Phill's 1985 4Runner build-up thread
 

Bought my self a 1985 toyota 4runner a few months back. I'm getting out of the whole street car scene and building things slightly more practical. this is my first truck so let me know if I am doing something wrong or there is an easier way to build it.

Pretty clean little truck it had a 2 inch lift, 33x12.50s all the interior was there minus a radio which I figured was pretty common.

got about 140 miles into my 160 mile drive back up to Flagstaff, AZ when the tranny went out. next day I bought a tranny which about depleted my funds.

after we got it back up and running, took it out into the woods and was amazed at what it'll do already.

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...8/DSCN0506.jpg broken arrow trail, Sedona, AZ

Bought a smitty built bumper, and some cheap lights from work. had to modify the bumper brackets to get it to fit but we got it eventually haha.

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...8/100_1763.jpg

Now I have a 4 inch pro comp suspension lift sitting in my buddies garage just waiting for the bushings to come it to be installed. but It'll have to wait as I have some war wounds to take care of. smashed the rear quarter going up thew devil's staircase section of broken arrow in Sedona, AZ :pissed:

next up is a toyota E-locker in the rear and possibbly a dual tcase set up with new gears. charcoal paint with black 1985 stripes and black wheel
eventually.

Just some more picture I have of it.

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...8/IMG_1140.jpg

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...8/IMG_1143.jpg

just ordered new leaf bushings, should be here tuesday. lifted 4 more inches by tuesday or wednesday depending on what time of day they get here

thats a nice 4runner

The 4runner is lookin good! If you're wanna read up some more on the e-locker swap, I have a link in my signature of my swap (it's basically the same as every other write up, but there may be somethin you haven't read yet :D ) I love mine so far!

thanks guys. i hope to do the e-locker withing the next month or two but we'll see how things go. I had a buddy out here that wanted to just weld my existing rear but it made me nervous, being that it's my DD i didn't want to deal with it.

how do you like your 4.88's? there is a 5500 ft elevation change between my house and where the woman is over summer so i'm thinking about regearing ASAP haha

here was my most recent project. sheet metal damage, yuck.

I had to sacrifice a little bit to keep myself from rolling it. lesser of two evils I guess

Before:
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...8/DSCN0781.jpg

After:
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...8/100_1991.jpg

It's just a temp. fix, eventually when I paint it all the body work will be done and this quarter will be replaced.

nice ding

well the one thing I've been looking forward to this week, my bushings coming in, didnt happen. So instead of putting my springs on tomorrow I picked up an extra shift so that I can get this E-locker or gears a little faster.

I have been doing a few little things though. It now has windshield squirters lol. the undercarriage/frame is almost completely coated in a nice coat of gloss black, along with steering arms and axles.

I've been looking through junkyards and searching for people parting out trucks, but any other good places to look for a factory Locker?

the one im looking to buy has a spool, what do you think is better?

i personally think the factory electric locker is better.


little update, still waiting on those bushings.....

Nice 'runner! I'd personally look in Phoenix junkyards more than anything for a TRD... I know it's a bit of a drive, but it may be worth it.

I'm in Prescott Valley, so phoenix is basically a short trip, I'll do some research on the yards down there and let you know if I find more than one E-locker, as I myself would like to find one too.

We have a pretty good U-pick-it here in PV also, I'm going tomorrow morning for a jeep transfer case (second in my roommate's TJ), so might as well do some Taco' searching while I'm there!

I love northern AZ, SO many running pre-86 toyota's, I bet we make the rest of the country jealous!

oh yeah, and most don't even have any rust!

Bushings came in today, the lift is half on as of right now. I had to stop and go to work, I will finish the job tomorrow when I get off of work again.

so far it sits too high for me, I'll figure something out with the shackle

I need a new driver's side steering arm and draglink if you know of any in the area, I need one asap if you know of any Mr_random I would love if you'd point me in the right direction

I'll get back to you, got a long day of work today, probably get to the JY again tomorrow, but for now I really don't know where you can find the steering stuff. Check the classifieds here first, then flagstaff craigslist, there are usually alot of old toyota things in flag.

Good luck!

well I have the rear lift on, ran into some issues with clearance in the front.

got a longer/square driveshaft for the front. as well as some longer brake lines. even as it sits, with no shocks, the flex and such is amazing.

try to get the front done tomorrow before work, and then all I have to do is decide on some shocks and start saving for a high steer kit.

pictures will come soon

Do you have any undercarriage porn of the gloss black? Hehe.

Been wanting to clean my undercarriage and spay paint a flat black. You have any paint you recommend?

P.S. sweet looking 4runner.

When I did mine I just used some stuff I had left over which was gloss black engine enamal. it turned out pretty good but it's hard to tell now, its covered in a nice layer of dirt, mud, and a little bit of oil :)

Hey guys, update on the truck. It's actually going backwards in progress. took my lift off today and am looking at possibly selling the 22re out of it.

im having an issue with warm starts. my issue is it doesn't happen. I'm looking more into it tonight after class. worst case scenario is trash the 22re and swap a 7mge/gte into it. or do a rebuilt 22re and regearing but we'll see.

anybody have any ideas on what could be causing warm start issues?

Does it just click when you try to start it warm. Or does it crank but not start?

Mine was just clicking when hot, I installed a hot shot and it starts fine every time now.