Dropzone's 1994 4Runner Expedition/Overland Build

[Dropzone]

What vehicle is the rear tire mount from? And how did you attach it? I'm looking to do the same thing on my first gen. Your's is looking great!

Thanks! it is a factory mount from a 1990-91 4runner. 4Runner that came stock with it had some internal mounts. Ideally I would have found a tailgate with the mount and fascia. The corner mount is difficult to remove. I was offered one from Ireland but shipping etc made it too costly.
I bent some 1.5" x 1/8" flat stock and fit it inside the corner and the tailgate.

 

[Buxom]

Hey, I have a 93, would you be willing to give a few pointers to a noob builder?

Nice truck btw. I can't wait to have mine on the road.

 

[Dropzone]

Hey, I have a 93, would you be willing to give a few pointers to a noob builder?

Nice truck btw. I can't wait to have mine on the road.

Thanks,
as far as pointers i would say that a lot of it comes down to what your overall plans for the truck are, DD, Weekend trail runner or whatever.
This thread is a good one to go through.
Newbie Modification Information - YotaTech Forums

Make sure your truck is mechanically sound and reliable before you through a ton of mods on it..

 

[Buxom]

Thanks,
as far as pointers i would say that a lot of it comes down to what your overall plans for the truck are, DD, Weekend trail runner or whatever.
This thread is a good one to go through.
Newbie Modification Information - YotaTech Forums

Make sure your truck is mechanically sound and reliable before you through a ton of mods on it..

Thanks man, I'm gonna be doing some work on it when I have days off and the parts ready to go.

It needs a water pump, power steering pump, a new shifter assembly, exhaust, and tires. Probably a few steering linkage things too. The body and frame are rock solid, it runs, drives, and stops. Thats what I'm working with. I paid $500 for the truck. I'd say either way I've made out pretty good.

 

[Dropzone]

Decided to see if the recycling parts from the Trekker so pulled the stock tinfoil bumper. 6 bolts and 3 minutes it was on the ground..

Absolutely no protection whatsoever
Pulled the Trekker Bumper out of storage for a test fit



Not sure if I like it or not.
I need to make a 1" thick spacer for the lower mount it actually bolts up in 4 spots. I would need to fab a mount for each of the stock side mounts.

What do you guys think? Recycle it or get something new?

 

[81Trekker]

If you decide you don't like it, would you sell it? I'd be interested in buying it from you for my Trekker!

 

[81Trekker]

Honestly though I think it looks fine on the 4Runner...

 

[Dropzone]

If you decide you don't like it, would you sell it? I'd be interested in buying it from you for my Trekker!

Selling is a possibility but I would probably end up using the winch plate as a base for a plate style bumper.

Honestly though I think it looks fine on the 4Runner...

Thanks

So found my winter truck bed weight I have been using for almost 30 years.
Measured it, long enough, 1/8" thicker than I wanted but oh well

Was hoping to use a friend's plasma table but no response to text msgs so decided to take the long route

2 hours or so and 3 cut off wheels later I had a 27x4.25x 1.125" hunk of steel

So my half baked plan is to use this as a spacer to push the winch plate out so I wouldn't have to trim the lower core support and move the AC condensor and and an electric fan. It will also allow me to move the bumper up a couple of inches.
If it doesn't pan out I am out a few hours and some miscellaneous supplies.

 

[Reluctanse]

Gonna miss that trekker... but the 4runner build is looking good!

 

[Dropzone]

Gonna miss that trekker... but the 4runner build is looking good!

Thanks, it was a hard decision to make but the Trekker was just beat and tired.

 

[Dropzone]

Played with the drill press friday, got all 8 holes drilled in a couple of hours, started with 1/8" bit worked up to 1/2" and some thread cutting oil.
adjusted the belt on the drill press to the slowest speed posible, was amazed i only used 1 bit of each size

I was hoping to have time this weekend to see if this half assed spacer/riser idea of mine might work but ran out of time and trying to find M12-1.25 thread x 60 mm grade 10.9 bolts ended up being a stopping point, couldn't find any locally, hopefully my Amazon order will be here wednesday or thursday

 

[Dropzone]

OK, still not sure if I am gonna keep the Trekker bumper but had some time to continue the recycle experiment
Here is it with the bumper mounted about 1 3/4" higher

I am thinking extending the bottom tube a few inches towards the fender well might help the looks department.

 

[Dropzone]

Found a 1st Gen truck Emblem in the stash

 

[Dropzone]

So one thing that bugged me since I picked this hunk up was that that passenger side door key cylinder didn't work. Had today off so decided to fix it.

Some simple cheap Harbor Freight pry bars sure make removing panels easier

Too lazy to pull the wiring harness

$35 at the local locksmith and I have a working passenger side lock

And nice thing I didn't know, passenger side lock will unlock all 4 doors like the driver's side

Oh if you ever take one of these apartments have a magnet handy, the door handle housing acts as retainer for the little internal door and outer cover for the cylinder. I took the cylinder out from the inside and little parts dropped inside the door..PIAA lesson

 

[Dropzone]

Been slowly selling old extra parts and used part of the proceeds to pick up a set of ebay cheapie replacement tailights. For what some guys were asking for faded used crap i now have nice bright lenses.
old on the left, new on right


pretty happy with them, and you have to like 5 minute installs

 

[rustED_]

Lookin good!

 

[Dropzone]

Lookin good!

Thanks!


Wasn't sure if I was gonna do the whole roof rack deal but this was scored cheap at a garage sale this morning.
I will probably end up extending the factory luggage railso forward for a 3rd cross member

 

[rustED_]

Nice score on the roof rack! Looks good, that will save you alot of fab time! I want to build one eventually, I never find any good deals on stuff like that, lol.

 

[Dropzone]

Nice score on the roof rack! Looks good, that will save you alot of fab time! I want to build one eventually, I never find any good deals on stuff like that, lol.

i am pretty happy with, i paid way less for it than I would have spent on materials

 

[Dropzone]

i was checking out Dirtco's 3rd Gen Thread on T4R, and he has me wondering if I can fit this beast into my 2nd Gen:

I’ve been going back and forth about what to do for a battery. I have a brand new Yellow Top I could throw in it, but I just can’t bring myself to do it. It’s kind of like getting super sick after eating at a restaurant; all your friends might love the place and it might be an isolated case, but your still not going to go back there to find out.

I started looking at dual batteries, I know I could make them fit, but it gets really expensive once you figure in the price of two batteries and the isolator system. So that killed that idea.

So I’m stuck with one battery, and I wanted something that I could exchange locally if there was another issue. That pretty much left the Duralast AGM line through AutoZone. I looked through their selection comparing specifications on each model until I said screw it, I’m getting the biggest battery they make and stock in my local store!

So I bought a Duralast Platinum AGM H8, or group 49, and as you would imagine the numbers are better than the Yellow Top.

Duralast Platinum/Battery H8-AGM- Read6Reviews onDuralast Platinum #H8-AGM

CA - 975
CCA - 900
AH - 92
RC - 170

Here is the Yellow Top in comparison

CA - 870
CCA - 750
AH - 55
RC - 120

“Say hello to my little friend!”

I have had great luck with Duralast batteries over the last few years...