Dropzone's 1994 4Runner Expedition/Overland Build

[RAD4Runner]

...
stock is pretty squeaky...mine will probably still be laughed at:uzi:
who knows may do a pump driven horn sometime, this was a quick 10 minute
getting quick at getting the grill off and on

Hi (Robb, correct?),
Stock horn, like our headlights and starter solenoids (on first-gens), run from the switch. Not ideal because lots of power gets lost in the switch contact and wiring. Mine sounds like Micky Mouse getting his balls crushed - LOL!
Essential things to do in order of priority:
1) Refurbish switch contacts like on KidV's thread.
2) Rewire using a relay - easy and almost plug and play,
3) Option to upgrade the horn itself. I gather that Crown Vic horn is good. Crown Vic horn may use more power so it makes (2) above more essential.
Cheers!

 

[Dropzone]

fj80 springs

I picked up a set of rear FJ80 Springs cheap '

Plan is to used these to lift the rear of the 4Runner when I do the SAS.
I eventually want to convert the rears to leaf springs but this will be a quick and dirty way to get the rear done faster.

 

[Dropzone]

Old dome light switch gave up the ghost, tried soldering it but that lasted about a week. Dug into the parts stash and decided to make a small upgrade in brightNess

I may use the Duplicolor interior paint I have to make the housing color match but this will do for now.

 

[Dropzone]

Night shot of the new dome light

with the rear cargo lights *and courtesy lights
​

 

[Dropzone]

Went to swap out the driver's side door handle today. *It is generally a pretty quick process but when you forget that the little chrome part of the key cylinder is spring loaded and likes to fly off if you aren't careful


My driver's side seat belt works but I really would like one that retracts better so I picked one up on ebay. *Fast delivery but I ended up with this POS

I was really surprised because the seller had great feedback and appeared to be a Toyota recycler.
Anyway I started the return process on eBay and was surprised when I got an immediate refund from ebay. *Not sure if the seller had a bunch of issues but am happy with the outcome and didn't have to mess with sending the crap back

 

[Dropzone]

After looking at a few auto parts places for a replacement rear wiper blade I decided to call the dealer and see if they could get one. *Sure enough, 1 day later and $10.68 I have a factory replacement*
Part # for future reference

Looking like the old one may have been the original*
I have never seen one that worn out

I am gonna save the old one to see if I can add the offset adapter to a winter blade

 

[foeix]

After looking at a few auto parts places for a replacement rear wiper blade I decided to call the dealer and see if they could get one. *Sure enough, 1 day later and $10.68 I have a factory replacement*
Part # for future reference

I am gonna save the old one to see if I can add the offset adapter to a winter blade

Nice find!

 

[Dropzone]

I hit Pick-n-pull today looking for some front seat belts
they had this 'builder' for $1800, needs paint, not sure about mechanical needs. * I think i did pretty good with the $400 i paid for mine. *I am into mine maybe $1400 including stuff I bought for the SAS

Target rich environment


Found some seat belts, scrubbed the crap out of them, a little dirty. *The retractors work way better than my current belts as in they actually retract every time. *Hopefully they dry quickly and I can get them installed tomorrow
Had a $2.61 'Environmental Fee' WTF?!?!

 

[Dropzone]

Project Recycle: Prelude Seat Installs

My driver's seat is ripped in the typical spots for a 20+ year old 4runner with close to 200K. It has also reclined one me a few times while driving like the ratchet mechanism was about to die. Not a good thing to happen I had looked around for a good replacement but no luck finding one that was cheaper than what I paid for this thing

Several years ago I installed a set of 96'ish Prelude seats in the Trekker. I had replaced those with a set of suspension seats. Attempted to sell the Prelude seats and even tried to give them away..No luck, they sat in the garage for a few years. They are still in great shape so I busted out the tape measure.
busted out the tape measure...front mounts were 16.75" on the 4Runner seat

hmmm...Prelude seat front mounts are 16.75"

i throw the seats in the 4Runner to test fit..the inside mount for the prelude mount of course hits the seat belt mount causing it to cock the seat at the wrong angle


At first i thought about picking up some camry or corolla latches that would mount to the seat rail similar to the prelude latch. I was gonna have to make a mount to the inside rear corner any way, so I cut that sucker off and mount the seat
pretty cool that the stock front mounts work perfect
outside rear mount will get extended tomorrow with some flat stock. Inside rear should be a simple 'L' bracket.

it will end up being bolt in install..
Not a perfect match but i think it will work


I will be able to finish the install in the morning
'

 

[Dropzone]

Finished up the seat install
They don't look half bad

 

[Dropzone]

Been running a dash cam for a couple of months.
still gotta figure out how to edit the video but yesterday morning on my way to work I was surprised this tool didn't get killed when he ran the light

(click pic to play)

 

[Thefishguy77]

Wow dude got lucky


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Dropzone]

added a few more horsepower to the 4runner.

spent some time on a Long Range Surveillance team a lifetime ago, my Long Range *Recon membership packet finally came in..

22 year old headlight housings suck so i decided to give a set of housing like [MENTION=139478]Reluctanse[/MENTION] recently installed


while doing the install Wiley E. Coyote was strolling down the block in front of my house:
*
these things are definitely clearer than the old foggy with moisture housings:

they look pretty decent

install is pretty straight forward, remove the corner lights, remove the grill install and re-install the other junk.
I went ahead and pulled a PIAA H4 headlight harness from the trekker and used it with these headlights (which use a H4 bulb)*
Daylight they definitely seem brighter. *Will get them aimed tonight see what the verdict is.

 

[Dropzone]

Pulled the center console today and it ran into some cut off wheels



and ended up with this Hybrid Toyota console with a locking console from a Samurai*

Looking at it i could have used more of the original console for more of a fascia covering.
​​​​​​​maybe on version 2.0*

 

[Dropzone]

Everybody knows next to the 3.0 the next worst thing about a 2nd Gen 4runner is the cup holders.
Got my 3D printed cup holder from BH3D today.
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/classic-t4rs/225227-2nd-gen-cup-holders.html

Very happy with the fit

 

[Dropzone]

Got lucky today, a sheriff deputy gave me a free pass for having a brake light out. My 6 month old LED 1157 off eBay obviously didn't last long so picked up a pair of Sylvania LED's.

Having a set of bright ass LED's in the cargo area helped make the repair go easier.
The Sylvania bulbs seem brighter too

 

[Dropzone]

Probably the extent of Portland's winter

 

[Dropzone]

OK so a couple of times in the last couple of weeks the transmission has shifted funky, as in truck hits 3500-4000 rpms randomly before the trans up shifts or downshifts.
It didn't start until the weather started getting cold.
Doing interweb research it could be a thermostat issue- factory thermostat is 195*, seems like most places sell a 180* thermostat so it looks like a trip to the dealership---uggghh though thermostat will be the easiest thing to replacement
Or it could be shift solenoids. *198K on it so I think i am gonna replace the 3 solenoids, transmission filter and fluid. *
perfect timing right before Christmas with family coming in from out of town so truck will sit.
ordering parts online so i will have them for just after the holidays..

 

[HanginInUtah]

Doing interweb research it could be a thermostat issue- factory thermostat is 195*, seems like most places sell a 180* thermostat so it looks like a trip to the dealership---uggghh though thermostat will be the easiest thing to replacement

It looks like Napa does show the 180 as the OEM thermostat, which seems off to me. They do offer a 195 as well, though, that they call an alternate. So if you want to save a trip to the dealership... My last T4R was an auto, so I'm familiar with the overdrive not engaging until the engine hits operating temp. But I think you're on a better path doing the solenoids for that shift problem. Temp should only affect overdrive IMHO.

 

[Dropzone]

Ordered some solenoids on ebay that will hopefully fix the transmission shifting issues
​​​​​​​
Hopefully have time on Monday to drop the transmission pan, swap filters and get the solenoids in:lookout:

Been driving my Dodge the last few days, actually miss driving the 4runner. Much easier to get around in than a full size truck