Ok Gents, so I just picked up this 1989 Toyota 4Runner that was in a front end collision (reason for the thread name) it is a V6 Manual Transmission with a little over 200K. I would have loved to get a 22RE but this is a complete budget build, I am hoping to have about 3000$ into this build to get it into decent wheeling shape. I've been into Toyota's for along time now since my dad has always been a huge fan and really grew up wheeling First Gen 4runners. I'll throw up some pictures of past Toyota's and of course the 89.

So here is were it all started. My dad back in 1986 after buying his first Toyota Pick up, he said he wanted the Turbo but it was just to much money!



Me at about 12 years old wheeling with my dad in a First Gen. He said he picked it up for about 1000$ and it was in mint shape! Wish that was the case in today's market lol.


My last 4Runner a 3rd gen with a rear Arb locker and full skid plates and sliders. Learned a lot in this rig but I sold it for something newer.




So after I sold my 3rd Gen I bought this 2013 Toyota Tacoma. It was 4WD and had full Icon Suspension on all four corners. But honestly after owning the car for awhile I realized that I needed to get away from the payment and go back to my grass roots with a First Gen 4 Runner. Not to mention this one was way to heavy to wheel and I never really wanted to put a ding or scratch on it.



Alight guys sorry about the rant and non thread pictures but I think it's pretty cool to document the past before the new build. My Goals for the new 4Runner is to just put the front end back together and fix any mechanical issues that may pop up. I will also fabricate up some sliders for it. As for tire size I'm shooting for a 33".

 

So here are a few pictures of the 1989. I actually pulled the fender and bumper out and drove it home from Lake Forest to Huntington Beach. Everything felt very tight motor-Transmission and suspension wise. The front end tracked completely straight. The interior is super clean also seems like someone really cared for it, previouse owner didn't have it very long before he got hit in it.

Day I brought it home





After pulling on the front end bit and placing a headlight in just so it looks decent.







Some interior shots





So after a trip to the local pick apart I found a donor 4Runner for the inner fender-Head light-Steering arm and a few other pieces for 25$





This weekend I'm picking up a passenger side fender and possibly a front bumper. Hopefully I'll be able to strip down the front end and cut the bent inner fender out and mock up the new one. I still need some parts so if any of you guys have some near the Huntington Beach area please PM me!

 

Your runner is great condition and clean. Glad to see you fixng the front end on it. Welcome to Yotatech.

 

Nice runner, the interior looks super clean! Look forward to seeing the front end all put back together.

 

That runner has been nicely kept. nice catch...

 

Good find indeed! Love those old shots too, so wish toyotas were that cheap now too haha

 

Really Clean Runner, wish i had a local u-pick yard that had some of these trucks, would make things a lot easier instead i had to wait till something came up.

 

Duude...... this thing is CLEAN!! I like it!!

I had an 09 Tacoma EXACTLY like the one you have pictured above. I also had a lift,tires,etc.....even the same color. I totally regret getting rid of it now. I love the newer tacomas. I also never wanted to wheel it but thats what my Runners for.

Nice score on the used parts. Here in the Midwest, it is so hard to come by Toyotas at the U-pull its. Lately they have been non-existent... I have not seen a 1st gen Toyota at the yards near me in at least a year.

Cant wait to see where you go with this.

 

Thanks for the kind words! @Terrys87

Thanks @rustED that was one of the main reasons I got it. It also has electric power windows and door locks, I really wanted one with power windows.

I wish I had more info about the OG owner. Someone did take great care of the interior I'll throw up more pics.

Haha no kidding. I have a bunch more vintage shots wheelin first gen pick ups and 4Runners. Finding a clean one for a reasonable price is very hard. That's why I went with this one!

Thank you! It is very hard to find a first gen in Pick-a-Part for us also. I really just got lucky and this one was stripped of most the good things already. I try to avoid shipping and getting parts shipped to me if possible.


Thanks Gizler00! Man I do miss my Tacoma! One thing I don't miss is the payment that's for sure. I honestly think the simplicity of the first gen is what makes it so enjoyable. I also live about 10 mins from the beach so I'm looking forward to taking the top off and just cruising!

Here are some more interior shots















Just picked up a fender yesterday on Craigslist for 25$. It has a small crease on the bottom that I should be able to work out with a hammer and some dolly's. Then I'll prep it for a coat of white paint.

 

Ok so I made some progress on the TR4 tonight. I pulled all the electrical and battery off of the passenger side inner fender in preparation to cut the bent inner fender well out.

Ok so here is a better picture of the damage before it was cut out.


After I pulled the fender-bumper and grill off my you could definitely get a better idea of how pretzeled it was.


After the first cut.


After trimming the inner fender well I trimmed up the donor front end. It mocked up very nicely! I still have some fine tuning before I weld it up. I even threw the fender on it and the bolt holes lined up perfect.





I even threw back in the battery and radiator and drove it to degrees the dirty engine while the inner fender well is removable.

 

Nice work, your making some good progress!

 

That's a really clean 4Runner! Once you get the body damage fixed you should really be in business.

I really enjoyed that picture of your dad's 86 Pickup. Mine is just like that except that it's a standard cab. It doesn't look quite that nice right now, but hopefully sometime soon it will!

 

You are making great progress. I cannot get over how clean this thing is!

 

Thanks @rustED just chipping away at it. I really want to get this thing done to hit some trails lol, nothing more motovating.

I've been lucky all the body work has gone really smooth so far. I guess this TR4 wants to be saved and wheeled! I need to do a post of just the vintage Yota pics if had. My dad has had over 50 of then, no joke haha.

Yeah once I seen it I knew I had to save it, dam thing even has power mirrors and cruise control!

 

Ok guys so I made some more progress on the TR4 today. After trimming the donor clip and mocking it up I welded up the front end, it turned out really straight. It isn't perfect but hey if I wanted a perfect 4R I wouldn't have bought a wrecked one! The front inner fender is cut and spot welded and in the rear inner fender well I lapped it over each other about a 1/2" because without pulling the motor it would be very difficult to weld and make perfect. I'm just shy of about 1800 bucks (250 of that spent at the DMV) into it now but I need to order the rest of the front end parts that I need since I can't find any local parts.

After I welded the clip on I mounted everything back up and took it to degrees the motor one more time.


Here is were I welded the clip up on the bottom. It was pretty difficult for the fact of I didn't want to get it to hot and warp, plus being really mind full of the A/C condenser/radiator. After I sand and paint you hardly be able to see them.



The fender lined up really well! Also needs to be sanded-primed and painted.



If you have a first Gen you know if you look at the bumpers wrong they could bend! So it was pretty easy to straighten out the wrecked bumper. Looks decent till I build my own.

 

Dude nice! What are you going to do about the hood? Also did the accident turn the title into into a salvage?

 

@84 got a dude Unfortunately the insurance company of the driver who hit the 4R salvaged it. There is absolutely no frame damage or motor damage so it is a bummer, but that's why I got a good deal on it. After I get my head light and brake inspection I believe it may go to a rebuilt title. Witch ever way it goes as long as it's dependable and drives straight the title doesn't matter to me.

 

10-4 to that man, makes sense.
Definitely got a clean rig for a deal no matter what

 

That would really be cool! I'm younger than these trucks are, so I find it really cool to see them back in the day when they were new.

 

Next time I have the family photos out I'll have to see what I can find! It is pretty sweet to see them in their untouched factory state.


Ok Gents, so from the first time I got this TR4 I knew I wanted to 33" tires on it. Since I plan on using this for a semi DD (daily driver) and want to drive it up to the trails I will be running I wanted to go with a BFG All Terrain since I have run them in the past and never had a issue. So today I pulled the trigger on these 285/70/16 All Terrain KO'S with 60 miles mounted to some TRD rims





So I did run into on snag that I hadn't thought of when purchasing these. The rims do have a small lip on the front that won't let them get past the front hub, so now I'm debating on filing down the small lip on the rim or if anyone on here knows of a better solution. Here is a picture of the lip.