Dropzone
New member
your truck is an 84 right? seems like you might have an earlier engine in your truck based on your sloped valve cover. the 84 I had that I bought back in 1990 had the later valve cover
Eugene13's 1984 4runner Build Thread
- Thread starter Eugene13
- Start date
your truck is an 84 right? seems like you might have an earlier engine in your truck based on your sloped valve cover. the 84 I had that I bought back in 1990 had the later valve cover
Eugene13
New member
I've noticed that too when I started looking at other 22rs. However I would not know how to check and see for sure. It could just have the earlier valve cover.
Eugene13
New member
slowly but surely
Made some progress on the spare tire carrier retrofit. Cut off the old brackets off the carrier, and started to make the new brackets. Made the plates that are going to be on the outside 1/4' thick and have the plates on the inside be 3/8" along with the hinges. Also going to add internal gussets inside the taillight housing to help reduce stress on the sheet metal. Not much material was made, but I think Ive got the whole thing planned out now.
Made some progress on the spare tire carrier retrofit. Cut off the old brackets off the carrier, and started to make the new brackets. Made the plates that are going to be on the outside 1/4' thick and have the plates on the inside be 3/8" along with the hinges. Also going to add internal gussets inside the taillight housing to help reduce stress on the sheet metal. Not much material was made, but I think Ive got the whole thing planned out now.
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Eugene13
New member
more progress
Got some more progress done for the tire carrier. Went back to the pick a part and got the latch mechanism fro the carrier along with all of the brackets since someone already snagged them when I went to get the carrier the first time.
Even got the little button to show when the carrier is open or not, might wire it to a little idiot light on the dash.
As far as the brackets, bent up the outside plates and came up with a design for the hinges. Should hopefully have these welded up by the end of the week!
Got some more progress done for the tire carrier. Went back to the pick a part and got the latch mechanism fro the carrier along with all of the brackets since someone already snagged them when I went to get the carrier the first time.
Even got the little button to show when the carrier is open or not, might wire it to a little idiot light on the dash.
As far as the brackets, bent up the outside plates and came up with a design for the hinges. Should hopefully have these welded up by the end of the week!
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Eugene13
New member
starting to look like something
Hey guys! made some more progress on the tire carrier recently. Cut out what will be the top and bottom hinges and drilled the pivot point for them. Now just have to clearance them a little bit and weld them up! This is actually starting to look like something!
Hey guys! made some more progress on the tire carrier recently. Cut out what will be the top and bottom hinges and drilled the pivot point for them. Now just have to clearance them a little bit and weld them up! This is actually starting to look like something!
4runner_kid
Senior Member
Doesn't look to bad.
Eugene13
New member
Well between work and going back to school, I have not had much time to work on the 4runner. However I have done some things. I welded up the brackets and am in the process of just cleaning them up. They look pretty good if you ask me :reddance:. Hopefully will have the other cleaned up by this weekend then plan to make the backing plates and drill the holes in the sheet metal. On different news, I had the "oil" idiot light come on, but oil level was fine, so figured pressure was low. Long story short, I put in thicker oil and it solved my burning oil and low oil pressure problem. Feel like an idiot. Thing is running like a top.
Dropzone
New member
X2, nice job!
Eugene13
New member
A little bit in the creature comforts category. My vinyl floor was ripping where my clutch and gas/brake feet go. I wanted to just get a new black carpet set because this vinyl is pretty thrashed anyway, but simple floor mats will do for now.
Also added some much needed fans, as my stock ones do not give off much air. Cheap on amazon, plugs into cigarette lighter. Held on by double sided sticky foam. Eventual fix for this will be real air conditioning.
then I found these cup holders that fold away, looked easy and were SUPER cheap, so I got 2. One for the from passenger and one for the rear. The rear of my center console never had the ashtray so this covers up that hole nicely. Both held on with double sided foam. Eventual fix for this will be a custom built center console.
Also added some much needed fans, as my stock ones do not give off much air. Cheap on amazon, plugs into cigarette lighter. Held on by double sided sticky foam. Eventual fix for this will be real air conditioning.
then I found these cup holders that fold away, looked easy and were SUPER cheap, so I got 2. One for the from passenger and one for the rear. The rear of my center console never had the ashtray so this covers up that hole nicely. Both held on with double sided foam. Eventual fix for this will be a custom built center console.
okienomads
New member
Great progress on your 4Runner. What suspension setup do you have?
Also, why go for the tire carrier that mounts to the body? Why not mount to the bumper like most?
Also, why go for the tire carrier that mounts to the body? Why not mount to the bumper like most?
Eugene13
New member
Thanks! I have a Rough Country 3" lift kit. Its about the best for the money since its only 400$, all new springs and shocks, but its a decently rough ride. I did not want to mount to the bumper because this setup was very cheap and I don't like the bulky look of tire carrier bumpers. The carrier and all metal ran me about 60$, which is cheaper than any carrier bumper or metal to build one myself. I also like how the latch system works on the factory Pathfinder carrier, much better then anything I could think of. I also want to run a very low profile tube bumper in the future. The only negative to me is drilling holes in the sheet metal, but if I take my time and do it cleanly enough it should look like it was meant to be there.
Eugene13
New member
Well, big decision coming up. I broke my ring and pinion gear in my rear axle. Took it to a shop, they quoted me 1000$ to fix the rear end and restore it back to 4:10s. They also quoted me 1700$ to regear to 4:88s. I'm not sure which route to take. My truck is already at the shop in pieces. I have been looking into a regear for a while but never had the opportunity to pull the trigger, until now I guess. The way I see it is 1000$ to take it back to stock, or 700$ more for lower gears. So now I ask everybody with regeared rigs, is it worth it?
Cali 4runner
New member
You can go back to 4.10s super cheap. Look on craigslist.
Regear is apparently totally worth it but obviously is not cheap.
Regear is apparently totally worth it but obviously is not cheap.
Eugene13
New member
Well the shop already had my truck on their lift and opened up. I would have no time or expertise to set up gears on my own. My truck is also my daily driver and I need it every single day for work and school. If I tried to do it on my own, it would end up being on jack stands on my house for a month or more. He even said it would be ready today!. And if I ever wanted to do a regear in the future after I had them fix it, it would have been a waste of money. SO I bit the bullet and had him regear to 4:88s. Best just to have it done one time and done correctly.
. And if I ever wanted to do a regear in the future after I had them fix it, it would have been a waste of money. SO I bit the bullet and had him regear to 4:88s. Best just to have it done one time and done correctly.
4runner_kid
Senior Member
Well the shop already had my truck on their lift and opened up. I would have no time or expertise to set up gears on my own. My truck is also my daily driver and I need it every single day for work and school. If I tried to do it on my own, it would end up being on jack stands on my house for a month or more. He even said it would be ready today!
What gear set's is he using? If you plan to go up to 36 or bigger tires later you might want 5.29s instead.
Eugene13
New member
[MENTION=66382]4runner_kid[/MENTION] He used front and rear Yukon 4:88 gear sets with all new bearings and seals. He even threw in a rear v6 third member and redid all my outer axle seals on my front axle cause those were blown out. and as far as ratios I think 4:88s will be good cause im running 33s right now but will probably step up to a 35 in the future and thats about as tall as I want to go. Heres a pic of the old ring and pinion. Look at that! :first:
4runner_kid
Senior Member
You did a number on that gear set.
Eugene13
New member
Weekend recap. When I went to the rear end shop the guy said I needed to replace my u joints cause they were blown and causing the loud squeaking noise I've been hearing. So I got around to replacing them and man, what a PITA these were:yell:. Took me about 5 hours because they caps were seized to the flanges. Started with a BFH, then rented a press tool form AutoZone; made my life much easier. But the squeaking noise I heard is now gone as well as the driveshaft vibration.
Now that my truck is running well and mechanically sound, time to focus on the tire carrier again! Updates soon to come.
Also, my friends dad recently got new wheels and tires. My friend didn't want them so instead, he gave them to me:rockon:.
35x12.50r17 General Grabber X3s. Pretty good tread life! will probably be running these when my BFGs wear out. As far as wheel options, I kind of want some factory Toyota 17s off newer vehicles, not sure which ones yet though.
Now that my truck is running well and mechanically sound, time to focus on the tire carrier again! Updates soon to come.
Also, my friends dad recently got new wheels and tires. My friend didn't want them so instead, he gave them to me:rockon:.
35x12.50r17 General Grabber X3s. Pretty good tread life! will probably be running these when my BFGs wear out. As far as wheel options, I kind of want some factory Toyota 17s off newer vehicles, not sure which ones yet though.
