racehoss' 1985 4Runner Build-Up Thread
May 21, 2011 | 09:18 AM
#1
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From: Austin, Texas
racehoss' 1985 4Runner Build-Up Thread
After wheeling with my lifelong buddy in his 85 runner, 37s, dual cased,
TRD supercharged 3.4v6 with arb lockers front and rear. I was hooked!!!!
Here's his, http://db.tt/404HgY7
I looked for almost 2 years for a relatively rust free 85 runner.
Well I found one in the middle of nowhere Texas. Earth, Texas to be precise.
Flew out there from Austin. SITE UNSEEN. not even a picture.
Just sounded right from the older lady selling it.
Here's what I saw when I drove up from a 10 mile dirt road.
Bought it and drove it back after changing the oil and lubing the drive shafts.
500 miles in the middle of the night in an unknown rig with 270,000 miles
can make you nervous. The old rig made it no problem. A header bolt fell out about
mile 50 and caused a loud exhaust noise under acceleration.
I found the bolt laying on the skid plate the next morning and popped it
in and fixed that issue. Good signs!
My goal: have a reliable street driver 70% of the time and a capable trail rig the other 30%. I want to hit 90% of the trails and watch the others rag it out in the rock garden.
My plan:
Best bolt on lift to fit 33s so I think I'm going with Old Man Emu full kit and heavy duty springs. I'd like to go a bit higher than 2.5 inches but don't know much about changing the stock OME shackles etc.
33x10.50 BFG km2
Would like to use stock 15x6 steel wheels but a lot of people are skeptical on mounting 33x10.50 on the 15x6 wheel?????? (thoughts?)
ARB Bull bar front bumper (winch model???)
Marlin crawler rear bumper (if they ever make new ones for sale
)
Marlin or trail gear sliders
4:70 transfer case gear swap
High steer
Arb air lockers front and rear (eventually)
REHAB ORIGINAL:
interior needs nothing it's sweet.
Fix the typical rust above rear wheels (not sure if I'm going to metal fab them or do a quality trim job). Suggestions???
Repaint top black
Repaint complete truck stock grey metallic
Here are pictures of starting condition
TRD supercharged 3.4v6 with arb lockers front and rear. I was hooked!!!!
Here's his, http://db.tt/404HgY7
I looked for almost 2 years for a relatively rust free 85 runner.
Well I found one in the middle of nowhere Texas. Earth, Texas to be precise.
Flew out there from Austin. SITE UNSEEN. not even a picture.
Just sounded right from the older lady selling it.
Here's what I saw when I drove up from a 10 mile dirt road.
Bought it and drove it back after changing the oil and lubing the drive shafts.
500 miles in the middle of the night in an unknown rig with 270,000 miles
can make you nervous. The old rig made it no problem. A header bolt fell out about
mile 50 and caused a loud exhaust noise under acceleration.
I found the bolt laying on the skid plate the next morning and popped it
in and fixed that issue. Good signs!
My goal: have a reliable street driver 70% of the time and a capable trail rig the other 30%. I want to hit 90% of the trails and watch the others rag it out in the rock garden.
My plan:
Best bolt on lift to fit 33s so I think I'm going with Old Man Emu full kit and heavy duty springs. I'd like to go a bit higher than 2.5 inches but don't know much about changing the stock OME shackles etc.
33x10.50 BFG km2
Would like to use stock 15x6 steel wheels but a lot of people are skeptical on mounting 33x10.50 on the 15x6 wheel?????? (thoughts?)
ARB Bull bar front bumper (winch model???)
Marlin crawler rear bumper (if they ever make new ones for sale
)Marlin or trail gear sliders
4:70 transfer case gear swap
High steer
Arb air lockers front and rear (eventually)
REHAB ORIGINAL:
interior needs nothing it's sweet.
Fix the typical rust above rear wheels (not sure if I'm going to metal fab them or do a quality trim job). Suggestions???
Repaint top black
Repaint complete truck stock grey metallic
Here are pictures of starting condition
Last edited by racehoss; Jul 25, 2011 at 08:06 AM. Reason: uploaded video
May 21, 2011 | 04:09 PM
#4
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May 21, 2011 | 11:55 PM
#8
Great find, .....been looking for a while for one over here(EFI, Xtra Cab PU or 4runner)
You will get tons of good info on the lift, ....just bear through the weekend(kinda slow on weekends round here..)...but an 85 UNTOUCHED 4RUNNER?... yeah, people will be over to help.
OMEmu stuff is great, ... as are a couple other lifts. Many people on here say 'stay away from the cheaper Skyjacker and Rough Country Lift kits'... and I would agree that you 'don't want blocks', (OMEmu springs would be nice, ....or maybe 'Chevy Springs' that many do seem to last and work well--- but require some moving of things to fit.)
Best wishes, and nice find! And WELCOME TO YOTATECH!
You will get tons of good info on the lift, ....just bear through the weekend(kinda slow on weekends round here..)...but an 85 UNTOUCHED 4RUNNER?... yeah, people will be over to help.
OMEmu stuff is great, ... as are a couple other lifts. Many people on here say 'stay away from the cheaper Skyjacker and Rough Country Lift kits'... and I would agree that you 'don't want blocks', (OMEmu springs would be nice, ....or maybe 'Chevy Springs' that many do seem to last and work well--- but require some moving of things to fit.)
Best wishes, and nice find! And WELCOME TO YOTATECH!
May 22, 2011 | 12:10 AM
#9
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Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 285
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From: beaverton, oregon
good to see you finally posted your rig!!!
wish i had the sense to make a build thread when i started.
craigslist will be your friend for parts. at least it has been mine.
good luck with the build
LETS SEE SOME INTERIOR PORN!
wish i had the sense to make a build thread when i started.
craigslist will be your friend for parts. at least it has been mine.
good luck with the build
LETS SEE SOME INTERIOR PORN!
gotta install something.
May 22, 2011 | 06:09 AM
#11
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Joined: May 2011
Posts: 116
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From: Austin, Texas
Just figuring out how to go back and forth and update threads.
My text seems really small but maybe because I'm using an iPad. Who knows
I'll get you some inside porn!!!
The word is that my OME order could take 6 weeks because of some back order stuff.
May 22, 2011 | 06:23 AM
#12
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Joined: May 2011
Posts: 116
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From: Austin, Texas
Oh forgot to include this little gem I have and highly recommend.
These things will save you tons of money on ice and no more soggy sandwiches or half&half cartons for coffee. It's hot in Texas and I needed to keep 93 cans of "soda" at 32 degrees.
Thinking about making one cabin width slider for the rear compartment or maybe two. Stay tuned.
These things will save you tons of money on ice and no more soggy sandwiches or half&half cartons for coffee. It's hot in Texas and I needed to keep 93 cans of "soda" at 32 degrees.
Thinking about making one cabin width slider for the rear compartment or maybe two. Stay tuned.
May 23, 2011 | 01:50 PM
#14
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Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,816
Likes: 2
From: virginia
nice to see an unbeat SFA runner. seems all the elderly folks have em and wont let em go. personally, i would go with one of the 3in lifts from rough country or sky jacker liek everybody said not to. topguncustomz.com has great prices on them and are great to do business with. if you dont like blocks for the back, get some shackles. problem solved. or the old faithful RUF and 63s is also an option. not so bolt on thought. sky-manufacturing.com has kit to make the 63s work. if its gonna be wheeled, dont spend money on gettin body work done. get a cuttin wheel and trim the fenders. take your time and it can look good. then to heck with 33s and go 35s. theres my 2 cents
May 23, 2011 | 01:57 PM
#15
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Joined: May 2011
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From: Austin, Texas
Ok about to pull the trigger on my Old Man Emu lift order. One question though. I'm going with the heavy duty front and rear springs because of the ARB bumper and gear in the rear. I've read that some of the OME shocks limit the travel of the springs because they are too short. Can anyone give me their personal experience with the OME lift and which shocks you ordered? ARB recommends N93 in the front and N85 in the back. Which ones did you go with????
May 26, 2011 | 01:32 PM
#16
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Joined: May 2011
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From: Austin, Texas
Waiting on parts.......
I'm currently trying to remedy the rust issue above the fenders as much as possible before I spray the entire truck. Should have pics of the new paint job within a week or so.
Still trying to figure out a rear bumper. I like the marlin but their welding is on a sabbatical or something. Been waiting for 2 months. One of the guys at marlin recommended Adam at 4xinnovations. His stuff looks good. Almost overkill. Thoughts on rear bumpers??? Ordered the ARB front.
I'm currently trying to remedy the rust issue above the fenders as much as possible before I spray the entire truck. Should have pics of the new paint job within a week or so.
Still trying to figure out a rear bumper. I like the marlin but their welding is on a sabbatical or something. Been waiting for 2 months. One of the guys at marlin recommended Adam at 4xinnovations. His stuff looks good. Almost overkill. Thoughts on rear bumpers??? Ordered the ARB front.
Jun 6, 2011 | 05:02 PM
#18
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Joined: May 2011
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From: Austin, Texas
Bought my 33x10.5x15 BFG km2s today from discount tire. They price matched online tires.com ridiculous low price of $151 per. I bought them before my lift came in because I also got the $50 BFG rebate. Waiting on ARB parts. Thanks 4crawler and desertgoose for all the tire help. Pics coming soon with lots of changes.
