My 92 4Runner:The Revival (I have questions)

[hmartin99]

So I guess that this is a build page. I'm currently repairing a 1992 Toyota 4Runner. It has not been moved in 2 years, and before last week had 2 Wasp nests in the driver's side mirror, and on the left rear wheel.

So my Goal is to not turn it into an offroading machine (Believe me I want to, but I also want to do right by the car) The goal is to bring it back up to working capacity, then make it run better than it ever did before. It will be my daily driver, to and from work, school and home.

(Priorities ranked 1-4, 1 important, 4 unimportant)

To Do:
Find a replacement Serpentine Belt (1)
Install the Power Steering Pump (1)
Find a replacement battery (1)
Clean the battery terminals (1)
Find a "new" Starter (1)
Repair a small dent on the rear right door (4)
Find a set of Replacement seats (3)
Find a replacement dash panel Gauges are fine (4)
Determine what is broken with the AC (2)
Determine what is broken with the radio (3)
Determine what is making transmission loose (2)
Determine what is making the clutch loose (2)
Find out if the E-Brake still Works (1)
Unstick the brakes (1) COMPLETE [8/4/16]
Move it out of the back yard so I can work on it better (1)

Some of this work is waiting for the key to be mailed back from Oregon.

(Skip this next bit if you don't care about it's story)

So I actually want to provide a little bit of history for the car, as it has been in my family since it was new. My Grandpa bought it brand new, with all the accessories off the showroom floor because that was the only one that had that was immediately available that had cupholders. He had it for a few years, until sometime in 1997 or 1998 he died of cancer. Then it passed to my uncle. He drove it for many years, and loved the car. He took good care of it and it was well cleaned and maintained until 2007. Then he died of a heart attack. Then his son (My cousin, who is 20-something years older than me so I call him uncle instead) took it. He didn't have much money and he drove it everywhere on minimal maintenance. It suffered greatly. In 2014 it's starter gave up. He abandoned it in my Grandma's yard and left it for a '12 Ram 1500.
Now, it is mine.

So now that the serious part of that story has passed, pictures will follow sometime tomorrow (I have to wait for there to be less heat to go over there and start unsticking the brakes and it's supposed to only be 70-ish tomorrow thankfully.

 

[hmartin99]

So for questions I have, I need to know if I should just go and tap the brakes with a hammer or what for unsticking them? Because they probably aren't stuck BADLY but I can't move it with it stuck as it is. I also need to know what the best way to go around getting the AC working eventually (Not REALLY important but necessary, I live in a desert). For the battery terminals, they are really quite bad (Seriously the only way to describe their condition is with pictures) But I believe it is mainly visual (Dug some of the stuff out from around them, they are intact), So how would I clean them?

 

[hmartin99]

Pictures! (Engine and suspension will follow within a day, god forbid we get GOOD weather.) Just finished cleaning up the exterior roughly. Don't really need super clean at the moment just not having it be an off grey color is good for me!

 

[Ahlem]

My younger son has a very similar ride here in MI. My older son lives in Moses Lake and has a Ford Bronco project going. You got to love the no rust area codes.

 

[hmartin99]

Well, the 'Runner's brakes and I have a love hate relationship right now. Spent a day unsticking the brakes so I can move it. Got the two front disc brakes free. The drums in the back are tough SOB's who want to stay stuck forever! Me and my buddy are going to take another (Probably literal D smack at them tomorrow morning. And once again engine and suspension pics inbound. Got distracted today

 

[hmartin99]

My younger son has a very similar ride here in MI. My older son lives in Moses Lake and has a Ford Bronco project going. You got to love the no rust area codes.

Really? Wow I thought this was one of the most unknown towns in Washington. Well, rust is my enemy right now lol, it's holding my rig in the backyard until the drums give up.

 

[Jixxer6]

Give this a shot:

There are 2 bolt holes in the drum that can help you out. Put a bolt in each one and slowly tighten them down evenly as possible. As they get snug and don't want to pull the drum give the drum a few hits with a hammer to help it move a little. Then continue on snugging the bolts down and repeat until it's off. Hope that helps, good luck!



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[missyroar]

Nice ride!

I have a similar story, except I'm still waiting on the part where it becomes mine....

My grandpa bought a brand new '92 T4R for his dying wife, it was her last wish to have a brand new 4Runner. She died 2 years later and my grandpa had it for many more years. My uncle went through a breakup and my grandpa let him borrow the T4R for a few years, then my uncle gave it back to my grandpa when he moved to New York. My grandpa then sold it to his girlfriend's son. He never drove it, in fact it is still just sitting in his drive way. It's for sale.

But he wants $3500 for it. I told him I would give him $1500 because that's literally all it's worth and he scoffed. I want to keep the runner in my family so badly because it was originally my grandma's dying wish, and my uncle was very upset when my grandpa sold it.

So, I'm still waiting...haha! She definitely looks pretty, though! Good luck!!

 

[junkyardbiker]

I was actually born in Moses lake, Only remember a little bit of it but I grew up in Yakima and Royal City area for a bit. It is a forgotten area for sure.

 

[hmartin99]

The end of my adventure in brakes (For now, they are REALLY bad). They finally let go and still work! (For varying definitions of well, they work "Well"). Next up is getting it out of that loose rock bed so I can actually work on the engine without losing stuff.

 

[hmartin99]

So my next question is, back when my 'Runner ran (No pun intended) the transmission, to quote my mother "Had a whole lotta slop in it." And just sitting there in the seat playing with it, I can see what she meant. Hard to find the gears. Now my buddies who helped me get the brake issues sorted swear the clutch had to be destroyed. So what could I do to easily fix the poor thing so I can limp it the 30-40 miles to a lift so I can work on the transmission properly?

 

[Jixxer6]

HF tow bar.http://m.harborfreight.com/5000-lb-...r-94696.html?utm_referrer=direct/not provided

..

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[hmartin99]

HF tow bar.Tow Bar - Adjustable Tow Bar w/ 5000 Lb. Capacity


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So just hook it up to a rig with enough power and tow it?

 

[Jixxer6]

So just hook it up to a rig with enough power and tow it?

Yes. You may need to to take the lower valance off and hook it up there. Pulls just like a trailer. I just pulled that Celica from Phoenix to Chicago.


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[hmartin99]

Yes. You may need to to take the lower valance off and hook it up there. Pulls just like a trailer. I just pulled that Celica from Phoenix to Chicago.


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Alright, sounds like an idea at the very least.

 

[RonJR]

I'd disconnect the driveshafts at the differentials before I flat towed it very far. It'll be easier on what's left of the transmission and transfer case.

 

[hmartin99]

Alright so I finally remembered to get engine pics! (The suspension is cloaked in shadow and my flash is weak) But yeah, take a look at my mess

 

[hmartin99]

Progress!

So, the 4Runner (Open to suggestions on names for her) is no longer in the gravel patch, and that extra corroded battery is gone. I found a shop that my buddy's El Camino can pull me to (Literally around the corner. My GMa's neighbors are great people ) I am stuck on how to get the pin out of the power steering pump though. We removed the bolts that had it bracketed onto the engine, but there is this pesky pin behind the pulley that won't let go, because the pulley is in the way! I can't take the pulley off (Just spent an hour and a half down that hole) And we can't just rotate it down and out of the way! Help would be appreciated here.

 

[Reluctanse]

Family vehicles with a history like that are pretty important! It's great that you have taken it on and decided to bring it back to live an do it justice. I really appreciate that.

As far as the rest....

Do lots of searching and reading - for your 2nd gen I actually recommend yotatech.com for all your technical needs, lots more activity on that site for these older rigs. Also, familiarize yourself with the factory service manual, you will find lots of helpful info here:

https://web.archive.org/web/2008080...95_4Rnr/Toyota.4Runner.1990.1995/contents.htm

On your sloppy shifter - often it can likely be as simple as worn out/disintegrated shifter seats. For a few bucks and a little bit of wrenching time they can easily be replaced. Marlin Crawler is your go-to for these:

shifter seat: https://www.marlincrawler.com/transmission/shifter-parts/heavy-duty-seats

and the shifter socket: https://www.marlincrawler.com/transmission/shifter-parts/heavy-duty-sockets

those will tighten that shifter up nicely!

for your power steering pump removal: Hose that thing down in some PB Plaster, then hose it down again. Throw some heat on with a torch, then get a strap wrench on that pulley like this: https://www.amazon.com/OTC-4475-Stinger-Grooved-Pulley/dp/B005J3KZPS and a big wrench and give it hell!!

If that doesn't work, might have to get a grinder on it and sacrifice the pump input shaft.

Not as familiar with the V6 3.0's, but on the 22RE you can get the entire pump bracket removed from the head by pulling 4 bolts that hold the bracket on. Might be an option for you as well-

As it goes, keep us posted!

 

[HanginInUtah]

I've had my experience reviving a '92, and I just picked up a '95 to do it again. But here's a note on your seats... the bottom cushion for both front seats are interchangeable. So find a junk yard, and watch for the right color, and then grab the passenger side that is almost always in better shape than the driver's side. Doesn't help much for the back of the seat, but usually the bottom cushion is the trashed one.