10-17-2014, 05:45 PM | #1 |
It'd be alot cooler if you did
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Three Rivers, MI
Posts: 2,345
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89 4runner build
Picked up this 4runner off the Yotatech classifieds this spring. The truck is originally from New Mexico, and I picked it up from a fella in Wisconsin who sunk quit a bit of time and money into it before he abandoned the project.
The 4runer had a pretty solid foundation, featuring a 22r motor and a 5 speed, along with 5.29s and lockers front and rear. It has a header, and mass air from a supra. The PO bought it with the intention of doing a resto-mod type project, but I guess he lost steam at the end. Heres what he did get done: *Cleaned and painted the underbody with Eastwood chassis black *replaced shocks and u-joints *stripped and painted the body with Eastwood desert sand flat paint *collected all new or usable interior parts, which I generally didn't use *new dick cepeck 285s *new plugs, wires, cap, rotor, fluids in everything. *budbuilt skid plate When I received the truck, the PO had just gotten it back from the paint shop. All of the interior and trim was in boxes... not even the seats where installed. It wouldn't start due to an undisclosed faulty ignition switch draining the battery... so we jumped it to unload it. Here's what it looked like the day after the ride... it got transported in a freaking blizzard so it was a little filthy when it got to me. |
10-17-2014, 05:58 PM | #2 |
It'd be alot cooler if you did
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Three Rivers, MI
Posts: 2,345
|
Re: 89 4runner build
The first order of business was to make this thing dependable for daily driving. I threw the red top optima in the trash in favor of an interstate, added a battery tray and hold-down, swapped alternators, and had my guy bend up a new exhaust sans the converter. To solve the ignition problem, we used the original pigtail off the ignition switch to wire in some relays, and installed a push button start. The dashpad was junk, so I simply stripped it and painted it... I thought it turned out pretty good!
Last edited by smashingchuck; 10-17-2014 at 06:25 PM. |
10-17-2014, 06:23 PM | #3 |
It'd be alot cooler if you did
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Three Rivers, MI
Posts: 2,345
|
Re: 89 4runner build
The next order of business was the interior. The PO had bought all new carpet kits, picked up some newer sr5 seats (a common mod), replaced the headliner in the hardtop, and dyed all of the original interior panels. I had a different idea in mind.... and had a blank pallet.
Since I was planning on running a soft top, I wanted an interior that was capable of holding up to the elements. Also, I wanted more cargo area, as nobody would ever be riding in those silly little back seats. Last edited by smashingchuck; 10-17-2014 at 06:24 PM. Reason: add picture |
10-17-2014, 06:33 PM | #4 |
It'd be alot cooler if you did
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Three Rivers, MI
Posts: 2,345
|
Re: 89 4runner build
I went with 1/4 inch thick plastic for the interior side panels, and bent up a piece of aluminum diamond plate to give me a nice flat floor, similar to that of a truck. Now typically I'm not a fan of the all the diamond plate, but I thought this was actually a practical use for it. After a summer of use, it has proved very tough and I can slide heavy things in and out with ease. I used stainless fasteners to attach everything. for the floor in the front, I found some nice thin vinyl used in the rv industry that also had the diamond tread pattern to cover the floorboards. For bucket seats I stuck with the updated sr5 seats, but would like to upgrade to something that's more water proof.
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10-17-2014, 06:43 PM | #5 |
It'd be alot cooler if you did
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Three Rivers, MI
Posts: 2,345
|
Re: 89 4runner build
Last was installing the soft top. I went with a can-back with stainless bars based on aesthetics and quality. Its not exactly water tight so I'm really glad I did the interior the way I did. I'm really happy with the way it turned out.
Future plans call for a rear tube bumper (its actually already bent I just need to make the mounts) and probably a winch. Since completion I've logged about 5000 miles and had a lot of fun off road. |
10-17-2014, 07:48 PM | #6 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Ann Arbor, MI
Posts: 1,032
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Re: 89 4runner build
Very nice.
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10-22-2014, 04:20 PM | #7 |
It'd be alot cooler if you did
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Three Rivers, MI
Posts: 2,345
|
Re: 89 4runner build
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10-23-2014, 12:47 AM | #9 |
Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Metro Detroit, MI
Posts: 202
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Re: 89 4runner build
So many MI people on this forum!
Cool build. My old man has had several (old) solid front axle toyota trucks, it is amazing what those things will handle. |
10-24-2014, 06:38 PM | #10 |
It'd be alot cooler if you did
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Three Rivers, MI
Posts: 2,345
|
Re: 89 4runner build
Thanks!
Howdy! Unfortunately its an IFS but it serves me better for daily driving at the moment. I do have a bare housing, planetary, and hubs on the backburner for the swap if I choose to do it, but I'm still collecting parts. I'm kinda up in the air on if I would build yota axles for this (they're salty to build correctly) or just swap a narrowed 44 into the front. |
02-26-2015, 05:51 PM | #11 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Nacogdoches, Texas
Posts: 895
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Re: 89 4runner build
sweet 4runner!
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Current Build 89 s10 ecsb 2wd 4.3/700r4 50k OG Miles Instagram- shaggin_s10 '86 Chevrolet C10 Custom Deluxe - Gen V 454 - 4l80e - welded 12 bolt (Build thread: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=611611 ) SOLD |
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