My '92 T4R

[mikekfr]

Running boards & the new ( to me ) engine

Got the running boards on today w/ the end caps after some finagling on how to attach the outside lip to the running boards, i ended using black trim screws to secure the plastic in place.

The bolt pattern didn't line up on the wheel well, nor did it line up on the mounting brackets, but no biggy, i knew the boards were from a different year and figured i'd make it work.

Checked the brakes/drums/rotors today, needs pads and front wheel bearings had a little play.....anyone know if the bearings are adjustable on the front?

Anyway, here's the progress so far....

Oh and noone had a quiet muffler in stock, going to look online tonight, was told to check out rockauto too. I just want an inexpensive muffler to quiet it down. I'm really liking the way she's shaping up !!

 

[mikekfr]

Today, replaced a fuel filter i replaced yesterday. Tweaked it to the hilt and just couldn't get it to stop showing liquid on the threads...not as much as a drip, but still the threads were wet. Replaced that today & had a mechanic friend help, he took his time working both sides back and forth, and instead of manhandling the protective cage around it when he was done, i cut the top half of the cage off and bolted on the lower half and it held the filter snug, and dry.
We put the muffler on it, now it's purring and the only thing you can hear is the engine. My friend topped off the read end, diff. & transfer case while i cleaned the skid plate, we got the one back seat to flip down that has the plastic pull button missing. Swapped the throttle cable from the wrecked one, the current one was like stepping on a cinderblock.
Called it a day and had dinner.
Bumper swaps tomorrow and a good grease servicing to the under carriage.

 

[mikekfr]

Today

Today, the back bumper swap & one corner piece ( the one that had the rust ), the undercarriage greased, the hitch sanded, scraped & painted. Messed w/ the air shocks enough to see they need to go, wouldn't hold any air. Also got the spare tire carraige functioning and greased and hung the spare. My friend helping me ( Lenny ) beat most of the dents from the bumper pieces. The wrecked runner has what looks like a great set of rear shocks so, we'll see.

Tomorrow, front bumper replace and fresh paint on the bottom black section. Something came up on finances so the carpet will have to wait. Also, tomorrow i'll use 'back to black ' for the first time on the rear bumper rubber and the running boards, heard all good things about it.

Made a silly short vid of the truck running, love hearing that motor purr, just gotta upload it so public can't see the vid ( g/f subscribed to my youtube ), maybe just make it private.

 

[mikekfr]

1992 Toyota 4runner SR5 3.0 - YouTube

 

[mikekfr]

Today

Swapped the front bumper out all together, also some fresh black paint. JB welded a mud flap mount hole and a crack on the rubber front part of the bumper. Forgot to bring the 'back to black'. Called it an early day. Happy Thanksgiving everyone !!

 

[mikekfr]

Some cleaning today, nothing fancy, figured out how to fold the back seat bottoms down. Cleaned the upholstery again, the door panels & cargo area carpet as well. Applied some 'back to black' on the running boards and the rear bumper rubber, also hit all the chrome with 'neverdull'. Lastly, spray painted the rear 'spoiler'? whatever that flare is that hides the rear wiper. Also cleaned the inside of the door jambs & weatherstripping.

 

[mikekfr]

more

 

[mikekfr]

Also took a small wire brush to hit the cold start injector thoroughly. I read up lastnight about loose T4R gear shifts ( automatic ) so i delved into that some and indeed, it seems as if the bushings are shot. I like the way the back in black made the running boards look, i think i'll end up buying a can of black duplicolor for fabric/plastic and painting that rear bumper rubber piece, it's seen some days.

You can barely tell this used to be a hunting truck. :loco:

 

[91'4bee]

This thread is very cool man keep it up :thumb:

 

[gigerunner]

looking good brother, I am to restoring/building up a second gen. keep it up and keep the thread posting
opcorn:
do you take this rig fishing? I noticed trout dough in all of your interior photos somewhere.

 

[mikekfr]

Thank you & the bait is actually from the previous owner lol. He left that and a pioneer remote control for his stereo. I called him and told him i'd swing the remote by some day. This thing was a 100% hunting/fishing rig. Clay pigeon remnants were everywhere, pine needles, pounds of dirt, a good 3" of mud caked up underneath on everything.

Gonna go check out your garage !!

 

[mikekfr]

The lack of funds has brought things to a brief stand still, i pieced together 2 windshield washer fluid containers and jb welded the pump relays into the rubber boots and they'll be ready for install tomorrow. Drove it up and down a gravel road alot last week, cleaned the MAF & the TB, checked resistance on about every piece of the cold start system. I got the 2 free emblems i ordered ( thanks to the thread here @ T4R )

Here's hers

I may try to carve an apostrophe out of an old emblem i have laying around. The name emblem is really going to personalize her 4R, thanks so much for the heads up on that.

BVSV will be here this week.....saving up for carpet, hopefully soon.
Have been working on a scrapbook to give her ( 13th Anniversary trad. gift is lace) I have gold lace to tie around the scrapbook that has her name on the bound egde, have thought of putting the title and the keys on the last page of the scrapbook, so it sinks in as she turns the last page !! She's gonna freak out i believe.

Hope everyone has a good Xmas and stay safe during the holidays.

 

[mikekfr]

Seems like forever since the last post, in an effort to cure the hesitant cold start, i bought a cold start injector ( even though i had cleaned the old one ) and it didn't change much. TBH, it hasn't been very cold since i put it in. I did put tags & insurance on it, i plan to pack the front bearings and put the new pads on and get it inspected next week. Was just a little play on each front wheel when i checked the brakes prior, that should insure it passes the inspection. I ordered the front bay carpet today, i still plan to paint the hood, just $ has been trickling in slowly. I've been going over and starting it regularly, and driving it up and down the lane, rides very nice, everything on it works.

My fear is the check valve in the fuel pump is the 'initial start' problem. It runs like a dream after it's first hesitant start, no hesitations, no misses, very responsive. I'm HOPING that running it up and down the road after getting a sticker on it, and getting everything used to being ran again, will HOPEFULLY assist in the engine firing up normally again. Not that replacing a fuel pump is the worst case scenario, i was just hoping i'd be spared that expense & trouble.

D-day is Valentine's day, my 2 options i've come up with in the 'giving her the 4runner' is
1. Placing the 4runner at a friends small car lot and taking her there to 'browse'. Then showing her the custom toyota emblem on the back of it that has her her name on it. Then handing her the scrapbook and let her see the transformation right there in the driver's seat.

2. My friend who's letting me hide it at his house, offered to pull the wrecked runner in the garage ( in front of the nice one ) and try to play like i've bought her a fixer upper 4runner and let her see the stripped, wrecked runner, let her wince for a minute or two, and show her the real one.

Feel free to add any other ideas you find original, i've got a month.

 

[mikekfr]

Carpet today

 

[mikekfr]

Much better

 

[LedFloyd900]

Wow, looks great!

 

[mikekfr]

Thank you sir, i get my pre-made headliners and molded carpets from Stockinteriors.com, in case anyone needs a line on either. They also sell coverlay dash covers. I've about come to the end of my spending on this project, i feel pretty good about the condition i've got it in since day 1.
If i can swap the fuel pump and fix the cold start thing, i may throw the flag in after that. Painting the hood will depend on $$

 

[Nervo19]

I love the color. I *think* the peeling hood can be wet sanded and recleared. You have to do your own research on that. That is a sweet V-Day present.

 

[mikekfr]

Thanks Nervo, i am going to try (try, i say) to get Napa or Sherwin Williams to mix me a quart from the factory color code. i bought the harbor freight gravity fed $15 dollar gun with disposable cups, and the cleaning kit. The guy that's letting me keep it at his place let me borrow his gravity fed painter & showed me how to paint the hitch 'chasis black', it seems to have a forgiving and very comfortable trigger. The quote from a Napa guy i know was about $60 for them to mix everything. If i have my info straight...

I tried a small area when i put rubbing compound on the whole truck, on the hood left a weird light color swirl so i stopped. Just figured i'd spot putty the 1 chip in it and shoot the hood and the roof at one time.

Thank you too.

 

[mikekfr]

Finally took the 4runner out on the road !! Took it up to the gas station and filled it up at $1.87 a gallon, went a few miles out of the way to just ride, rides smooth, brakes felt good, truck leaned into whatever side of the road i was on. Brought it back and stripped the front pads, seals and bearings off of it. Bought new seals, watched my friend Lenny use his fancy bearing packing tool. Gonna put everything together and get it inspected ( maybe tomorrow ) i may have to swipe a idler arm from the wrecked one, little wobbly. I'm gonna go under it while it's running and jacked up on jack stands. Seems to be a small oil leak somewhere, just had some drops near the bellhousing.....i wiped everything clean today and hope i can pinpoint it. The oil level is still full so maybe the gaskets/seals on the oil cooler need replacing and only leaked while running today ?!!?? I have no idea but am anxious to find out tomorrow morning.

I ordered all the pics for her scrapbook, ordered her a fancy Carolina Panthers keychain to put her shiny keys on, and a Panther steering wheel cover......gonna scrap painting the hood until temps & finances are better.

So happy it rides smooth !!

Oh and the cold start issue was the cold start injector pigtail( the truck's side ), the ends were pushed in too far and not touching. Starts right up now !! The mechanic that did the install, found it for me in minutes. Thank you thank you !!