I just read through this whole thread... I'm sad!
I have been having project withdrawls lately. Hopefully soon I can get another one... then sell it a month later... or not!
I'll tell you what--go find a stock 1st Gen with a nice body for cheap, then buy mine for all the running gear for, say, $2500. Then I'll go buy what I really wanted before falling for this one.
Bob what did you end up buying?
An '85 trail runner with suspension and body lift, 36's, 5.29s, ARB lockers front and rear, 22R with 5-spd, Alcoa wheels, etc..
Wow! Pics?
There's a whole thread on it: http://www.toyota-4runner.org/classic-t4rs/150318-my-first-first-new-adventure.html . Want it? It's could be yours fairly cheap. No, really.
You're not even going to wheel it first, are you?