I didn't do this with my first 4Runner, but figured I might as well start one for my newest addition. I purchased this one with a grenaded transfer case, destroyed driveshafts, and mangled exhaust from a gentleman in Columbia, TN about an hour south of Nashville, TN. What Google Maps claimed was a 6 hour trip each way turned into closer to 8 hours each way between stopping for gas/food/bathroom and being stuck in construction traffic on I-40. 400 miles each way with a truck pulling a car hauler and a bored girlfriend makes for a long day. We left at 8 am on November 6th and didn't get home until 2 am.

This new 4Runner was in really good condition minus the obvious mechanical problems and a few minor dents/dings and carpet stains. Best of all it came with a thick file folder of receipts dating almost back to it's first oil change! I originally wasn't a huge fan of the color (Desert Dune Metallic) but it's growing on me and it still has all it's clear coat unlike my green one lol!

I dropped it off at work and then spent the next month and a half gathering parts. I wasn't able to find OEM manual driveshafts so I ordered some from 4xshaft using some measurements from Team_Jake since I didn't have a transfer case to measure from. I originally was going to get a transfer case from a guy parting out 4Runner's in Little Rock area but I got tired of waiting/postpones/lack of communication and ended up ordered one from LKQ posted on eBay. Strangely enough it was cheaper to buy it off eBay than to buy it directly from LKQ.

Twas the week before Christmas and my girlfriend was out of town which left me for extra time to spend after work fixing her up. What was left of the old transfer case was easily removed (there wasn't much still attached to the transmission) and a used j-shift with allegedly 131k miles was installed along with new driveshafts. I had to transfer the transfer case shift lever from the old transfer case to the new one since the vehicle is a manual. While I had it in the shop and work was slow I changed front/rear diff fluid, transmission gear oil, cleaned/flushed power steering, and engine oil and filter. The timing belt looked in good condition, but the valve covers/half moons were definitely leaking. The radiator could probably use replacing which will probably happen when I flush the cooling system of the green coolant that's currently in it.

The mechanics that looked at it had warned the previous owner that the transmission output might have been damaged with the transfer case destruction, but I didn't think that was very likely in my opinion. Luckily for me I was correct. She runs and drives, but obnoxiously loudly due to the exhaust breaking off after the first catalytic converter (California emissions). I paid a work friend $40 a few days later to weld it up at work best he could, and it’s so much quieter!

I transferred my ultraguage/mount and bluetooth radio over to my new 4Runner. I still need to figure out what to put in my ultragauge in place of transmission temperature. I’ve got a few lights that are burned out on the dash that I need to fix. I tried putting new bulbs in the hvac controls, but the green covers tore. I also broke the ac button in the process. So bulbs (90010-05152 X2) and an ac switch (84660-35030) are ordered. I didn’t think the bulbs would be a big deal or noticeable, but I was wrong. I replaced the transmission shift knob with an all rubber one (33504-20100-C0) and infilled the shift pattern and numbers on it and the transfer case shift knob. I honestly wish I would have spent the extra $20 and got the exact replacement (33504-20120-C0) but maybe it will grow on me.

I also installed the Spiker Engineering dash car mount and put my Spotify Car Thing on it. So far I have no complaints, but I haven’t really been driving this 4Runner much as I still haven’t registered or insured it.

Overall I couldn’t be happier with my new to me 4Runner. I’ll attach some photos of the carnage below lol

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