Freb_mc
New member
Feels Good To Be Back -1997 restore and build thread-
First off, let me just say, selling my old 4runner was a big mistake! I had sold my 1993 4runner roughly a year maybe 1 1/2 years ago, to get a gas mileage car, a 2006 HHR. I absolutely hated that car, loathed its very existence. A little piece of me died every time I had to start it. I had to replace engine twice, (second was warranty, but still..) and the mpg wasn't that good anyway. I wanted my 4runner back, or at least another one. So, I have never been happier to sell a car, get it out of my life.
First thing I did was buy a 1997 4runner less than an hour after selling the hhr. I found this one on CL, roughly a week and half before selling my HHR, but could never get an answer when I would call. I called around and went to check out 2 others that were in my price range. Knowing that they have a tendency to have frame rust I checked and politely walked away from both. They were bad, very bad. Then when I had cash in hand from the sale of my hhr, I tried to call on the first one once again, and I got an answer! turned out I was only 5 minutes away from him. So I rushed to look at it. First things first I checked the frame, it was good! After a thorough inspection, I told him I would take it, I didn't even try to bargain, and he says "ok I just relisted it today because I have had no calls on it. So I lowered the price" $500 less than I planned to spend! Only issues I found were the front looked like it kissed a light pole, small power steering leak, and missing LR fender flare. All pretty reasonable.
So the point of this is to document the work done to it as I go, and to keep track of the changes. It isn't going to be to wild, still a daily driver but a few mods to make it stand out and more purpose built.
Anyway, my New to me toy, 1997 4runner limited.
So far I have rebuilt the front end, semi straightened the passenger fender(hoping to find a used one the same color) found a rear flare the same color at a local yard, removed the running boards, and minor little maintenance. Mounted the LED bar on the front, I had it laying around and felt like drilling holes in my brand new bumper anyway.
Planned mods are a mild lift and more aggressive tires, haven't settled on a size yet. Better armor, sliders, and later some more aggressive bumpers, rack, tire carrier. More to come, but first, Maintenance!
If you took the time to read through this, Thanks! And if you have any suggestions, feel free to chime in.
How it looks now
[/URL]~original[/IMG]
How it looked when I got it.
[/URL]~original[/IMG]
[/URL]~original[/IMG]
[/URL]~original[/IMG]
My original 4runner and my partner in crime
[/URL]~original[/IMG]
First off, let me just say, selling my old 4runner was a big mistake! I had sold my 1993 4runner roughly a year maybe 1 1/2 years ago, to get a gas mileage car, a 2006 HHR. I absolutely hated that car, loathed its very existence. A little piece of me died every time I had to start it. I had to replace engine twice, (second was warranty, but still..) and the mpg wasn't that good anyway. I wanted my 4runner back, or at least another one. So, I have never been happier to sell a car, get it out of my life.
First thing I did was buy a 1997 4runner less than an hour after selling the hhr. I found this one on CL, roughly a week and half before selling my HHR, but could never get an answer when I would call. I called around and went to check out 2 others that were in my price range. Knowing that they have a tendency to have frame rust I checked and politely walked away from both. They were bad, very bad. Then when I had cash in hand from the sale of my hhr, I tried to call on the first one once again, and I got an answer! turned out I was only 5 minutes away from him. So I rushed to look at it. First things first I checked the frame, it was good! After a thorough inspection, I told him I would take it, I didn't even try to bargain, and he says "ok I just relisted it today because I have had no calls on it. So I lowered the price" $500 less than I planned to spend! Only issues I found were the front looked like it kissed a light pole, small power steering leak, and missing LR fender flare. All pretty reasonable.
So the point of this is to document the work done to it as I go, and to keep track of the changes. It isn't going to be to wild, still a daily driver but a few mods to make it stand out and more purpose built.
Anyway, my New to me toy, 1997 4runner limited.
So far I have rebuilt the front end, semi straightened the passenger fender(hoping to find a used one the same color) found a rear flare the same color at a local yard, removed the running boards, and minor little maintenance. Mounted the LED bar on the front, I had it laying around and felt like drilling holes in my brand new bumper anyway.
Planned mods are a mild lift and more aggressive tires, haven't settled on a size yet. Better armor, sliders, and later some more aggressive bumpers, rack, tire carrier. More to come, but first, Maintenance!
If you took the time to read through this, Thanks! And if you have any suggestions, feel free to chime in.
How it looks now
How it looked when I got it.
My original 4runner and my partner in crime
Last edited:
Took good care of her but the salt they use these days just ate the frame right up.
