COB's 1990 4Runner 2-Door

[ChildrenOfBodom]

So much better ride quality, MPG, and handling. Definitely prefer this color over the black too.

Night pics

 

[ChildrenOfBodom]

My friend’s Tacoma needed some doors. I was searching online when I came across a 2000 Tacoma for sale with a complete cab and 5VZ engine, $600. Problem, it has zero suspension. Owner had a wheel come off in the desert which impacted the cab and deformed the A-pillar and resulted in him parting out the suspension and fiberglass.

My friend’s trailer needed some additional strength to use with a floor jack or casters, so we lined it with 4 sheets of 1” plywood scored on Offerup for $20.

The owner dragged the Tacoma out to a good spot and we worked on loading it up.

We jacked it up high on stands and got the front end to hover up enough to back the trailer underneath. Then we strapped the frame to a metal dolly scored off FB marketplace for $80.

 

[ChildrenOfBodom]

Then we secured the back end of the truck and slowly reversed the trailer underneath until the truck was all the way loaded.

The owner also included a high output 5VZ alternator for free.

We immediately got to work and tore down the entire cab within the first day.

Day 2 we had the transmission and motor disconnected and ready for pulling. I’ve got everything needed for the 5VZ swap including a running engine!

 

[theking11863]

this thread sucks, dude's a poser that actually hates second gens. Don't listen to him

(I'm sitting next to this him as I type this)

 

[ChildrenOfBodom]

5VZ-FE removed from the Tacoma donor

South OC Cars and Coffee

 

[ChildrenOfBodom]

New parts rig has landed! 1995 4Runner 2WD Auto with 3VZ-FE. Rust free and straight body. Actually very clean.

Blown head gasket. Motor is sold already and the rest of it is free. It will donate quite a lot to the 2-door and my 89 pickup.

Some parts that will be saved for the 2-door include:

* Steering box
* All speakers including rear speakers near wiper motor
* Front sway bar (26.5mm, stock 90 4WD bar is 24mm)
* Sway bar end links
* Rear window motor
* Tailgate lock switch (current one does not work with rear window)
* Replacement hardware (rust)
* Inspection cover on passenger apron
* Brake master cylinder
* Torsion bars (thicker)
* Wiper arms with J hook
* Trailer harness
* Electric cruise control
* Mirror plugs (95 mirrors already on the truck have different plugs)
* Chrome fender trim
* Muffler and tailpipe
* Fuel sender
* Hazard switch

The 89 pickup will receive the majority of the interior body harness complete with integration relay. The truck will also get the power window motors/regulators, power lock actuators, and will finally have the door chime and light reminders. The entire heater core, blower assembly, and air conditioning system will be transplanted as well.

The cluster is cable driven in this 95 so it would be compatible with the 89 (which has the original 2-door cluster currently installed), so I'll hang onto that. The steering tilt column and driver dash vent tube will also be saved, and I already have a blue lower dash with crotch cooler from a 4Runner.

As is tradition, I delivered the 2-door for R&D at Energy Suspension. After all these years, they still don’t make a body mount set for the 2nd gen 4Runner. That’s finally changing.

They’re working on an experimental fluted bushing with grease zerks drilled into the factory arms. Here’s a rear link.

 

[ChildrenOfBodom]

I provided them with a Toytec Lifts body lift kit for 3rd gen 4Runner. I had it laying around in the box and never used it. The kit comes with hardware and a steering extension which were not used for the 2nd gen. The 10 pucks will be compatible.

Original body mounts:

Body lift completed with all new Energy Suspension Polyurethane body mounts. The new body mount sets from Energy are going to include all new zinc plated hardware for a complete replacement set.

The body mounts have been installed on both a 1995 4-door and my 1990 2-door. There is a slight variation found on 2-doors, but Energy’s kit is 100% compatible with both 2nd gen 4Runner body styles.

Polyurethane control arm bushings and lower bump stops (4 total on lower control arms)

Polyurethane Sway bar bushings with new brackets

Upper control arm bushings and shock stem bushings

Upper control arm bump stop

Panhard/track bar

Rear control arms, upper and lower

Rear sway bar bushings with new brackets, and end link bushings

The 1” body lift will accommodate the extra height of the 3.4L 5VZ-FE V6, reduce rubbing, and overall enhance the stance.

Next, it’s time to get some bumper brackets made. The transmission is on its last leg and so it’s unfortunately difficult to drive. The motor and transmission will come out soon for the 5VZ swap plus a good used 92-95 R150.

 

[ChildrenOfBodom]

1995 4Runner parts truck, coming apart.

The first thing needed for the 90 will be the front bumper.




Check out this relic under the front license plate.

Presto change-oh!

The front bumper off the 1995 is dented, but the remaining plastic valance, brackets, and hardware are all original and in usable condition.

I bought some aftermarket bumpers on marketplace for $160.

Using 4x4 inch 3/16” plate steel, I made bumper relocation brackets to bring up the OEM bumper 1” to match the body lift. Two holes are countersunk, and I used countersunk bolts to keep the back of the bracket flush against the frame.

The countersunk bolts are M8, but the bumper bolts are M10’s, but I don’t think it’ll be much of a problem. It made for an interesting install, but overall worked out well.




I elected not to modify the OEM brackets and I feel the fit over the heads of the M10’s as well as the angle in the bracket made for a sturdy fit.




The turn signal plug housings are different on the 92+, and swapping was quick and easy.







I’ve had a set of bumper lenses sitting around in storage since well before I owned this truck, but today they finally left the box and got mounted into their new home.

Red Energy Suspension polyurethane poking through

Matching front ends now! Although the pickup bumper will remain black.







 

[ChildrenOfBodom]

She needs a wash

Picked up some 2nd gen parts from a guy on Offerup who had a bunch of misc boxes in his garage. It had a full set of kicker speakers. Not the best, but certainly better than what the 2-door had before.

Old on top

The rears were 4 ohm MTX speakers running through the 2 ohm amp system. I cut the boxes and installed the 6.5” kickers. They’re also 4 ohm, so I removed the amp and wired the speakers directly.

While I was in the interior quarter panel, it was a good time to check the tailgate wiring and figure out why the key cylinder didn’t do anything.

There turned out to be a ton of corrosion on some of the wiring.

I sprayed it down with electrical contact cleaner and tried to scrape off the remaining. After some testing, I found one pin completely corroded away. I backprobed it and bypassed the plug, the rear window is now 100% functional including front the key cylinder. The 1990 rear window motor was sluggish, so the 1995 donor truck rear window motor has been installed. Window is now much faster.

Installed a Wolfbox G930 front/rear dash cam rear view mirror.

234,000 miles

 

[ChildrenOfBodom]

OC Car Culture Meet, San Juan Capistrano

 

[ChildrenOfBodom]

Newport Back Bay

 

[ChildrenOfBodom]

Supras in Pismo Beach

Oceano Dunes

 

[ChildrenOfBodom]

Got a grant steering wheel with spacer and adapter from a Celica Supra

Time to get crackin

 

[ChildrenOfBodom]

The R150F from the guy with the custom cab squared is in great shape. I removed the input shaft seal retainer and resealed everything.

Bell housing, clutch fork, and throwout installed

Installed, and with good dynamic damper as well.

 

[ChildrenOfBodom]

27mm front sway bar from the 1995 donor installed.

The person who sold me a bunch of 1st/2nd gen parts for $25 earlier this year also included some OME rear suspension components. I put the rear shocks in and ditched the Les Schwab Mountain Ryder XT.

The front shocks are bugging me and I really don’t wanna spend new shock money anymore, so here’s the next best thing. $30 for a pair of used 4600’s. They still work and I’ve gotta clean them up a bit, but hell yeah, that’s a score.

 

[ChildrenOfBodom]

I was in Hawaii recently and found a guy selling a bunch of parts for $100, including an EGR delete kit and a pair of AISIN locking hubs. One of the locking hubs was missing the handle/dial so I ordered a dial on eBay that is still on its way.

Front hub removed and brake dust shields removed.

95 rotors and AISIN locking hub installed

Installed with S13WB calipers and new pads

New soft lines.

Passenger side as well.

 

[ChildrenOfBodom]

Crusty brake master cylinder removed. 1995 1” AISIN master installed. Reservoir pilfered from a 1-1/16” AISIN master I’ve had in storage for 12 years.

Rear brake drums. The rear left wheel cylinder was leaking also. 7/8” OEM.

Both rear brakes replaced with 1” Centric wheel cylinders, centric drums, centric shoes, new hardware, and new soft brake line.

1990 steering box was leaking like a sieve, 95 donor steering box installed.

 

[ChildrenOfBodom]

Took the bilsteins and gave them a cleaning. They’re far from cosmetically perfect, but work great. Not bad for $30. Installed with Energy Suspension bushings up top.

They sure work and look a hell of a lot better than the old ones did.

The front and rear differentials have been drained and filled. Neat little battery operated pump worked well, $15 at harbor freight.

LED turn signals, brake lights, and adjustable flasher relay installed. Still needs license plate and reverse lamps, but there’s other work to be done on those lenses.

Hell, I might even put the stock skid plate back on.

First test drive went very well. The transmission shifts perfectly. It needs some shift boot adjustment due to the body lift, but that’s nothing serious. The marlin crawler delrin shift bushings, new fluid, and dynamic damper all make for quite a complete and new OEM feel. Very happy with the result of the transmission gamble. The transfer case is also quiet and works like a charm.

The larger front brakes are responsive, though frankly they’re still not the greatest. Another place where the 3rd gen 4runner with 231mm tundra brake upgrade really outshines the 2nd gen The 95 V6 brakes are still tiny by 1st gen tundra standards, but the 1990 brakes were downright frightening. Half the 95 rotor thickness and tiny S12+8 calipers are absolutely insufficient for a truck of this size. The S13WB, while better, still leaves a lot to be desired. Of course, these aren’t stopping a set of stock 225/75/15’s, but on 285/70/17, the larger brakes are a requirement.

The drums are adjusted and functioning better than ever before, so no complaints there. The 1” wheel cylinders and 1” AISIN master are a welcome combination. Every line is fully bled, nothing but fresh clean fluid throughout, LSPV included.

The front wheel bearings are quieter and smoother now, but are original and will get replaced along with the races at some point.

The working shocks and 27mm sway bar tightened up the body roll quite a bit.

The 1995 steering box doesn’t leak a drop, and it’s much tighter. Far less play in the wheel now. I got the steering wheel fairly straight, and will be putting on the Grant steering wheel soon.

Now that the truck finally feels sorted, the next step can proceed uninhibited. The 5VZ will take this truck to the next level. Might even throw on the TRD supercharger, too.