i just got a 1986 4runner dlx (2.4l inline 4, 4wd) and i love it, its got 154,000 miles on it. its not in the best of condition but i plan on puting some money into it and getting it running right, then im going to possibly add a turbo since this one doesnt have one, lift it a few inches and basicly turn it into an off-roading truck (my parents will love that), also i just want to know if anyone has suggestions on what i should do to it, keeping in mind i only work part time at a local grocery store, so i dont have much cash flow. and last but not least, i dont have any pics of it yet, but im going to take some and i'll post them when i do
my project
- Thread starter mtndew
- Start date
Register to hide this ad
Good choice of trucks, I have 2 of em. I hear you about the cash flow, Im a college student trying to build my trucks up. The first thing that I would do would be to get a locker for the rear dif. Check out www.offroadlockers.com . They sell Aussie's, which in my opinion are the best on the market. For $235, you can have one on your door step. This is the first thing because no matter what you do in the future, you will always run that rear axle, and I have seen a locked truck on 31's go furthur then an open one on 36's. Once I do that, I would buy lift springs for the rear, 4 inch springs are perfect. I would not touch the IFS, save for putting 33's on it. IFS is junk for any kind or wheeling due to the design. When you flex a solid axle, the dif gets further from the ground. When you fle IFS, it gets closer and kills ground clearance. Then, just start saving your money. The best thing you can do it get a solid axle, which costs around $1500 for everything to mount it, and a 6 inch lift for the front. Check out www.marlincrawler.com for a lot of good stuff. As for finding out about stuff, go to www.pirate4x4.com and search through threads for info. As for the turbo, you dont really need one. For the amount of money you would spend on it, you could have a plethora of offroad parts. A stock turbo adds like 35 HP and once you get all your stuff together, you will realize that a naturally aspirated Toyota 4 cylender can pull 44's with the right gears and double transfer cases. This is an expensive hobby, so start saving right now. Welcome to the board.
Sam
Sam
just a little update to what ive done so far. i replaced the starter the other day, and im just ordered 4 3" wheel spacers and im getting some bigger tires. but i have a question, since the tabs havnt been renewed sing 04 im pretty sure im going to have to do emmisions and im also pretty sure its going to fail. ive heard that if it fails they make you put a certain amount of money into it and if it fails again it doesnt matter. is that true, and also if it does fail what would need to be done?
gohawks444
New member
Well after it fails the second time you are SCREWED! So you might as well just give it to me NOW!
Just joking....I have no idea....but I like the looks of your Runner.
Just joking....I have no idea....but I like the looks of your Runner.
ok, i just checked it out and at least in washington, when it fails emmisions you have to put 150 bucks into it then if it fails when you take it back you can still get your tabs even though it didnt pass, just thought that might be a useful bit of info for someone, ant btw, i know the truck does look nice in the pics but it doesnt look nearly that good in really life, you can see it in the pics but the right part of the bumper is gone, need to get a new one (btw does anyone know where i could get one for an 86?)
mikes4runner
New member
mtndew said:
Try E-bay?
Partznet?
speedyautoparts?
Nice truck looks like no rust? or bondo and repainted? they love to rust over the wheel wells.
Mike
mikes4runner
New member
mtndew said:
No rust...where did the truck come from not the northeast thats for sure.
With the older 4Runners the rust is half the battle so your battle is half won.
MIke
mikes4runner
New member
mtndew said:
Original paint?Hmmmm..I would but a magnet over the rear wheel wells and see if it sticks, whats the frame look like?
no rust then that is one good find.
Mike
great choice.
Glad to see another Gen 1 hitting the road as a potential 4 wheeler. I think yotatilla gave you some good advice, and I like to throw my 2 cents worth in. I also just bought my 3rd gen 1 4runner, an 86 also. Although a live axle up front is optimumly the best, you can spend less money in other directions and still make a heck of a 4 wheeler out of an IFS rig. The last one I built had IFS and I did the pain in the neck IFS lift and 5:71 gears and way to big 39" tires, and the 2.4 motor will spin em off on dry pavement. It all depends on how big you really want to go. If 33" is all the tire you want to run, you can do a 3" body lift to fit em and it will wheel, and you'll be on the trail for under 700.00 all said and done. I would still recomend gearing to a 4:88 or 5:29, but again if your on a budget, gearing can be a little pricey, but I would think less than a turbo and less likely to cause problems down the road. As far as a locker goes. I would do it, but not till you figure out what ring and pinion gear your going to use. Hope I was of some help.
Glad to see another Gen 1 hitting the road as a potential 4 wheeler. I think yotatilla gave you some good advice, and I like to throw my 2 cents worth in. I also just bought my 3rd gen 1 4runner, an 86 also. Although a live axle up front is optimumly the best, you can spend less money in other directions and still make a heck of a 4 wheeler out of an IFS rig. The last one I built had IFS and I did the pain in the neck IFS lift and 5:71 gears and way to big 39" tires, and the 2.4 motor will spin em off on dry pavement. It all depends on how big you really want to go. If 33" is all the tire you want to run, you can do a 3" body lift to fit em and it will wheel, and you'll be on the trail for under 700.00 all said and done. I would still recomend gearing to a 4:88 or 5:29, but again if your on a budget, gearing can be a little pricey, but I would think less than a turbo and less likely to cause problems down the road. As far as a locker goes. I would do it, but not till you figure out what ring and pinion gear your going to use. Hope I was of some help.
well i just got my truck liscensed yesterday and it actually passed emmision the first try. i think i wet myself when i heard that but anyway, today I just bought an aftermarket tachometer for it but since im not that car knolagable i cant really figure out how to put it in 
i read the instructions but i dont know if i can do it, im going to have my friend take a look at it and if he cant then i dont know what im going to do cuz i really dont want to take it to a shop to have something like that installed, ill pay like 100 bucks to have a 20 dollar part installed
i read the instructions but i dont know if i can do it, im going to have my friend take a look at it and if he cant then i dont know what im going to do cuz i really dont want to take it to a shop to have something like that installed, ill pay like 100 bucks to have a 20 dollar part installed