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Story time: I've wanted a first gen since I was 15 years old. A older friend of mine was a Toyota mechanic and he had an 85 Sr5 4runner on 36s that I thought was the coolest thing ever. That was what I learned to drive standard in. That was ten years ago.
That dream never really panned out, I got a 86 Samurai project instead, I traded a dirt bike for it. It was way beyond my knowledge back then because the previous owner started a 1.6 efi swap. So I sold that forgot about wheeling
Then it was time to buy my first vehicle so I could be a functioning member of society. So I bought a 2004 TRD Tacoma. I loved it, and it really got me started as a Toyota enthusiast.
Fast forward to 3 years ago, I bought my dream, an SR5 85' 4runner, 4 inch superlift (LOL) 33 all terrains, it had 4.88s and a rear lock right locker. That is what this thread is all about. I nicknamed it Orange Saphhire after I started dating my wife, because I always joked that I would have to sell it to buy her some fancy sapphire engagement ring... I didn't have to, but we did get married. My first wheeler Bought my brothers Tacoma, my first Toyota. The day I picked up my 85. 560,000 km's
This truck had 560k km's on it, being in Ontario, it was crazy rusty, more so than I thought when I bought it. All better, sorry upside down. I bedlined the new floor Now the floor can support my gear, thumbs up Wheeled it a lot, went camping. Had a great time with my buddies Need a winched after wedging myself against some trees on a slippery trail
By this time I was still trailering it to go wheeling, it didn't really make sense to keep it on 33s if I was going to trailer it. I didn't like the push pull steering, I was starting to crawl more, and I wanted some more flex
Got some 36 Super swampers, sold the 33s to a friend and picked up some military tires for a friends truggy project Cut the front off Trussed with TG stuff Painted and assembled with FJ60 rotors and v6 calipers Welded sky's drop hanger on the front and did RUF springs 6 leaf pack was way too high because I hadn't touched the rear yet.
Painted rims black Camping with the wife I took these pictures for a kijiji ad (like Canadian version of Craigslist) It was super rusty all over and I decided that I wanted to sell or part out and build something cleaner that I could daily drive every now again. I'm a Landscaper so my red Ford is what i drive everyday, but I figured I could drive my wheeler around on the weekends or get groceries and stuff
Then I realized that every time somebody inquired about my truck I would turn them away, or make excuses because I really didn't want to sell it and I knew because the body was so bad that I would never get the money I wanted.
So I bought this instead. 88' base model. Decent body, blown 22re, good top, OK interior.
Bought the 88, but the trucks were staying at my parents house where my shop and equipment is, so progress was pretty slow. I didn't touch the 88 for a while but I kept wheeling the 85 for a few more months. Went on our annual trip with my buddies which was awesome. And used it for firewood.
The day I got the 88 body on the 85 frame. I was worried about this part, because I don't have a hoist, and the body was at my friends shop where I don't have any of my heavy equipment. Ended up using an engine house and ratchet strapping from the roll bar up to the ceiling joists in his garage.
Once I got it to this point, progress went a little faster. It was a year working on it up to this point and it was driving me nuts that it wasn't near to be done.
I freshened up the 87' 22re over the winter, had an Sr5 gauge cluster to go in it. Then I stumbled upon a TG front bumper and dual skid plate, a used high steer and a set of solid axles. Parted out what I didn't need and kept the rest.
Needless to say the 88 was not perfect as you can see. I went over it with a magnetic when I bought it. And it was much better than my orange rig. I definitely don't want anything perfect, I will wheel this truck but I wanted any holes fixed and the floor. And I wanted to paint it something that could be touched up easily. So stripped it, sanded it, and started a rustoleum paint job
Got these 35" old style MTRson Tacoma rims. And first coat of primer! Engine bay painted First base coat Final basecoat and taped off for the SR5 stripes Final product after painting the top. Definitely not professional, but easy to touch up and should look good in the meantime
Once it dried I stabbed the 22re back in Happy to be home Tough to get a lifted vehicle low enough to get the motor over the core support Then the weather got cold How it sits today except it's buried in 2 feet of snow Work truck ready for snow
Sandblasted and POR15 on the backing plate and IFS width rear axle. Finally got the axle back under it. Now I can bring up into the shop and start going on the rest of it. To do list for anyone who cares:
1. Axle back in and tires on ✔️
2. Find leak in cooling system
3. Water pump and gasket
4. Clutch adjustment
5. Ebrake and all brake lines
6. Fan resistor
7. Gauge Cluster fix temp gauge (tighten small screws behind the circuit board
8. New front axle seals and backing plate Eliminator kit, repack birfields
9. Diff fluid F/R
10. Wildwood brake proportioning valve
11. Install Steering stabilizer and new pitman arm
12. Figure out rear window electrical
13. Install Cb
To weld:
1. Bump stops
2. Rock Sliders
3. Winch hook
4. Mounting Tabs for hi lift and spare driveshaft on rear rollcage
5. Build rear bumper and tire carrier
12-23-2017, 06:00 AM
