nvwiggins 85 5.0 T4R HO
 

Heres the story behind this build. My first truck was an 87 SR5 extended cab that my dad had swapped a 302 HO (high output) from a 95 mustang into. Two months after getting my license I was hit by a drunk driver and my truck was totaled, we got it back from insurance and sold it to a guy in Elko with a 4Runner. Fast forward 13 years and the opportunity has presented itself to pick that 4Runner up for a pretty reasonable price, its an 85 and the swap looks just as flawless as when my ol man did it. It has been sitting for about 7 years, and needs the tranny put back together, other than that it'll require some minor maintenance but all in all I'm pretty stoked about the project. After its back on the road it'll definitely be working on some bumpers, sliders, suspension, and steering upgrades. Here are some pictures.

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Tonight I got the new shift fork installed, cleaned the transmission, adapter and transfer case up in the solvent tank, not perfect but definitely cleaner. Mocked it all back together to make sure I had the transmission top plate assembled correctly. All seems to be working correctly. Now I'm waiting on a throw out bearing rebuild, the new motor mounts and a new radiator since the previous owner put a nice sized hole in the one in it now.
Broken shift fork, $20 fix.
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All mocked back up.

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For anyone wondering this is what the adapter from the T5 to Toyota transfer case looks like.
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Ouch!!! Sorry to hear about your 87 but it is kind of cool you are getting your dads motor back after all these years. I always liked the small block Ford motors. Looking forward to your build and welcome to Yotatech.

Welcome to YotaTech, Nice build! I think that's cool too that you got your dads motor back! I wish mine was a fuel injected HO motor. I'm interested in the T5 trans and adapter, does the trans crossmember bolt up in the stock location or do you use a custom crossmember? What kind of radiator are you currently running? Does it have enough clearance with your core support? Just curious, I just got a new aluminum radiator, fan shroud , and 14" electric fan from CFR performance, but will probably end up removing and rebuilding the entire core support around the new radiator.I will be keeping the grill in the stock location, but will probably have to run hood pins unless I can find a way of retaining the factory hood latch mechanism.

Cool build, its nice to see another 302 build thread! Id like to learn more about the T5 trans an adapter as a possible option down the road if my setup doesn't work out. Im running NWOR bellhousing and a toyota G52 or G54 tranny, but am lookng to upgrade to a W56 hopefully by next summer. Anyway, look forward to seeing your progress!

Seems there are more and more V8 rigs showing up here. Nice score on buying it back with your engine in it after all the years.

Hey, your build is the reason I started on on here. I am currently searching for another radiator option, NWOR doesn't have their 4 row in stock and the $500 dollar price tag is pretty steep for me right now, I'd rather use that money for hi steer and new birfields. I found a 3 row that is made to fit the Toyota frame and talking with some radiator shops they think that should be sufficient cooling. As for a fan I currently have a 14" pusher wired to the thermostat or to a switch for constant on, this will most likely be used when off road or in slow moving traffic I'm guessing. My core support is cut a little for clearing the fan but it's just the lower section that is cut (I'll try and get some pics up soon). My cross member required zero modification, everything fits as though it was made to be in the Toyota, we'll see what happens when I do dual cases though... As for the t5 adapter I'm not sure Advanced Adapters makes it anymore, and talking with NWOR it sounds like the shorter input shaft you need to switch out with the stock Ford one isn't manufactured anymore, but that's just from what little conversation I've had with them. If you're serious about the fuel injection I know a guy with a complete 5.0 HO with all the wiring, it's just begging to go in a 4Runner ;)

I'm pretty stoked to get it back, I've always felt like I didn't get enough time with it when it was in my 87 haha

Got these in the mail today.

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Also ordered a new radiator, 3 1/2 weeks is going to go by way to slow but at least it will be the right one and I won't be worried about it getting to hot. Since I have time before its up and running I'm going to start working on a set of half doors.

Nice! I have the same motor mounts. Did you get the radiator through NWOR too?
Look forward to seeing your half doors!

Always nice when parts show up in the mail.

Yeah ended up going with their 4 row radiator, seems like the best option as far as fit and size goes, I thought about the 3 row from Davez Off-Road but I don't want to drop the money on a radiator only to have it be insufficient.

Made some decent progress today. Assembled my trans/transfer case completely, just need to fill it with gear oil. Found that my throw out bearing is too old and can't be serviced so McLeod is going to retrofit it with their newer style housing/hydraulic lines. Then I started on my half doors they are pretty fun to build, just need some thin sheet metal to finch them off then i'm making aluminum door panels and some upholstered pads for the armrest area of the half doors. Heres a couple progress pics:
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Nice work on the 1/2 doors theyre are looking good!

That's a sweet looking 56 chev in the background too!

Welp here are some pictures of the small amount of fab work I got done on the doors tonight, need to still make filler pieces for where the old door handle and lock was, and cut in some holes for the cup holder. I'm pretty happy with them so far. Made the old door lock knob the new push down door opener which runs pretty much in the window channel.

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Door isn't actually touching the 56 haha.

I hope not
Would be a shame to scratch that beauty

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How are most first gen runner guys mounting their sliders without an body lift?

Hydraulic throw out is refurbished and on its way back to me, the guy at McLeod clutch basically said that instead of retrofitting mine with the new upgrades they are just sending me a new one so thats pretty awesome!

^^^That's cool of them!

Jealous of your 1/2 doors, they turned out sweet!

Look forward to seeing your progress!

Did a little more work on the doors yesterday, sanding, evening them with some bondo, cut out my door panels and made some cup holders.
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Turned out really nice, what did you use for the cup holder?