Hello everyone,
I bought an 87 4runner a couple of years ago and have since spent alot of time on yotatech...great site and information.
I have more plans for the truck than I do time and money and I feel like I have barely scratched the surface on this project. Anyway as its been rainy in Colorado recently I thought I would spend some time and start a build thread.

Projects completed (everything I can think of):

• Dealt with loping idle issue for quite a while but it is solved
• Replaced heater control variable resistor
• Replaced control cable under passenger seat
• Installed speakers in rollbar
• Installed stereo amp in body panel near rear window relay
• Changed alternator brushes
• Installed conduit bars in back side windows
• Fixed starter wiring per Rad4runner build page
• Upgraded tires from 235/75r15 to 31/10.5r15
• Installed mechanical oil pressure gauge, mechanical temp gauge, and a voltmeter as electrical senders and gauges were failing
• Refinished louver panels

Projects ongoing/still to come:

• A previous owner (it's had at least 2) did some interesting wiring of which I am not a fan. The rear window, wiper, and defrost all have issues or don't work and the wires behind the switches have been hacked into so this is on going and a headache...would be nice to have proper function of all three. Wiper side of combo switch has similar issues.
• Power steering pump leaking badly...rebuild kit in the mail
• Issues with charging system...difficulty running wipers/lights/defrost at same time. Need this capability in Colorado. After power steering fix am likely going to replace what I believe is the b wire running from alternator to see if this helps and clean up alternator. Possibly upgrade alternator and rewire accordingly. Replace battery with optima yellowtop.
• 3 in body lift came with it when I bought it can't decide what to do with it
• New shocks input welcome...
• New steering stabilizer...ome or moog or other?
• Upgraded headlight wiring harness...in process of building this
• Retrofit round headlights and older yota pu grille to fit...have parts
• Replace rear seat belts with 3 point style
• Paint top black
• Deal with minor rust and currently poor paint job that may be either cheap paint or primer and rubs off when wet
• Add aux fuse box
• Sound deadening of some sort along with replacing original plastic panels which are brittle and broken in several places with something more durable. Interior was originally grey but has been mismatched with some red interior parts would like to fix this
• Refinish and repaint wheels
• Diagnose and fix fuel sender/receiver problem
• Replace rusty tube bumpers with something more sturdy

I am sure there is more but I have written enough for now. Any questions/comments/input are welcome. Thanks for reading.

 

Charging system upgrade I think the mod is call the big 3 and then check all your grounds through out the engine bay clean them up and u could even do bigger wires on those as well.
I have a completely hacked up wiring in my truck as well the wiper was taken out defrost is cut off just have a switch wired to ignition and the window pain in the but I am looking for a full working harness.

 

Thanks punks_is_4x4
I have read alot about the big 3 upgrade so that's the direction I am planning on going. I have already started going through and checking and cleaning grounds but havent gotten to all of them. The hacked up wiring is certainly no fun.

 

You can also upgrade the alternator there are a couple options but you will need a better battery as well. I did a 150 amp GM alternator and spliced in a GM pig tail to use my voltmeter on my gauge cluster. I've heard of people using jaguar alternators and I know there's company's that have made the stock denso alternators to a higher compacity and lce has one but kinda spendy.

 

I have been weighing my options for an alternator upgrade...I like that the lce is plug n play but the price is steep. Also I have read that some people might have issues with the high output alternators generating power at idle. I would appreciate input from anyone who may have had this problem.

 

They should tell u what the amp out put is at idle. A dual battery set up is ideal for a bigger alternator set up. I also know that some alternator shops can up grade the stock alternator for about the same price

 

So based on these this chart and the page from the fsm if I chose to go with the lce it should be fine. If I am reading this stuff correctly.
Also, when you say upgrade the stock for about same price do you mean about the same as the lce?

 

Same price as the GM i paid 150 for my GM alternator and it's huge and took putting in a new bracket for it. If I had the money I would go with the lce. Good company good return policy and you know it will be quality just a big price tag I think the last time I looked it was over 300$ !! And it's just plug n play too

 

Yeah they are 285 currently, thanks for the input man.

 

Hello, just thought I would post a quick update. Got some 3 point seat belts for the back for 20 dollars total. Thought that was a good deal. In the process of patching my top for painting. Did the big 3 upgrade and it helped my power problems immensely however, it is not functioning perfectly yet. Do not order a rebuild kit for the power steering pump from pskits.com...they are horrible and never sent my parts. I did not realize toyota had them when I made that order, ordering one from toyota today. The best project I recently completed was a blinker fix. I haven't seen anything on yotatech about this but I could have missed it. My blinkers would not click back off after being engaged. There is a plastic ring behind the steering wheel with two plastic posts on it. Mine were too worn down to click the blinkers off. Solution? Went to the hardware store and grabbed two very small nylon screws, clipped off old posts and drilled holes in spots for old posts. Screwed in nylon screws to holes at appropriate depth, clipped heads off of screws, and blinkers work perfectly. Less than 50 cents for this fix. Hope everyone is having a great summer and hitting the trails as much as possible.