Hey guys I just picked up a 1989 V-6 4runner 4X4 SR5 with 189K. I am debating on whether or not to try and restore it. Almost every body panel is dented, the paint is rough, the seats are trashed, much trim is missing, the muffler is shot, and the cv boots are ripped. The only good things about it was that it was $700, it has a running motor, and all electrics work minus the back window wiper. I could just throw some big tires on it and trash it more off-road but I love the classic look of this gen 4runner. What do you guys think? I have already looked in junk yards and found some potential donors but I have never swapped body panels. Do you think that would be hard to do? Any advice or recommendations on restoring this classic yota? Will post pics when I get the time.
New Owner of First Gen Here
- Thread starter evilla
- Start date
Register to hide this ad
I agree wit KC... I have a ton of fun in my 4rnr, we love it... I use it, but don't abuse it, and it has been fun! Branch scrapes, mud..etc.. I have restored two cars already and take my word for it my friend... Just go buy a killer fully retored toyo if thats what you want... It's quicker, easier and cheaper.. Other wise ( and I have this problem now) instead of you owning your truck, your truck will own you.... Use it man!!... baja it !!...
s2kpuddydad
New member
So true:iagree:
I am restoring a 1st gen 1988 check out my thread
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/showthread.php?t=54630
It has been fun so far and not that bad a job but, with all I have into the truck, I will never be able to off road it without:cry2:
The up side to it is, what a head turner she will be going down the road:dancin:
s2kpuddydad
New member
That is a SWEET!!! Firebird:jump: I restored a 1969 in Carousel red with white interior and a white vinyl top a long time ago
Thanks Puddy!... I have a helluva lot more fun in the "green turtle"... Before and after.. It took and an hour and a half to paint it..lol... 1945 military green... Hey evilla, I have just as much fun in my toyo as I do in that hotrod.... with no worries in the toyo!!.. We love it... Creeps through the woods with ice cold A/C, everyone thinks I'm the game warden...lol...
Attachments
Last edited:
s2kpuddydad
New member
Nice
are those Chevy truck mirrors?
are those Chevy truck mirrors?
Thanks for the advice guys. Sweet ride Shrike. Well I don't think I will be restoring it. I considered selling it off to get my money back before it went into the bottomless pit. So I put it on craigslist and just as soon as I thought it was sold- The Starter Goes Out. Doesn't that always happen with project cars... :bash:
So since nobody wants a truck that needs something replaced I am going to replace it myself and just keep it. After considering around $100 for a remanufactured starter I will be at around $1050 total for a truck that needs some more work still. I already pulled the bumpers off because they were trashed, and now I am considering pulling the rear seats out and the top and buying a bikini top. This way I can use it to run errands for the house. Home depot, Lowe's, etc....
I should have asked your guys advice from the beginning because I am seeing some good 4runners in my area for about 2 grand. I will be way past that to get it there... :cry2:
So since nobody wants a truck that needs something replaced I am going to replace it myself and just keep it. After considering around $100 for a remanufactured starter I will be at around $1050 total for a truck that needs some more work still. I already pulled the bumpers off because they were trashed, and now I am considering pulling the rear seats out and the top and buying a bikini top. This way I can use it to run errands for the house. Home depot, Lowe's, etc....
I should have asked your guys advice from the beginning because I am seeing some good 4runners in my area for about 2 grand. I will be way past that to get it there... :cry2:
94Beast4Runner
New member
Just look around there is tons of these around for cheap. Buy a parts truck for cheap. and try and make one good out of two bad. Thats what i'am in the mids off with me 2nd gen. Got the parts truck for 300 bucks. It has almost everything i need. except a working tailgate. Plus i plan on keeping some other parts like axles and relays.
SlowYourRoll
New member
Keep the truck as the tank that it is for a backwoods 4runner.
Well I'm totally bummed out. I got a new starter (which was a b*#@ to replace) and then I jumped in waiting for that sweet sound of victory and the same sound. So I checked all of the wiring and made sure everything that was loose was tightened and all. And try again. Same. So this time I decided to remove everything and start off just as it was when I got her home. With the timing cover off and no belts connected. I drive it to the backyard this way. What do I see lodged in the timing belt--- a shard of the engine bracket where the fan pulley bracket bolts to the engine. Apparently the bracket (which I first thought was OE) did not fit correctly and when I tightened it down one edge was not flush and it broke and a piece fell into the timing belt. So I pulled it out with plyers and prayed that it would now work---- the same sound. It sounds like it pulls but is stuck. Any advice guys. I think I just buried myself in a whole lot of money loss with this thing. I am already down $1000 dollars on it and if the motor is gone then I am screwed because the body needs work and it is not worth rebuilding. And my wife is going to kill me. ( I don't know which one I am dreading more)
Also if it is a dead engine would you recommend I part it out, sell whole, or scrap to lose the least amount of money. The tranny was working I figure I could get a couple hundred for that, the top is good I figure a hundred there, I am trying to get my money back for that part that killed the engine thats a hundred, The diffs maybe a hundred or so, that leaves about four hundred dollars that I stand to lose that way. Maybe somebody would buy the dead engine for some change and then the scrap body could make up the rest. ???
SlowYourRoll
New member
Nice truck, you should bring back that decal!
turboSR5
New member
If you got that piece of bracket wedged in there somehow and the engine wasn't turning over at its normal rate...I would be surprised if you caused any major damage in there. It's not like it wedged in between your belt and pulley at high RPM...even if it did I can't see it being much worse than a compromised belt.
How did it fall down there anyway? You were leaving the cover off for some reason?
Based off of what you are saying, I don't think you have caused yourself any major problems that would require you scrap out your 4runner. It sounds like you have some electrical issues to hunt down which may be tough, but hopefully you can find someone smarter than me to give you something to go off of.
Thanks guys. I talked to my uncle the other day and he said the same thing. I just need to find the time to hunt down the problem. I was just going crazy because the boss would flip out about me buying a dead truck. Good thing she is away for a while. It will give me some time to fix the issue.
The shard of bracket got in there when I was tightening the bolts on the fan pulley bracket. It was going on but very slowly and I did not know why... the broken OE one was sliding on and off. I just figured it was a tight fit so I cranked on that bolt pretty hard. It broke off a piece of the area around where it mounts and it must have broken inward because it fell inside just before the fan pulley bracket was tightened up.
No I haven't been able to see if it turns by hand. I had to work out of town the past couple of days. I will have time this weekend to try it.
This site is pretty cool and you guys are already very helpful. I go to the FJ Cruiser forum for my daily driver and I have to tell you- many of those guys are A-Holes. You can't ask a question without somebody getting all worked up and talking smack.
The shard of bracket got in there when I was tightening the bolts on the fan pulley bracket. It was going on but very slowly and I did not know why... the broken OE one was sliding on and off. I just figured it was a tight fit so I cranked on that bolt pretty hard. It broke off a piece of the area around where it mounts and it must have broken inward because it fell inside just before the fan pulley bracket was tightened up.
No I haven't been able to see if it turns by hand. I had to work out of town the past couple of days. I will have time this weekend to try it.
This site is pretty cool and you guys are already very helpful. I go to the FJ Cruiser forum for my daily driver and I have to tell you- many of those guys are A-Holes. You can't ask a question without somebody getting all worked up and talking smack.
