185Runner Build

[185Runner]

10/9/2016

Been shopping for a while and finally found a runner that my wife and I dubbed worthy to be her DD and my weekend toy. Being in a more northern climate that can and will give us a lot of snow in the winter I decided it was time to get her a 4x4.

Drove over to Auburn, WA to check her out. Everything seemed in order, with some issues I will be addressing soon cash was handed over and we drove the 262 miles home (17.5 mpg not bad). Guy seemed very knowledgeable and based on questions presented, he was a preventative maintenance instead of reactionary guy.

1996 Limited 231K

Paint Code 1A5 so it is the Desert Dune Pearl which is pretty cool, looks white sometimes other its silver or anywhere in between.

Still on maintenance is tranny flush. Trans re route trans->cooler->rad->trans for what I think is optimum cooling as well as warming to operating temps.

Thanks everyone for having a great community here, I am excited to be joining. If anyone knows some good trails here in the Spokane area let me know!

Most Recent Picture!
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/159816540@N03/38420893382/in/album-72157687441352542/" title="4Runner"><img src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4541/38420893382_0a157833a8_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="4Runner"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Maintenance Record:
10/24/16 install ultra-gauge II
232000 Denso Radiator 221-0508
232150 oil change 5w-30 Mobil 1, OEM filter
11/8/16 Replace PCV
11/6/16 Lube Driveshafts
232315 285/75-16 Duratrak Install
11/10/16 Cobra 75WXST Install
11/11-12/16 Moab Trip (4 Days, 2000 miles)
235162 Rear Dif and XCase Fluid change
11/29/16 Replace Hatch Struts
1/14/17 236050 LBJs, OTRE, ITRE, Steering rack bushings
2/11/17 Fuel Filter
8/6/17 Oil Change 243,000
8/13/17 Front Suspension rebuild
11/18/17 HID Retrofit
12/20/17 231 TBU

TO DO LIST:
Skid Plate
Rear Bumper
Sliders
Tranny Flush/reroute
Seat Replacement
Install a genuine 4-Ripcord fuse block platform
Install Paranoid Fab switch panel

 

[Collkid]

Looks pretty awesome!

Mind telling us what you paid for it?

 

[185Runner]

Looks pretty awesome!

Mind telling us what you paid for it?

Don't mind at all, meant to add that. Walked away for $4500

 

[Collkid]

Having that Factory E-Locker makes it absolutely worth every penny.

 

[185Runner]

MAF/Throttle Body Cleaning

Figured the easiest and most convenient item to tackle first is cleaning the MAF and cleaning the throttle body. I didn't have a toothbrush for the TB so I will probably have to clean it again when I do the plugs and wires. No big deal it is way cleaner than before. I also found out I have the "weird" MAF. I have no idea if I cleaned it well enough, but I did it according to the link [MENTION=57546]4-Ripcord[/MENTION] posted on his Buyer's Guide (invaluable). 4Runners.org - Cleaning Your Throttle Body and MAF





I also forgot to take pictures of the TB. There was a lot of carbon behind the butterfly valve.

 

[185Runner]

So this happened on Friday.....



Upon further inspection.....



But most likely the culprit....



Stupid rusty radiator cap. Apparently I missed it upon initial inspection. Well 230K down the road isn't bad for what I assume is the original radiator. I wanted to replace it anyway, just not this way. I am also going to reattach the tranny line after the cooler so that the rad can warm it to optimum temps. So I went to Toyota and picked up a few things, just need to go to Costco and pick up some Mobil1 :bravo:



And on another note, does anyone know if Toyota sells the pins that hold this rubber strip to the hood? Do I need it? Can i just remove it and be fine?
Thanks for your thoughts.

 

[185Runner]

Got the runner up and going again yesterday. Did an oil change for good measure.

Coming this week PCV and Rear Breather. Followed by oil changes for the tranny and diffs

 

[jgd99]

Looks sweet! Looking forward to seeing how this will progress!

 

[185Runner]

Looks sweet! Looking forward to seeing how this will progress!

Thanks!

Also picking up so 1.25" spacers and looking to get 285 duratraks should be pretty awesome.

 

[185Runner]

Placed a couple of big orders.

New tires 285/75
CB
Spacers

Getting ready for a trip to Moab next week. First time with some experienced guys that live that way. Might not get the tires in time but that's ok.

Going to check the lower ball joints before I got just to be safe

 

[185Runner]

Just called the local dealer to see about the LBJ's, they wanted $166 PER SIDE!!!! Looks like I'm going to order online from another dealer. Suggestions?

 

[Mark_BC]

Just called the local dealer to see about the LBJ's, they wanted $166 PER SIDE!!!! Looks like I'm going to order online from another dealer. Suggestions?

I went with Camelback Toyota in Phoenix like mtbtim shows in his video. Going to go pick them up tomorrow and bring back across the border.

 

[RogueYota]

I went with Camelback Toyota in Phoenix like mtbtim shows in his video. Going to go pick them up tomorrow and bring back across the border.

Yes, go with Camelback, they have hands down the best prices.

 

[185Runner]

Yes, go with Camelback, they have hands down the best prices.

I'm sure I've seen Camelback around here before, at least it sounds familiar. I checked. Currently $90 per side. Much better than what I was quoted before.

On a side bar, been super busy with work. Updates on many things coming very soon.

 

[185Runner]

PCV Replacement

In an effort to learn everything about my Runner I am fixing or replacing anything I can think of. PCV is an easy way to go. So here we start.


Of course the grommet was very old and pretty much exploded while trying to get it out. Don't worry I got it all out.


But she is all patched up and you can see the old vs the new

 

[185Runner]

Switching to 285/75-16

Since this will be my wife's DD i wanted to be sure that there was the best tires for the snow that I could find. I typically buy Michelin's because they are great and last forever, but stepping into the world of larger tires and being in a lot more snow than usual now that I have moved yet further North. I asked the person I trusted to have done this for a while, seanpistol over on expedition portal (http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/100994-seanpistol-s-01-Tundra). We discussed 255 vs 285 and it came down to what is available tire wise. He very highly recommended Goodyear Duratrak for their snow traction and drivability saying, "If there was something better I would have it."

That was enough for me to decide it was good enough for my wife in the winter. So here are a few shots! Also to be sure to clear the UCA I added 1.5" TrailGear spacers up front, which pushed the wheels out to better fill the well anyway, which I love the look of.

In the back of the rig, could only get 3 wide


Spacer


On the lift


Old tires fit much better in the back than the new ones


Difference


I really like the look of them on the runner, also the split spoke with gun metal paint is an awesome look! (Ragnar sticker has been removed)

 

[185Runner]

Moab

My brother called and since we both had a long weekend off from work I packed up and drove from Spokane, WA to his place in Salt Lake. And then headed down to the Holy Land of wheeling. MOAB!! Was probably the most fun I've had in a really long time. Over all I drove around 2000 miles in 4 days. It was all worth it. Here are some pics snapped along the way.

11/11 Hell's Revenge
11/12 Fins and Things

Air Down to 15 psi. 01 Tundra, 96 4Runner, and a leased Tacoma














Here is the low point of the trip. The runner performed flawlessly. I really couldn't ask for more. The locker was barely used and she just walked all over every obstacle that came our way. I got a little cocky and here is where it bit me in the ass. We got down in Mickey's Hot Tub and just couldn't make it up the steep exit. Fortunately my brother talked me out of it and I was able to back out. Very minimal damage to the runner, the bumper took a hit on each corner and I drug the already bent hitch on the ground. I didn't realize how steep of an angle I was at until I saw the scar on the rock and how high my hitch is from the ground.


Not a bad campsite


Second day went much like the first

 

[185Runner]

Hatch Struts

The shock struts on this thing have been super bad since I got it. Very rough sliding up, and would barely open as shown below. I saw another member here had found a cheap set on amazon for $20 and figured, what the heck why not they can't be that bad right?





Install was super simple. Pull clips, put in provided bolts.


First opening with new struts, very smooth and opened this far compared to the picture above.


And full open.


Gotta have good helpers

 

[185Runner]

Brother in law got father in laws truck stuck today. Called the right rig to pull him out. 4lo and locked, came right out on the second pull. Plow was high centered on the asphalt. Fun day in the snow!

 

[I'mStock]

7

And on another note, does anyone know if Toyota sells the pins that hold this rubber strip to the hood? Do I need it? Can i just remove it and be fine?
Thanks for your thoughts.

90467-08011-83

:fro: