87 4 Runner Build

[SV_Dude]

I used a full gallon and so far it's holding up great! One gallon did two good coats.

 

[KidVermicious]

Crawl OVER the rocks, SV. Not through them, OVER them.

 

[SV_Dude]

Crawl OVER the rocks, SV. Not through them, OVER them.

That briefs well... but it doesn't always happen that way. If I had a rear locker then maybe I could control my direction a little better. But that picture doesn't really even show how steep that was. It was somewhat hard to even walk around there without sliding down on my arse If it were all rock then I would have had traction. As soon as one tire hit the sand then it just spun and I slid into that same position every time.

Armor is the next thing on my shopping list then I'll get lockers!

 

[SV_Dude]

So, between yesterday and today I got a bit of work done on the runner. FOG came over and we cleaned and re-greased my hubs.

Before:

eewww...

I didn't get any pics of them cleaned and re-greased but I'm sure most peeps have seem them before. Now they turn freely and smooth as they should.

Also, after a couple weeks of messing around and bas****ising the rear spring pack to try to get a comfy ride that still performs well offroad, and gives the runner an acceptable ride height I came up with this. I think the overall frame height on my runner was lowered somewhere between 2-3 inches. This allowed me to turn down my torsion bars and actually allowing the front to flex a little.

I also put my soft top back on and rolled up the sides. Just in case I haven't said it before, I love this soft top!

Now with the exception of packing the ice chest, I'm all ready for tomorrow's trip http://www.toyota-4runner.org/off-roading-home-monst4rs/117138-colorado-wheeling-june.html :lookout:

 

[Footofgod]

Looks much better with the top and roll bar!

 

[KidVermicious]

More details on what springs you used please.

 

[SV_Dude]

These are the TG 4" lift, 56" long leaf springs with the 1st and 3rd springs pulled. With these springs removed it gave me about 2-3" total lift with stiff a somewhat soft ride and still flexy on the trail. I kept the other springs, I may add one or both back when I get a rear bumper, spare tire and other bits of trail parts and tools (hi lift, air tank, etc.).

I'm going to get the TG 3" lift springs for the front eventually and will most likely pull the spring pack apart and play with different packs until I am satisfied with the softness and ride height.

 

[KidVermicious]

Cool, good to know!

 

[SV_Dude]

Cool, good to know!

I must have looked at dozens of different toyotas and their spring packs. I have come to the conclusion that every spring pack is different and every vehicle is going to be different on each spring pack.

I drove about 5,000 miles and went wheeling a few times to try and break in the springs. I wasn't happy with them. They put the vehicle too high and rode too stiff. I originally pulled out one spring a few months ago and it did nothing. A couple weeks ago shortly after I moved to CO I pulled two more springs out of the rear pack. I liked the ride height but it was too soft and the suspension would bottom out easily. I am not even sure I am sold on this current configuration. I will need to drive it for a couple weeks and go wheeling on it a few times. I still need to relocate my shocks into the /\ pattern above the axle. That will happen shortly after I get the home owner to let me cut his garage up to add some power outlets I miss not being in a house that I own, I'm renting my house out in TN so now I gotta rent a house in CO.

 

[combatmedic]

I'm in awe of your guys' knowledge. I love these build threads.
That is all.

 

[SV_Dude]

I'm in awe of your guys' knowledge. I love these build threads.
That is all.

Thank you! However, this is the first time I have ever had a project vehicle. I have never done anything like this. I have learned everything I know about these toyotas from others on the forums (here, yotatech, pirate, ttora, etc.). I cannot take credit for everything on my runner because nothing I have done has been original or my ideas. I still have a lot to learn and a long way to go on my runner.

 

[SV_Dude]

We had another excellent day of wheeling today! Some long time friends of the family from Denver came and joined us. He has an awesome Nissan X-Terra. From the outside you would think it's a stock Nissan with an ARB bumper and a winch. This thing was awesome!! He's got arb air lockers front and rear, arb bumper, onboard air, and a full set of skid plates along the bottom of his rig. Seeing his rig and FOG's rig go, it really makes me want at least a rear locker BAD!!!

Thanks to FOG for taking the time to take a lot of pics. I bring a camera every wheeling trip and I never manage to take any pictures. I get carried away wheeling and forget that I even have a camera.

Anyways, here are the pics:

Group shot:

This shot was after about a 3' drop and the vehicle was stable enough to get out and pose for a shot

A couple videos (Thanks to FOG)
<embed width="600" height="361" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowFullscreen="true" allowNetworking="all" wmode="transparent" src="http://static.photobucket.com/player.swf" flashvars="file=http%3A%2F%2Fvid810.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fzz27%2Ffootofgod%2FRainbow%2520Falls%2520T4R%252062412%2F035.mp4">

<embed width="600" height="361" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowFullscreen="true" allowNetworking="all" wmode="transparent" src="http://static.photobucket.com/player.swf" flashvars="file=http%3A%2F%2Fvid810.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fzz27%2Ffootofgod%2FRainbow%2520Falls%2520T4R%252062412%2F023.mp4">

There's a handful of pics on the wheeling thread posted a few posts above.

BTW: It's good to know that even the 2nd gen guys can appreciate an awesome 1st gen!

Best looking rig in the bunch!

 

[4Running Daily]

Let me just leave this here...
1GR-FE 4.0 V6 Swap into 1987 4Runner - TTORA Forum

You know you want to.

 

[KidVermicious]

BTW: It's good to know that even the 2nd gen guys can appreciate an awesome 1st gen!

Well, I mean, how could they not?

I'm getting "video not found"...

 

[SV_Dude]

Let me just leave this here...
1GR-FE 4.0 V6 Swap into 1987 4Runner - TTORA Forum

You know you want to.

I do want to do that swap. I found that thread a little bit ago and fell in love with the idea of the new v6 in front of a 6 speed transmission. But that will be the last thing I do to this runner unless my engine blows up. Right now I have a perfectly good motor... just so happens my perfectly good motor feels extremely under powered on the streets. Once I'm on the trail I don't feel any lack of power though.

 

[GonOvr]

You should put new tires on the things to do list. Rocks are sharp in Colorado and those front claws look almost like slicks.

 

[SV_Dude]

You should put new tires on the things to do list. Rocks are sharp in Colorado and those front claws look almost like slicks.

They are on the very top of the list. I'm just waiting till August then I can start spending chunks of money on my runner. Until then I'm stuck with what I have. Hopefully these tires will last till then.

 

[Hyde802]

Im getting "video not found" too.

:hungry:

 

[SV_Dude]

Here are the direct links from FootofGod's photobucket:

http://s810.photobucket.com/albums/... Falls T4R 62412/?action=view&current=036.mp4

http://s810.photobucket.com/albums/... Falls T4R 62412/?action=view&current=035.mp4

http://s810.photobucket.com/albums/... Falls T4R 62412/?action=view&current=034.mp4

http://s810.photobucket.com/albums/... Falls T4R 62412/?action=view&current=033.mp4

http://s810.photobucket.com/albums/... Falls T4R 62412/?action=view&current=032.mp4

http://s810.photobucket.com/albums/... Falls T4R 62412/?action=view&current=031.mp4

http://s810.photobucket.com/albums/... Falls T4R 62412/?action=view&current=026.mp4

http://s810.photobucket.com/albums/... Falls T4R 62412/?action=view&current=023.mp4

http://s810.photobucket.com/albums/... Falls T4R 62412/?action=view&current=022.mp4

http://s810.photobucket.com/albums/... Falls T4R 62412/?action=view&current=021.mp4

http://s810.photobucket.com/albums/... Falls T4R 62412/?action=view&current=019.mp4

http://s810.photobucket.com/albums/... Falls T4R 62412/?action=view&current=018.mp4

http://s810.photobucket.com/albums/... Falls T4R 62412/?action=view&current=017.mp4

 

[KidVermicious]

Still not working.