Ok so I’m finally slowly getting starting on my 1990 4runner build so I thought I would start a build thread. Oh and props to those that know what Khione means.
A little bit of background information: I am 18 and I just started my freshman year of college and at the same time I work about 25-30 hours a week at a hospital to pay for rent, living expenses, and to fund the 4runner build, so I don’t have a lot of free time. Whenever I can, I make a 45 minute drive to my dad’s shop to work on my 4runner, so this will be a somewhat slow build. A couple years ago I got a 1989 ex-cab pickup with a solid axle and a 4.3, and since then I have pretty much been fixing and re-doing everything on it, but I have learned a lot in the last few years. So now I’m trying to sell my pickup and build a 4runner for a couple reasons. I wanted something with four doors and I wanted to have something that I can say “I built that”.
Here is my 89’ that I daily drive

And here is my 1990 4runner the day I picked it up for $1300. It will also be a daily driver. It is really clean and I’m looking forward to having electric windows and remote/electric locks haha.
The plan is:
5.3 chevy vortec
700r4
Twin-sticked Ford 205
Ford Dana 60 front
14 bolt rear
14” coilovers in the front, some sort of coil spring in the back.
Tires are going to be a set of 38” toyos



I got the 3.0 removed as well as the auto transmission and transfercase.



Now there is a spot for the new power-plant to go.



I picked up a 5.3 vortec with 50,000 miles complete with all accessories, harness, and computer.





So I started cleaning it up because I swear I have OCD and I like my stuff looking nice lol



Here it is almost pieced back together. I still have to do some work to the water pump before I put it back on.



I’m going to be running a 700r4. I picked this up and it was pretty filthy, so I spent a couple hours with a wire brush and some crud kutter cleaning it.





I have been trying to collect parts ever since I got the 4runner earlier this year.
I got a hydraulic assist ram from surplus center



And I ordered ruffstuff brackets during their black-Friday sale. I will be running a front and rear 3-link.

 

Wow. You don't play around! This should be an interesting build. Good luck!

 

I got a little more done this weekend, not too much though. I got the 5.3 ready so that it can take the water temp sending unit and oil pressure line when it's in.

Here is the oil pressure fitting threaded into a metric plug that I drilled and tapped.



And here are the adapters and fittings setup so that the water temp sending unit can go in. I drilled and tapped the block plug to 1/2" npt and adapted it down from there to 3/8" npt. It was a pain to get the block plug out because i had to make a 17mm allen wrench to fit it.



I also got my gauges in as well. I found out the hard way about how toyota does the factory lights backwards with the dimmer so my aftermarket ones were opposite when i had them wired through the dimmer.I didn't really feel like trying to make a voltage converter so i just wired them to the gauge light switched wire before the dimmer.

 

Saw this build on pirate.. Looks good.
DD on full-size axles? Flares, H1 style backspaced wheels or not worries about tires sticking out?

Did you sell your truck yet or keeping it?

 

looks like this is going to be a nice build.. in

 

The rear axle is a Cab-and-chassis 14 bolt so it is only 63" wide, and i'm going to narrow the Ford Dana 60 to about 64" i think. I'm going to try to run some bushwhacker flares as well. I have not sold my pickup yet, but I might be on Thursday, a guy is very interested and wants to test drive it and he has cash $$$

 

wow, off to a great start i like you plans and the fact that your doing it right.

 

I got my GM master cylinder adapter plate done. I'm using a 1 1/4" bore from a 3/4 ton. Bolts are 3/8" countersunk fine thread.

 

Oh yeah Merry Christmas! Is it odd that an 18 year old gets parts for Christmas? haha my parents were very generous and got me some cool stuff:

A steering u-joint for the Ford power-steering box that I will be using and rebuild kit for my York air-compressor



And a seal kit for the steering box, and my dad gave me his flex-plate from his 6.0L to put on my 5.3



A seal and gasket kit for my Ford NP205 transfer-case, and a serpentine clutch for the York compressor



Oh and a bling 700r4 pan

 

OK so another small update: I got my York 210 all cleaned up and put new gaskets in it. I also tapped the two top ports to 3/8" NPT and I put in the oil sight-tube and breather. I also got brackets cut out to mount it as well and I will get a picture up when I get it mounted.

 

The pile is growing

 

Haha yeah im trying to collect as many parts as I can until my dad gets his amigo done and then I can put the 4runner on the hoist

 

Ok so I've been working on getting my York mounted.

I cut part of the belt tensioner pulley off and flipped it upside down and put a smooth pulley on instead of a grooved one.





Also one of the spots for a water pump bolt needed shaved down because the bolt ends up right behind the tensioner with it flipped.





Before I put the water pump back on, I drilled and tapped it for a fitting for the steam port from the throttle valve.



I got all the plates cut out and drilled for the bracket. The two that bolt the engine will both be welded to a plate that bolts to the side of the york.

 

I went and picked up a 145 amp alternator today to replace the little 105 amp one. The new one is huge!



Once I got that on I was able to make sure the new belt that I got was going to work with the York. I welded up the bracket, painted it, and got the York on there solid.

 

I built a cover for my 14 bolt out of 1/4" plate and put the transformers emblem on there that I cut out last year in my shop class I also got a fill plug and welded it in there.

 

Nice, keep going............

 

sweet build! this one will deffinately top the pickup.

 

It going to be a monster of a Toyota.

 

nice work man! Great to see young guys getting into this stuff and not half azzing it! Keep it up! gonna be a nice rig!

 

I agree, you are on your way to having one of the nicest runners on YT. I am not familiar with the York compressor, is it gonna be for onboard air, or AC?