Nohonestlyitsme '95 4runner SR5 Minor Resto and Adventure

[NoHonestlyitsme]

Well, After a 4runner hiatus that seems like forever, I am back in the saddle. I miss my '97 Desert Dune Limited, but it was too gone to justify. I have had this nagging urge to get into another t4r and swore up and down It would be a better version of what I already had. I live in the Northeast however, so frame issues are common place and I wasn't in the ball park to pay $7 grand for a good one.

I found this girl on Craigslist for a month and it began to haunt my dreams. I have had a few friends who have had 2gens and regardless of the hate out there, they have always had decent luck considering the trucks are 26 years old. I figured the Ad was a scam and passed it off. Finally I saw he posted a phone number and I called.

The first pictures are from the original Ad, And I was shocked to show up and realize it was cleaner than i expected. Long story short, he bought it from someone who brought it over from California a few years ago to the beaches of New England. His son didn't want to drive an "Old Man's" truck so, after putting brand new Goodyear Wrangler 31s, the truck sat in his garage for 8 months. It needs minor tlc and upgrading, but that's where I come in. 3.0/Auto/4wd, 157k I'll take by chances with the 2gen

Pros:
Has Mint interior with minor bits to fix
Body is incredible for what it is and where it is
All recalls done
Brand New RWL Goodyears Wrangler
Alpine Radio
Plugs/Wires/Cap/Etc just done
Brand New Battery

Cons:
Wheel Bearing needs a repack
Rear springs sagging
front and rear bumpers have a mirror image dent
3zve/Auto
Some rust starting on the windshield frame
Misc switches and bulbs were out
Needs a radiator

Craigslist:

Home:

First trip to the Pick and Pull revealed my new struggle, there was only one very picked and rusted 2gen at my local yard. Thankfully I got almost everything I needed for $50

Pass Taillight, Rear window switch, dash vents, Brake pedal rubber, and of course my vintage American flag air freshener that smells like Freedom. Also bought a Honda P28 ECU which should pay for it all.

First order of business was the Moog C255 Springs and Bilstein Rear shocks which made a huge difference. Still need to repack the from Wheel Bearing but that's easy when I change the rotors


Stay Tuned, It won't be a crazy build by any means, but I've been looking for a "Vintage" truck to maintain and enjoy so here goes nothing.

Admittedly, I am in it $3700 to this day.

 

[HanginInUtah]

Just getting ready to do the springs and shocks tomorrow on mine. I'm looking forward to it, as weird as it may sound
Is the Honda ECU for resale to make a few bucks, or do you have an interesting mod in mind?

 

[NoHonestlyitsme]

Just getting ready to do the springs and shocks tomorrow on mine. I'm looking forward to it, as weird as it may sound
Is the Honda ECU for resale to make a few bucks, or do you have an interesting mod in mind?

The Shocks/Springs was actually very rewarding so I know what you mean! It was also the first bigger job I did on this rig and having a California past makes all the difference. If you have a Sawzall you will probably want to save yourself the trouble and cut the Shock just below the bushing and save messing with the rusted top nut. The Honda ECU is for resale, they fetch about $100 on fleabay as it is the board needed for almost all Honda ecu mods, that will pay for my runner parts and the gas to get there :banana:

 

[HanginInUtah]

If you have a Sawzall you will probably want to save yourself the trouble and cut the Shock just below the bushing and save messing with the rusted top nut.

Yup. That is exactly what I'll do... next time :wacko: I tried to get the nuts to come loose, and wasn't happening. But the shocks are Bilstein's and look okay, so I got the springs changed and I'll do the shocks later. Plus, I was looking at my spare, and it ain't moving. So I gotta decide how much I want to pay or how much work I think I want to put into getting it to move.

Always something!!

 

[128keaton]

Man that is a beautiful, clean 4Runner! The white, red, and black are my favorite colors, but that one is 0.0!

Why'd you buy another dash front?

 

[NoHonestlyitsme]

Yup. That is exactly what I'll do... next time :wacko: I tried to get the nuts to come loose, and wasn't happening. But the shocks are Bilstein's and look okay, so I got the springs changed and I'll do the shocks later. Plus, I was looking at my spare, and it ain't moving. So I gotta decide how much I want to pay or how much work I think I want to put into getting it to move.

Always something!!

Yea, my spare tire mechanism is also rusted solid. The Previous Previous owner had a hefty lock on there for the spare too, which was also so rusted I just cut it off.

Man that is a beautiful, clean 4Runner! The white, red, and black are my favorite colors, but that one is 0.0!

Why'd you buy another dash front?

Thanks! Yea It is the exact truck I didn't want to buy, but I fell in love. The dash front is because the left center vent fell out completely on the first hill I drove up so for $3 I figured it was easier to replace the whole panel rather than fussing with glue and JB weld to fix the broken vent.

 

[128keaton]

Yea, my spare tire mechanism is also rusted solid. The Previous Previous owner had a hefty lock on there for the spare too, which was also so rusted I just cut it off.




Thanks! Yea It is the exact truck I didn't want to buy, but I fell in love. The dash front is because the left center vent fell out completely on the first hill I drove up so for $3 I figured it was easier to replace the whole panel rather than fussing with glue and JB weld to fix the broken vent.

Ha! I'm working with the same issue. None of the pick and pulls have ANY 4runners so I've had zero luck.

 

[HanginInUtah]

Ha! I'm working with the same issue. None of the pick and pulls have ANY 4runners so I've had zero luck.

You can always use Car-Part.com--Used Auto Parts Market, and search all over the place. Sometimes that will identify a local used parts location you weren't aware of, or you can get the part shipped. The yards close to me that are on it are usually very fair and the parts are good if they're going to post them.

 

[128keaton]

You can always use Car-Part.com--Used Auto Parts Market, and search all over the place. Sometimes that will identify a local used parts location you weren't aware of, or you can get the part shipped. The yards close to me that are on it are usually very fair and the parts are good if they're going to post them.

Awesome! I found a couple of nicer looking ones to grab from! Thanks!!

 

[NoHonestlyitsme]

No Pictures, but I did get some work done. I'm chasing a front end wobble, so I started with the drivers side. After I jacked it up, I saw about 1/8" of play in the wheel bearing and decided that was where I needed to start.

New Wheel Bearings, Upper and Lower Ball Joints, CV Axle, Rotor and Pads.

The Caliper was very rusty, but cleaned up well under the boots and moves freely. The wheel bearing was rocked and the Rotor looked like it was from under the ocean.

I got the play out of the bearing and everything is back together nice. The wobble is still there so I'm moving to the Passenger side and I'll go from there :dancin:

 

[NoHonestlyitsme]

So I got the Passenger side wrapped up.

The Same Treatment of New CV, Upper and Lower BJs, Caliper clean up, new pads and rotor, and new from sway bar end links.

I'm still getting the Shimmy on the highway, but I'm still waiting on my Tie-Rod assemblies and and alignment/ balance.

I also got some 3gen Factory Enkei wheels to add to the mix. So 90s :drummer:

also, first time offroad I managed to smash my beautiful virgin rocker panel.

Party On!

 

[GryphonRunner]

I'm jealous. That is way, way cleaner than my red '95. Of course, I paid $800 for it, so what are you gonna do. And yeah, parts are surprisingly hard to find. In a metro area of 2.5M people, there's roughly 10 in all the junkyards with usable parts. Keep us posted - I'm still looking for ideas.:cheers:

 

[Dropzone]

also, first time offroad I managed to smash my beautiful virgin rocker panel.

Party On!

Hence why they sell/make rock sliders.
I smashed the rocker panel on my old 84 I could not open the door for 3 months, finally saved enough to fix it (way back in 93)

Nice 4runner BTW

 

[NoHonestlyitsme]

I'm jealous. That is way, way cleaner than my red '95. Of course, I paid $800 for it, so what are you gonna do. And yeah, parts are surprisingly hard to find. In a metro area of 2.5M people, there's roughly 10 in all the junkyards with usable parts. Keep us posted - I'm still looking for ideas.:cheers:

Thanks Man. Thankfully mine doesn't need too many random parts any more. But I still have no idea where the shake is coming from. Time to start looking around underneath and seeing if there is a drive line issue.

Hence why they sell/make rock sliders.
I smashed the rocker panel on my old 84 I could not open the door for 3 months, finally saved enough to fix it (way back in 93)

Nice 4runner BTW

Thanks! Yea I was out messing around after a few Mai Tais at the local Asian Dive and jumped a stump in the power lines ha it was so fun and I'm still smiling so I guess it's alright. I'm on the cusp of some offroad additions, but I need to get the vibration resolved before I sink any more into this truck. Already have about $1500 into it with the wheels now.

In other news, My MOMO Hub Boss came in so I can install the 350mm Momo Monte Carlo I have from my old CRX. I also got some low profile vent visors, and my FJ40 Toyota Badge for a Statoshi Grill Mod as well.

 

[4Reak Show]

Mine had a wobble in the steering wheel at highway speed and was alleviated with a new steering stabilizer. (Horizontal shock on steering linkage). I opted for the dual stabilizer from procomp on summit I think. Sort of a cheese-dick bracket set up but my wobble vanished immediately after install.

And I had done all suspension/steering prior including toe rods, ball joints, shocks etc etc.

Just what my experience was.

Good luck

 

[NoHonestlyitsme]

Mine had a wobble in the steering wheel at highway speed and was alleviated with a new steering stabilizer. (Horizontal shock on steering linkage). I opted for the dual stabilizer from procomp on summit I think. Sort of a cheese-dick bracket set up but my wobble vanished immediately after install.

And I had done all suspension/steering prior including toe rods, ball joints, shocks etc etc.

Just what my experience was.

Good luck

Thanks for the insight, I was thinking I would invest the money into a new one too. The one on it is definitely from the day it rolled out of Toyota. I still haven't taken a great look around under the truck yet so I'm sure there are a couple other bushings etc worn out. At least after it all, I will know for sure the front end maintenance is done for 100K miles

 

[SomeInternetNobody]

Your truck is exactly the same as mine! Pic related: