Cadaverous Build 2.0

[Cadaverous]

I am starting my build thread on my 2000 Limited, with elocker. I am quite excited for this one.

Background.

I got the truck for $1,600. Had over heating issue and was just generally neglected. It has has 187k on the clock. It's Black/Topaz metallic. It's got a few dents and scrapes, as well as some rust on the rear bumper.

Plans are to give it a 2 inch lift or so, Bilsteins, put my tundra wheels with BFG tires, and Tundra brake upgrade. I'm looking for a good occasional daily as well as something good for some overland exploration.

Day one.

The first thing to do was get down and dirty and get that head gasket changed out. I am lucky in the fact that I work at an Import Parts Shop in town and get a substantial discount on parts. Because of this I went with all OEM or OES parts.

I just watched a DIY on youtube as I did the work. Worked out great.

Timing Belt was ready to be done for sure.

Only real problem I ran into was breaking off the torx head of an exhaust manifold stud.

Someone struggled with oil changes...

Left head

Right head has so much sludge build up.

...and installing the correct spark plugs.

With both heads off I am pretty sure I've figured out where the gasket or head failed. Seems there is a swimming pool in cylinder 6. It's also quite wet and dirty on the manifold and block there.

 

[Donny Voodoo]

looks like it's in good hands now. good luck getting it back on the road.

 

[owyheerat]

looks like it's in good hands now. good luck getting it back on the road.

Great job of giving this 4runner a second life. I always amazed at how some people (PO in your case), can neglect basic vehicle maintenance (oil changes), so badly. Good job of using OEM on such important stuff.

Keep this thread updated.

 

[Three50Bowtie]

Whoa! That's impressive! Can't wait to see it all done up!

 

[Cadaverous]

looks like it's in good hands now. good luck getting it back on the road.

Thank you! I am ready to drive it, that's for sure.

Great job of giving this 4runner a second life. I always amazed at how some people (PO in your case), can neglect basic vehicle maintenance (oil changes), so badly. Good job of using OEM on such important stuff.

Keep this thread updated.

Seriously, how do people do that? It's an oil change. Just get it done.

Whoa! That's impressive! Can't wait to see it all done up!

Many thanks. I am ready to get her done so I can move onto the fun stuff :washing:



Got the heads refreshed, valve job, seals, and installed them. New timing belt went on yesterday. I think It should be driving by this weekend.

 

[sambishop]

subbed, excited to see where this goes. Good luck!

 

[Cadaverous]

subbed, excited to see where this goes. Good luck!

Thanks you!



Got the pistons cleaned of carbon while I was in there.

Valve job looked great.

Heads reinstalled

Only real drama is I snapped my breaker trying to get the crank bolt loose. China Freight tools aren't that great. I also ruined two craftsman ratchets trying to brake the cam bolts.

 

[JBurt]

I've had that same problem with HF breaker bars. Workmen you're not in your shop it can be a real bad day.

Great work!

 

[octanejunkie]

Following

Luckily the PO of my 3rd gen had immaculate service records and did all maintenance except the timing belt.

Mine looked like yours when it came off, cracked on the surface but probably would have held on longer. Good thing to get in front of.

Wonder what your wheel bearing and ball joints look like. Probably dry as bones.

 

[Cadaverous]

Following

Luckily the PO of my 3rd gen had immaculate service records and did all maintenance except the timing belt.

Mine looked like yours when it came off, cracked on the surface but probably would have held on longer. Good thing to get in front of.

Wonder what your wheel bearing and ball joints look like. Probably dry as bones.

You're probably right. I bet they are bad. I will be ordering replacements along with shocks and springs next month. Once I know she is on the road driving fine.

 

[octanejunkie]

You're probably right. I bet they are bad. I will be ordering replacements along with shocks and springs next month. Once I know she is on the road driving fine.

Check your drive shaft universal joints too and lube everything with a grease fitting

Sent from my Nexus 5X using Tapatalk

 

[Cadaverous]

Getting there. I had to order a new heater valve and power steering bolt that I somehow lost. Should get her fired up today.

 

[jstim]

Looks good, did you take the heads to someone to get them cleaned? Or what did you use to get all the sludge out?

 

[Cadaverous]

Looks good, did you take the heads to someone to get them cleaned? Or what did you use to get all the sludge out?

I took the heads to a machine shop. I had the heads decked, and a valve job done. The machinist said that there was lots of play in the valves and that it was quite dirty because of the valve seats. So I am glad I did. It was $400 for both heads for valve job, hot tank, and desk. I decided to just do this job right the first time :hat:


I put on a new oil filter, and plan on draining the oil, and I got some liqui-moly oil cleaner. I am sure the bottom end is a mess. Then I will refill with some redline full synthetic, and a new filter. Hopefully this will clear the bottom end out.

 

[RockyrT4R]

Haha I broke my craftsman breaker bar while trying to remove that crank bolt with the starter method it's crazy how torquey* those starter motors are

 

[Cadaverous]

Haha I broke my craftsman breaker bar while trying to remove that crank bolt with the starter method it's crazy how torquey* those starter motors are

Seriously. Its got a lot of torque.


Well, she runs! No check engine lights, no weird idles.

 

[Cadaverous]

It's been a good week with the 4runner.

Removed the stickers from the back side of the runner and added a few better ones.

First day I drove it I took it on a little spin in the mountains and got her stuck. I was an idiot and didn't take my hi lift jack, shovel, or even gloves with me. I was only about 10 miles from downtown Boise, so it wasn't really a big deal. I called my mate with a wrangler and figured he would be able to pull me out....

Well, the wrangler got stuck too. Luckly my uncle has a pretty sweet 80 series land cruiser and came up and pulled me out... Well then he got stuck, and he neglected to bring his hi-lift jack and the winch wasn't working (turns out it was wired wrong). I got him pulled out with a tug though.

We couldn't get the wrangler, so we decided to just come back the next day and get it. We used two hi lift jacks to get it out. One as a come along to a tree, and the other to lift the jeep and put it on some motor cycle ramps for traction. Took a few hours but we got it out.

This is a photo of where the jeep got stuck, and how far we drug it with the land cruiser and come along before we got it unstuck.

I removed my running boards and purchased some new 100w fog light bulbs.

Today I went out with the girl friend to Oregon. We attempted to go to a hot springs on the Owyhee reservoir. The reservior was way too full, so we couldn't get to it. We also went the wrong way, but got to see some awesome country. I believe this was in Idaho, but it's hard to say.

I also ordered a Tundra brake set up at work on Friday. I got new calipers, Meyle rotors, ADVICS premium ceramic pads, and new front brake lines. Setting me back about $230 with some new fluid. I'm excited because the truck is not very good at breaking. I think part of it is the tires too. When I put the BFG's on my truck last time they really helped with stopping.

Speaking of tires...I really need to get some tires. I've got a new BFG KM M/T tire from the new wranglers (255/75/17). I also have three tundra wheels from my last 4runner. I don't know if I want to go with the BFG M/T tires on the tundra wheels.

What do you guys thing?

Sell the three tundra wheels, and the Bfg tire I have, and purchase 4 new 265/75/16 Ko2's?

Or

Buy one more tundra wheel on ebay, three new Bfg KM M/t, and sell the 5 star wheels and tires (the tires on the truck right now have 5k miles and are 60k tires).

I daily the truck, and liked the m/t tires, but I like to play in the snow as well as the dirt. I don't really 'mud' per se. It seemed to me that the new K02s would be a better fit.

Tire questions are beat to death, so I get it if you skipped over that.


TL;DR

I got stuck, Land cruiser pulled me out, jeep got stuck too, they suck and we had to save it with hi lift jacks. I put some stickers on and purchased some tundra brake upgrade goodies. Went on an adventure in Eastern Oregon/Southern Idaho. First world tire selection problems.

 

[Clownmeat]

Fellow Idahoan here. Following your build. Also loving all the snow we got this year. I've had my snatch strap on my passenger floorboard since December because of constantly pulling people out all winter. Let me know if you ever come to Twin.

 

[Cadaverous]

Fellow Idahoan here. Following your build. Also loving all the snow we got this year. I've had my snatch strap on my passenger floorboard since December because of constantly pulling people out all winter. Let me know if you ever come to Twin.

I've read through most of yours as well. You got some great stuff going on there. How long have you lived in Idaho?

I go down to twin every once and a while. I have a 4runner and e30 friend who lives in Glen's Ferry. Sometimes we go explore the desert down there. There is some good stuff.

I'm loving the snow too, which I had better tires for it.

 

[Clownmeat]

How long have you lived in Idaho?

Since 1979, born and raised here. I had moved away for some time in 2000, but after moving away and living elsewhere for 15 years I came back. Don't know what you got till it's gone.