Redwood_Nate

Hello everyone,
This is my journey. A manual transmission 1993 4WD extended cab DLX pickup build up AND motor swap. Slow and steady. Lots of calls to ORS, my bro, and my buddy to make it right. Born and raised in Redding CA, nabbed the truck in 2015 on base at the resale lot called the "Lemon Lot" on Tinker AFB in Oklahoma City

As it sat. Ready for a new home
. Lots of beers later here is the progress...

Redwood_Nate

First job was to remove all the previous owners stuff from the truck and catch it up on some maintenance.

Redwood_Nate

Realized the previous owner had used some type of head gasket seal stuff to mask a head gasket problem. I discovered the 3.4 swap option while I was researching a 3.0 head gasket swap. Swapped the clutch because it was worn out, swapped the timing belt and all the other associated bits, swapped the calipers, welded the clutch pedal assy after it cracked.


Torque

Clean

remanned front calipers

Cracked Clutch assy

Redwood_Nate

Swapped the steel wheels for the aluminum upgrades, got some dealership take-offs with no miles, and installed some rear leaf springs. Ordered up some really nice carpet.



Swapped the steel wheels for some aluminum!

installed dealership 4runner takeoffs, and new rear leaf springs

Ordered the "gucci" carpet

Redwood_Nate

We got a motor! Original 2001 4runner had a rod knock (as the intake states), sourced a 1997 4runner motor and stole it's bottom end because I didn't trust the discoloration on the crank of the 2001 motor. The 2001 top end was really gross, there is no wonder this motor gave it up.




A 2001 4runner motor sourced from my bro!

"rod knock"...you're darn right there was

Dirtiest top end I'd ever seen. Cleaning out the hollow cams was not fun

Caked and angry

That's the #2 main bearing you see there all paper thin

Cleaned up and back from the machinist, ready for torque

It took me a week to clean these valve covers. The full length baffle held 56.2million metric gallons of hardened oil

Wire in baffle

jakey poo

Interested in selling the factory rims?

Redwood_Nate

Sorry, I'm keeping them. I got them refinished, I'm just deciding what tires to put on them.

jakey poo

Nice! It never hurts to ask.

Redwood_Nate

Heck yeah, very true. I'm all nostalgic with this build. I actually ordered a single DIN Alpine head unit for this truck when I do the stereo.

jakey poo

Sweet! Keep us posted!

Redwood_Nate

Block work...