In HS, I dove one of the first 1984 4Runners to ever come to the states. Like a dumb HS kid, I pretty much trashed it every which way I could before the Engine blew from too many high RPM shifts on the original Timing Chain. I found myself needing a replacement for my 2wd Nissan Pathblocker, and saw this 1987 4runner on CL for 2000 so I went to have a look. 1500 dollars later, I drove it home.

Only picture I took of it as it was when I got it home.


First I put some new stock size tires on it and took it for a quick spray at the car wash.

















Not sure what the brownish stuff on the side panels is.. Guessing it leaked at some point.






Also not sure Why For someone put screws here... Roof Rack?


Dirty Dirty



Chassis has 363262 on it after driving it the weekend I got it, Then 100 miles to our work and back, then to the beer store. (Engine supposedly has about 40k on it. It does run smooth and the Timing guides are good for now) The Silver button is the starter. All I can guess is someone was to dumb to check/replace the starter relay since I still need to turn the key while I button if I expect it to start when its cold.














Cracked Dash and more Dirt





The Engine after Knocking the layer of wet oil and dirt off... Gonna take some scrubbing to get it much cleaner.




Luckily I had a skill for junking Toyota 4x4's when I was younger, and a bad case of the pack rat, so I've got a part or two... Got to go drag still another out of the field but here are the parts trucks I have sitting here..

 

Welcome to Yotatech. Nice 4runner, you got a good deal for $1500, cant buy a parts rig around here for that price! Do I sense a possible SAS buildup in the works???

 

Not sure on the SAS first. This one is going to remain street drivable cross country no matter what. I have enough Yota carcasses to build a dedicated trail rig if needed. I don't plan on doing anything that will bend the body panels more than I bent them myself once proper rock armor is installed. On the other hand I DO have the axles or even entire frames for SAS laying around . I agree i practically stole it for as good of shape as it is.

Just spent the day changing fluids and doing a temporary ZUK mod (pictures to follow) until I get around to doing Chevy 63's. Also have some cheap OEM shocks coming in to freshen it up until I know whats going on suspension wise.

The plans for it.....

--Vinyl Floor Up Front (Its laying out in the living room now)
--Move Eclipse Stereo/Navigation unit from Pathblocker to Yota
--Bedliner Cargo Area.
--RagTop -- Custom Hard top for long trips or winter
--OBA (hoping to do engine driven.. since this is going to be a cross country drivable rig, factory AC pump has to stay. It is highly possible I end up with OBA from stock compressor before I fix the blow cold.
--Custom Sheet Steel or aluminum side panels with Doors to access fender storage.
--Under Floor Storage
--Later model intake swap/ smog related delete/ headers eventually build one of the 22R's around here to be able to pull 5th gear.
--Chevy 63" Springs
-- 33" tires and whatever cutting bending welding hammering etc etc it takes to cram them in
--Replace fenders as needed after said cramming is accomplished
--Dual Cases since I have the cases.. 4.70 in rear case to follow at much later date.
--Rock sliders and decent bumpers
-- lockers and 4.88 gears. still making up my mind on select-able front and rear or rear True Trac and front select-able.

There i more I has in mind, but I'm either too many beers in to remember, or deestraced by helping my fat girl cook dinner.

 

Partses --

126 dollars for 2EA - RUN CHANNEL s - aka the seal around the widows.. Weatherstrip at 25+ bucks per bend...


Vinyl Floor Mat and the Box my coils for the ZUK mod shipped in.. Apparenly they wither like the Irish, or they steal boxes for shipping from a liquor store..



So today we did the ZUK mod to keep from bottoming out all the time until I get the chance to actually fix the suspension. I forgot to do the measurements of what it did, but it did take ir from super sag to stock height. I got my spings from the infamous ebay link - http://www.ebay.com/itm/290014099615?_trksid=p2059210.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT
I am pretty sure it would have been a little cheaper to order them direct from Southwest Speed, but I didnt realize that until later. http://www.southwestspeed.com/?sec=view_part&id=139

In any case I went with the no Cut method and used the 11" 125lb rate springs.

Up She Goes



PB Blaster is awesome








I decided to use the unbolt the shocks method of making it possible to slip them in.







In









Apparently we forgot to take after pics... Will try to remember to so so Tamarraw. Only took an hour or so, spent the rest of the day changing fluids on it and our other two money pits...

 

You don't see many Runners in our area and then for it to be an SR5 is rarer yet. Great looking truck you found. Having a parts truck helps out a lot. My dad has some property in Flippin and been trying to do some wild pig hunting out there but they are never there when I am. Looking forward to your build and Welcome to Yotatech.

 

There used to be a stack of them.. I had my 84, A guy I went to school with who strangely enough has the same Birthday had on, A friend of ours had an 86 and there was one more I can't remember who owned in town all the dark charcoal color and SR5. This one says SR5, and has the VIN, stripes, and gauges of one, but its missing the console heat, power windows, and sunroof which the rest of them I've seen had. There was a red one, and a Silver V6 in the area at one time also.

Hog hunting is alright, but I'm glad they haven't showed up up here yet. Hope they don't. Can't shoot the tings fast enough.

Build will be pretty slow since I'm only of work every third weekend or so, and don't even really have a shop, so t will be what I can accomplish laying in the driveway/yard on every third week the weather is ok for it, and I don't have a lot better to do. Will be way more bolt on than I like since I like to build and rebuild, but it is what it is.

 

looking good,