Porkys4runner's 1997 4Runner Build-Up Thread
 

Hello all,
I am in the middle of purchasing a 1997 4runner limited. It has 155k on the odometer. The owner is filing for a replacement/lost title. I paid 100 for it and dragged it home (seller will get another 500 upon clean title, so 600 total will be paid) It was wrecked in 2004 and has sat in a barn for 5 years and then as a lawn ornament for 1 year. It hit a deer at 60 miles per hour. I am in the process of rebuilding it. I cleaned the nasty interior and removed all the damaged metal minus the driver’s side fender. The back glass was broke so I found one at the local junkyard for 20 bucks, installed and it even goes up and down! So for now this will be a rebuild and then mod thread. Cant wait to get it running!

Just dragged home.

Nasty interior! I dont see how parents let this happen to their cars! They had 2 boys.

On the way to clean.

Clean interior and front end damage.

Front end.

Removal of Radiator support.

New spoiler and replaced back broken glass.

Welcome to YotaTech!

:yotarock:

What year is that and what are your plans?

Fink:devil:

My brother helping me.

Thats it for now, more later.

I am in the middle of purchasing a 1997 4runner limited. It has 155k on the odometer. The owner is filing for a replacement/lost title. I paid 100 for it and dragged it home (seller will get another 500 upon clean title, so 600 total will be paid) It was wrecked in 2004 and has sat in a barn for 5 years and then as a lawn ornament for 1 year. It hit a deer at 60 miles per hour. I am in the process of rebuilding it. I cleaned the nasty interior and removed all the damaged metal minus the driver’s side fender. The back glass was broke so I found one at the local junkyard for 20 bucks, installed and it even goes up and down! So for now this will be a rebuild and then mod thread. Cant wait to get it running!

Plans: Mild off roader/reliable DD

Allready had a blonde moment with it, got a replacement battery, but didnt realize the terminals were reversed on the new one. Hooked it up backwords and fried the 100 amp alternator fuse. Fixed it by finding a thread on this site, so i joined. Hopefully it was the only thing i blew, i havent started it yet due to a bent fan pulley, waiting on one from yota, should be here Friday or Monday.

I need to get another two tundra rims for the back, i like them better than the stock 3 spokers. Then i have 265 Goodyear wrangler TD to mount!

That's what we're here for! Glad we could help you out.

Looks like this is going to be a sweet build.

Subscribed.

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Off and running! Your gonna love/hate yotatech, you'll love all the great info but hate that you'll have no $$! Good luck on the build, for $600 your already way ahead

I joined in July of 2003...by December of 2003 I had spent $2,300 on my 2nd gen. :chairfall

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Wow, i was hoping i could get this thing at least going on the road for 1500, im up to 850 now. all it needs it fluids a brake line and brake job. Prolly wond do any performance mods till next spring. I currently own 3 vehicles, a 94 K2500 Diesel, and a 89 mustang, plus the runner, and im 21 lol. Priorities... I am mechanically inclined however i dont have all the tools to do it, but i try. I have so many projects going, putting an aftermarket intercooler and turbo on my truck, while trying to install a 351W in my stang and fixing the runner, and a gf. lol Gotta a ball game tonight and tomorrow is the Syracuse Nationals, so i wont get back to it till saturday.

Hello all,

Well, been working on the runner for the past few days. Fixed a lot of things and will have pictures to post soon after. After installing the new back glass I also got a rear spoiler from the junkyard. Put that on too, hopefully it will save whats left of the back hatch, it’s the rustyiest part of the vehicle. I then replaced the rear bumper with one I got from my dads coworker for free. Its not perfect but a lot nicer than the one with rot holes I took off. That was an extreme project. I love the Toyota, but I am very disappointed in the bolts that they used in assembly, I am breaking almost every bolt, even PB blaster doesn’t help. I broke all the bumper bolts except for two. I was getting so frustrated, having to pound them out of my 6 point socket. So I got the air chisel out and chiseled off the welded on nuts so I could go out and get stainless hardware. I have a feeling I am going to have to do that with all the ones I broke on the front. The metal on this SUV is super thin, and light, I see how this little deer accident rendered the vehicle so helpless. I have owned all chevy full size trucks and tahoes before this and have no problem removing rusty nuts with PB All said n’ done the bumper is on and just needs a polishing. I also installed a K40 fiberglass adjustable antenna on the driver’s side rear bumper. Looks awesome, so now I need to get another CB. Yesterday I got my inner fan pulley, my radiator and my radiator support. I slapped the radiator in with a 2X4 to hold it up, changed the 6 year old oil, put 5 gallons of fresh gasoline in and hooked up the tranny lines. Had the 200 amp start charger on the 6 year old battery and cranked for a bit. Just couldn’t get it going. So I got out the spare backwards posts battery I have and stretched the cables to fit. Cranked and it started right up, WHAT A RELIEF!!! So, it does run, all I need now is a title, to finish the front end and to do brakes. Now I need to figure out how im going to tack this radiator support back on, I cant weld nor do I have a welder. One thing I did notice was that the radio did not work. I checked the fuse and it wasn’t blown, but I will try to replace it sometime and see if that fixes it, otherwise does anyone have suggestions?

Some pics from the front with the antenna..

I will take some more pics tonight of my jerry rigged setup to get it running, just to make sure the engine was healthy.

Looking good man!

BTW, I edited your first post and took out the funky font - it was causing some weird formatting errors for me and didn't want others to have the same problem.

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