OneOffStroker
New member
So, I'm new to this here forum, and finally did enough investigative reporting (15 posts) to start my own build thread, woohoo!
I have never thought I'd want a 4WD vehicle, as I mainly build classic trucks on airbags and custom motorcycles. I have a 1987 Hilux Xtra Cab that is bagged in the rear, and it's awesome for hauling all of my bikes around. Big 4WD and SUV-type trucks just make it harder to put bikes in...
Back in September 2016, I spent a month in Australia for work, and I saw a ton of kitted up Surfs and Land Cruisers, and I kinda liked them. So as soon as I got back to the states, I began my research, and decided that a 3rd gen T4R was the only way to go. So in December 2016, I found a busted up '98 SR5 4WD on Craigslist for $1100 obo. I took a look at it, and it was in such bad shape, but it ran and drove. I told the guy that it wasn't worth more than $800, and he agreed.
I was now the (proud) owner of a '98 4Runner!
This thing was a complete pile of trash. 279xxx miles, no maintenance records, no stickers indicating that the Timing Belt had EVER been changed, crazy oil leaks, bad tires, leaking rear axle, trashed paint, and a battered up front end. On my short test drive through the neighborhood, I noticed a clunk while accelerating and decelerating, so I looked into it. The driveshaft moved significantly by hand when I crawled under to investigate the clunk, so new U-Joints were in order. HOWEVER, this was not even the worst part of the truck. The current owner, and probably every previous owner, were smokers. The interior was trashed and smelled like an ashtray. Sooooooooo disgusting.
This is going to be a total rebuild (almost). Future plans are:
- Make it run on all 6 cylinders!
- Replace all the interior so that my wife and kids don't gag when they ride with me
- New tires (265/70-17 Falken Wildpeak AT3W) on powdercoated FJ wheels
- New LBJ, UBJ, ITRE, OTRE, Sway bushing and links front and rear, and all the other small similar components
- Tundra 13WL brake upgrade (powdercoated calipers)
- Fix the leaky rear end and rebuild the rear brakes because they are saturated with gear oil (and powdercoat drums)
- New suspension - KYB shocks and struts, FJ coils (the exact stuff I have in mind is far from the norm, and I haven't really seen it documented elsewhere, so I'll be the guinea pig.)
- Upgraded stereo for Sound Quality
- Sound dampening throughout interior
- Replace all the missing/broken small trim pieces
- Roof rack (powder coated to match wheels)
- Plate bumpers front and rear (powder coated to match wheels)
- Plate/Square tube rock sliders (powdercoated to match wheels)
- probably 1,000,001 other things.
I'll post some pics now.
Interior is beat up.
Missing a lot of interior trim.
Looks like someone either tried to steal this at one point, or someone just couldn't figure out how to properly get the key switch out to replace it. BTW, I'm looking for a new Ignition switch housing, or whatever you call the part that the key tumbler goes into...
First order of business was to strip the whole interior to get rid of the ashtray smell.
The hard parts that I need to keep, and the interior sprinkled heavily with baking soda.
The soft parts that I took straight to the landfill. Good riddens!!!
Here is the U-joint that I suspected was bad. I seriously drove this thing about 10-15 miles ON THE INTERSTATE like this. Seriously, it was the scariest ride of my life. at over 40mph, I thought this truck was going to break into pieces.
Would you just look at it...
So many oil leaks. The valve cover bolts were barely hand-tight.
Gross. I took these off to clean and powder coat. I should have them done tomorrow-ish, so I'll post some beauty shots before I get around to installing them.
The spark plug seals were so brittle, they just broke before coming out.
I will also be powder coating the plenum. I did a quick sanding of the Toyota logo, because it will be a contrast piece once powdered.
Finally...a shot of something nice. I found a set of five FJ wheels, complete with center caps, lug nuts, and the spare tire carrier for $250. Maybe not the BEST price, but I went for it since I won't have to modify anything on the wheels/hubs to fit Tundra 13WL brakes. I already put some work into these, and here is a teaser shot of one of them fresh out of the oven from powder coating.
That's it for now. I think it's a good first post. Tomorrow I'll take some pics of the actual truck, and update as I get stuff done.
Thanks for looking!
I have never thought I'd want a 4WD vehicle, as I mainly build classic trucks on airbags and custom motorcycles. I have a 1987 Hilux Xtra Cab that is bagged in the rear, and it's awesome for hauling all of my bikes around. Big 4WD and SUV-type trucks just make it harder to put bikes in...
Back in September 2016, I spent a month in Australia for work, and I saw a ton of kitted up Surfs and Land Cruisers, and I kinda liked them. So as soon as I got back to the states, I began my research, and decided that a 3rd gen T4R was the only way to go. So in December 2016, I found a busted up '98 SR5 4WD on Craigslist for $1100 obo. I took a look at it, and it was in such bad shape, but it ran and drove. I told the guy that it wasn't worth more than $800, and he agreed.
I was now the (proud) owner of a '98 4Runner!
This thing was a complete pile of trash. 279xxx miles, no maintenance records, no stickers indicating that the Timing Belt had EVER been changed, crazy oil leaks, bad tires, leaking rear axle, trashed paint, and a battered up front end. On my short test drive through the neighborhood, I noticed a clunk while accelerating and decelerating, so I looked into it. The driveshaft moved significantly by hand when I crawled under to investigate the clunk, so new U-Joints were in order. HOWEVER, this was not even the worst part of the truck. The current owner, and probably every previous owner, were smokers. The interior was trashed and smelled like an ashtray. Sooooooooo disgusting.
This is going to be a total rebuild (almost). Future plans are:
- Make it run on all 6 cylinders!
- Replace all the interior so that my wife and kids don't gag when they ride with me
- New tires (265/70-17 Falken Wildpeak AT3W) on powdercoated FJ wheels
- New LBJ, UBJ, ITRE, OTRE, Sway bushing and links front and rear, and all the other small similar components
- Tundra 13WL brake upgrade (powdercoated calipers)
- Fix the leaky rear end and rebuild the rear brakes because they are saturated with gear oil (and powdercoat drums)
- New suspension - KYB shocks and struts, FJ coils (the exact stuff I have in mind is far from the norm, and I haven't really seen it documented elsewhere, so I'll be the guinea pig.)
- Upgraded stereo for Sound Quality
- Sound dampening throughout interior
- Replace all the missing/broken small trim pieces
- Roof rack (powder coated to match wheels)
- Plate bumpers front and rear (powder coated to match wheels)
- Plate/Square tube rock sliders (powdercoated to match wheels)
- probably 1,000,001 other things.
I'll post some pics now.
Interior is beat up.
Missing a lot of interior trim.
Looks like someone either tried to steal this at one point, or someone just couldn't figure out how to properly get the key switch out to replace it. BTW, I'm looking for a new Ignition switch housing, or whatever you call the part that the key tumbler goes into...
First order of business was to strip the whole interior to get rid of the ashtray smell.
The hard parts that I need to keep, and the interior sprinkled heavily with baking soda.
The soft parts that I took straight to the landfill. Good riddens!!!
Here is the U-joint that I suspected was bad. I seriously drove this thing about 10-15 miles ON THE INTERSTATE like this. Seriously, it was the scariest ride of my life. at over 40mph, I thought this truck was going to break into pieces.
Would you just look at it...
So many oil leaks. The valve cover bolts were barely hand-tight.
Gross. I took these off to clean and powder coat. I should have them done tomorrow-ish, so I'll post some beauty shots before I get around to installing them.
The spark plug seals were so brittle, they just broke before coming out.
I will also be powder coating the plenum. I did a quick sanding of the Toyota logo, because it will be a contrast piece once powdered.
Finally...a shot of something nice. I found a set of five FJ wheels, complete with center caps, lug nuts, and the spare tire carrier for $250. Maybe not the BEST price, but I went for it since I won't have to modify anything on the wheels/hubs to fit Tundra 13WL brakes. I already put some work into these, and here is a teaser shot of one of them fresh out of the oven from powder coating.
That's it for now. I think it's a good first post. Tomorrow I'll take some pics of the actual truck, and update as I get stuff done.
Thanks for looking!
