Howdyhowdy,

I suppose I'll start from the start...

In the summer of 2011 I decided I wanted to build a 1st gen 4Runner as a daily driver. Months of deciding and thinking and planning and asking and more deciding on everything from engines to carpet, and I had literally made up my mind about nothing. I burned out on the idea which I was so excited about just a few months back (long history of doing that). FF to summer 2013 and a few failed projects later, it's time to sell my crotch rocket before I kill myself (planned on getting about $2500). I see a 4Runner for sale on Craigslist for $3000. Well helloooo there....

I live in Birmingham, AL, and it's not exactly the Midwest when it comes to finding 4Runners so I was intrigued at least. I call the guy and he says he'll trade for the bike. Trade day comes around, I lay eyes on the runner...

It was kind of like hearing that a prized race horse is coming around the corner, but what you don't know is that it just finished a race. Tired, sweaty, drooling, working hard to stay up on all fours.... such was the state of the 4runner. Attachment 98267

Im a diamond in the rough kind of guy (old Indian term for "bad at calling off a deal once excited") so I gave it a once over close up. The "guy" turned out to be a 17 year old who trashed this poor thing mercilessly. Especially mud riding with the top off. However, it ran decent drove decent, the back window and A/C still worked, and I'm a real sucker for a charity case. Best I can tell from CarFax I'm the 5th owner, so I'm sure it's happy to finally be in a non-abusive foster home. haha So anyways we swapped titles, I gave him $125 for a Trail Gear baja style bumper, and drove her home. So started the journey. Red with tan interior, SR5, 22re, 5speed, 208,000miles, rebuilt title from a front passenger side impact, 2"body lift, 2"suspension lift, 33x12.50 pro comp x-terrains 30% left, and sloppy, sloppy steering. All in all for $2500, 45 minutes from home, I was satisfied. Like I said, they aren't easy to come by around here. Claims were made about an engine rebuild 1000 miles ago, some hard to make out paperwork was supposed to back this up, and although it runs, I suspect that wasn't the whole truth.

I've since fallen in love with the piece of junk. I guess I don't need to explain the love between a man and his 1st gen to anyone here. I've done some odds and ends... new brakes, wheel bearings, CV boots, parking brake, things like that. Spent about 6 hours cleaning countless pounds of mud from the interior. Got some used wheels (Old ones were mismatched), caught a set of 33x10.50 BFG AT's on sale (personally didn't like how 12.50s hung out for a DD. For some reason I like mildly lifted trucks to have tires and body in line), and got a buddy to mount and balance them cheap. All together I've only got $835 in the wheels and tires M&B. Here's a couple pics as she sits now. Attachment 98268 Attachment 98269

I've put about 2000 miles on it and gotten complacent driving it as is. However it's quality of life seems to be going down hill, so I figure it's time for the build thread to start. Welcome, and please follow along.

Welcome to YotaTech!


Pics aren't working. I use photobucket to embed the pics in, or attachments, not sure what happened on your end.


Sounds like a great project! I look forward to watching its progress. You definitely don't need to explain why you got it! lol :great:

Ahhh...another Toyota owner has been spawned.

Kinda makes my headlights leaky.


Welcome to Yotaholics. I am Highlux.

Great looking truck you have. Most of them have had a hard life. Easy to work on and get back into shape just as easy too.

REDNECK HARD TOP HOIST

Things are already getting hot here in Bama, and with no money for a soft top yet, and no one to help me take the hard top off -I live alone- I spent about $70 at Lowes and whipped up a little 3 pulley system. Save your flaming for someone who tried to do something perfect, cause I didn't. I didn't measure a thing, know nothing about pulley angles, and had it done in 2 hours including the trip to lowes. But it works just perfect for me until I can get my tan softopper. I'm sure you could make it more perfect if you planned to use it permanently. Most of it is self explanatory....I used carabiners through the bolt holes at all four corners. If you use the upper bolt holes up front (by the sunroof) you'll obviously need to shorten those 2 ropes to compensate. Top 2 pulley knots are Butterflies. All other knots are figure eights, most could be done on a bight, some had to be done as follow throughs. I purposely overshot the weight of my top at 300lbs and bought all hardware accordingly. The only thing that seems stressed is the 4 corner carabiners, they are only rated for 75lbs each. If you plan to use this permanently I might upgrade these, but they're working for me.

I dig it.

In the midst of putting in a new flywheel and clutch kit, thought just for laughs I'd share a few things.

Firstly, my redneck electrici-fied bottle jack.


Attachment 98317



Attachment 98318

1/4 to 3/8 to 11mm to reversed 1/2-3/8 reducer.
It works, that's all I'm gonna say.

Also here's what it took to get my top 2 tranny bolts out


Attachment 98319

43" from end to end. Thanks 80's toyota engineers.

Here's another....


Attachment 98320


Transmission jack? I'll be danged. The infamous electrijack and a few good ratchet straps.

Just for the record I went to HF later that night and bought a tranny jack. Lucky I still have all my fingers.

Swivel sockets come in handy for bell housing bolts.
I've done the ratchet strap method also haha.