Just saying Hi... new to us, 97 Manual 3.4, 4x4

[toyotaspeed90]

Definitely not new to Toyotas... this is probably north of #40, or more... who knows.

Current stable is...
2017 Prius V4 (dont laugh - 40mpg is about the worst we get, been north of 85mpg)
1988 FJ62 (currently under the knife in the garage for roof rot repair)
2001 Lexus LX470/100 series

And the 1997 T4R.

2nd 4Runner I've had, had a first gen AT 4cy about 15 years ago....

Some other notable/odd/"rare" Toyotas I've had...
1970 FJ40 frame off rustomod with a Megasquirt m/TBI 350
2004 Lexus IS300 sporr design manual/lsd
1988 Corolla Alltrac wagon (AE95)
1993 3x locked FZJ80
About 11 first gen MR2s and many engine variations (4age, 4agze, 7age, 5sfe)

Picked up a 97, manual, 3.4, 4x4 with 315k miles a couple weeks ago.

$2k, came with most parts to do a timing belt. Unfortunately it needed tires and a SERIOUS interior cleaning.

Completed most of the interior cleaning and the timing belt service (with pulleys, pump, tensioner, belts, radiator hoses), and got new tires on it.

Simple plans are... air lift bags in the rear (put them in the LX and really like them, even with the factory hydro suspension), 4ch amp with new components front and rear, LED headlights, then any other maintenance items that pop up.

Been reading about Tundra/LC suspension, so thinking/researching that. Mostly it will be a field truck for my wife and just a good enjoyable manual trans vehicle.


Will have to post photos after I resize image sizes, I guess....

 

[toyotaspeed90]

Should also add... zero, and I mean zero, rust on this thing.

The FJ40 was rusty, required new floor panels be put in and the tub was swiss cheese still. The 62 has rusty parts and a rusty roof (otherwise very clean). The FZJ80 had very mild rust on bolts. Hell, even the IS300 had some rust on bolt heads.

At 315k miles its the cleanest high mileage vehicle I've ever seen. Surface rust on the exhaust is the most I've seen.

 

[toyotaspeed90]

Pictures attached

 

[eddielasvegas]

Hello and Congrats toyotaspeed90.

Very nice T4R you have there and most excellent color.



Eddie

 

[toyotaspeed90]

Will throw some photos up soon.


LED headlights - check
4ch amp (Hifonocs) - check
Front and rear 6.5" MB Quart components - check
Newly evacuated and charged A/C with new button- check
Installed USB charger - check

On order - Tundra Bilstein 5100s for the front
NOS (well, ~100 miles) 2008 T4R rear shocks and all 4 springs

Waiting to go in - all ball joints and inner/outer TREs

 

[toyotaspeed90]

For installing timing belts this is a trick I used/came up with well over a decade ago that I've used on MR2 timing belts. Helps keep the belt in place without jumping teeth nor allowing the cam gears to move independently.

Not tight, but taught in the clamps. Worked like a charm.

 

[toyotaspeed90]

For the components-

The front stock tweeters were still perfect and the MBs wouldn't fit, so just wired those to the MB crossover. The crossover was mounted into the stock recessed housing with some minor cutting.

Rears didn't fit in the housing, so I cut and installed them into the panel. Not my first choice. but is what it is.

Amp is simply under the seat.

 

[toyotaspeed90]

For the components-

The front stock tweeters were still perfect and the MBs wouldn't fit, so just wired those to the MB crossover. The crossover was mounted into the stock recessed housing with some minor cutting.

Rears didn't fit in the housing, so I cut and installed them into the panel. Not my first choice. but is what it is.

Amp is simply under the seat.


Images shouldn't be sideways. They show normal on my phone both pre and post editing to reduce size.

 

[Ryance39]

Quite a fleet you have/have had. Looks like a solid buy assuming you don’t run into anything out of the ordinary.

 

[APhelps]

Who on earth put a 5s-fe into a first gen mr2? The horror.

 

[toyotaspeed90]

Who on earth put a 5s-fe into a first gen mr2? The horror.

Those who have more first gen MR2 experience than most.

Same day at autox I drove my 87 hardtop with an ae101 gze, ae102 c52 trans, running on MS (faster by a second than the 88 SC with a rebuild and 10psi pulley), a race seat and great tires.... I also drove my 86 sunroof with the 5sfe/s54 swap, full interior, taller suspension, didnt have the swaybars the 87 had and was on 300+ tread street tires... was also the first time driving that vehicle with the swap... a time difference of 0.3 seconds.

Not quite the throttle response of that GZE, but very similar power, cheaper parts, way more miles, and way more reliable.

That 86 went through 3 engines in 3 months. I was sick of trying to source tired 4ages that nobody wanted to give up. The swap cost about $700 total including engine, trans, axles, wiring, mounts, exhaust/header, plus maintenance parts for the motor.

 

[toyotaspeed90]

I guess reading, research and comprehension (or lack thereof in this case) did me wrong.

The 2008 rear shock sent to me are XREAS. Thought, shortly, how i could make them work- then ordered Bilsteins for the rear.

Those, along with the diff drop kit (just in case) arrive today.

If the FJ62 sells today then the T4R will head in soon to go under the suspension knife.

Will post photos....

Not even sure if I ordered the fronts as 4runner or Tundra... guess I'll find out here soon.

 

[5 Speed Dave]

Congrats on the NICE find!

That sure is one nice clean 4Runner you found, Toyotaspeed90! Way to go!
Those 5 speeds are out there if ya look really hard. Looks like you know your way around the garage.
An interesting stable you've had for sure.
I always thought it would be cool if cars could talk to us and tell their stories
(but not while we are driving....)

 

[SantaCruzRunner]

Nice looking rig. I just picked up my third 3rd gen, a 2000 SR5 4x4 5 speed. :hello:

 

[toyotaspeed90]

Well that didn't take long.....

 

[toyotaspeed90]

........



To pick up a 2nd parts vehicle (with locker)

 

[toyotaspeed90]

We love our T4R, so don't gerlt me wrong here.

I've read a lot and been asked why I like Landcruisers/LX and I tend to say (and read) it's because they're overbuilt and quality is generally higher.

Here's an example that just, out of random, stood out to me.

When I dragged the limited home I pulled the rear driveline to keep the trans from rotating. Just by chance I used a small tool carrier that I used to carry in an FJ40. I had to buy all sets of driveline bolts for it (as they were missing and then I upgraded the 71 to 76 axles).

Here's a new 1976 driveline bolt vs the 99 T4R. Mind you, the FJ40 had almost nothing in terms of power...

 

[toyotaspeed90]

Will try to remember and get more photos....

Did the simple rear ratio check.... as expected the auto locker is 4.30 and the 5sp open is 4.10.

If I can get enough for the 4.30 rear then I'll throw in an ARB (sounds like that's what my wife wants - her price for the factory locked rear keeps going down....) if not then I will look into swapping both front and rear. I did get the 4.30 axle out yesterday.

The parts rig keeps updating the manual..... so far....

Swapped front door glass (for the tint) - super easy
Swapped the wood grain (all) - super classy
Swapped the center console- no more busted cup holders
Swapped the sidemirrors (and sold the others)

Also swapped the stereo head unit. They both had similar/comparable units, or so I thought. Ours had a basic Alpine with CD/aux/USB. The parts rig had a Sony CD/aux/USB.

When I installed the amp and speakers with the Alpine I was completely underwhelmed. The Alpine only had rear out so I was forced to use high level input for the front - usually not that big of a deal.

The Sony had front, rear, and sub outs - sp figured what the hell I'll throw it in as it was installed with a harness and would be super easy.

First things first - these HUs are night and day from one another. Everything 'woke up' and I'm now quite impressed with the speakers (I know the amp is good - I've owned Hifonics in the past and they are the best, by far, in their price range).

Second.... never trust someone else's wiring even on something as simple as a harnessed radio. I kept having to reset the Sony each time power was cycled. I was worried the HU was shot and I would now have to buy new because that shitty Alpine isn't going back in. Nope, PO had the yellow and red spliced together for keyed switched power. Also didn't have the illumination connected. Easy peasy (I just didn't look initially, I should have), awesome possum.


Gearing up to swap 3 of the 4 rear seat pieces (after cleaning).


So far the only items actually sold are:
Wheels and tires (and I got a set of Tundra rollers as a partial trade)
Rear hatch
Mirrors

Engine/trans I have several people on the line for with a 'viewing' today. If I get my asking price I will have back what I have into it (not counting labor, and I'm pulling the motor).

I think the steering rackin the parts rig is new(er). It's way too shiny.

I also think the parts rig saw a lot of wheeling. Very clean detail I recent history- extremely dusty/dirty behind all of the door panels.


Once the parts rig is stripped down and gone then I will start taking the manual apart to start with new fresh suspension and steering compnents.

 

[toyotaspeed90]

We'll see about the seats.

I would prefer the manual seats. If we can sell them to (mostly) cover the cost of new leather covers (the Lseat covers in our LX are pretty amazing for their price) then we'll go that route.

Plus locked diff photo because why not.

 

[toyotaspeed90]

I think I learned today that this is not the easiest way to pull the engine and trans....

Should be noted.... bought this as a parts car and the PO ran it into a tree and the front center was fubar'd.

Even with the front cut open like this, the transfercase is really tough to get though between the front diff and the transmission tunnel.