Terry a fire extinguisher is a great idea. And cheap insurance. On the first Gen runners it really doesn't do a lot of good mounted in the back like that, as it would be hard to get to in the advent of a fire. I will most likely mount it up front in the future.

The tires are great so far. They were really noisy at first but have gotten very quiet now.

 

I was wondering how they would do for everyday driving. I havent had an aggressive tread like that before, but would like the 86 to be a little more off road capable and for some of the weather we get occasionally.

 

The tires work pretty well for daily driving duties also. I haven't had them off road yet. You might want to check out the wangler dura tracs. I have them on my sons 94, they are cheaper, seam to be wearing well, have good road manners, and do really well of road.

I had the day off and could not get motivated to much of anything. The only thing I got done was painting and mounting the storage Rick. I really like the rust oleum hammer metal. Best rattle can paint there is.





I am guessing that I will still add another 50lbs to the rear, with a high lift and such. As it sits my rear shackle angle is at 40*, but I only have 3.5" of shock shaft showing. Looks like I am going to have to cut the lower shock mounts off the rear axle, and rotate them down so that I can end up with about 7" of shock shaft out of the tube.

 

That rack looks great ! Great way to get some space back.

 

Wow sir, my hat's off to you! Excellent job on the build. I noticed you have the same 211 welder as me. I like it so far. For your polishing compound, you might want to try 3M's "Perfect It II" That's what we use at the body shop I worked at and it works wonders. Worth the $40/bottle. One question for ya,

On your front square driveshaft, aren't you suppose to eliminate the double cardan if your 3rd member pinion isn't pointed straight at the transfer case? I'm doing the same thing for my driveshaft so I'm just trying to get an idea on what needs to be done.

 

Thanks man, I think I will love and hate it. It's going to be nice when the seats are up. But make it a pane when I need the space with the seats down. But it bolts in real easy.

On your front square driveshaft, aren't you suppose to eliminate the double cardan if your 3rd member pinion isn't pointed straight at the transfer case? I'm doing the same thing for my driveshaft so I'm just trying to get an idea on what needs to be done.

On the rear shaft your only want the cardan joint to slope 2-5*. But it moves t high speeds. With regular yokes on both ends, the flanges should be parallel to each other. But my front will only ever turn t low speeds. So I thought the cardan joint might help to take up some vibration. I haven't even used it yet, so I don't know if I'm right. Over on pirate there is a sticky on square shafts. Almost all them guys are running a double cardan on their square shafts. Either way it is not permanent. Just until I get the funds for a real front shaft, which I hope will be before spring.

Later

 

Oh yeah I forgot, I love my MM211. Best welder for the money on the market in my opinion. I have run about 4 10lb spools of wire through it. My trigger did brake on day. I took it apart to find out the spade connectors broke. So I soldered the wires straight to the micro switch. Other than that it has been great. I can't wait to be able to afford a nice little MM plasma. But that will be after a house. I am also on the look out for a little 110 machine, so I can build it into a aluminum only machine.

 

You did a good job on getting that mounted and having the tiedowns on. Looks great. Bet it will come in really useful.

I eventually want to get a welder. If and when do I get electric in the shop, I will have to stay with a 110 welder. I think it will do for what I need. So will keep this model in mind. Where did you get yours at?

As much as I disagree with how pawn shops do business, I will check them out for used equipment. You never know what some one will bring in. I will start seeing if I can find anything like that in there. I would like to have a plasma cutter, they do such a great job.

Seen you mentioned about buying a house. A friend told me years ago, that after you get your house you will be broke for 6 months. I didnt see how as I had furniture and everything else, but was he right, still just the small things that add up like curtains and light bulbs and the list goes on.

The house is the important thing, but when I moved from Tulsa and had a shop there, and then moved to here without a shop, I thought I would just have one built. It took me 10 years to get a shop built. Hoep you can find everything that meets your needs. Should be a good time to buy with the housing market like it is.

 

Terry - Get your welder from Baker's Welding & Gas. I got my 211 from them for $200 cheaper than the other places. Hands down, they have the lowest prices.

 

I got my elder from national welders, they beat everyone ele by about 200. If you only plan on a 110 welder, check out the miller 145. It will be a good bit cheaper, and is a really good unit.

What ever house we end up with will at least have. Two car garage, I oil like to have at least an acre. But we will see what we end up with. Price is hat really matters.

 

What an excellent build. Great work! I really love seeing someone with the patiance and skill to make beautiful finished product from what was once not so well off. My hat is off to you sir. How about a few full photos of the 4runner in the sun.

 

Thanks man. I need to get the good camera out and take some nicer photos. I have a few more little things on the outside, then I plan to get work on the inside. Interior may have wait a little bit, as I need to get the bank account cought back up. Later.

 

Doing the interior on my 88 wasnt to bad. It is mostly done, but trying toget the seats reupholstered is quite pricey. That is going to be awhile. If you have any questions about doing the interior later on just let me know. Might be able show you how to save a few dollars.

I am currently getting my replacement passenger side panels (gray) ready to start getting ready for painting to blue. I wasnt a fan of interior paint, but if done right it works great. Might start on them later this week. Got them laying out and getting nice and flat with some weight on them as they are a little wavy.

The trunk carpet is as much as the front carpet. I just used indoor and outdoor carpet or the back for alot less. Might be a shade off but you cant tell even with the seats down.

I know it is on down the road and I am having to let the cash build up myself so I know how that goes.

 

Not much to report, been pretty busy at work. But cleaning up the garge some, I decided I did not need the engine cradle I built anymore. So I repurposed it for my tubing bender. That tubing bender is heavy and hard to deal with unless it is mounted to something.





I took today off, I wanted to take back the bad ECU and put that towards some stuff I need to rebuild this spare 22re I have.



I paid $25 for the ECU, the lady took the ECU back and only charged me $25.00 for all that.

I have been working on changing all the sensors on my runner over to the new style, with much better connectors. So I went a head and grabbed the wiring for all of it.

 

Keeping things movable helps alot. You got a deal on that from the boneyard there. It would cost alot more then that here.

 

Yeah man I could not believe it when she told me it would only be an additional $25.00. Started cleaning some of the stuff up last night. I think I'm going to slowly rebuild this one, powder coat most of the bits, and see if I can't turn a buck on it.

Spent today cleaning the wife's 04 4runner. Gave it a good bath, then buffed and waxed it out. The paint is actually in pretty sad shape. Loads of rock chips, a few that are starting to rust, and the clear is coming off in few places. But it looks pretty good now. Tomorrow I'm doing the inside for her. Next week week I got to tear into her brakes, about 10,000 miles ago I put new pads and turned the rotors on all 4 corners, and the rotors are already warping again. Calipers must be sticking or something. But 180,000 miles and this is the first problem out it, so can't complain there.

On my runner I had to replace the slave cylinder this week. One day the clutch peddle started getting real hard. Got home and tore the dash apart because I thought the peddle might be cracking. Got in there and it was fine, so greased everything real good, put it back together looked under the truck and there was a big puddle of fluid, ran up town and $12 later it is smooth as butter.

I retorqued the U bolts for the first time since getting it on the road. The were pretty loose. Now the drive line vibration I was feeling is gone.

While torquing the U bolts, I noticed the rear pinion seal is leaking. Probably from running the homemade drive shaft. Ill have to get that fixed this week.

 

Trying to use up some of the stuff I have had around the shop, and make some of my stuff more usable. I cut up my cheap HF engine stand and put it on a better base, with better castors. Also stiffened up the neck. Now I can put a drip pan under it to.





No updates on the runner. Kinda of taking a little break on it. But it has been running really great. I need to replace the rear pinion seal, move the rear lower shock mounts down to allow more up travel, bump stops, mud flaps, and finish buffing out the body. Body still need a few little plastic and rubber bits. Then it's on to the interior.

Still need to take a few picture of it out and about.

Later

 

That was a great idea for an oil pan under the motor. I drained all of the oil out of a motor and thought I had it all out. Next day was still some oil on the floor. I dont have a welder but will see if I can mount a piece of ply wood under mine and see if it will work.

Great idea, I will be making something soon just to help keep the messes down. Thanks.

 

Heck yeah man, a couple of 2x4's and some plywood would work real well. I am renting, the owner is really cool about what I do around here. He is just glad to get the rent check on time every month. But I still try to keep the messes down.

I think I m going to donate my extra engine to the guy next door. He is bringing a 84 his father gave him in high school down this weekend. A young couple so I know they don't have a lot of extra cash. He said the motor is blown and asked if I would sell him the motor and all the bits, and help him change it over to fuel injected. I have just about everything to do it. And it will be cool to get another old yota back on the road. And maybe he will pass it on some day.

 

Is it your camera, my eyes or I've taken too much cough medicine but why do some of your pictures look green in parts of them?

You're truck has come a LONG way Todd

:wabbit2: