thread
 

Hey so I started out with a slightly modded out 1985 toyota 4runner. I bought it with a pro comp 4inch lift... 35x12.50 dick cepecks, on pro comp xtreme wheels. with 5.29s in the pumpkins and a detroit out back and tru trac up front, it also was soft topped by canback and a homebrew front bumper wit a warn m8000 winch.

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-..._4032111_n.jpg

this is what she looked like after i bought her

i loved how she was, i ended up juinking out the rear pro junk springs and did a set of stock springs with 5.5 shackles and 2in block, I was lackin the cash to step up to new springs oh and i also added 16 in bilsteins b/c i couldnt pass the deal up, which i still need to redo my shock mounts

then this happened and caused me to think about bobbing a new bed and replacing thishttp://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-..._4601489_n.jpg

well I searched for awhile and found a cherry 1987 toyota 4runner sitting in a junkyard, the bed was near perfect and this is after i had gotten after it with a sawzall.. (sorry that i dont have alot of progress pics, I was working in a short time frame


http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-..._1914277_n.jpg

after we had trimmed down the bed and found where we were going to cut my old one off, we made the cut, talk about scary one slip and no more 4runner lol, all truggy, but this is what it looked like shortly after i chopped my old bed off


http://hphotos-sjc1.fbcdn.net/hs505....3_375533_n.jpg

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-..._5908534_n.jpg
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-...4_925473_n.jpg this is the new bed tacked on, i decided since we were at it and im considering 3linking, a 14 inch bob would suffice

I also decided to attempt something that I havent seen done to many 1st gen 4runners. Dove tailing ratchet straps work wonders, and at first i wad thinking of doving it from right behind the cab support, but decided that maybe doving it right behind the gas door would be best


http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-..._2538955_n.jpg

add a exo cage and your good to go!

one of the main reasons i decided to do an entire bed swap is that this 4runner was born in north dakota, and had considerable sheetmetal cancer. (still need to tub the firewaslls to finish off the cancer) u can see the old bed laying on its tail in one of the previous pics




http://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs505...._1894435_n.jpg all welded up. what do ya think, considerably shorter and dove isnt to noticable from the side

started on laying some paint so it was all one color and the white has always had to go


http://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs505...._6819265_n.jpg

pic of the dove


http://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs453...._2610475_n.jpg

all painted... rustoleum etching primer... there is no longer a front bumper... got tore off crappy pipe lol, ordering one from addicted offroad as soon as funds allow alongside a set of sliders, and then ill hopefully finish the suspension and after that dual case it and then exo it, oh also added a new set of fenders, the passenger side has no antenna hole (took some tracking but found a set) so smoothed on both sides


http://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs473...._1102326_n.jpg

Dovetail loots great. Love the color choise too much better than the white IMO. I really want to paint mine the newer gen forest green with some metalic flake. May do that sometime in the future. Should look into some marlin or trail gear springs. Small ones like 3"ers and get rid of the blocks.

Keep it up and more pics lol :hillbill:

I'm actually thinking of gettin some marlins I've just got more important pieces to take care of first like a 4.7 case cuz my 2.28 is done 4 and a rebuild kit for my front axle and then to keep it street legal in Texas I gotta get me a frt bumper and then I'll order me some springs probably 4's and do some Johnny joint shackle mounts and incorporate that into a rear bumper cuz I've decided links wud be sick but I love driving her all the time so I'll sacrifice some crawl to keep her on the pave... Thanks for checking it out and I'll be blowing some real paint whenever I get ready to do my exo till then rattle can is easy to fix

Soon harbor but I wanna be done with the drivetrain and suspension b4 I exo it

lol ya, i havent got to wheel mine in 6 months because ive had the upgrade itch! i have a build up of my on the TG forum, i also have like 4 days in a row off cumming up , so my question is , how far did you bring it in on each side when dove tailin? i need clearance in the rear, and i havent blown my dads mind enoung lately, shoulda seen the look on his face when i cut the rear of my bed off to bob it!:saw::saw::saw:

nice, very nice..

coming along great man keep us up to date . i thought about maybe goint the dual cases but there aint much crawlin in ohio grrrrrrr i have 2 gear cases jus siting staring at me

Ya tiger I'm planning on dual cases eventually but 4 now it will remain single cased until I moved my axles outward then I'll dual cases so I only have to order custom dshafts once . Thanks yotaman and I will keep u guys up to date in fact I just found a stock case to replace mine 4 now and will be ordering a new clutch and frt axle rebuild kit Monday oh and just got done rebuilding an 86 rearend to swap under I'll post pics in a bit

And harbor I'm not to sure... Hence I've forgotten but what I did is measure from the inside of frame to midway of my taillight and if u look at my pics u will c where we did dove it at the middle weld that's just on the top part of the bed. I cut about a quarter inch gap so it would bend there . I then notched the bed sides so they would sit on top of the frame. As u can see I did cut my entire bed pan out ( plan on doing a custom design) but when all that was said and done I took two ratchet straps one around the whole bed through the fenderwells And one on the tailgate latch hooks. And sucked it down I did have to widen the notches at the bend so they'd come flush together . Then welded it up ... Hope that explains it well if not pm me ur phone number and I'll really walk u through it. Remember measure a billion times and then measure once more andthen cut .. It is a pita on a 4runner though

well im not important enuff either dang the luck for us both. I know lc engineering has a awesome selection of performance upgrades i ordered a catalog from them it shows it all they offer stroker kits to bump the 2.4 to a 2.6 and also have a top end performance package hmmm i think they claim 30-50 horse with it they r all pricey no matter which way ya go and for the price of building the 22re you can swap a 3.4 or 4.3 in it and have a lil more or the same power so i wieghed the differences and decided to go with the bigger motor . I can tell you prices and part numbers if ya dont have a catalog

ya well lcengineering is who im plannin on going with for everything considering their products are designed to work best with one another (DUH) but im def doing an intake bigger throttle body, injectors and header with high flow cat (state regs) and also cam it and ill c where that puts me if its not enough ill probably do a head, and also an electric fan... but ya main reason im gonna spend the cash for the 22re is one less weight (im trying to stay as light as absolute possible) and once im dual cased ill have plenty of gearing. so mainly the performance mods are gonna be for dd use and I figured since motor swaps are becoming more and more popular, id be different and mod out a 22re...

BAD NEWS.. front seal is leaking like a stuck pig when the motor is at runnin temp :( damn the luck. and quick question b4 i start needless searchingt whenever im going up something steep oil leaks from what seems to be the head cant really find out exactly wherer considering it only does it when its angled like that, and what can i do to stop it. im thinking its a vacuum line that i had a buddy tell me that leaked on hjis but said something about not being able to plug it off.... any help would be appreciated eventhough this is my build thread lol

Sounds like a valve cover gasket to me. Have you checked that yet?

By the way I love your '85, In my mind the best year ever for the 4runner.

That thing looks sick! Cant wait to see some more toyota porn when you LC that 22RE

mot valve cover gasket is cherry. checked it all the way around there is oild residuals on top of the cover which made me think along the vac line notes i just cant seem to find which one ... and thanks.. dirtco helped inspire it and i just realized that lol

Thanks Pismo and oh there be plenty of toy porn ... lol that sounds way bad how about yoda porn... ooh even worse im gonna stick with u on toyota porn lol. all in good time tons of other mods to do b4 i focus on modding the motor except for the exhaust ill be doing that shortly

hmmm trying to think off what vacum line would do that and to tell ya the truth none come to mind ill check this out tomorrow on mine. Building that tough 22re would be sweat id be interested on the final outcome. if i was closer to ya id give ya my junk intake and throttle body lc charges $150 core for both i think and aint no reson to get rid of your good ones. Hmmm wonder how much shipping would be for it. oh and i agree his runner is awesome bad to the bone

Great work! Let me know if you have any questions along the way, I posted some pictures of my rear bumper / shackle mounts in the other thread you have.

You should come out to the CO4RJ this summer if your 4Runner is ready, it's always alot of fun!

https://www.yotatech.com/forums/f15/...2010-a-199370/

ya now i get how the ratchet straps came into play, i guess i wasnt reading good enough because i totally didnt notice you cut the floor pan out! but this means bad news for me beacause i have a body lift to clear the 350, so this means a world of more problems because i need to have the bed sittin on the floor pan to bring the sides in to the right spot but i also cant have it atatched, hmmm, but im gonna se if this is gonna work for my app by doin some measurin because id be doing the whole lenghth of the bed and i have a wider rear axle, i wanna do it for tire clearance issues, and i could cut the tail gate so the latch sits more on the drivers side:saw:

I already have a junk throttle body and intake forthat purpose... Off a parts truck I had and I can't wait. And dirtco thanks man I'll checkthem out in a min. I appreciate it and I'm hoping such I just moved back from farmington new Mexico bet u know where chokecherry is.... My old stomping grounds... And the runner will be driveable but that's cuz it's my dd if I have a tow rig by then or at least a car trailer I'll try I love Colorado wheeling... And tiger I'm gonna look at it again and check could be the pcv not sure tho

And Harbor u shud still be able to dove it unless ur running like a 3 in body lift cuz I had to notch the ends of the bed... U could notch them less so they still sit on frame and bam bl maintained and going full length... Be ready to cut out alot more than me that's y I decided to do a have dove if that's what it shud be called... That and I wanted to hopefully be able to squeeze to slim buckets in the back or at least a fuel cell and OBA. And still have tool room but ya harbor just measure and measure or and when I get to it my body mounts for the bed is going to consist of angle iron and some bolts using the existing tailgate holes in the bedsides to run a couple of bolts into and I'll add a lil rubber bushings to help soak some vibration if that makes sense.... Simple fix cuz my tailgate will eventually be a gate style.

Guess what guys I have got a surprise for u it is gonna take me while to do probably a month without my amounb of time... But I'm picking up a hardtop in roughly a week and then guess what I'll be doing it a custom bobbed doved hardtop... With and added bonus of custom floorpan that is easily removeable... For removal if needed and custom wheel tubs so I can radius the my rear fenders since I'm going to move my axle back about 2-3 inches ... Ur gonna love it I hope tons of pics to come

sweet go for it man i think that will be awesome and looking forward to the pics. :)

You're oil leak, could that be coming from one of the rubber grommets on the valve cover bolts?? If they are aged, they might be the culprit?

Nice runner!

Question:

What is the purpose of the dovetail?

Tiger. im def getting things in line to do it. first gotta order clutch, and flywheel... and frt axle rebuild kit and probably truss since ill have it tore down and maybe some other armor so i dont have to later... but that'll be ordered in the mornin... and wheel spacers... also then ill start saving again to do the top should be beginning of next week. I get paid weekly . ALTHOUGH heres a question what gauge of sheetmetal should i use for the enlocure... i was thinking 16 ga. maybe 14. but thats a ton of weight... so ya any opinions...

possibly Grant didnt think of that... ill check them hope not though. all i do know is it is alot of oil. enough to smoke out the place from pouring onto the manifold....

Thanks BIRDBRAIN. and my purpose for the dovetail well... if u look at my first page second post u'll see a pic of some pretty decent sheetmetal damage, and while I dont mind. i like straight body lines lol... the passenger side of the old bed was taking the same path so. i decided to bob it 14 and since I had it cut up I figured doving would be nice, a tad more original as far as 4runners, and ya but basically its design is to keep it outta the rocks, or catching up, not that thats too big of a worry being bobbed 14, but i may dove it in a lil more so when i do move the rear axle backward I wont have to radius into my taillights, not to sure if i will have too, but some measurement have made me wonder, only time will tell cuz thats still a lil ways away...