My Dad's 1989 4Runner

[Quatre Coureur]

The '90 Tacoma seems really clean. It's got the 22re which is a bonus. They get decent mileage if u shift 'em nicely! I'd offer him $3500 cuz that's what it's worth. It's no '85. Then again the Matrix does have that nifty spoiler... :wow:

 

[TNcaveman]

I thought I would resurrect this old thread about "old blue" as the guys at work called her. She was a nice and fun truck. My first. Better than I ever thought she would be. But, Chuckles did finally get a 4Runner. A 1998 w/ a 5 speed. We have had a ton of fun in the past month cleaning and fixing things left to make her a POS like most old vehicles out there. A little love goes a long way!

Check her out - her name is Diamond - as in Diamond in the Rough - which is what I called her when we found her (and rescued her).

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/178792-chuckles-98-manual-sr5-4runner.html

I told Chuckles tonight that we might one day do a road trip to get that remaining perfect 1st Gen 4Runner

Stephen

 

[BaseRunner]

Hello everyone:
I have been lurking around here for about a year and a half, and I finally decided to register.

My dad had an 1989 4Runner (which he got in 1996 and sold in 2008)

I have always wanted one and I am turning 16 soon. I hope to have a nice 1st gen within the next year or two.

Well, here is a short build list and pics of his truck.

1989 4Runner Utility Wagon – 5 speed – 22RE
Blue Metallic paint / Black rear top

Garage kept for 10.5+ years
Approx 2 in suspension lift
Owner maintained

List of upgrades:
Front Suspension / Drivetrain
Randy’s R&P / Yukon front differential (open) – 4.56 gears
Standard Bilstein shocks
Sway-A-Way torsion bars
Front half-shafts rebuilt and converted to “quick change” (i.e. no studs / grade 8 bolts)

Rear Suspension / Drivetrain
Randy’s R&P / Yukon rear differential w/ Detroit Locker– 4.56 gears
Bilstein 5150 shocks
Old Man Emu Dakar springs

Transmission – rebuilt by Marlin Crawler w/ HD bearing upgrade
Transfer Case – rebuilt by Marlin Crawler (stock gearing)
Marlin HD Clutch (1600 lbs – same as V-6 version)
Budbuilt crossmember / skidplate (high clearance)
Poly body bushings

Engine – original – no rebuild 486,000 miles
No smoke (no joke – unless you let it idle for 10 minutes or more – will cruise at 70 – 75 all day long – loaded)

No oil leaks
Downey / K&N Intake
Downey Header
Flex-a-lite electric fan
Downey / Denso HD Alternator
Duralast battery

15x7 in. black steel wheels by AR
BFG 31x10.5 AT’s – lots of tread left

Body good condition to excellent – all original panels – never wrecked
Paint is mostly in real good condition – 4 small (1 in.) rust spots on fenders
Two small (smaller than palm of hand) dents in rear side (backed into trashcan and jack-knifed my trailer)
Poly body bushings
Trailer hitch receiver (2 in.) with light hook-ups
30x10.5 BFG AT spare
Yakama Roof Rack
Interior
Corbeau seats
Rear seat belts upgraded to shoulder from lap belts
Black rubber floor mats / vinyl carpet
Awesome stereo – Sony CD / Infinity front speakers / Boston rear / JL Sub / 40 watt rms stereo Kenwood amp / Sony 100 watt rms mono sub amp
CB antenna

Exterior:
View attachment 93651

View attachment 93652

View attachment 93656

Engine:
View attachment 93653

Interior:
View attachment 93655

Only pics I can find of the undercarriage, which show his budbilt skit plate
View attachment 93654

View attachment 93657

Hey [MENTION=97483]Chuckles89[/MENTION] I'm thinking about buying these newer style side mirrors like the ones on old blue off of Ebay. I was wondering did you have to drill any holes or do they bolt up to the old holes in there already. I have the older style mirrors right now as you can see from this pic. I appreciate any help you can give me pal!

 

[Chuckles89]

Hey [MENTION=97483]Chuckles89[/MENTION] I'm thinking about buying these newer style side mirrors like the ones on old blue off of Ebay. I was wondering did you have to drill any holes or do they bolt up to the old holes in there already. I have the older style mirrors right now as you can see from this pic. I appreciate any help you can give me pal!

Those were the original mirrors and I'm pretty sure my dad never took them off. I have no idea of how they are mounted.

 

[Chuckles89]

Good news!

I found the VIN and looked it up on AutoCheck. It's still alive!

No idea on the mileage, but it has had the same owner for the past 6 years (in TN still). (guy we sold it to only had it for a year)

My dad bought it on October 8, 1996 with 144,350 miles. Sold on June 16, 2008...







I also looked up my mom's cream puff Nissan Maxima that we sold in '08 also... It died in 2009 (nothing after then, so who knows what happened!)

 

[Nervo19]

If you know any police they *might* be able to run the vin and find the new owner info. If you have the funds to buy the old 4Runner...

I've still got the vins to my '88 4Runner and '73 MG (do NOT want that one back) and minty fresh 1967 Cougar XR7. I'd buy the others back though.

 

[Chuckles89]

We do know some very high up law officials locally (from scouting), but I'm not sure if we really want to see it again. I know the guy who had it for one year wheeled the heck out of it and put at least one huge dent in the side.

 

[Bijan]

What a gorgeous 1st gen! I hope it stays in your family forever.
Peanut butter and jealous!

 

[wallytoo]

What a gorgeous 1st gen! I hope it stays in your family forever.
Peanut butter and jealous!

maybe read the whole thread first?

 

[Chuckles89]

maybe read the whole thread first?

This dude is a major troll...

 

[amalik]

486k miles? [MENTION=97483]Chuckles89[/MENTION], do you guys still drive this? current mileage?

 

[Chuckles89]

486k miles? [MENTION=97483]Chuckles89[/MENTION], do you guys still drive this? current mileage?

Read the 3rd line on the 3rd post lol

I've heard that it is still running around somewhere in Cleavland, TN

 

[Nervo19]

"My dad bought it on October 8, 1996 with 144,350 miles. Sold on June 16, 2008..."

Weird. I just noticed something you said in March. You know how I always say your fathers 4Runner looked just like mine? I sold mine to Carmax in Richmond roughly at that time. I then bought a white '97 from a dealer in northern VA.

I owned my blue 1st gen from November 88 to fall of 1996. I'm fairly sure it rolled to 100k on my way to drop it off. It seemed like such high mileage at the time. Carmax had a lot called Valuemax where they sold older vehicles. They gave me $8995 for it and I saw it in the newspaper for $9995. I only paid $12,500 for it new. I've got to scan some pictures. I have one of my baby son "driving" "his" 4Runner.

A Cougar forum I visit has a thread where people post old vin#s in hopes of regaining their old cars. Maybe we need one.

 

[Chuckles89]

"My dad bought it on October 8, 1996 with 144,350 miles. Sold on June 16, 2008..."

Weird. I just noticed something you said in March. You know how I always say your fathers 4Runner looked just like mine? I sold mine to Carmax in Richmond roughly at that time. I then bought a white '97 from a dealer in northern VA.

I owned my blue 1st gen from November 88 to fall of 1996. I'm fairly sure it rolled to 100k on my way to drop it off. It seemed like such high mileage at the time. Carmax had a lot called Valuemax where they sold older vehicles. They gave me $8995 for it and I saw it in the newspaper for $9995. I only paid $12,500 for it new. I've got to scan some pictures. I have one of my baby son "driving" "his" 4Runner.

A Cougar forum I visit has a thread where people post old vin#s in hopes of regaining their old cars. Maybe we need one.

Do you happen to be Mr. Elliott of Elliott Cranes? Home - Elliott Equipment Company

He sold it to my dad so he could get a suburban to fit his kids.

 

[Nervo19]

No. It's weird Mr. Elliot and I gave up our 4Runners at roughly the same time. For children. :cry2:

 

[Chuckles89]

Well, I am looking at a dirt cheap 1988 Medium Blue DLX tomorrow evening! We'll see if it is meant to be. My mom is not going to like me having 3 4Runners if I buy it though :rofl:





147k miles. Rebuilt 22RE (no idea if it was done right or anything though). Looks pretty straight. Has rust in the fenders (hopefully not the frame). I would paint it red or the original blue.

If it's good enough to be my expedition vehicle, it will be built out similar to my 3rd gen. If not, it'll be my daily driver/ trail toy.



If you haven't seen my 3rd Gen build in a while, it's pretty friggin cool IMO

<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/149534540@N03/48458814691/in/dateposted-public/" title="DCN_9027_8_9_Balancer"><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48458814691_c443492dbe_b.jpg" width="1024" height="681" alt="DCN_9027_8_9_Balancer"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[SalmonDaze]

Hey Chuckles,
Sorry . . . no posts yet, and I have to get a few in before I can post a new thread about the 4runner I just bought for my 15 YO. Looks like you've been enjoying yours since about that age.

Very nice. And good to see another Volunteer on this board!

 

[Chuckles89]

Hey Chuckles,
Sorry . . . no posts yet, and I have to get a few in before I can post a new thread about the 4runner I just bought for my 15 YO. Looks like you've been enjoying yours since about that age.

Very nice. And good to see another Volunteer on this board!

Hey, I'm in MJ too!! Are you in the TN 4Runners Facebook Group?

 

[SalmonDaze]

Hey, I'm in MJ too!! Are you in the TN 4Runners Facebook Group?

Nope. I'll have my boy check it out.