PNWRunner's Build Thread

[PNWRunner]

PNWRunners 1999 Limited 4x4 SOLD 03/24/14


Engine:
3.4L 5VZ-FE V6 JDM Import with 50k Miles Swapped at 189k
20"Magnaflow
ISR Delete
aFe Prodry Air Filter

Diffs/Transmission:
E-Locker
4:30 Toyota Gears
1" Diff Drop
Hayden Trans Cooler

Lift/Suspension:
Toytec Coilovers
Light Racing UCA's
Poly LCA Bushings
OME 851's/OME Shocks
Panhard Drop
1" Body Lift

Tires/Wheels:
315/75/16 Goodyear MTR's
Matte Black Line 8 Strike 6 16" Wheels

Brakes:
Powerstop drilled/slotted rotors
ESB Pads
Stainless steel extended rear brake line

Armor:
CBI rear bumper
Outdoor Logic Front Bumper
Outdoor Logic Drifter CB mount

Lighting:
55w VisionX lights x2
LED dome and cargo lights
LED plate lights
Sylvania Silverstar Ultra bulbs

Misc:
50 Square feet sound deadening
Black Emblems
EP35 Bilnker Relay
Scanguage II
Disabled ABS
Grey Wire
Weathertec Liners
Hi-Lift

Bought this gem off craigslist last year for $1600 cash. Was a one owner family vehicle with 189k miles on the clock until the day he filled it with so much radiator stop leak that it overheated and siezed. He took it to a mechanic who tore it apart and quoted him over 3k in parts/labor so he put it on CL and an hour later it was on a flatbed headed to my house. This is what it looked like when i got it home.

The engine bay was a mess. It came with a giant box of dirty parts and a chuckle from the mechanic whose shop it was at. I decided it wasnt worth seeing what happened to the engine and ripped that siezed piece out.

Now came the hard part. Rebuild? Swap? Then my current DD 96 Taco sprung a leak in the ol' HG and I decided to swap in a Japanese import. I played with the idea a bit until the day of the Japan Tsunami when I figured my window on getting a motor not filled with saltwater was quickly closing. So I settled on a 2wd 5vzfe from a van or something... it was the only motor that was clean under the valve cover.

The day she came home

And the reason i bought a 2wd engine

Needless to say the 2wd to 4wd was a PITA. Had to add the oil cooler and almost every single mounting bracket was different, not to mention the oil pan and pickup tube. But i got it done and she was ready to go.

Water Pump/Tensioner/Rollers/TBelt

A few wiggles, crushed fingers, and some crushed beer cans and i had her running. At that point i was just happy to have another Runner again.

As we all know that OEM happiness period only lasts so long. In my case it lasted about 2 months before the stock suspension with nearly 200k on it just wasnt fun anymore. A little lift sounded alot better then having a deathgrip on the headrests around a corner to compensate for blown shocks and droopy coils. Toytec Ultimate it was!

Much happier with the ride on road but not so much off. The locker was a big help but highway tires just didnt go everywhere i wanted.

285/75r16 Duratracs and Level8 Strike6 wheels. Also added a Rola Rack

I left a ton of stuff out and there will be much more in the near future. Will edit accordingly

 

[t4r4life]

lotta skills mucho respect

 

[fightman80]

Nice work man!

 

[ameining]

Pretty impressive!

Tough to see a 4wd go to a 2wd when so many want to go the other way, but it looks like you know what you are doing under the hood and I look forward to the rest of your project.

 

[blcktpgsr]

Are you going back to 4wd once you find a motor in good condition?

Nice wheels,too!

 

[theizzardking]

Pretty impressive!

Tough to see a 4wd go to a 2wd when so many want to go the other way, but it looks like you know what you are doing under the hood and I look forward to the rest of your project.

pretty sure he's still 4x4, i think the motor was from a 2wd so when he dropped that in he had to change a few things on the motor to get it to fit.....

he didn't remove his transfer case or rear locker or anything, just a 2wd motor into a 4wd drive rig.....

the bottom of the motor, and a few other things are different due to the clearances of the t-case and such

 

[Hepar]

Nice work! Way to resurrect it!

Have you seen this thread?

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/97531-seattle-area-maintenance-meet.html

Would be great to meet another PNW'er.

 

[PNWRunner]

pretty sure he's still 4x4, i think the motor was from a 2wd so when he dropped that in he had to change a few things on the motor to get it to fit.....

he didn't remove his transfer case or rear locker or anything, just a 2wd motor into a 4wd drive rig.....

the bottom of the motor, and a few other things are different due to the clearances of the t-case and such

Exactly. Sorry if a was a bit unclear on that.

The motor i swapped in the Runner was from a 2wd van. The 4runner is and always will be 4WD.

I had to add the oil cooler off the old motor, swap the oil pan and pickup tube off the old motor, relocate the oil filter, and change every bracket but the alternator to get it to work in a 4wd 4runner.

So basically 2wd is rear sump oil pan and wouldnt go in with the diff, everything else i had to change was just due to fitment/cooling.

 

[liv2bike]

very nice man. good work and digging the transformation. looks very nice as she sits now.:thumb3:

 

[Whackmaster]

Looks like a good find.....I'm jealous

 

[SKIDMRK]

LOL. Thought i recognized this rig. :lol:

 

[PNWRunner]

Finally got my 8.5 wrap LC coils today! thanks to theizzardking again for finally helping me score some.

Before (bad picture)

After

Cranked the front coils about another 1/2 inch before I slipped and busted my knuckles on the caliper, probably will go about another 1/2 to 1/4 inch more. Got my panhard drop welded finally as well.

 

[theizzardking]

Finally got my 8.5 wrap LC coils today! thanks to theizzardking again for finally helping me score some.

Before (bad picture)

After

Cranked the front coils about another 1/2 inch before I slipped and busted my knuckles on the caliper, probably will go about another 1/2 to 1/4 inch more. Got my panhard drop welded finally as well.

cool! looking good man, glad i could help, way better picture here then on my phone, looks way huge! i didn't think my runner was all that much taller in person but after seeing how the 8 wraps lifted you, i must have been way taller!

 

[yotaboy510]

Never really liked silver until i saw this truck.:cheers:

 

[PNWRunner]

Never really liked silver until i saw this truck.:cheers:

Thanks man!

Finally got my panhard bar welded up, alot less wobble and im finally aligned in the rear.

Ive had my ScanguageII for awhile now, and after moving it to just about every place in the truck i found the spot where it will stay. I dont need the ashtray anyways so i just dremelled out a little of the plastic on either side and slid the Scanguage right in there. Best part is i can put the ashtray back in place and nobody will ever know the scanguage was there.

 

[PNWRunner]

Went to visit my parents on the east side of the state (Chelan,WA), and did a little wheeling while I was there. The only camera I have at the moment is on my pos phone so I didnt take many pictures.

Quickly found that my LC springs flex a whole lot better than 890's. And also found where my 285s rub...

Theres a good 1-2 inches between the bottom of the body and the tire

And where I ended up

Gunna have to take a BFH to my fenders and get rid of that pinchweld to really make those tires stuff without rubbing. I havent heard a noise that frightening coming from my rear end since taco tuesday!

 

[A.Wilson013]

I never put 2 and 2 together that this was you, Tyler. 4Runner looks nice! We need to set up a snow run date with the others.

 

[theizzardking]

I never put 2 and 2 together that this was you, Tyler. 4Runner looks nice! We need to set up a snow run date with the others.

yeah cool kid, needs to show his face around a bit more though :moon:

haha, glad the LC's are doing well for ya !

i'm doing baker next weekend , a little pow for the runner a little pow for the sticks ,if anyone's down?:hiding:

 

[JBorn]

Why a Japanese 2WD instead of just getting a remanufactured long block?

 

[PNWRunner]

Why a Japanese 2WD instead of just getting a remanufactured long block?

Most people I know or have heard of that got rebuilts ended up regretting it. It seems rebuilders tend to use the cheapest part rather than OEM, often leading to a bad HG or some other problem with only a couple thousand on the "new" motor. I didnt have the time to rebuild it myself or that would have been prefered. With a JDM import I know it was put together right and with Toyota parts, and with only 50k-60k miles it just a baby. Ive got almost 15k on the motor since I put it in and not one problem.

As far as the 2wd, swapping things didnt make it any harder since I was going to remove the oil pan anyways. Maybe a 2wd wasnt driven as hard? and it was the cleanest.