I am back after long hiatus for another build! But first a bit of backstory... About 3 or 4 years ago, I ended up selling my om617 swapped 87 4runner to close friend (who still drives it and loves it). I wasn't super happy with the swap after everything was said and done. om617 in a 4runner feels like pushing a brick around, and kind of top heavy or something. However my friend loves it, which makes me happy because I put a ton of work into that thing and it was a super fun build nonetheless!

Anyway, new freshness has arrived!

BF and I just purchased an 88 runner in dark grey, and the interior & exterior are soo cleaaan I am beside myself! The engine has some rough idle and motor start weakness issues to sort out (180k miles single owner), but I already know this rig like the back of my hand so it shouldn't be too bad to get it purring... at least I hope! I am going to start with a simple tuneup and see how far that gets me... fluids, new sparks & wires, compression & leak down, vacuum leak check, new o2 sensor, egr & pcv bs etc.

I have some custom plans for this build though that I intend to share here, hence the thread.. I am going to be designing & welding my own bumpers, guards, and roof rack from scratch out of steel stock. For the roof rack, I'm really liking okienomads build as a big insp! And for bumpers, I am looking at doing something similar to Garrett H's front and rear bumper. I won't be cutting/modifying the topper or body but rather designing some trick factory looking bolt on componentry that will hopefully end up looking like a unified system from head to toe. The body is in such amazing shape I really don't want to cut into anything, and I am going to kind of let that guide the design process.

Engine/performance wise I am already happy to be back with the 22RE, so I don't foresee too much modification there. But a rebuilt motor / crate motor is definitely in the cards depending on how the initial tune-up goes (well or not).

For wheels/suspension/steering, I am looking to correct the sagging rear suspension and throw on some better looking wheels.. nothing crazy because I want to keep a factory-ish look. Need to do more research here, but I am also kind of looking for suggestions because I think wheels are pretty specific to these models, right? Also interested in lockers.

The previous (original) owner took great care of it inside and out. It's hard to believe this vehicle is 33 years old. Not pictured, but the dash, seats, vents, and various buttons are still intact. The AC even blows cool air. Get out of town!

 

Welcome back!

You have a really clean 4Runner as a starting point. Keeping the 4Runner looking mostly factory is the right way to go!

I am looking forward to your progress!

 

good looking truck. sorry that the om617 didn't work out for you - you spent a lot of time on that truck - but now you know, too.

 

i kind of like the wheels, and i have the chrome version on one of my ‘87s. with some new paint, they’d look good. hard to beat the price (you already own them).

 

Thanks, I'm happy to be posting here again & thanks for the factory-look approval hehe. Can't wait to show some progress!

Yeah now I know, for sure! But that thing is still ticking apparently, it will probably outlast most other 1st gen 4runners lol. I am soooo happy to be behind the wheel of a 22re again though. Today had a butterflies in the stomach feeling that I haven't experienced in quite a while.

Interesting, yeah I guess I could get em powdercoated too or something like that. I am more of a fan of the dished look that my previous 4runner had, but I'm gonna hold off and see if the current style grows on me.. because there are more important things to do right now anyway!

In other news:
I just ordered a bunch of stuff for the tune up... new oem spark plugs+wires, oem distributor cap and rotor, oem o2 sensor, pcv, oem pcv & breather hoses, buncha gaskets, buncha bushings, and an upgraded master brake cylinder. Excited to be back in the shop! Except this time, I won't need to even watch youtube videos- I can just get right to it! Thankfully, it's also the perfect time of year for this kind of work in Southern California. Hopefully the mosquitos don't eat me up too bad (yeah we have mosquitos here now, it sucks)

October is going to be a big camping month so I've got the fire under my butt to get all of this maintenance / tuneup stuff done. Well, I'm looking forward to it anyway so it'll probably happen pretty quickly. Then it will be on to the really fun stuff like custom bumpers and roof racks.

 

Welcome back!
Your 4R is in a good shape.
I like those wheels and the center caps also, my 2 4Rs came with the same set:

 

Nothing like a fresh start! And a 22re
my first yota was that same gray so even though its pretty ordinary something about the color is perfect to me.

Looks like it could use a zuk mod in the back