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-   -   svdude's 87 4 Runner build up (https://www.yotatech.com/forums/f199/svdudes-87-4-runner-build-up-236257/)

svdude 02-14-2012 11:12 AM

I also added an SR5 cluster... nothing special, but it's nice having a tach and an oil psi gauge instead of just an idiot light.

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y10...r/S6300464.jpg

svdude 02-14-2012 11:14 AM

A few updates:
First, I replaced the knock sensor, o2 sensor, water temp sensor and got another AFM and painted it to match the engine bay. I also got an awesome deal on a cone filter so I replaced it as well.

The new AFM and filter setup, the idle is much more consistent and no more fluctuation.
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y10...r/S6300522.jpg
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y10...r/S6300523.jpg

I was also running steel wheels and I switched to some aluminum ones. I thought the steelies were robbing too much power for rotating mass. I got some polished aluminum rims and sanded them down to nothing. Then I used some self etching primer and hit them with a metallic charcoal top coat.
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y10...r/S6300521.jpg
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y10...r/S6300520.jpg

I also needed to more the rear axle forward a bit to get rid of a rubbing issue while flexed. So, like a photo whore that I am... I took a few poser pics. The flex isn't too impressive in this picture but it still gives a decent perspective of what it can do :)
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y10...r/S6300458.jpg
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y10...r/S6300455.jpg
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y10...r/S6300456.jpg

svdude 02-14-2012 11:14 AM

I installed my LCE under drive pulley kit, deleted the A/C system and the belt driven fan, and installed an electric fan using a permacool unit and a 16" hayden fan.

Pics of the under drive kit:
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y10...r/S6300524.jpg
Buh-bye air conditioner:
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y10...r/S6300525.jpg

Here's the fan with all the wiring cut to length.
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y10...r/S6300526.jpg
All connections soldered and heat shrink wrapped.
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y10...r/S6300527.jpg

Built some quick brackets to hold the fan to the backside of the radiator. And of course, they had to be painted blue :)
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y10...r/S6300528.jpg

Fan installed:
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y10...r/S6300529.jpg

All wiring wrapped in split loom tubing:
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y10...r/S6300530.jpg

For now the permacool unit is attached to the radiator using velcro. I'll keep an eye on it and if it seems as if it doesn't hold up then I'll build a permanent mount that will screw to the core support.

It's a little tight but everything fits well
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y10...r/S6300531.jpg
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y10...r/S6300532.jpg

So far everything works very well. The radiator hasn't gotten hot enough to turn the fan on (thermostat is set at 180*) but I used my heat gun on the sensor to get it hot enough to turn the fan on.

Between the under drive pulley taking nearly 10 lbs of rotating mass off of the crank shaft, deleting the a/c and belt driven fan, and all my previous motor mods and performance parts, the 4.10 gears ALMOST seem like they're supposed to be there for the 35" tires. I don't know what I'm at for power at the crank or the wheels but I would love to get it on a dyno and see what I'm getting for actual hp and tq numbers.

svdude 02-14-2012 11:15 AM

Added a soft top:
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y10...r/S6300539.jpg
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y10...r/S6300540.jpg

svdude 02-14-2012 11:16 AM

Well, I'm off work for the next two weeks and it's about 60* outside. Who knew that it would be this warm in February?

This was done a few months ago but I didn't take pictures during because I was in a hurry. But you know the bar that mounts under the dash and goes from each side of the body? They're ALWAYS rusted and nasty so it had to come out and get cleaned up. It's hard to see in the pics but I cleaned it up and threw a coat of primer over it so it doesn't rust anymore:
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y10...r/S6300546.jpg
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y10...r/S6300547.jpg

Anyways, I have plenty of time to work in the garage and get some things taken care of on the runner. First on the list is to repair the dash cracks and install an inclinometer



Just a preview of what the dash looked like before:
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y10...r/S6300544.jpg
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y10...r/S6300545.jpg

So I took the dash pad off and sanded down the high spots from where it was cracking:
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y10...r/S6300548.jpg
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y10...r/S6300549.jpg

Next I cut and drilled into the dash pad so the inclinometer could sit flush and pretty. Then I applied resin over the cracks to fill them in and over the bare padding from where I cut:
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y10...r/S6300550.jpg
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y10...r/S6300551.jpg

svdude 02-14-2012 11:18 AM

After a coat of high build primer I was able to see all the little imperfections.
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y10...r/S6300555.jpg

Next came the bondo to smooth out the imperfections so it can be all purdy when I apply the texture coating and dye.
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y10...r/S6300556.jpg
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y10...r/S6300557.jpg

svdude 02-14-2012 11:19 AM

So I put some bondo on and sanded it smooth:
I guess I didn't get any pics of it sanded down but you get the idea.
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y10...S6300556-1.jpg
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y10...S6300557-1.jpg

Next was a few coats of gray vinyl dye:
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y10...r/S6300563.jpg
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y10...r/S6300561.jpg

Assembled:
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y10...r/S6300565.jpg

And installed:
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y10...r/S6300568.jpg
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y10...r/S6300566.jpg

The color match isn't all that great. It looked like a better match when I compared the can to the vents... Some day I'll pull it again and paint it with a darker shade of grey.

It's far from perfect but it looks 10X better than before:
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y10...r/S6300545.jpg
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y10...r/S6300544.jpg

svdude 02-14-2012 11:19 AM

Time for some more updates :)

I finished removing all the a/c related stuff from the front of the 4runner. Eventually I'll remove all the junk under the dash but that's another project for another day. With everything removed I should have a LOT better airflow to the radiator.
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y10...r/S6300572.jpg

All this junk went bye bye
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y10...r/S6300571.jpg

I also had a big rust hole under the battery. The p/o had a bad battery and it destroyed the whole area. Good thing though is that is the only rust on the whole vehicle.
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y10...r/S6300573.jpg

I grinded away the spot welds and removed the rusted battery tray.
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y10...r/S6300574.jpg

Next I cleaned the area a little bit and started cutting and forming my new inner fender. I drew a template with a piece of paper and cut the sheet metal to size. I used 16ga because it's what I had in the shop. I would have liked to use 18ga or 20ga but I didn't want to drive 45 minutes to the metal yard. I formed it to shape using a body hammer on a soft rubber mat then slowly formed it to shape once temporarily attached to the 4runner. Once it was completely formed I traced the area around it with a black sharpie.
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y10...r/S6300576.jpg
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y10...r/S6300577.jpg

I came inside to get out of the cold for a little bit. But now I need to cut out the traced area then weld in the new piece then fab up a battery box. More pics to come.

svdude 02-14-2012 11:20 AM

Cut out the inner fender:
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y10...r/S6300578.jpg

Test fit:
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y10...r/S6300579.jpg

Welded in place. Some of the welds are ugly but I am no pro at welding, especially this thin body sheet metal. But the welds are good and strong.
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y10...r/S6300580.jpg

Welds all cleaned up and smooth:
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y10...r/S6300583.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y10...r/S6300586.jpg
The bottom:
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y10...r/S6300585.jpg

And primered gray:
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y10...r/S6300588.jpg
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y10...r/S6300589.jpg

All finished:
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y10...r/S6300590.jpg


Now I get to build the battery box.

svdude 02-14-2012 05:30 PM

Battery box is done!

I drew a template with cardboard then cut it out of sheet metal:
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y10...r/S6300591.jpg

Started bending the sheet metal into the battery box:
Only the best of high tech tools to bend this stuff :)
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y10...r/S6300592.jpg

Box formed and a test fit with the battery:
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y10...r/S6300593.jpg
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y10...r/S6300594.jpg

Now to start building the base. I cut out the center of the box leaving a 1" perimeter for the battery to sit on. I used some 1/2"x1/8" strap to lower the base to give the mounting hardware clearance from the battery then welded the base back on.

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y10...r/S6300595.jpg
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y10...r/S6300596.jpg

All welds on all edges were ground smooth:
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y10...r/S6300599.jpg

Battery tie down strap bent up and another test fit of the battery:
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y10...r/S6300601.jpg
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y10...r/S6300600.jpg

Then a test fit in the engine bay:
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y10...r/S6300602.jpg

Right now I'm waiting on paint to dry. I'll post finished and installed pics tomorrow.

lemons17771 02-14-2012 05:43 PM

how do you like the softtopper? is it worth the money?

svdude 02-14-2012 05:47 PM

I got it used but it was only a couple months old. It is definitely worth what I paid and I love it!

RMP8080 02-14-2012 05:48 PM

Nice work on the battery box and the fender.

svdude 02-15-2012 11:14 AM


Originally Posted by RMP8080 (Post 51870779)
Nice work on the battery box and the fender.

Thanks!!

So... The battery box is done and installed. Looks right at home in a rust free fender!

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y10...r/S6300612.jpg

svdude 02-15-2012 11:15 AM

Now on to the next project

Interior before:

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y10...r/S6300603.jpg

All stripped out:
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y10...r/S6300605.jpg
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y10...r/S6300606.jpg

Gross!!
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y10...r/S6300607.jpg
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y10...r/S6300608.jpg
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y10...r/S6300609.jpg

And the exterior:
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y10...r/S6300610.jpg
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y10...r/S6300611.jpg

The plans are to give this runner a pretty good cleaning and a little bit of a make over. I'll clean the snot out of the whole entire lower half of the interior then line it with some chassis saver and some monstaliner. I'll also put a coating of dark gray monstaliner alone the bottom edge and the fenders of the runner.

That should clean things up and make the inside a lot better looking and stop any future rust from showing its ugly face!

Outsane 02-15-2012 12:14 PM

Great work on that Dash, great build so far


Can you send me a couple of those AC parts?

I need a tube and the condensor..

svdude 02-15-2012 12:22 PM


Originally Posted by Outsane (Post 51871173)
Great work on that Dash, great build so far


Can you send me a couple of those AC parts?

I need a tube and the condensor..

Thanks! After taking my neighbor wheeling a couple of times, he ended up getting an 86 4runner. He got first dibs on the a/c parts. If he decides that he doesn't want them then I'll send them your way.

svdude 02-15-2012 12:25 PM

For anyone wanting to strip the factory sound deadening... use an air hammer! I started chipping away at it with a flat head and a small hammer until I remembered that I have a chisel tip for my air hammer. All I can say is wow! This stuff peeled and jumped off with ease. About 30 minutes with the air hammer and all of the factory sound deadening in the whole runner was gone. I love air tools!!

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y10...r/S6300613.jpg

Nervo19 02-15-2012 02:40 PM

Subscribed! You do excellent work. I'll throw it out there that they sell chisel tips for reciprocating saws. It might be a good choice for those who have tiny air compressors.

What part of the country are you in?

svdude 02-16-2012 03:05 PM


Originally Posted by Nervo19 (Post 51871235)
Subscribed! You do excellent work. I'll throw it out there that they sell chisel tips for reciprocating saws. It might be a good choice for those who have tiny air compressors.

What part of the country are you in?

Thanks! I try to do a lot of reading and learn from other people's build threads.

I am in Clarksville, TN.


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