Melrose 4runner 1986 restomod summer beach truck
#81
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Thread Starter
The "un-hacking" continues...this pile of wires was a previous owner's horn relay circuit. Yesterday, the horn stopped working. Today I soldered back the original wiring and it's working well again. Did these trucks originally come with one horn or two? Mine sounds like "boont, boont"
Last edited by Melrose 4r; 07-09-2017 at 06:12 PM.
#82
They aren't common in Indiana either, mine is the only one I've ever seen with the top off, I get tons of second, confused looks!
Glad to see loads of good work being done, bumper looks great!
#83
The "un-hacking" continues...this pile of wires was a previous owner's horn relay circuit. Yesterday, the horn stopped working. Today I soldered back the original wiring and it's working well again. Did these trucks originally come with one horn or two? Mine sounds like "boont, boont"
Part of the problem is excessively long wiring, similar to the headlight and cranking circuits.
The current to the horn goes from battery, to horn fuse, to horn, to cabin, to steering column switch (switched-ground), back to engine compartment, to ground point "c" inside left front fender! Now do you guys agree that Toyota mechanical engineers of those days were much better than its electrical engineers?
I already got a plain-jane Hella that I will add to stock. Will also modify the stock wiring so the horn button will only control a relay, and the relay will carry current to both horns.
I want good horns that I can use more often than the brakes; they don't wear out as fast. LOL!
#84
Registered User
The correct sound is "Meep, meep." Very wimpy but I like it.
You have to post a picture of your OEM radio. I wish I had one for this one. All I've done to the previous owner's Sony radio is to replace the speakers. My son is oddly not much of a radio listener.
My '89 at 151,000 original miles uses half a quart of oil a month. It does not leak and it is getting 20 MPG. I'm not sure where the oil is going. I've been trying to train him to check the oil at every other fill up. I had one of these from the time it was new up to 100k and it didn't use oil I guess we have trouble ahead. I have never changed the fluid in the manual trans. I went as far as buying the right sockets but it hasn't happened yet. Have changed the rear dif oil but not the front.
You have to post a picture of your OEM radio. I wish I had one for this one. All I've done to the previous owner's Sony radio is to replace the speakers. My son is oddly not much of a radio listener.
My '89 at 151,000 original miles uses half a quart of oil a month. It does not leak and it is getting 20 MPG. I'm not sure where the oil is going. I've been trying to train him to check the oil at every other fill up. I had one of these from the time it was new up to 100k and it didn't use oil I guess we have trouble ahead. I have never changed the fluid in the manual trans. I went as far as buying the right sockets but it hasn't happened yet. Have changed the rear dif oil but not the front.
#85
I was advised to check PCV valves, i guess if the wrong valve gets stuck you can end up blowing oil out the back (without burning it)
#86
Registered User
Thread Starter
I dont think mine is burning oil, haven't seen any smoke. But this was the first time i checked it. It has several leaks, valve cover, distributor(now fixed) and rear main it appears. After i set the valves i'll clean it all up and then get a better idea of what's still leaking.
Tonight i changed the oil in the trans. Went to 4 parts stores trying to get a GL-4 and wound up with Pennsoil synchromesh fluid(GL-3). Drove it after and it definitely felt a little different in a good way. I wasn't having any trouble, just didn't feel all that slippery going into gears. The oil that came out was black and thin. When i was dumping the old oil i found the washer off the drain plug in the pan. Doh! Now i'll have to pull the plug and put a new washer on it.
also noticed the small rubber boot on the shifter has seen better days and the nylon bushing on the shifter pivot looked a bit warn. Are these parts easy to get?
Tonight i changed the oil in the trans. Went to 4 parts stores trying to get a GL-4 and wound up with Pennsoil synchromesh fluid(GL-3). Drove it after and it definitely felt a little different in a good way. I wasn't having any trouble, just didn't feel all that slippery going into gears. The oil that came out was black and thin. When i was dumping the old oil i found the washer off the drain plug in the pan. Doh! Now i'll have to pull the plug and put a new washer on it.
also noticed the small rubber boot on the shifter has seen better days and the nylon bushing on the shifter pivot looked a bit warn. Are these parts easy to get?
#87
Registered User
Thread Starter
The correct sound is "Meep, meep." Very wimpy but I like it.
You have to post a picture of your OEM radio. I wish I had one for this one. All I've done to the previous owner's Sony radio is to replace the speakers. My son is oddly not much of a radio listener.
My '89 at 151,000 original miles uses half a quart of oil a month. It does not leak and it is getting 20 MPG. I'm not sure where the oil is going. I've been trying to train him to check the oil at every other fill up. I had one of these from the time it was new up to 100k and it didn't use oil I guess we have trouble ahead. I have never changed the fluid in the manual trans. I went as far as buying the right sockets but it hasn't happened yet. Have changed the rear dif oil but not the front.
You have to post a picture of your OEM radio. I wish I had one for this one. All I've done to the previous owner's Sony radio is to replace the speakers. My son is oddly not much of a radio listener.
My '89 at 151,000 original miles uses half a quart of oil a month. It does not leak and it is getting 20 MPG. I'm not sure where the oil is going. I've been trying to train him to check the oil at every other fill up. I had one of these from the time it was new up to 100k and it didn't use oil I guess we have trouble ahead. I have never changed the fluid in the manual trans. I went as far as buying the right sockets but it hasn't happened yet. Have changed the rear dif oil but not the front.
#88
Registered User
Thread Starter
#89
#90
Registered User
Thread Starter
Just came back from the garage and re-inspection. My truck is now 100% legal for the deteriorated streets of Taxachusetts.
Rides like an empty school bus though, so we'll be working on that soon!
Also my gallon of Corroseal rust converter arrived from Amazon so we'll be prettying up the frame soon.
Rides like an empty school bus though, so we'll be working on that soon!
Also my gallon of Corroseal rust converter arrived from Amazon so we'll be prettying up the frame soon.
#91
Registered User
Re: post #87 get the Marlin Crawler shifter seat and bushing I think they sell boots as well. The OEM Toyota rubber boot goes for a premium on eBay because they a re discontinued. I can only guess that one for a 1st gen Tacoma/3rd gen 4Runner would probably work but don't know for sure. https://www.marlincrawler.com/transm.../shifter-parts
This used boot on eBay is $29 right now. I cleaned mine up with 00 steel wool and hit it with tire dressing and it looks great. http://www.ebay.com/itm/84-89-Toyota...9ZOJ3M&vxp=mtr
Ha. I thought you had a OEM radio until I went back a reread your thread.
This used boot on eBay is $29 right now. I cleaned mine up with 00 steel wool and hit it with tire dressing and it looks great. http://www.ebay.com/itm/84-89-Toyota...9ZOJ3M&vxp=mtr
Ha. I thought you had a OEM radio until I went back a reread your thread.
Last edited by Nervo19; 07-11-2017 at 04:08 PM.
#92
Registered User
Thread Starter
Re: post #87 get the Marlin Crawler shifter seat and bushing I think they sell boots as well. The OEM Toyota rubber boot goes for a premium on eBay because they a re discontinued. I can only guess that one for a 1st gen Tacoma/3rd gen 4Runner would probably work but don't know for sure. https://www.marlincrawler.com/transm.../shifter-parts
This used boot on eBay is $29 right now. I cleaned mine up with 00 steel wool and hit it with tire dressing and it looks great. http://www.ebay.com/itm/84-89-Toyota...9ZOJ3M&vxp=mtr
Ha. I thought you had a OEM radio until I went back a reread your thread.
This used boot on eBay is $29 right now. I cleaned mine up with 00 steel wool and hit it with tire dressing and it looks great. http://www.ebay.com/itm/84-89-Toyota...9ZOJ3M&vxp=mtr
Ha. I thought you had a OEM radio until I went back a reread your thread.
yes i am using the OEM Toyota radio now and the factory spkrs and it works great. I think i will run the polk speakers (that were hacked into the doors) with a power amp and iPod or bluetooth and smartphone.
#93
Registered User
Thread Starter
Today, i ordered ball joint spacers from 4crawler. I really hope adding these will let me relax the torsion bars and improve the ride. I'll have to choose some new shocks also for front and rear, maybe Toyota oem...if that doesn't do it, we'll swap out the sway-away bars for stockers.
#94
Registered User
Thread Starter
I started adding up how much i have in the truck at this point. Some may say, "don't ever do that" but i like it as a point of reference.
Purchase price $1500
Use of tow rig, fuel, tolls, food to get it from MD to CT $450
new soft top $600
new steering parts and all the rest of the stuff i've bought $800.
so total i am in it about $3350 at this point.
Way less than the project 1972 FJ40 i was trying to buy in Las Vegas before i decided on a 4Runner.
Purchase price $1500
Use of tow rig, fuel, tolls, food to get it from MD to CT $450
new soft top $600
new steering parts and all the rest of the stuff i've bought $800.
so total i am in it about $3350 at this point.
Way less than the project 1972 FJ40 i was trying to buy in Las Vegas before i decided on a 4Runner.
#95
Today, i ordered ball joint spacers from 4crawler. I really hope adding these will let me relax the torsion bars and improve the ride. I'll have to choose some new shocks also for front and rear, maybe Toyota oem...if that doesn't do it, we'll swap out the sway-away bars for stockers.
#97
Registered User
Thread Starter
Why would you need to relax the torsion bar? I do not remember you lifting the rear that would require cranking the T.B. so you will actually put BJ spacers, which would bring the front 1.5 inches higher, then relaxTB back to stock height? If so then Toyota OEM shocks would work. However, if using the BJ spacers to actually lift the front on top of stock height, I don't thing OEM would work anymore; you would need shocks to accommodate the new travel between suspension height at "rest", compressed and extended.
If i can get the arms up i will keep the lift and soften the ride, also reduce the crazy bump-steer.
#99
Got it. Didn't know about the rear springs.
#100
Registered User
Thread Starter
Ha! Yeah, probably will. My situation is a little different that most guys on this forum I guess, because I am rebuilding this 4Runner for street/beach, not off-roading. There is no off-roading here, and the "beach" part is very limited and costs a lot.