bump530

I picked up this 1990 4Runner with a 3.slo/auto from my father-in-law pretty cheap. It ran, but seemed to be really low on power due to some exhaust issues and possibly some vacuum leaks. I had been wanting something to play in for a while and this seemed like a great ride since we have two kids (4 & a new model).

The day I picked it up back in April (tires were in to bad of condition to drive the hour drive home)


Not long after unloading it off the trailer, I had to go test the 4wd system out behind the house, and it worked


One of the first things I done was a ISR mod since my factory rubber boot was held together with duct tape...it still needs some paint


I stripped the brush guard and running boards off, and then added some factory 17's and some different tires


Me and some friends (1 other yota and some jeeps) did a lil wheeling one afternoon. I already had the itch to start doing some serious mods to it, but this was the motivation to get started



I have been researching things to do to this since the day I picked it up, and Im finally starting to collect parts.

'84 frame for the front axle and tcase-FREE from an uncle


63 chevy's for the rear (one set for me, and the other for my buddy with the single cab yota from the wheeling pic above)


th350 to toy adapter...yes Im planning on a 4.3/th350 swap. Found a good deal on a used one so I jumped on it


and my latest parts that showed up yesterday....4" HD Trail Gear SAS kit


I had all intentions on building the SAS kit myself, but the blow-out sale happening this month convinced me otherwise. I wont be startin the SAS for another month or so. I have a few other projects to get out of the way first. So you can pretty much tell what my plans are of this rig. Im picking up a 700r4 w/ tcase and possibly a 4.3 from my father-in-law this weekend. The 4.3 is in rough shape and I will prolly only use it for parts and the 700r4 I plan to try to use for trading material for a th350. Im getting them for free since they are fixin to go to the scrap yard. He also said he has a couple sets of wheels (with bad tires) that I can have.

Im hoping to get lucky and the 3rd's on the 84 frame already have been geared, but if not, ill be picking up some 5.29s soon after I finish up rebuilding a 4wheeler motor for a guy.

Ive built up a few 4wheelers, dirt bikes, and a rhino, but this is my first time with something like this. Im excited to get started.

Red Wagon

Looking forward to seeing it done.

subbed


Good luck buddy.

bump530

Thanks. Im ready to get started on it, but I just need to finish some other things first. But I did order my rear leaf spring hangers, shackle hangers, and spring perches on Friday.

I thought I had the 22r from the frame I got from my uncle sold, but that guy backed out. So Id like to sell it or possibly trade it for some tires or something.

bump530

Got a package from Barnes yesterday...



Last night me and a buddy went and picked up his second parts straight axle truck. Since my axle only came with one locking hub (and the gear inside it was broke), I paid for his rear spring and shackle hangers and he is giving me a set of hubs off one of the axles. So now Im only missing a few things to having all the parts for the SAS and rear leaf swap.

rl206

Right on, I'll be watching were about in the same situation. I would like to do the 350 swap but we will see, I just picked up a front axle housing this past weekend!

I'll keep posted on this thread for sure!

bump530

Well Im hold right now until I found a 4.3 for the swap. I have decided to do the SAS and 4.3 swap at the same time. My original plan was to SAS and 5.29s while I searched for a 4.3. I just don't feel very confident with the 3.0/auto. The trans is startin to scare me and I really need to fix the crossover leak (which seems like a PITA) and vacuum line leak to have a decent running 3.0. I don't want to put any money into the 3.0 right now, just don't see the purpose.

Hopefully my search for the right priced 4.3 donor truck wont take too long. Im ready to get started. My shop is almost cleared out of other projects.

rl206

Good idea!

I'm kind of in the same boat, my tranny started acting weird about 15k ago so I had parked it for awhile and did a flush and runs fine but is still always in the back of my head.

I'm hoping mine holds up for winter, good luck on finding a 4.3!

Red Wagon

Which 4.3 engine are you looking at swapping in? Not a Toyota engine correct?

bump530

Red Wagon....no not a yota engine. Im looking for a gm 4.3tbi. Im more of a gm fan myself, and I really like that engine.

bump530

Well I picked up my heart transplant donor this evening. It's a 98 gmc. Now I just gotta find a th350 and get the computer reprogrammed and i should be ready to start building.

bump530

Does anybody have some 3.0 wiring diagrams they could send me? I have searched and found the free ones you can download, but the problem is that I don't have the internet at home and cant download them at work.

Im really needing the diagrams/pinouts for the ecm and the connectors between the dash and engine harness. I have a Haynes service manual but id like some factory wiring diagrams.

bump530

Just a small update, if anyone cares lol, to show this project isn't completely dead. I ordered a factory EWD for the 4runner and I also picked up a free Advance Adapters output shaft for my 4l60e. I have changed my plans and Im going to run the 4l60e now. I was going to put a manual valve body in it but my plan is to hook up the electronics now.

Not too much more spending will be done until I pay off my sons medical bills, which will happen hopefully in the next month or so. Sometime before then, I plan to get the 4.3/4l60e, front axle, and tcase pulled into the shop and get them all ready to be installed. I just have to finish building a trailer me and my dad have been working on since it occupies the majority of the shop.

And just for the ppl that like pictures, here is a picture of the free output shaft I scored...that saved me $180

bump530

Well I think the time has finally come to start the build. I have picked up the wiring diagrams for the 4.3, engine/tcase mounts (Ruffstuff), and TG Knuckle Wipers/Inner Axle Seals (Davez Offroad). Plan is to pull the 3.0/trans/tcase from the 4runner next week. Im hoping to knock the SAS, Rear leaf swap, and 4.3 swap in a couple months. The suspension I dont think will take too long, but the 4.3 swap I can see taking a lil while especially since Im doing the wiring myself.

And since I like to post pics, here is a shot of the Ruffstuff Crossmember set that I ordered which will be used for motor/tcase mounts.

Roark

That thing will be a killer family rig when you're done!

In one of your first posts, you mentioned you had gotten rid of your brush guard. Do you still happen to have it, or at least the outside/wraparound bars?

bump530

Yea I still have it. It's laying next to the rest of the parts I've pulled off lol.

Gizler00

iTrader: (1)

This is going to be bada$$!! Great score on the free solid axle frame!!! And you didn't waste any time collecting parts!!!

Can't wait to see where this goes!

Red Wagon

Are you going to use the frame to get the front end lower than a normal SAS?

bump530

Gizler... Yea when I was looking for an axle, my uncle said I have one I'll give ya. He tore the truck down to the frame and someone hit his cab with a tractor so he decided to scrap the project. I've been collecting parts as I find good deals and as money is available.

Red wagon... I'm not exactly sure what you mean, but I'm gonna do it just like a normal sas. I don't mind the height so much. I may change my mind later when I get to do some actual crawling but still the 4" doesn't seem to be too bad.

bump530

Finally got around to pulling the front axle from under the frame and got it in the shop. I'm gonna try to get the unnecessary brackets cut off and get it cleaned up some tomorrow before my sons bday party. Felt good to finally get that axle in the shop.

bump530

I did make a little progress yesterday. I torched off the unnecessary brackets and started to weld on the upper truss. I ran out of time before my sons bday party to finish welding it.

Unnecessary brackets cut off


Truss tacked on


These pics make me realize how dirty the shop floor is...guess I need to clean it up some lol

Here is the project that me and my dad have been working on that occupied our shop for so long and delayed me starting on the 4runner. Its not quite done, but it can live outside now that its painted. We finished wiring and installed the boards Saturday (need to replace the middle board).

We took this...


And turned it into this