Dropzone's 1994 4Runner Expedition/Overland Build

[Dropzone]

been busy with stuff,
still plugging away at this thing.
Project ExtendaRack has come in handy for long stuff, picks up some lumber
20170712_102023 by ocdropzone, on Flickr
so i could do this
IMG_20170712_151615_704 by ocdropzone, on Flickr
long air hoses help with the trailer flats
20170712_185759 by ocdropzone, on Flickr
finally out of the garage almost 2 years after it was parked and i started pulling parts
​​​​​​​IMG_20170712_195411_133 by ocdropzone, on Flickr

 

[Dropzone]

hit a milestone I had never reached before in a daily driver
2017-07-24_10-24-30 by ocdropzone, on Flickr

my wife agreed that the rubber flares looked like crap so ordered these, will hopefully have them on in a couple of weeks
2017-07-24_07-58-56*
2017-07-24_10-24-30
they seem to be built pretty pretty good
2017-07-24_07-59-14*
2017-07-24_07-59-33*
test fit over the rubber flares, i think i am gonna like these
2017-07-24_10-25-54 by ocdropzone, on Flickr
2017-07-24_07-59-50 by ocdropzone, on Flickr

getting the 81 out of the garage allowed me to dig out some buried stuff
got this for Christmas 4 years ago
20170713_121908 by ocdropzone, on Flickr
2017-07-24_08-01-25 by ocdropzone, on Flickr
since the winch drum hadn't seen any use with the steel cable I went ahead and got some synthetic cable. i will probably end up remote mounting the winch control box at some point, PITA the way it now to keep watch how the rope is spooling.
2017-07-24_07-57-44 by ocdropzone, on Flickr
also went with a cheap rubber 'thimble' a friend suggested, made to use on ATV/UTV winches but fit right over the rope with out issue. Would be great to get a Factor 55 some day

 

[Dropzone]

Picked up a soft shackle on recent parts order*
so busted out some straps to compare connection methods

I like the soft shackle method since if a strap breaks you don't have a metal d-ring as a hazard but D rings are so plentiful (probably have 8 from over the year)
threading strap to strap works but is a PITA to get apart sometimes

So back on Jackstands


so after about 800 mile of the 4 cylinder 5.29 third from the 81 in the 94 it was feeling sloppy so swapped the stock 4runner V6 third back in. Stock gears and 35's bring the suck so dropped off a V6 third and this stuff to [MENTION=134144]1UZrunner[/MENTION] 's shop this morning

Should be able to pick it up on friday:bigok:

and I think I am good on NATO/Wavian/Wedco gas cans


The genuine stuff is a little pricy but I had one of the cheap eBay 'NATO Style' Cans split on me last summer in the heat...

 

[1UZrunner]

Where you get the cans at? I was looking at those Wavian, Rotopax, or custom made where the rear tire used to be fuel tank....

Sorry to hear the shackle angle was not perfect. We always strive to have a happy customer with every project. If there is anything we can do to help, please let me know.

I am excited to get these gears setup!!

 

[SomeInternetNobody]

hit a milestone I had never reached before in a daily driver

2017-07-24_10-24-30 by ocdropzone, on Flickr



Welcome to the club. My '95 hit 219k earlier this week!

 

[Dropzone]

Where you get the cans at? I was looking at those Wavian, Rotopax, or custom made where the rear tire used to be fuel tank....

Sorry to hear the shackle angle was not perfect. We always strive to have a happy customer with every project. If there is anything we can do to help, please let me know.

I am excited to get these gears setup!!

the 4 2.5 gallon cans I bought 10 years ago, they have gone up a bit. The black one and 1 green on Amazon. 2 green ones through a trade.

No worries on the shackle angle, you were tied to the frame plates with steering box mount so it pretty much had to go where it did and used springs. It works fine, tracks well..no complaints

Looking forward to picking up the third at the end of the week and getting this thing back on the road

 

[Dropzone]

my diff set up got pushed back a few days so tackled a little project on Friday
found a set of back up lights that i wouldn't have to cut in half to clear the rear window
2017-08-11_10-10-13 by ocdropzone, on Flickr
2017-08-11_10-09-43 by ocdropzone, on Flickr
IMG_20170811_210513_832 by ocdropzone, on Flickr
2017-08-11_10-10-24 by ocdropzone, on Flickr
cool thing (i have gadgetitis really bad and like lights) is that they have turnsignals built in
2017-08-11_10-16-33 by ocdropzone, on Flickr
Video: Link of the one down below doesn't work
VID_57731204_203611_687 by ocdropzone, on Flickr

 

[Dropzone]

Picked up the rebuilt 3rd from [MENTION=134144]1UZrunner[/MENTION] 's shop yesterday
2017-08-18_06-39-06 by ocdropzone, on Flickr

got it installed today
2017-08-18_06-56-13 by ocdropzone, on Flickr
it went in with out a hitch. Nice to have the 94 back on the road. It would have been nice to have been able to throw in a selectable locker but since this is a DD an open diff is nice.*
it's locked up front so that will do for light trail duty

 

[58jake]

New to the site and new to the world of 4runners. Just read through this thread, very nice build! This is pretty much how I want my '90 to turn out, lot of good inspiration.

 

[Dropzone]

took the grandkid to the zoo a few days ago and got the coolest parking spot there
2017-08-24_02-18-57 by ocdropzone, on Flickr

 

[Dropzone]

So I pretty much have my grandson 3-4 days a week to help my daughter out, took the little minion on a little run up a hill by the house. He didn't make it very far
2017-08-31_05-54-19 by ocdropzone, on Flickr
old girl doesn't look half bad
2017-08-31_04-55-18 by ocdropzone, on Flickr
2017-08-31_06-00-12 by ocdropzone, on Flickr

 

[Dropzone]

So I tried a set of horns off Amazon that sounded good for a few months, better than the dog squeaky toy that came stock. * They ended up sounding squeaky after awhile so I upgraded to a loud clown horn. *Actually made my wife jump in the house. *Should make non signalling prius drivers wake up
https://flic.kr/p/Yk4qwZ​​​​​​​

 

[SomeDay]

So I pretty much have my grandson 3-4 days a week to help my daughter out, took the little minion on a little run up a hill by the house. He didn't make it very far
2017-08-31_05-54-19 by ocdropzone, on Flickr

Your grandkid's taking a nap, proof that your SAS T4R drives smooth.

 

[Dropzone]

In keeping with recycling parts from the 81 I dug out the S-Track tie down rails I had, a bag of nutserts and the drill.
https://flic.kr/p/YyXe1R
2017-09-16_07-28-53 by ocdropzone, on Flickr
Pulled off the interior panels in the back and drill a few holes
Ended up with rails under the window and along the floor.
Should keep junk in place when this thing finally gets off road
https://flic.kr/p/XxDihD
2017-09-16_07-30-06 by ocdropzone, on Flickr
https://flic.kr/p/XxDiqp
2017-09-16_07-29-38 by ocdropzone, on Flickr
Yep that Sea Gull looking thing is spilled paint from a previous owner

 

[jellomellow]

Ive been lurking for. while on your build and man I wish I had your expertise on wiring and everything else you've don't to your build! I need to wire some lights in for camping

 

[Dropzone]

Your grandkid's taking a nap, proof that your SAS T4R drives smooth.

Thanks, it does ride pretty good. I am happy with how it turned out.
Hopefully convert to rear leaf springs in the spring

Ive been lurking for. while on your build and man I wish I had your expertise on wiring and everything else you've don't to your build! I need to wire some lights in for camping

Thanks, appreciate it. Wiring isn't too bad. Power source, a ground-use the right size wiring and don't overload a circuit.

 

[Dropzone]

In August entered a monthly contest on another forum, found out I got 2nd place and was supposed to get an ARB dual compressor. Stoked of course. Well FedEx dropped off the Grand prize instead of what I thought I was getting. Contact the lady in charge of the contest to let her know, the right thing to do. A few hours later she says they messed up and ordered two of the portable kits.
Whooooohooo, OK, like any new toy had to see how it worked. The ARB portable kit weighs a little bit more than the old portable, has 100% duty cycle where the old one was maybe 50 and both draw about the same amount of juice, 45-50 amps.
Took out a Schrader valve, about 3 minutes later a 35x12.50 went from 0 to 25-30 psi and I could touch the compressor, no heat whatsoever
2017-09-22_01-02-28 by ocdropzone, on Flickr
2017-09-22_07-43-43 by ocdropzone, on Flickr
2017-09-22_07-42-24 by ocdropzone, on Flickr
2017-09-22_07-42-52 by ocdropzone, on Flickr
2017-09-22_07-44-10 by ocdropzone, on Flickr
I think i will add wiring to the rear of the truck so I can plug it in back there

 

[RAD4Runner]

Started swapping out what some of were probably the original bulbs. ...
The 21 year old lens are pretty faded so i'll either need to polish them or pick up new housings.

Nice, Robb. I would not use lights other than LED on future replacements, either.
If replacing brake lights housing / lens, I believe you're already aware that using clear lens with red LED's is more efficient than colored lens with white colored LED's.

 

[Ian01]

Do you still have the 3.0? And if so, what are your plans if/when it takes a dump?

 

[Dropzone]

Nice, Robb. I would not use lights other than LED on future replacements, either.
If replacing brake lights housing / lens, I believe you're already aware that using clear lens with red LED's is more efficient than colored lens with white colored LED's.

Thanks, haven't found clear lens for these things, available for trucks but not not 4Runners that I have found.
i do have an idea for swapping a better LED array inside the housing.

Do you still have the 3.0? And if so, what are your plans if/when it takes a dump?

still have a 3.0
I have ton of ideas 3.4, 1UZ etc no solid plans. This was my neice's 4Runner, my sister put a ton of money into it, It has a new timing belt, heads & gasket, water pump radiator etc, I have all the receipts and work was done in the last year for before it fell into my hands-- so this thing is running great.
Only reason I ended up with it was a family member attempted to do the brakes and was an idiot.