zacattack20
New member
That's cool. They are one of my top two favorite bands, and they are coming back this year. I'm excited.
4Runner-Dan's 96 SR5 Project
- Thread starter 4Runner-Dan
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4Runner-Dan
New member
So......I'm looking at my valve covers and would anyone have any recommendations/suggestions for getting the crap and sludge out from the underside. I have tried degreaser, but it's a hassle (to be perfectly honest). Maybe someone has done it before a different method and better results?????
A picture of what I'm trying to get off...
A picture of what I'm trying to get off...
4Running Daily
New member
So......I'm looking at my valve covers and would anyone have any recommendations/suggestions for getting the crap and sludge out from the underside. I have tried degreaser, but it's a hassle (to be perfectly honest). Maybe someone has done it before a different method and better results?????
A picture of what I'm trying to get off...
Sea foam and steel wool has worked in the past for me
4Runner-Dan
New member
Thanks for the tip. I'll give it a shot.
seymourless
New member
I am in Newport News, also with a project 4runner that has not left the garage in a while! Plan is to get everything squared away for spring/summer.
Keep up the good work!
Keep up the good work!
AZ4Running
New member
Soaking in a strong cleaner like purple power or a solvent (sea foam) over night and a steam pressure washer do wonders. Some of that is staining from deposits in the oil and will not come out. Get the inside as clean as best you can but dont worry too much since you wont see it and it affects nothing. After getting clean some aluminum colored spray paint makes them look like new. Ps you should paint the black trim around the shifter also since it looks faded now with the fresh center counsel. Looking good keep it up and you will have a like new 3rd gen.
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4Runner-Dan
New member
Thanks, man! I saw you were neck deep in rear axle seals. I hope to have mine done around the same time. Just in time for some beach excursions!
Cool. Appreciate it. It's on the ever-growing list....
4Runner-Dan
New member
More progress made today since it wasn't "freeze your nuts off" fahrenheight out or raining. My friend James came over to lend his welding skills and an extra hand. He's another car fanatic, like me, and showed up in his 71 C-10 (dubbed "the truck of many colors").
:insert jealously here:
The engine went from a block with heads on it to timed and 95% assembled.
I'm still working on cleaning up brackets and years of crud. And all of this with only 2 trips to Home Depot. Apparently, I had lost the timing belt tensioner bolts somewhere.
\
Good for another 100,000!!!! :clap2:
The other big accomplishment was getting the driver's side seat bracket in. The welds are not pretty by any stretch of the imagination, but they're strong. I'll take it....
These were huge hurdles jumped today and I'm even more excited to get it back on the road!!
:insert jealously here:
The engine went from a block with heads on it to timed and 95% assembled.
I'm still working on cleaning up brackets and years of crud. And all of this with only 2 trips to Home Depot. Apparently, I had lost the timing belt tensioner bolts somewhere.
\Good for another 100,000!!!! :clap2:
The other big accomplishment was getting the driver's side seat bracket in. The welds are not pretty by any stretch of the imagination, but they're strong. I'll take it....
These were huge hurdles jumped today and I'm even more excited to get it back on the road!!
4Runner-Dan
New member
Today I bought some cheap insurance for the truck in the form of LBJs. Purchased them from Advance and got a sweet deal with their "buy online and pick up in store" option. Saved $25.00 per ball joint. I went ahead with the moog...anything is better than LBJs with 300K on them.
Oh wait.....what is this now?
When I opened the box, I was surprised to see a "Sankei 555" LBJ in it. This one is for the left. I know there's a lot of back and forth regarding which is the better product. The Sankei is "prettier", but the Moog LBJ comes with a greaseable fitting already in the box. (Who knows if that's a bad sign or good one) I guess I'll see how they both hold up.
These will have to wait for a warmer day to be installed. It's a brisk 28 out and there's snow in the forecast for tomorrow and Tuesday. :hurt:
Oh wait.....what is this now?
When I opened the box, I was surprised to see a "Sankei 555" LBJ in it. This one is for the left. I know there's a lot of back and forth regarding which is the better product. The Sankei is "prettier", but the Moog LBJ comes with a greaseable fitting already in the box. (Who knows if that's a bad sign or good one) I guess I'll see how they both hold up.
These will have to wait for a warmer day to be installed. It's a brisk 28 out and there's snow in the forecast for tomorrow and Tuesday. :hurt:
habanero
Senior Member
*ducking chatter about Moog ball joints*
I think the biggest problem people have with the Moog is the whole failing after unreasonable amounts of time, like 30,000 miles. From anecdotal evidence that 555 seems more reliable, but I'm an oe girl when it comes to ball joints. Agree totally, though, that anything is better than ones with 300,000 miles on them!
Gotta love that Advance discount online, pick-up in town deal. Just had to pick up a couple of batteries using the TRT30.
I think the biggest problem people have with the Moog is the whole failing after unreasonable amounts of time, like 30,000 miles. From anecdotal evidence that 555 seems more reliable, but I'm an oe girl when it comes to ball joints. Agree totally, though, that anything is better than ones with 300,000 miles on them!
Gotta love that Advance discount online, pick-up in town deal. Just had to pick up a couple of batteries using the TRT30.
4Runner-Dan
New member
Hopefully I've got a good one. I'm going to keep it greased and watch. I don't think I'll go any other way getting parts....not using that option is like leaving free money on the table.
habanero
Senior Member
True, I am mighty fond on having a little extra for groceries and stuff. Still, some parts bear some thought on paying more for up front. I'm positive you have given your choice plenty of thought.
That 3.4 looks so cute, adorable and accessible sitting half nekid in the driveway. Liking Joseph, the C10 of many colors, too. :thumb3:
That 3.4 looks so cute, adorable and accessible sitting half nekid in the driveway. Liking Joseph, the C10 of many colors, too. :thumb3:
4Runner-Dan
New member
Time to get this build thread back on track.....
I had previously posted that I bought some MOOG LBJs from Advance Auto Parts. Welllllll.......come to find out that they felt "notchy" (best way to describe it) when I would move the ball in the joint. I promptly returned those and ponied up for a set of OEM LBJs.
A few pictures of the mess I'm making under the front wheels. Also all of the appropriate tools within reach! (BFH, pry bar, and pipe)
I'm currently held up at the moment with the install as one of the 4 bolt heads on the right is COMPLETELY rounded off and the OTRE will not separate on the left. :doh:
I have ruined the grease cover on the OTRE, so that's been added to the parts list.
In other news, the engine is finally IN!! ME, my pops, and my sister's BF knocked it our one evening.
Still trying to the PS exhaust manifold to seat and meet up with the crossover pipe. Everything is loosely attached (ie: DS manifold to engine, crossover pipe to DS manifold). I can't seem to rack the crossover pipe far enough back to clear the studs on the manifold.
Finally, I got a slick deal on an autometer oil pressure gauge and single pod, a- pillar mount. Cheap insurance to make sure everything is ok on that first start up.
Remember kids, measure twice and cut once...lol
Parts area becoming less and less stuffed.....
Thanks for looking!! :usa2:
I had previously posted that I bought some MOOG LBJs from Advance Auto Parts. Welllllll.......come to find out that they felt "notchy" (best way to describe it) when I would move the ball in the joint. I promptly returned those and ponied up for a set of OEM LBJs.
A few pictures of the mess I'm making under the front wheels. Also all of the appropriate tools within reach! (BFH, pry bar, and pipe)
I'm currently held up at the moment with the install as one of the 4 bolt heads on the right is COMPLETELY rounded off and the OTRE will not separate on the left. :doh:
I have ruined the grease cover on the OTRE, so that's been added to the parts list.
In other news, the engine is finally IN!! ME, my pops, and my sister's BF knocked it our one evening.
Still trying to the PS exhaust manifold to seat and meet up with the crossover pipe. Everything is loosely attached (ie: DS manifold to engine, crossover pipe to DS manifold). I can't seem to rack the crossover pipe far enough back to clear the studs on the manifold.
Finally, I got a slick deal on an autometer oil pressure gauge and single pod, a- pillar mount. Cheap insurance to make sure everything is ok on that first start up.
Remember kids, measure twice and cut once...lol
Parts area becoming less and less stuffed.....
Thanks for looking!! :usa2:
Chuckles89
New member
TRE Boots: http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/178792-chuckles-98-manual-sr5-4runner-11.html#post1930494
If you don't have one, go and get a "tie rod puller" from O'Reilly's and it should come right off. I tried a hammer and some general pullers and they didn't work.
If you don't have one, go and get a "tie rod puller" from O'Reilly's and it should come right off. I tried a hammer and some general pullers and they didn't work.
4Runner-Dan
New member
Appreciate the info! Yeah, I plan on getting one. That and a "grabber" type socket set for the bolt. I was legitimately surprised I couldn't break it free after an hour....
4Runner-Dan
New member
Thanks! Appreciate the kind words. Close.....I'm in the Kempsville area.
oh the picture where your working on your engine in the drive way looked kind of like Red Mill.
4Runner-Dan
New member
Just a little preview of what's happening in my garage....
Finally got comfortable enough with the progress to put it back on 4 wheels. Getting closer each day to driving it once again!!! :dance:
Finally got comfortable enough with the progress to put it back on 4 wheels. Getting closer each day to driving it once again!!! :dance:
4Runner-Dan
New member
Well today has been a long time coming. Finally got a chance to take it out and put some miles on it!! It was an awesome feeling and something I had been waiting for since October when I drove it last. It's amazing how my almost 20 year old truck with 298,000 miles drive straight as an arrow and doesn't creak on moan.
After getting the engine in and ready to go, the next big project was to improve the inside. The PO trashed the carpet and filled it with what seemed like an entire sad dune.
So......new carpet!!! (A little Happy Birthday to me)
What a pain in the butt this was. My advice for anyone doing this is to find a buddy and get him/her to help. My dad helped me and we took that entire thing in and out probably 5 or 6 times to measure, trace, measure, measure again, and cut. It didn't help that it was above 90 degrees on the day we did, but that the beers at the end so much better.
I'm 10000% pleased with the results. The color is a close match and fitment, while not perfect, is probably 95%. I have no doubt it will settle out.
Crappy picture here...
Once that was done, it was time for its maiden voyage. Took it up to my rescue squad and put some air in the tires.
No hood style
Final interior shot.
The test drive wasn't without its hiccups, though. Got a check engine light and came back for multiple misfires. Long story short, turns out I had pinched the seal where the injector meets the rail on the first injector from the pressure regulator. That allowed some fuel to leak on to the manifold. One new seal later and we were good to go.
I still have a intermittent low idle issue, but I think I'm going to put a tank of fuel through it and see how she does. Overall, big success!!
Plans are now to drive it and plan my next mods...haha.
After getting the engine in and ready to go, the next big project was to improve the inside. The PO trashed the carpet and filled it with what seemed like an entire sad dune.
So......new carpet!!! (A little Happy Birthday to me)
What a pain in the butt this was. My advice for anyone doing this is to find a buddy and get him/her to help. My dad helped me and we took that entire thing in and out probably 5 or 6 times to measure, trace, measure, measure again, and cut. It didn't help that it was above 90 degrees on the day we did, but that the beers at the end so much better.
I'm 10000% pleased with the results. The color is a close match and fitment, while not perfect, is probably 95%. I have no doubt it will settle out.
Crappy picture here...
Once that was done, it was time for its maiden voyage. Took it up to my rescue squad and put some air in the tires.
No hood style
Final interior shot.
The test drive wasn't without its hiccups, though. Got a check engine light and came back for multiple misfires. Long story short, turns out I had pinched the seal where the injector meets the rail on the first injector from the pressure regulator. That allowed some fuel to leak on to the manifold. One new seal later and we were good to go.
I still have a intermittent low idle issue, but I think I'm going to put a tank of fuel through it and see how she does. Overall, big success!!
Plans are now to drive it and plan my next mods...haha.
