1984 4runner build

[CAN-03runner]

So my 4th Gen 4Runner gets to meet its 1984 1st Gen ancestor and share some driveway space today.

I picked up an 1984 5-speed with a 3VZ already swaped in it, yes I know it's the 3.slow but the frame is in fantastic shape, the body not so much and it does have a list of mods already installed.

4" lift ( leaf spring brand unknown )
rough country shocks
Mostly stuff from trail gear:
New kuckles
new trunion bearings
high steer
1995 v6 4runner calipers
Landcruiser fj60 disks
stainless brake line
4runner 1995 v6 master cylinder
front/rear breather kit

And a list of repairs to be done.
Starting with the radiator which has lost many of its fins
The hand brake cable is snapped
And the CEL comes on after about 10mins of driving. Previous owner already tried a bunch but no luck. My 4th gen had a similar issue and it was because I had a leak in one of my exhaust seals and the sensor was getting failed comparison readings of the exhaust before and after the Cat. Once the seal was replaced, CEL went away. This leads me to another repair on the list, exhaust needs replacing. It rusted, and I'd prefer not to lose it from under the truck.
The rear window tailgate window does not roll up and down without someone helping it up and down.

And then the obvious rusty body work.

The inside is pretty nice, I even found a receipt for a interior carpet shampoo in the glove box.

Its a bit of a project, but a solid axle swap is not legal here, and recently the police is hating on lifted trucks giving tickets for silly things like uncovered fog lights, and mud flaps that are not the proper height off the ground.

So...Radiators...any ideas. Stick to Toyota OEM or similar, or aftermarket performance type. The truck is going to see trail duty that's for sure. So I want to make sure it stays cool driving slow in the hot sun. Right now the radiator is junk.

 

[T?@\7]

Nice!
I wish i hadnt wrapped my modded 05 around a palm tree (j/k, it didnt wrap, it rolllled)
Having two, one new and nice and one old and capable would be the bomb for sure.

 

[Hyde802]

Looks like a good start! The 3vze really isnt a bad engine. Besides the headgaskets, its a very reliable engine. A normal v6 radiator will be fine. Make sure you use the shroud. You don't want this motor to over heat.

Does it still have the factory push/pull steering box?

 

[CAN-03runner]

Looks like a good start! The 3vze really isnt a bad engine. Besides the headgaskets, its a very reliable engine. A normal v6 radiator will be fine. Make sure you use the shroud. You don't want this motor to over heat.

Does it still have the factory push/pull steering box?

I will need to investigate a little further, but I believe it is an IFS steering box. The previous owner gave me the tour in and under the truck and I recall him showing me where the new steering box mount is attached to the frame and explained that it was done since he had put in the hysteer kit. Although I don't know what year vehicle it came from.

There is lots to learn again. I had learned a alot about the 4th gens and the FJ's, now time to start over on figuring out the 1st gen. It's going to be amazing once this gets done. I wheel my 4th Gen with an FJ Cruiser club, I can't wait until this is ready so I can kick some FJ Cruiser Butt. :boxer:

 

[SCRunner12]

Nice buy, but who would put a 3.0 into an 84? Just seems illogical due to the amount of work to switch from a 22R to a 3VZ. I guess it makes it easier on you to swap in a 3.4 at some point. :banana:

Always nice to have a second 4runner to beat up on. Looking forward to the progress.

 

[CAN-03runner]

Nice buy, but who would put a 3.0 into an 84? Just seems illogical due to the amount of work to switch from a 22R to a 3VZ. I guess it makes it easier on you to swap in a 3.4 at some point. :banana:

Always nice to have a second 4runner to beat up on. Looking forward to the progress.

Long story short. Previous owner worked for a 100% Toyota only mechanic garage/salvage yard/fabrication shop for a little while. His truck was dying and frame was rotten. Around the same time they came across an 1984 with a great frame and bad motor, and a low mileage 1990ish V6 2WD with a great working motor. The 3VZE motor mounts were added, and the rest is history.

I would have preferred the 22RE for the legendary icon status, fuel economy and that I think I could put a Marlin much easier without an adapter. But first things first.

This week it will need to get a radiator and exhaust and that CEL needs to be resolved. I need to drive it around town and longer distance to see what other aliments pop up. Then I need to tackle the body. If too much for simple bondo, then I've located a couple of donor IFS trucks with working 22RE and good body. Been contemplating a body swap? I need front windshield, tailgate, and doors. If I can pickup a whole truck with good body, good tailgate and good doors for the same price as just those body parts with a working motor...bonus.

Yes I will post progress. I have too, As I'll probably need the guidance.

Goodie-1, I already have a ARB 132 locker and compressor and bearings that never made it into my 4th Gen.

 

[T?@\7]

have you looked into toyotafiberglass.com? He is a member here, under the name 'slacker', infact you can see his thread "the very first 4runner" and see the quality of the panels first hand

 

[fourwd1]

So my 4th Gen 4Runner gets to meet its 1984 1st Gen ancestor and share some driveway space today.

I picked up an 1984 5-speed with a 3VZ already swaped in ...

Its a bit of a project, but a solid axle swap is not legal here,

An 84 has a solid axle.

You listed "high steer" as one of the mods, so you should have an IFS steering box, as it's required as part of a high steer conversion.

 

[CAN-03runner]

have you looked into toyotafiberglass.com? He is a member here, under the name 'slacker', infact you can see his thread "the very first 4runner" and see the quality of the panels first hand

Yes I've see it before way back, when I starting looking for an 84-85 4Runner knowing that I'd probably have some body work I wanted to know how readily available reissued body panels would be.

An 84 has a solid axle.

You listed "high steer" as one of the mods, so you should have an IFS steering box, as it's required as part of a high steer conversion.

Thank you for the confirmation.

 

[CAN-03runner]

So I haven't been able to do much work on my new old runner. But today she goes in for some SPA-Yota time. I have realized that while I may be able to do some of the work myself, and that it would be more gratifying to do so, I must cave in and bring it in to a shop. Well not quite a garage. But someone's back yard barn sort of. I found a Toyota guru who collects old toyota trucks and works out of passion to keep these on the road. So I'm going to work with him to save this Runner. I also don't have the space to keep 2 4runner bodies at home. Not even counting that my neighbors would vote me off the island....

So today my 1984 4Runner will get the mechanical shakedown. New windshield, new radiator, new exhaust, tailgate+working motor, new doors. He stocks all this old stuff, if not to my liking then I may go the path to fiberglass. EDIT*** This never happened. read on, I just ended up changing the whole body instead of individual body panel parts, etc...

Here are my runners, getting aquainted. Sharing old stories of how the Toyota factory used to be and what the new factory is like. My 4th Gen brought my 1st Gen some flowers too. :hello::thumb3:

 

[CAN-03runner]

Double Runner. My V8 4th Gen had no issues towing the trailer and 1st Gen 4Runner combo. I had never towed anything in my life before. The brakes on the trailer did their thing, and the over size brakes on the 4runner sport didn't hurt either. Big honkin pullin V8 wasn't to shabby either. OME in the rear really helped it not sagging that much. Couldn't imagine the sag on stock coils. Had to inflate the tires close to max PSI rating. Trailer has warning for 55miles Max, I kept it below that and felt really comfortable. If I didn't pay attention and made it to 55miles/hr and more I felt it was wobbly a bit. So kept it lower. No need to rush. Best to arrive alive.

I didn't feel that other cars or trucks were blowing me around. I drove through a long tunnel that was the only spot that I felt air pushing me around a little. But not that much, and slowing down cured that. Over all, a good experience for my first trailer towing experience. But I had an experienced buddy next to me.... goood thing, because backing up a trailer is really all messed up!

 

[CAN-03runner]

1984 4Runner Progress, The work progress list progresses!

-Radiator changed
-Hand brake cable changed
-Brakes adjusted
-Drive line zerks and stuff greased.

Doing next...Once all the parts are sourced and brought to the same place it should go quick

-Now have one set of 4.88 gears off of the rear of an IFS 4runner,and hunting for second set.

-Going to weld the rear and ARB front. ( already have the ARB ) This makes sense right?

-Looking for good donor truck to do a body swap. It will be easier and cheaper than doing a whole bunch of body work, buying doors, tailgate, and front windshield.

-Donor truck will give me the wider rear axles too.

-and With body off, clean and paint frame, and add little body lift. Body lift Provides working space and after trail pressure washer cleaning room

-Front and rear bumpers (located) EDIT ** when I went back they were sold.
-Rock sliders (located) EDIT ** when I went back they were sold.

This should be a great base. To which I can add some Chromo if I start breaking stuff. Doubt it. I'm not the extreme type, and my trail buddies still have 3/4/5th gen 4runners and Fj cruisers.

 

[DirtDawg]

Subscribed, look forward to this build.

 

[CAN-03runner]

1984 Build Progress

The build just got a kick start. Steer stabilizer, axle gausset, and diff armor arrived today. A second set of 4.88 gears were located on a donor truck and should be here tomorrow. Rear 4.88 are welded locked. This new found 4.88 will get the ARB air locker treatment. Hopefully this week, or next.

Still loooking for a good donor body to do a body swap rather than repair the body panels, and windshield and tailgate.

Some pictures of what this looks like all apart, welding the diff, and some friends of my 4runner waiting outside to go play with my 4runner.

 

[CAN-03runner]

It's taking long to locate a good 1st Gen 4runner body on the cheap without having to buy a whole good truck for my body swap.

Pickup truck bodies are readily available for me to use in the swap and apparently line up without too much trouble.

Some also claim that a 2nd gen with 4 doors is a possible swap option too.
I even have access to an 83 pickup truck body. I love the curved hoods on those early models.

Should I convert to 1st Gen pickup truck or keep hanging in for a 4runner body? This is the question?

 

[Hyde802]

Looks killer. Love the lincoln locker!!

 

[CAN-03runner]

An 84 has a solid axle.

You listed "high steer" as one of the mods, so you should have an IFS steering box, as it's required as part of a high steer conversion.

Yes, that is why I went for an 84 even if the body was horrible just so that I can legally have a solid axle and then deal with body work after that....the body which may have finally been located. Initial pictures of it look good, but it's a good 200km away.

The rear axles are swaped for the wider post 1985 axles, u-bolt flip kits installed, axles gaussets and diff covers welded in. I just need that darn body and it's ready. Faster than I ever expected. Oh yeah and tires. But I might just borrow the 33" on my 4th gen to try it out. I hope the center on the rims fit over the 1984 hubs?

 

[CAN-03runner]

1St gen Build Tested

I got out and tested it last weekend. This is what happened! As you can see from the pic, it was properly tested, and it works real good.:bravo: I don't have many pics or video because I was too busy being giddy inside the truck rolling up and over everything. :boxer: I cleaned the windows so I could see out them to drive home.

This truck is fantastic. I was blown away by it, and for sure the ARB locker in the front. The rear is welded, so that is always locked. But the ability to turn the front locker on and off is amazing. With it on it was very hard to turn. No problem, push the button, make the turn, push the button again to engage right before when and if needed again. And it just went. Usually with my 4th gen I don't aim for all the obstacles, I try to avoid them when I can. With this one, I tried them all. Even on 33"s it went every where my FJ Cruiser buddies on 35" got stuck. The 4runner didn't get stuck and went where they couldn't go at all. I'm not sure I need 35" unless I do real deep mud I think? But I don't like mud, I like to go 4lo slow. And she's real slow in Lo range, 1st gear and 4.88's. Well actually she is also slow in 2hi and 5th gear, but that is another story.:lol: Needless to say Down hill was slow and controled and no need for the brake.

Locked up on all 4's is really something extraordinary. Hard to explain, you need to experience it. I didn't understand, until I tried it. It must surely be the most worthwhile mod.

 

[CAN-03runner]

This is the donor truck for the body swap. 1986 with bad motor, it takes in coolant. But very nice everything else.

This day the battery died, or my alternator wasn't "alternating" :redbrick: cause I could jump start it. drive around, but it wouldn't start on it's own after that. Anyways, I didn't have any tools with me, and didn't care too much to fiddle with it, so the day after I went to uhaul and got a car transporter to get it to the shop. And as you can see from the sheet of ice on the floor. It was FREEZING! outside.

 

[CAN-03runner]

Body off 4Runner!

Out with the old junky body.....see you later cracked windshield, good bye rotten tailgate, good ridance doors about to fall off.