datdoublea
New member
My names Ahmad, I recently picked up this 1997 4runner a few weeks ago. It was very appealing to me because its a 5-speed manual and has 4x4. Runs great, cold A/c, but had a few problems. It was a former deer camp car, so whoever previously owned it used it, drove it through mud, dirt, and wore it out.
Tailgate was dented and wouldn't open, nor let the window roll down all the way. Missing a flare on the passenger side. Paint is faded and clear coat chipping/missing on the roof and fenders.
The interior was terrible. Carpets were covered with stains and holes. Seats, plastic panels,seat belts were all stained, torn up, and crumbling. Dash had some cracks and tears, was screwed down in a corner.
I took a peak underneath the car as well, and wasn’t too pleased. Everything was caked in sludge.
. Engine bay didn’t look too good either. And theres a battery drain somewhere I need to track down. I’m on the debate of pulling the whole drive train to clean it off, or just get underneath with degreaser, power washer, figure out whats leaking and fix that.
So to starting out, I wanted to get the interior out. As I started to unbolt the drivers seat, I ran a huge problem. Previous owner welded the seat down to the bracket, right through the carpet.
I grinned down the weld, popped out the seats, removed the carpet, and found the bracket was mangled up with the nuts mussing and broken. I went ahead and got a spot weld bit, and drilled the spot welds to remove the bracket.
I went to one of the newer local junkyards, they had a few 4runners, but one that was similar year and color as mine, interior and exterior. They also had a 50% off “grand opening” sale. I pulled the whole interior, lift gate, flares, door seals. I also found a sport 4runner hood, and for 20 bucks, I couldn’t say no. I tried to remove the other seat bracket, but ran into trouble when my drills battery died, so ill have to go back for it.
I swapped the rear lift gate, found one on a year newer, same color car, and not dented at the local junk yard. Had a friend come over and swapped it over. Swapped the hood as well, I need to adjust the hinges a little more as its not sitting perfect yet.
Future goals, get it running and driving, eventually lift, roof basket, plate bumpers, and basic outfit for overloading with a friend of mine. I want to integrate usb ports and power inverters in the interior, maybe a v8 swap to 1uz or v8 in the distant future, or even consider turboing the 3.4.
Feel free to give me any tips or recommendations on this thread. Thanks!
Tailgate was dented and wouldn't open, nor let the window roll down all the way. Missing a flare on the passenger side. Paint is faded and clear coat chipping/missing on the roof and fenders.
The interior was terrible. Carpets were covered with stains and holes. Seats, plastic panels,seat belts were all stained, torn up, and crumbling. Dash had some cracks and tears, was screwed down in a corner.
I took a peak underneath the car as well, and wasn’t too pleased. Everything was caked in sludge.
. Engine bay didn’t look too good either. And theres a battery drain somewhere I need to track down. I’m on the debate of pulling the whole drive train to clean it off, or just get underneath with degreaser, power washer, figure out whats leaking and fix that. So to starting out, I wanted to get the interior out. As I started to unbolt the drivers seat, I ran a huge problem. Previous owner welded the seat down to the bracket, right through the carpet.
I grinned down the weld, popped out the seats, removed the carpet, and found the bracket was mangled up with the nuts mussing and broken. I went ahead and got a spot weld bit, and drilled the spot welds to remove the bracket.
I went to one of the newer local junkyards, they had a few 4runners, but one that was similar year and color as mine, interior and exterior. They also had a 50% off “grand opening” sale. I pulled the whole interior, lift gate, flares, door seals. I also found a sport 4runner hood, and for 20 bucks, I couldn’t say no. I tried to remove the other seat bracket, but ran into trouble when my drills battery died, so ill have to go back for it.
I swapped the rear lift gate, found one on a year newer, same color car, and not dented at the local junk yard. Had a friend come over and swapped it over. Swapped the hood as well, I need to adjust the hinges a little more as its not sitting perfect yet.
Future goals, get it running and driving, eventually lift, roof basket, plate bumpers, and basic outfit for overloading with a friend of mine. I want to integrate usb ports and power inverters in the interior, maybe a v8 swap to 1uz or v8 in the distant future, or even consider turboing the 3.4.
Feel free to give me any tips or recommendations on this thread. Thanks!
