Hi Everyone
I have been a major fan of this site for some time now and it has been very helpful to me so I thought it time I gave something back. Ive been the proud owner of a 89 second gen 4 Runner for about 5 years. There is nothing wrong with My Runner, I love it to death, Just time for a change. (ie- something with a solid axle up front) After looking for so long I finally found a single cab diesel (diesel hilux’s are kings out here in Aus, Reliable and getting more rare) The cab is a bit rough nothing to bad a little rust but I saw potential In the tray and the car has only done 218000k’s so plenty of life left.

I failed to get a starting before picture Before the resto work got started. Sorry guys ill try to get one soon. Ill just get straight into what I have done so far.
The Feller I bought the truck from was a keen wood worker and had fabed a custom tray with a timber deck. The car had been left sitting around and the finish on the timber was all but gone and with a string of sunny days ahead I got straight into it.

 

[FONT=Calibri]Three mates and Myself sanded the entire tray by hand. It took just about all day to do but I wanted to get a real good finish and didn’t want to risk marking it up with a power sander.

 

Notice the gross colour of the cab, I am going to have it painted a dark green The same colour as the Mitsubishi VRX Mirage or Lancer.

 

A few coats of Golden Oak stain form bunnings hardware (Home Depot) and we are in buisness.

 

4 coats of marine grade clear varnish and it should be fairly water tight. Now its in the shop to tend to some bodywork and a coat of paint. I will hopefully get some photos up soon. Stay tuned. This is my old mirage, the colour the trucks getting done in.

 

Welcome to Yotatech, and nice job on the flat bed! The wood really turned out nice when you got done! I envy you guys from Down Under, you have unique (to us in the States) Toyota's that were never offered here! I always wanted a first or second gen crewcab pickup...plus you can get the diesels too! I look forward to seeing more of your build, oh, and I like the snorkel you have on your runner, what brand is that, can we get it here in the States?

 

Thanks for the warm welcome rustEDyota83. Ive never been a member of a forum before, its turning out to be really enjoyable, Thanks. We are real lucky in Aus i guess but it goes both ways, all or 22r's are carb, no EFI which really sucks on hills. The snorkel is made by a company over here called airflow i got it on e-bay and they post everywhere. ill chuck a link on. Cheers

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Airflow-S...item256ff0272f

I have big plans for the truck like new interior and a turbo so should be good, but at the moment i keep finding rust, Spewing.

 

The wood turned out nice on your bed. You guys do have alot better selection of trucks then we have got here. I was in Perth at 2 different times and could only wish we had what you guys have down there. Welcome to Yotatech.

 

Thanks for the warm welcome Terry

I guess your right about our selection, the fact that we got factory solid front suspension in some models is the best, and knowing they will never make any more really makes the solid axels hold their value. I thought i better get one before their too hard to find.

Got some goodies together for the build



Got the Dynamat, Green Carpet, spotties, central locking and a power window kit. Cant wait to get it fitted. Cheers

 

Lots of goodies !! Timber looks terrific.

 

The stain on your flatbed looks great. Wish I would of done mine when I first put the new wood in. I am going to eventually replace the cab on my flatbed as it is rusting up and will be doing a similar green. Think the green cab and the brown wood will really compliment each other.

Think you will like havng a faltbed. They come in handy. Did I understand your previous post right about getting a 22re is so more rare then a 22r for you? I wonder if it because we are so overboard on emissons here is why the RE is more common here.

 

Thanks Terry
Im hoping the green will look good, i thought the same thing about it going well with the tray, you should defiantly stain your tray even if it is beat up, it just adds character to the finish. I think your right about the emissions rules of our countries dictating the engine options. In Aus. we don’t have to pass a smog test for rego, they reckon that the EPA
can do random tests though but I’ve never ever heard of anyone getting caught. I guess that’s why we only got carb.

 

Its been pretty slow with the build lately as the truck is at the spray painters still.

I found some old photos i thought i lost of the bed with clear on it and striped out.



another



and



More soon

 

Got a few hours spare this weekend so i figured i better start cleaning up the 89 so i can sell it in a couple of weeks. The paint was in real need of some polish and the plastics were really weathered.

picked up some Meguiars trim detailer at super cheap auto. Brilliant stuff.



Before



During



After



In all her shinny glory.

 

About time i update this build, it has been way to long.

Ill start with the befor photos.

 

Paint removed guards






Some bad rust in the rear window that had to be plated.

 

Found more bad rust behind the seats.



Had to cut a fair bit away

 

had to remove this whole side.

 

Have to fix up the seams

Luck has it i only have one dent in the sills. easy fix

Going to paint up to the seam in front of the compliance plates.

The cab in prep.

 

The usuall rust in the doors.



First coats

all the left over rust and bog from po.

And hey presto.





The chassis got a lick of black as well as the diffs.
The whole process took about 6 months of weekends and i am very happy with the results . Next the Interior