Well it is at least until we buy her something newer and more reliable. Then it becomes my new toy .  She has owned it for at least ten years, but it sat for the last seven.  I think I threatened it enough that it might start consistently now, so I am calm enough to talk about the fluffing thing in polite company.  I have liked these first gen 4 runners sense they were new.

After getting the clutch replaced, and a week of chasing starting/electrical gremlins, I think it might be okay.

Not bad for a '86 with 190,000 miles.  First pic is the good, second is the bad.

Just get yourself a Soviet machine gun to mount in the back and you"ll be set.

Just get yourself a Soviet machine gun to mount in the back and you"ll be set.

Words to live by.

Those are good old trucks.  Still see a few of them around in Arizona - no rust is a good thing.   

I should give you my standard response, but then I remembered you can't see the ocean from where you live.  I have only ever lived more than 5 miles from the ocean while I was in college, two of the worst winters of my life.  I will live with the rust.

On an semi-related note, I am not too sure about the shop that replaced the clutch in the 4 runner.  When we moved it from the property to a storage yard, hiding it and all valuables from the step kid, the battery was dead, so I grabbed my spare and tried to drive to town.  I had one of the batteries go bad while under warranty in my diesel truck, so rather than put the new one in with an older battery I replaced both and put the good one in heated storage for the next 5 years or so until I stuck it in the Toyota.  We were on vacation and out of time when it was dropped off at storage, so I did not pull the battery.  Well it would not take a charge so the shop replaced with an identical battery, Ford F250 7.3l diesel battery, rather than the Manufactures recommended battery.  I think the terminals were making contact with the hood just enough to drain the battery, but not enough to spark and leave marks on the underside of the hood.  Why do I think this?  A piece of cardboard over the top of the terminals has ended the not starting problem (knocking on wood every time I think I have fixed this).  In the shop's defense some one has converted, badly, this truck to top post clamps from side post terminals.  I need to try and find out what the stock battery dimensions are supposed to be soon.  I would hate to burn this sucker down. 

Our neighbor who did the clutch for us at his shop, thinks he might have found a cheap donor body for us.  Somebody dropped off a nice looking 4 Runner with the keys, but no note at the shop sometime last week.  Sounded like the engine had thrown a rod when they went to move it out of the way.  So we will see, project truck might start sooner than planned.  At least gathering the parts...

Parts collecting has begun. '87 supposedly has bad engine but otherwise good running gear.
Towed it home to steal parts off of it, dropped a battery in and it sounds okay.  The body is rough though.

So as to not keep hijacking Deerslayer's thread, I will resurrect this one.

So the 4Runner is now my daily driver, as I am back to work.  The tranny is going on my other truck, so am going to try and sell it before it goes completely.  I have found the limits of the current suspension.  Three bad shocks, and flat leafs in the rear make for a rough and noisy ride.  Also I either have a poorly balanced tire, right front, or a ball joint going out on that side.  I think that the ball joints are original 191,000 miles.  So now I am trying to decide on whether or not to spend the money on new leafs, or to take the time to take them off the parts truck.  It has four good shocks, and good rear leaf springs.  All the bolts are rusty though on both trucks.  Also while I have the front wheels off I want to replace both the upper and lower ball joints on both sides, and while I am at it I would like to replace the bushing at the same time.  If I am going to all that effort I might as well put a small lift, 2" don't want to make it harder for the wife and kiddo to get in, at the same time.  But I am not sure, money is not growing yet, and I am trying to work two jobs so time is at a premium.  If Tracy, my wife, finds a truck then I get my Duramax back, and the 4Runner is back to toy status.  Ironically it looks like the Chevy diesel and the Toyota get about the same mileage.

Don't forget to check the wheel bearings and repack if necessary.  Ask me how I know .   .   .   

Yes I will.  I am a rally car driver at heart, love to rear wheel steer.   It annoys me that I can hustle my 3/4 ton diesel 22 ft long truck through the twists and turns to town faster than I can this truck. 

I am hesitating on lift as it can adversely effect handling.  I want this thing to be tighter than new when I am done.  It is 30 years, though...wonder when I can get "antique plates" for it.  Life time registration would be nice.

It's a 4 cylinder, 22RE mated to the 5 speed.  With the 2" lift it is just a lift spacer in front, and a add a leaf in the rear.  No coils, no shocks, nothing really to it. 

My coils in front seem fine, just one bad shock in front.  Lots of sag in the rear due to flat leaf springs that need replacing, and both shocks are shot.   

I am going to swap some tires around later tonight and see if the front end, right front vibration, is tire or ball joint.  I think that replacing all bushing will help with front end tightness.  Also I will replace the ball joints with grease-able ones and that will help.

This afternoon we found a good deal on a '94 Tacoma for my wife.  It is a 3.0l V6, 5 speed and meets all our other requirements.  Truck has about 200,000 miles on it, with approximately 100,000 on a replacement engine.  Guy who did the engine swap for the owner could not figure out how to re-hook up the speedo and odometer, but other than that it is good.

The result of this is that the 4Runner will likely go back to toy status, and I will have the time to steal the suspension off of my parts truck.   At least the rear leaf springs which saves me about $400.  And makes 2" lift with new shocks in the $400-$500 range.  With the upper and lower control arm bushings and ball joints another $150. 

 

Back on the Toyota saga.  All new ball joints in the front, and the front end shimmy is mostly gone. What remains feels like tires to me.  New to me, rear leaf springs are in, as are 4 new shocks, I commented on what a PITA ball joints are to change in another thread, but they don't hold a candle to doing leaf springs. Truck rides nice now, no need for the kidney belt. Just need to get the back window switches sorted and it will be good to go. I am debating what to do on the tire front as all four rings will need winter tires before snow falls, and two are tiptoeing on marginal tires now.

Pics with proper ride height, and new door will follow soon.

Here's the promised pictures.

I think I am done with this thing for now, except for rear bumper, brakes, tires, oil pressure sensor and dash lighting.

Rides 100% better than before and is kinda safe to drive.

Well I have got winter/mud tires on my 4Runner. So nice to get rid of the 15 year old rubber.

These are General Grabber AT2's, in 31X10.50 r15. About the max that I think will fit without a lift. I found two good ones at a yard sale, and bought two new ones off of Amazon, and am into this set of tires just under $500.

I will update tomorrow as to wether they rub or not. Fingers crossed.

I happen to know a guy that's in the process of restoring two mid 80s Toyota Land Cruisers... They will be for sale...

Want me to see if he has a website?


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