Back in Black: 97 4runner SR5

[cek77]

New radiator arrived so I have a weekend project. Went with Denso.

Also saw this on Amazon, little project I can build with my daughter.

More work ahead. Bringing this truck back from the brink has been fun. Still need to do a super clean inside and out. That will happen this coming week.

 

[cek77]

New radiator today. Perfect fit.

Cleaned the overflow bottle and filled up with Zerex Asian.

Took a short drive. I'll top it off tomorrow.

Finished the snap together 4runner with my daughter for a little father's day fun.

 

[cek77]

So new Radiator in, all topped off, took it for a few short drives and temp. still reading 203*. Did the newspaper test on the cooling fan and it stops it easily......so new Aisin fan Clutch on the way, new Toyota thermostat on the way also. More work for me but I want a solid truck.

 

[GHARP57]

So new Radiator in, all topped off, took it for a few short drives and temp. still reading 203*. Did the newspaper test on the cooling fan and it stops it easily......so new Aisin fan Clutch on the way, new Toyota thermostat on the way also. More work for me but I want a solid truck.

what is the newspaper test?

 

[1985taylor1925]

Hold on a minute . . . you have a serious problem here. You forgot to remove the running boards!

 

[cek77]

what is the newspaper test?

Read post #8 here

 

[cek77]

Hold on a minute . . . you have a serious problem here. You forgot to remove the running boards!

That one is for my daughter. Mine is coming in a few weeks. I plan on a body lift and definitely the deck plate mod for that extra power over the stack of pencils.

More stuff today.

Temps where reading 203* but solid. I replaced the radiator and put in fresh coolant. Wanted to protect against pink milkshake anyway. Still 203*.

Put the fan clutch in after old one seemed like it wasn't doing its job. Still 203*

Drained radiator, installed new thermostat according to a well written DIY. Filled up with another almost 2.5 gallons of Zerex Asian. Temps solid around 188-190* with AC on full blast just idling in driveway after a 10 min drive. Awesome!

For burping I pulled up on a little hill. Ran it with the cap off, front-rear heat full blast, let idle until the thermostat opened, topped it up, put cap on, took it for a 10 min drive to make sure I put it through various rpms and got its temp to max.

Next up oil change. Generic filter on there from PO at sears auto center. I picked up a toyota filter.

 

[cek77]

Milestone day. Caught up on all maintenance. Finished up with an oil change and filter, front diff. and transfer case fluid.

Now I need to put some miles on it and clean it up. Some serious interior cleaning is necessary! Wheels need to be painted. Paint needs to be polished and waxed....damn, I still have a lot of work.

 

[cek77]

Went at it with the carpets. Carpets kicked my A. They are definitely better but the PO spilled a ton of coffee or coke. Lots of dark stains. I decided against full removal but at least took out the seats and rear seat bottoms. Cleaned those also.

Here is a bit of what I started with.

This is what came up with the Bissell green machine. Probably dumped about 10 of those.

A little better after. Not perfect though.

Letting the seats dry overnight before reinstalling.

Cleaned the dash and center console. Much better but need a solution for the wood trim.

 

[cek77]

Back to work on the Runner.

Cleaned up the paint a little. Mother's Cleaner wax. Have brought back many old paint jobs with it. This is my first black paint job to revive. Did Ok. I may attack it with compound and polish with a buffer later on. It's ok but could use a little more.

Had to do something with the wheels. I used Duplicolor wheel paint before and it's pretty sturdy. Here is my daughter helping clean before I pulled them off.

before pic:

during pics:

I'll have the installed pics tomorrow. Need to get the running boards off but don't want that empty space. I wish toyota would find an old shipping container full of those SR5 mudflaps! Those looked so good on these.

 

[4Runner-Dan]

^^^^^The wheels look great! What are the specifics on the wheel paint? Looks very close to factory. My wheels are looking pretty junky and could use a refresh.

 

[cek77]

^^^^^The wheels look great! What are the specifics on the wheel paint? Looks very close to factory. My wheels are looking pretty junky and could use a refresh.

A little metallic sparkle to them. Disregard the pic on the can, it comes out just like the cap. I like a brighter wheel with black. They do offer a matte black and gun metal, at least those where the two others I saw.

I used the same paint on last summers project also. A bit different then a 4runner.

I'll get a pic of them on the 4runner tomorrow. Looks great to me.

 

[cek77]

Here is the results of the Duplicolor wheel paint. Much nicer at a reasonable cost and reasonable effort.

Also took off the roof rack completely and painted gloss black.

The truck has cleaned up pretty well. Very happy. Runs great now. The work and $ is showing. Just driving and enjoying it for now. Need to develop a solution for the running board situation. Hate them on there but don't like it without them and no mudflap yet. Might have to start modeling and 3D print something

 

[GHARP57]

try getting in touch with [MENTION=124475]bhicks22[/MENTION] i know he has quite a few machines up and running. he may be able to give you insight on it if you are unfamiliar and there is another guy too...i am trying to remember his name

i remembered it is [MENTION=94545]MTD[/MENTION]

 

[MTD]

try getting in touch with [MENTION=124475]bhicks22[/MENTION] i know he has quite a few machines up and running. he may be able to give you insight on it if you are unfamiliar and there is another guy too...i am trying to remember his name

i remembered it is [MENTION=94545]MTD[/MENTION]

Hello!

 

[4Runner-Dan]

Here is the results of the Duplicolor wheel paint. Much nicer at a reasonable cost and reasonable effort.

Also took off the roof rack completely and painted gloss black.

The truck has cleaned up pretty well. Very happy. Runs great now. The work and $ is showing. Just driving and enjoying it for now. Need to develop a solution for the running board situation. Hate them on there but don't like it without them and no mudflap yet. Might have to start modeling and 3D print something

Again, looks great! Any clear top coat?

 

[cek77]

try getting in touch with [MENTION=124475]bhicks22[/MENTION] i know he has quite a few machines up and running. he may be able to give you insight on it if you are unfamiliar and there is another guy too...i am trying to remember his name

i remembered it is [MENTION=94545]MTD[/MENTION]

I have a makerbot to use. Just need to get some time to measure and draw.

For the painting of the roof rack, Krylon Fusion. I've used it on a few projects. Bonds to plastic. Did the bumpers and trim on my old van.

And my old Jeep fender flares.

 

[cek77]

So if your in a pinch for floor mats, your cheap, and you just happen to have a set of 4th gen mats in your garage.....

They fit great! That'll get me by until I want to spend $ on something nicer. I just cleaned them up a little. So a little better then the pic.

 

[cek77]

Well I've been driving happily this summer. All the maintenance has paid off, runs cool, AC is cold, idle is smooth, really runs and sounds awesome.

I have discovered what will hurt my investment. Leaky rear main seal. Got underneath with a bunch of rags and some brake clean. Spent a few hours cleaning and appears to be rear main. Checked and slightly tightened VC gaskets and seem dry. New shop gave me a fair estimate on the rear main so I'm taking it in next week. Once this is done I'll feel 100% to drive this truck anywhere, anytime, and without fear of dumping oil on my friends driveways!

By the way, Mechanic said this is pretty common for him to see rear main seal leaks on 3.4 4runners.

I'll let you know how well it all works out.

 

[solsnowbarger]

This is all great man, the work really seems to be paying off.
I bought a 2002 from the original owners with just over 100xxx miles on it and I've been trying to do some of the basic maintainable on it myself, but I'm approximately 3 weeks away from knowing zero about cars or maintenance so it's been slow going. It's great seeing someone else walk through these steps so I know what to look at taking care of next. I do want to get to a "tasteful" lift and maybe a functional mod eventually, but confidence in your machine comes first