When I built my 84 4Runner I was not a part of any forums or even had a thought of a build thread. So I have decided to put together a pic thread that will at least have some history to it and will update it as I fix the things I break. So the history was that in 1993 I bought my first Toyota from my brother in law and it was an 84 long bed that was bone stock and was named Rockdawg. I wheeled it a lot stock and learned that it could do things I never imagined a stock truck could do. The down side was that the suspension was stiff and power was low and the bed was looooong. So I bobbed 14 inches out of the bed and put a set of Alcan springs under it and ran 35" tires for years. Lincoln locked in the rear which I learned will break the carrier if wheeled hard and then you drive home from moab in front wheel drive. LOL So a rear spool and front Detroit ezlocker with Dual Marlin cases and I loved that truck. Unfortunately it saw an early demise when a girl ran a red light and t-boned my truck while my roommate was driving it. bent the frame and totalled the truck which only had liability on it to begin with. But a friend found an 84 Runner in a field in northern AZ and picked it up for 350 which he then sold to me, and I moved everything over from rockdawg I to the now Rockdawg II or current Rockdawg. Since then I have added crossover steering, cut the top and back off, and added johnny Joints to the rear shackles since I couldn't afford orbit eyes. This Runner has wheeled a lot and never really let me down. Several years ago on valentines day my wife got me longfields for the front axle and that is what I call love. we moved up to 39.5 pittbull Rockers and have just wheeled the snot out of it. Plans for the future are a full cage and rear disk brakes and some new seats. If I had known how rare the sr5 pattern seats in gray were I would have pulled them before the AZ sun rotted them away. I hope you enjoy the pics.
some of my first real body damage but not the last
when wheeling it is important to stay hydrated. LOL with dual cases you can do it mid obstacle.
yes gentlemen that is my wife and she can drive
I almost forgot to add that I installed a rear anti-wrap bar (slip and twist) this pic reminded me of it. Best thing to make the runner climb other than the dual cases.
'My needle always settles between west and southwest. The future lies that way to me, and the earth seems more unexhausted and richer on that side.' - Thoreau, sort of.
Nice recovery. Do those photos not show the angle correctly or did he do something dumb? I'm trying to figure out how he rolled in the first place.
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'My needle always settles between west and southwest. The future lies that way to me, and the earth seems more unexhausted and richer on that side.' - Thoreau, sort of.
Nice recovery. Do those photos not show the angle correctly or did he do something dumb? I'm trying to figure out how he rolled in the first place.
Unfortunately the driver was out late with friends and girls without a lot of experience wheeling and Im pretty sure started to get off to the right side of the trail and lost it. the recovery went really well and the 3rd gen started right up and smoked for a bit but then drove out without an issue. Here are some more of the pics on the damage and unfortunately it was a total loss by the insurance. makes me a little sad seeing it. LOL
tonight I purchased a Ford AOD trans to 21spline toyota transfercase. Just so happens that I have 21 spline duals in Rockdawg and now will be installing the 5.0 that has been in the garage for the last 4 years. More to come
it is a fun rig and we will prob never get rid of it except for the pieces of metal that get rubbed off on the rocks and left behind.
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