jb451

Okay, so maybe i lied about the extravaganza a little....

So a little backstory: My first truck was an F150, my dad bought it brand new in 01. Well 2 years ago my sister and I had to share it because she didn't have a car. I would come home from working at night and in the morning she would take it to school. One day she went to school and totaled it. So, i went and bought my dream car, my 79 Camaro. Fast forward to two weeks ago. Been working on my brother's 01 Taco, which is the reason i signed up on YT in the first place, and i loved how simplistic and straightforward the 3.4L is. So, i decide i am tired of no A/C, constant exhaust leaks from headers, and an overcammed motor shaking me to death. So, i start looking for another vehicle. I wanted another F150 at first, but everyone wanted 8K+ for a 200K mile vehicle. So i started looking around and found a few toyota pickups and 4runners i liked, and went to check one out. Guy only wanted 1700 for it, so i figured what the heck. I was pleasantly surprised, i got there and it was in pretty good shape, 5spd, 4x4, v6..... it really just needed some light TLC to be a great car. Told him i needed to mull over it, and that i'd let him know. Yesterday we went and got it, talked him down to 1500 to boot!



I got to work right away, it got a bath because it looked like it hadn't been washed in forever. Windex-ed the windows and vacuumed.... Cleaned up pretty good, with the exception of the rear cargo area, its stained pretty badly.









Procomp shocks on all 4's








My plan of attack is to get a lot of the basic PM stuff done, change all fluids, maybe do some basic suspension work, new tires and the radio needs to get fixed. The head unit faceplate is busted and the speakers' wires have been cut. So that's my story in a nutshell so far. Looking forward to many a day here on YT!

julsruls

Looks good man.

J&Hfab

what are your future plans for the runner just a dd or make it a trail rig?? looks good tho

jb451

I haven't really decided yet, there isn't much in the way of wheeling around here, so it will just get a nice set of streetable A/T tires, and a 2-4" lift so i can run 33s in the future. I'd also like to throw a winch on it and well as more lights on the cargo rack and front bumper. For now it's a DD though. Thanks for the compliments!

J&Hfab

well 33's are def nice i love mine but you dont need a 4in lift to run them i just have the 1.5in bj spacers and a zuk mod in the rear and they clear just fine thats what i would suggest doing... and add some low pro bump stops so u get some more travel outta your truck

jb451

Do you have any issues with your cv axles running out of vertical travel space or binding?

jb451

After having a blow out on my way to work last week, pulled the trigger on some new tires. A friend of mine helped me out with a set of pep boy brand Definity Dakota A/T2's. I opted for the 31x10.5LT size, it feels like it has a bit more rigidity to the sidewalls and the truck tends to not have as much body roll. But, anything is better than the crappy tires from 01 that were on there. Got it aligned as well.





Today, since i didn't have a whole lot of cash left after tires, i just did some cheap work and re painted the brush guard, looks much better without all of the rust.



Next week i will be getting a crap ton more parts to do the timing belt, crank seal and tune up. There is a radiator shop in town, should i just take my old one and have it cleaned or buy a new one? The current one is not leaking but i'm guessing that it is original, and a new replacement is about 104 from rock auto.

jb451

Almost forgot, also got the new headunit installed. Just a cheapo 40 dollar one from sonicelectronix.com. Just wired it up to the stock speakers since i'm on a budget, works well enough for what i need it to do! Sorry for the awful pic, the phone just would not adjust.

jb451

Well, i had planned on doing my timing belt in a few weeks, but my crank seal started leaking like a sieve (literally, its a good constant drip coming out), so it looks like thats what i will be doing later this week! Parts are on order as well as the crank tool, and i already went to toyota and got a tube of FIPG and antifreeze!

Roark

Truck is looking good! For your timing belt, you referenced a crank tool..did you buy one or were you going to make one? There's a thread on here somewhere where a guy fabbed one up with some barstock and grade 8 hardware.

Welcome to YT!

jb451

I bought a schley brand tool, pn#64300. I bought one for my brothers 3.4 and it made the job so easy... i would do the barstock route, but i dont have any laying around!


Thank you for the welcome, been loving YT since i got here!

jb451

Big brown truck came last week bearing gifts!



I bought all the stuff to do the timing belt, WP, cam and crank seals, tune up, 02 sensor... Just like christmas!

Just about torn down- (It was crazy messy, i think its been leaking quite some time.)



New stuff put back on-


Runs like a champ now! Oh, the tool i bought pn#64300 does not work on the companies website it lists that it works for 3.0L v6's, but does not work with the 3vze, just so everyone knows.

julsruls

I want christmas. Looks good.

Roark

That's why I had to ask about the tool..hahaha, something was fishy about it but I couldn't remember. Anyways, it's looks good! Did you use Toyota parts or some aftermarket set?

jb451

I used an Aisin WP, and a gates timing kit, which included Koyo idler/tensioner pullies. The only two things i had to go to the dealer for was the tensioner spring (the kit didn't come with one), and some FIPG. Radiator was a spectra, and for the seals i just used timken stuff. 250 and some change from Rock Auto.

Hoping to change out my front and rear diff fluid this weekend, cant seem to find more than two bottles of synthetic fluid at any given place though. Thanks for all the kind words so far, i find it funny that i usually have more fun driving the yota around than i do my Camaro...lol

julsruls

I always have trouble finding synthetic gear oil as well in large enough quantities.

jb451

Junkyard score!!

Cruising around the jy today and i found these on an old chebby, i have no clue what brand they are-



They are H3 bulbs, so i'm gonna get some 55w replacements. I'm think 12 gauge wiring should be fine with a relay and 10 amp fuse and a relay in-between .... sound okay? Trying to run two lights off of one wire.

Also ordered headlight relay kit, along with conversion headlights so i can make the switch to H4 bulbs!

bone collector

nice looking runner. keep up the good work

jb451

Thanks Bone Collector!

a51young

sub'd
I like getting more ideas. Nice score on the lights