Lots of pictures in this thread.

1987 4Runner Turbo SR5 4WD

Here's a list of some things I want to do

• Pull engine
• Clean the entire engine bay, frame, and underside
• Flush the cooling system and heater core
• Clean all belt driven accessories, intake, and charge piping
• Install replacement engine/turbo
• Replace all filters
• Mazda MX6 AFM mod
• Intercooler would be nice
• New downpipe for Ct-26, O2 bungs (2)
• Wideband and boost gauge
• Replace all fluids
• New tires (friend is giving his old 31" BFGs)
• Sway bar bushings, endlinks
• Duralast FA5040 idler arm, 4crawler bronze bushings
• Remove old leaking catback exhaust
• Replace tail gate latch cables with 2nd gen cables
• New shocks, leafs, torsions
• Power antenna
• Paint top and wiper arms black with SEM trim black
• Might black out the chrome
• Refinish all plastic parts (bumper ends, mirrors, etc) with SEM trim black
• Repaint the red part on the front hubs
• Restick headliner on fiberglass top
• Paint some interior parts with 3P1 cranberry red
• Install new cargo panels I bought from Chef, after painting them
• Find replacement B pillar trim
• Grant GT black steering wheel, the classic clean looking one
• Clay, buff, wax
• New gold decals from James Dean creations
• S13WB calipers, manual prop valve for rear
• Bikini top or other soft top
• Alignment
• Replacement OEM style Tail light lenses
• Clear corners and signals

And maybe someday in the future:

• SAS
• R151 swap (as soon as I can find one)
• Marlin clutch
• DOM driveshafts
• Skids, sliders
• Rear disc conversion
• Addicted Offroad front and rear bumpers
• lockers, gears, dual cases, yadda yadda
• Seat reupholstery (I want the Turbo logo too!)

May 2012. I had recently bought a 1989 Ford Probe GT and needed some parts from the junkyard. As my friend and I stepped out, there was a 1987 4Runner sitting on the back of a trailer to be scrapped. The first thing that caught my eye was the set of 3rd gen 4Runner wheels, that I thought I might return to the junkyard for.

We got into my 3rd gen 4Runner and decided to swing by and ask him a few questions. They were selling it to the junkyard for $800.

We got out and took a closer look. It was a 1987 4Runner Turbo, with 264k on the clock. It hadn't been registered since 2009, looks like it hadn't been cared for in many years.

I could NOT let them crush that thing. It was too pretty to be torn apart. I was about to offer to buy it from him for $1,000, but he came back with an offer of $900. I asked him to tow it back to his impound lot, I would be back later to pick it up.

Went to U-Haul and rented a tow dolly:


At the impound lot:



I wanted to clean it up, so we towed it to my work, Fletcher Jones Mercedes-Benz in Newport Beach, CA.










Cleaning it up. That's my friend Lee who came along for the journey:






And towed to it's new home:


Continued in next post

 

Wow!!! Talk about a smoking good deal! You did the right thing buy saving it.

 

Nice rescue. Of course we expect an epic build.

 

The first problem was the starter. One of the nuts holding it on had gone missing. One of the steering column nuts from my parts 3rd gen and we had this thing cranking.

Day 2:










"Pick Your Part"


Left to right: Parts 3rd gen on the left, my 3rd gen on the right


The paint before and after with some scratch remover:





Pulled the plugs, cyl #4 is helicoiled. The rest of the plugs holes are in sorry shape.


Bad battery. Drained the fuel from the lines and refilled with a couple gallons of Shell V-Power 91 octane. Also drained and replaced oil and coolant.


Took the truck over to my buddy, John, who owns Japanese Car Specialties in Mission Viejo, CA. John's rig is a 1985 Pickup, which he turbo'd and swapped from auto to an R151F 5-speed. He and I are good friends and he likes to help me with projects.



Immediately got to work. The truck would crank, fire a few times, and die again.





Tested the injectors. While the cold start sensor didn't work, the injectors seem to be in working(ish) order.


Testing Fuel Injectors


Smoothed out the spark plug holes with this, John's self tapping spark plug



Compression test revealed that the #1 and #3 cylinders have bad compression (not as bad as 0, I just took the pic at 0)



There were no ignition or fuse problems, either... so we moved onto electrical possibilities. We pulled a pinout for a turbo 4Runner off the internet. Using a Vantage diagnostic scanner, we checked fuel injection signals from the ECU. Signals were fine at initial start and then stopped as the engine died.

Now, here's another reason why the perfect mechanic is really a godsend. This guy has a 1985 solid axle Toyota pickup that he's converted to a completely OEM 5-speed and turbo. This guy knows his stuff. It's about this time when John asks me for the part number of my ECU, 89661-35050. He never ceases to amaze me... he hands me the keys to his 85 and tells me to test my ECU in his truck. Sure enough, ECU 89661-35050 with the dismantler's vehicle details "1986 4Runner 4x4 Auto Turbo."



[YOUTUBE]KqMuxhPINIg[/YOUTUBE]








Getting the truck fired up was cool! The exhaust side of the turbo was cracked though, so here it is on the lift while I removed the downpipe. I didn't get a pic of the turbo, but it was cracked and then poorly welded

 

The engines main problems: bad head gasket = low compression, rod knock, helicoiled spark plug hole cylinder 4. Engine hardly creates enough vacuum, often dies during automatic gear changes. Lots of white smoke.

I was hoping it would only be a head job, but now it would be more beneficial to rebuild or even swap to a new motor. John's got an LCE pro crankshaft and H-beam rods that use bigger rod bearings, CP forged pisons (.040 over) and new piston rings... all for a 22RE... omfg haha... that'd be NUTS with boost.






I'm happy to have the truck! I've been wanting a classic Toyota. I was in the middle of another build though, so I have to leave it on the backburner until I'm caught up.

I took the top off. It really looks as if it's the first time it's ever been taken off. I accidentally broke one of the L-trim pieces inside.


4 cars in one driveway. Notice my 3rd gen parts truck got smaller... lol!


Then it disappeared completely lol... disregard the low rider, that's my brother's truck. At least the 2nd gen 4Runner front end fits the picture.




I borrowed a drill attachment buff ball thing and cleaned the hood up:



It looked so good that I did the whole truck with it:;










.... and all done!













how's that for a lot of pictures?

With the ECU working, it could actually drive pretty far. I put about 15 miles on it just for the novelty of driving a horribly neglected vehicle that still ran. The motor is junk regardless.

I got the title transferred into my name for only $110!

More coming

 

Got to work on the interior. I still haven't cleaned the seats up yet.













Center console, taken apart for cleaning:




Window switch was broken and fell into the panel. Fixed it with Loctite Epoxy mixer cups.




Washed it with my Probe GT, the car that found me this truck:


So then I was in a predicament... gradually pay off my school debt or sell this truck. I didn't want to sell it, but I figured if I posted it up for sale that I might consider selling it for the right price.

Oh and I really like to take pictures






It sat for a while, tarp over the windshield to keep the heat down. When I say a while, I mean long enough for me to pay off my school debts without selling it. I also bought an ECU for it as I was only borrowing John's before.


Here's one of the videos I took after getting the ECU
[YOUTUBE]kSSbE7mEzjE[/YOUTUBE]


The wheels are really cool, in fact I would have probably bought the same set for this truck. One problem, though...




I went over to Pep Boys to get some Duplicolor paint. It's only about $7 per can. OEM silver looks pretty good. The center caps on these wheels are from a T100, the front ones are cut out to fit the manual hubs.








Before and After:




Painted them alongside my 3rd gen's wheels, they're 17" from a Tundra. Those got a coat of Gunmetal.



While the wheels were off, you could really get a good look at the bushings and brakes. This truck is going need a boat load of new parts... sounds like a better end product to me!




It's also sagging very badly, the bumpstops hardly have any space between them.






It's starting to look good I think. The top needs some paint but that's not a priority right now.

 

Sweet that you were able to save such a nice and somewhat rare rig from doom. What's the plans then?

 

Thanks to those who've already posted. I've got some plans for the truck that I will outline in this update.

The next things up were finding the silly things that previous owners do. There was some ghetto speaker wiring done through the weather stripping on the doors.




Went back to the junkyard where I found the truck. Got a climate control bezel from an 86 pickup




While looking through 2nd gens, I took a shifter surround. The old one was broken to bits and the indicators didn't line up. I don't plan to keep the auto, a 5 speed swap will happen when I find an R151






A more recent photo alongside the Probe, which was also kept instead of sold.



I wanted to see what it would look like without sag


I googled common issues for these trucks. While reading up about the ZUK mod, I remembered I had some coils from my old parts truck. I tried them out and they fit! 15" length. Springs are from the rear of a 2000 4Runner SR5 4WD.

I had to remove the extra add-a-leafs from the springs, which was feasible thanks to my good friend PB Blaster.






It's even got some rake now!


Haha and the grand finale... I've been paying off a new toy! Half-way through, it should be mine in just a couple more months!





CT-26, already slotted for the manifold and ready to be installed.





Give or take a few things, this is where the truck is now. I'm really gonna tear this thing apart later this year.


Thanks YotaTech for being a good audience

 

That thing looks great sub'd just to see what's next

 

No Toyota left behind Just the thought of it being ripped apart carelessly hurts.

Haha one epic build, coming up!

Thank you


That turbo badge is what sold me. This was destined to be. haha.

I edited the top of the first post with my plans. Thanks for commenting

 

You paid $900 for this !? Ridiculousness!! NICE!! Cannot believe how straight it is and no rust. So the for sale sign?? How much were you askin or was that before you did the rebuild?, also nice job on how clean the engine is too.So you ever gonna wheel that thing in the dirt or is it a pavement pounder?

 

While living in Socal can get annoying, sure do love the lack of rust.

I was trying to get $2500 for it the way it was. I almost sold it to a guy for that price until he backed out and bought a 1972 BMW 2002. He got a great deal on the car so it's understandable. My price was high, but had it sold for less, I'd have regretted selling.

The motor was actually not built by me. I found the motor for sale, freshly rebuilt, after the seller decided to part ways with his project. He had all receipts and records for the motor, and gave me a far better price than if I were to rebuild my existing motor.

If there's one thing I can't wait to do, it's get this thing in the dirt!






Oh and another quick update. I mentioned at the top that I wanted a Grant GT wheel, bought one for sale on craigslist for $60. The Toyota hub adapter and horn button run about $40 from JEGS.

From the ad:

 

I like it!

 

Gotta love the red on red. Subscribed.

 

Nice looking runner! Great choice on choosing to save it.

 

Simply amazed, those red dash panels made me jelous. Was that elbow grease or orginally how you found it, too bad about those couple of cracks. I was prepared to say it lookeed like it spent a lot of time in the garage till I saw that drivers seat wear.

Enjoy your 4runner We did!

 

I clicked on this thread just because your username was Children of Bodom. I was not disappointed, my friend. Subscribed!

 

Thank you guys.

Rock auto had a closeout sale, I got 4 Monroe shocks for $51 shipped! They're waiting to be installed when the truck hits the garage.

Made a pretty successful run to the junkyard. Found a mint dome light cover and tailgate latch cable from a 2nd gen.




The original cable was rusted up and didn't travel well.


And last, turbo efi badges from an 86 pickup.


I'm going to mount them here. Right now I have both sides off the truck to refinish the original 4Runner logo as well.


I have 2-3 more payments left on the motor, should have it before the end of April. It's going in the garage soon to have the old one ripped out.

 

Man yours reminds me so much of chefyota(Mark) Wonder if he knows about this....his is same color, and stripes...Aha I'm gonna tell him

Oh, And looking good! Rigs out in Cali seem so much cleaner than here in Virginia...:/

 

Yep, I seen it! Lol.... Seen him in person, not the rig yet. But it's sweet!