New from VA

[Kel Varnsen]

Hello everyone new guy here from VA. I just picked up an 88 4runner about a month ago. I'm living in the city right now and hate it so I bought some land in the mountains to build a house on. My house is going to be on a non state maintained road so I need a good 4x4 to get me in and out when the weather gets bad.

I found my 4runner on craigslist about 6 hours away from me in North Carolina. I took a bus down and bought it and drove it home without issue so it has allready proven itself to me. However, the clutch is weak and it is going in the shop tomorrow to have a new one put in. I am also going to have the timing chain changed. I want to get it bullet-proof. It has 169,000 miles and I suspect both the clutch and timing chain are original. I had been looking for one for a while but all I could find were rust buckets.

Here's pictures from the previous owner. The cleanliness under the hood and all over basically is what sold me on the truck, that and there is zero body rust!

 

[4runner_kid]

Welcome to the forum!

 

[Kel Varnsen]

Since It has been mine I have done the following:

It had some ghetto-fab box tubing lift blocks in the rear. I replaced those with some pro-comp add a leafs

The drivers corner glass was cracked, it was replaced with glass from the junkyard.

I had to put in a combo switch because the bright headlights would not work. Now the headlights and all functions from the combo switch are fully functional.

I ripped out the rear carpet because it was nasty. It had turned a purple color. I had a rubber bed mat from an S10 that I cut to fit in the area. I also painted the wheel wells black to blend in with the mat and roll bar. I want to replace the front carpet too. Also the tailgate was carpeted, I got a vinyl piece from the junkyard to swap in its place.

I had to put on a passenger mirror because there wasnt one there.


My local yard has 2 first gens, so I have been lucky getting parts. One of them even had an inclinometer that I snagged and is waiting to be put in or put on ebay to make some cash. Everything functions. It is a dlx model but I actually prefer to have it that way. Manual windows and manual locks are fine with me. It does have ac and it actually works. In fact everything works even the rear wiper. The previous owner installed an LCE header, and a full exhaust inluding a cat and flowmaster muffler. He also had put in a yellow top optima.


Anyways heres some pictures from my driveway.

 

[Kel Varnsen]

I think it has seen a little 'wheelin in its time. The dent under the taillight and the missing bumper caps tell me it has. Other than the dent under the taillight, there is one beside the taillight and one rub mark up next to the marker light on the front. Otherwise the body is as straight as can be. The pictures I just posted are with the add a leafs in the back. Do you guys think the front has been lifted? The picture from the drivers side does look saggy but it's the angle, the passenger picture would be the one to go by.

 

[Kel Varnsen]

Thanks for the welcome 4runnerkid

Here's my daily beater. '78 yota pickup, 20r 5speed. 164,000 miles. I've had it almost 2 years now and I love it. It was a strong influence in buying the 4runner.

I have three other non toyota trucks. I have pictures but I will save those unless they are requested.

 

[Kel Varnsen]

Plans changed a little, The shop my friend works at was way to expensive so he is going to do it at his house for a whole lot less and I am going to help and learn along the way. I am right at home messing with small block chevys but am not yet comfortable with the yotas. Were doing the clutch, timing chain and the head gasket while were in there.

 

[KidVermicious]

Looks like you got a winner, very clean!

What size are the tires, 235s? It does look like it's still sitting high, you may have a set of lift springs in the rear and a cranked torsion bar in front.

 

[jirehn]

Welcome most in this forum. Nice to meet you here, Welcome aboard!

 

[Kel Varnsen]

Looks like you got a winner, very clean!

What size are the tires, 235s? It does look like it's still sitting high, you may have a set of lift springs in the rear and a cranked torsion bar in front.

Tires are 225/75

Pictures of all the goodies before install. The only thing not shown is a new fan clutch that has not come in yet.

 

[Kel Varnsen]

I'm not sure why those pictures don't show up now but oh well. The new timing chain set, and new clutch have made a world of difference. We also ended up putting in a new radiator and hoses. The old radiator and hoses were crust-tastic.

So it has new timing set, new radiator, new hoses, new oil pump, new water pump, new belts, new thermostat, new plugs, new valve cover gasket, new head gasket, new fuel filter, the flywheel was surfaced, new rear seals, new clutch,clutch slave and clutch master...it should be just about bullet-proof.

I pulled the interior out. The carpet is NASTY. I picked up a used carpet but its just the firewall to under the front seat piece. I think I am going to bite the bullet and buy a new carpet set. I am also going to take the drivers seat to my cousins upholstery shop to get some doctoring done. The pan looks really good, there is a little surface rust up around the clutch pedal but nothing bad. I'm going to run speaker wire and and amp wires to the rear while the carpets out.

 

[Kel Varnsen]

I got the new carpet installed, got the drivers seat re-done, and installed rear speakers plus and amp and subwoofer. Pictures soon.

I also uncranked the torsion bars to make the truck sit a little more level. The front is still about 2 inches higher than the rear. I will probably drop the bars more when it's time for new tires. I do not want to drop it so much now that it needs an alignment when the current tires won't last but a few months.

Next on the agenda is front and rear end fluids and trans/transfer case fluids, and 4 shocks.

I am so happy with the truck. It runs like a dream.

 

[Kel Varnsen]

old carpet

new

 

[Kel Varnsen]

old drivers seat

re-done

 

[Kel Varnsen]

alpine 6.5's mounted to the rollbar

alpine 10" and amp

The sub box has enough wire that I can move it to behind the front passenger seat with the second seat folded down. I also set it up so I can take it out of the truck completely in 5 minutes so I have my whole cargo space.

 

[Kel Varnsen]

I changed all 4 shocks this week and changed the front and rear diff fluid as well as the tranmission and transfer case fluid. What a difference! I now feel like it is completely road worthy. I am taking it to the beach this upcoming weekend