Kale's 96' limited build

[kale2s]

I'm 24 years old and have been into cars my entire life. I bought a Jeep wrangler for my first and have been through around 10 or vehicles to get where I am at now. I have had everything from Cherokees to a C6 Corvette but have always wanted to pick up a 3rd gen 4runner.

So I finally got one. Picked up a 96 Limited with 281k miles and a broken piston for 650 bucks. Went and loaded it on a trailer and got it home. Here it is on the trailer with a couple of my buddies trying to figure out where to sign the Oklahoma title. :hello:

 

[PROSTAR]

nice puchase

 

[kale2s]

Got it home, drove it around a bit with the broke piston just to make sure that everything else worked and then started pulling the engine with the help of a couple good friends.

 

[kale2s]

Got that done and decided to drain all the fluids and clean out the trans pan while I was waiting for the brand newish (117k) engine to arrive.

 

[kale2s]

Threw a new OEM timing belt and water pump on the new engine and dropped it in last Friday night. Got it done at about 2 am. As excited as I was to fire it up I waited till the morning, flushed the cooling system, got a new battery and fired it up. It started perfectly and is running great.

 

[kale2s]

I ordered a trans cooler based off of many recommendations that I read on here. It should be in this week so I will post the install of that once it comes in.

That is where I am at currently, going to have to wait a couple of weeks to order anymore parts but I will put a few miles on it like it sits and try and work out any bugs. Myself and 2 friends are planning on driving from north west Arkansas to the San Juan mountains of Colorado in July to do some exploring so I will try and knock out most of the major mods within the next few months to get it ready for the trip. Planning on a toytec 3" lift with some 285s. Might build some rock sliders and bumpers if I get the motivation.

Here's Penny with the runner put back together.

 

[poleclimber63]

Welcome!

$650 bucks! Smokin' deal! Even if you had dropped $1k in an engine, you still are way ahead! I dropped a JDM in my truck a couple of years ago, for $1200, after a rod failure. I took my time, replaced all seals and gaskets, TB/WP, (rebuilt the starter -- as its a b!tch to get out with the engine in place!!)! Its still running like a top! You must have been totally stoked to have done all this work so quick! Good luck and hope to see lots of mods!!

 

[kale2s]

$650 bucks! Smokin' deal! Even if you had dropped $1k in an engine, you still are way ahead! I dropped a JDM in my truck a couple of years ago, for $1200, after a rod failure. I took my time, replaced all seals and gaskets, TB/WP, (rebuilt the starter -- as its a b!tch to get out with the engine in place!!)! Its still running like a top! You must have been totally stoked to have done all this work so quick! Good luck and hope to see lots of mods!!

That's awesome! Yes, the starter was not fun.. I learned that if you unbolt the brake lines from the passenger fenderwell you can put it in and out through there. Made it a little easier.

I am for sure stoked! I would love to have a longer term project but I really need to get this thing set up so that we can do some testing on and off road before setting off on a 10 day trip this summer.

 

[jmferg]

A couple other must-do's with 281,000 miles if you haven't already.
Koyo radiator
Oem LBJs
Extended rear diff breather.
Small investments will save you big time down the road.

Are you dead set on putting a 3" lift and 285s to accomplish a 3 man roadtrip?

If you aren't re-gearing, you probably won't appreciate the driveability you'll lose with 33s and a loaded down rig.

Also, with a 3" lift on an almost 300,000 mile rig, expect to have to re-boot the cv's, replace control arm and steering rack bushings, etc.


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[kale2s]

A couple other must-do's with 281,000 miles if you haven't already.
Koyo radiator
Oem LBJs
Extended rear diff breather.
Small investments will save you big time down the road.

Are you dead set on putting a 3" lift and 285s to accomplish a 3 man roadtrip?

If you aren't re-gearing, you probably won't appreciate the driveability you'll lose with 33s and a loaded down rig.

Also, with a 3" lift on an almost 300,000 mile rig, expect to have to re-boot the cv's, replace control arm and steering rack bushings, etc.


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Got OEM ball joints on the way. I will do some searching for a radiator as well.

I am not dead set on the 3". I am still debating doing a smaller lift with some 265s for that exact reason. Any suggestions for a smaller lift? I have been looking into the 99 springs as well.

 

[jmferg]

Got OEM ball joints on the way. I will do some searching for a radiator as well.



I am not dead set on the 3". I am still debating doing a smaller lift with some 265s for that exact reason. Any suggestions for a smaller lift? I have been looking into the 99 springs as well.

I have bilstein 6112s set at 2" in the front and OME 890 coils in the rear.
The 890s are definitely over-worked when I go camping and am loaded up.

If you plan on more trips where you're loaded down, i would suggest a full 3" coil in the rear like OME 891s or LC 7 wraps.
The toytec/eibach front coilover is a nice setup. The 2" setting would keep your cv's happier.
I think you will be much happier driving with 265s over 285s..


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[kale2s]

I have bilstein 6112s set at 2" in the front and OME 890 coils in the rear.
The 890s are definitely over-worked when I go camping and am loaded up.

If you plan on more trips where you're loaded down, i would suggest a full 3" coil in the rear like OME 891s or LC 7 wraps.
The toytec/eibach front coilover is a nice setup. The 2" setting would keep your cv's happier.
I think you will be much happier driving with 265s over 285s..


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I agree that it will be much more highway friendly which is where it will spend quite a bit of its time.

I appreciate the advise and will definitely start looking into the little bit smaller lifts for the front end.

 

[poleclimber63]

Got OEM ball joints on the way. I will do some searching for a radiator as well.

I am not dead set on the 3". I am still debating doing a smaller lift with some 265s for that exact reason. Any suggestions for a smaller lift? I have been looking into the 99 springs as well.

Right on. 3" and up you're definitely looking at greater CV wear. You'll be replacing them before long. You may discover to improve/maintain ride and serviceability, you may end up travelling down the mod road...

I thought about going to 99 talls in the rear, but in time, they apparently sag like stock. I went with OME 880 front/906's rear, this provided roughly a 2" lift. I installed adjustable Rancho Shocks but I should have gone with Billies. I also went to 17" 265/70/17 slightly larger than stock... The ride is so much better now!

There are some real experts on suspension mods here. The problem is, once you start, you will find it impossible to stop, and the only thing that will get in the way, is that you'll have no money left!

 

[kale2s]

I really liked the silver flares and molding but mine were faded and scratched so I decided to go ahead and spray them black. I scuffed them with scotchbrite and used the duplicolor bedliner as I have had good luck with it in the past. I think it is going to look pretty good.

 

[meeceboy78]

nice! cant wait to see more. I'm also debating on doing my flares, so I'm curious to see what your finished product looks like.

 

[jbrentd]

Nice job on the engine swap. Looks to be a clean one and money well spent.

 

[Scramble]

Man, I would have scrubbed that engine bay clean with the engine out! Good luck with her. Lets see pics of the fenders without the brown paper.

 

[Nooga_Rock]

Looking good! I'm also going for the overland build on my newly acquired 3rd gen.

 

[Unner]

If you're looking to add more weight up front like bumper, winch, sliders, skids, etc. I recommend going coilovers as you can adjust your height as you add weight to compensate. But if you're looking to keep it cheaper there's a decent amount of spring options and 5100/OME shocks.

Truck looks good though! Just take care of the few maintenance issues mentioned above, and you'll have a blast in Colorado. I recommend getting this book if you're exploring in the San Juans. Lots of good trails.

https://www.amazon.com/Guide-Colorado-Backroads-4-Wheel-Drive-Trails/dp/1934838047

Check out my Colorado trip report in my build thread if you're interested. A buddy and I drove from Alabama to Colorado last July and spent some time in the San Juans, running as many trails as we could.

 

[dustin Keeler]

Welcome to the club

Im from Siloam Springs and have a few buddies who drive runners as well. Here is a picture of my last one that I sold then kicked myself for doing that and had to get another

IMG_7367 by Dustin Keeler, on Flickr

Here is the new to me one I just got
Before lift
IMG_9838 by Dustin Keeler, on Flickr

After the lift and Alignment
IMG_9979 by Dustin Keeler, on Flickr

We go wheeling from time to time and would love to have you join us.