Rolling_Thunder's Build Thread

[Rolling_Thunder]

Project Albino​

Well I figure I may as well start a build thread about my POS - A little back story - I bought this 1998 4Runner off Craigslist (Los Angeles) while I was in technical training for the USAF in TX. I got word I was going to be stationed in Washington DC so I figred my 2013 Challenger wouldn't be so much fun in the snow... neither would my 1968 Charger, 1964 Polara, or my 1972 RoadRunner.... so I got a little SUV....

Starting... it was nothing special... a 1998 4Runner, V6, Auto, 2wd, white with an oak interior.

So after a "snowmageddon" winter up in Washington DC I decided I should make my 4Runner a bit more fun. I have never been into the off-road thing and never really saw the point of rock crawling... But having never owned a 4x4 I could never really say it was something I was opposed to... so why not have some fun with it?

A little about me? ASE Master Automotive Technician and an ASE Parts specialist. I currently serve in the USAF working Presidential Security in Washington DC - used to manage / own a classic car restoration shop and managed a classic car dealership for a while as well --- so I am no stranger to wrenching - usually not on things this "new" -

Onward to the 4Runner...

Year: 1998
Model: 4Runner
Exterior Color: White
Interior Color: Oak
Engine: 3.4L V6
Transmission: A340 Automatic
Suspension: Stock
Wheels: Stock 15" Split Spoke
Tires: 235/75/15​

 

[Rolling_Thunder]

Current Project: 4x4 and 5-speed swap

I purchased a parts truck months ago and disassembled what I needed - it was a running 4x4 5-speed truck and had a semi-rusted frame

So I swapped over the front differential, CV axles, and front hubs over to my white beast without any issues -

I also managed to swap over and mount the clutch pedal assembly as well as the smaller brake pedal...

 

[Tinigunner11]

that thing is clean! Good luck on the build. Any pics of the charger?:eyebrows:

 

[Rolling_Thunder]

my first car - my 1968 Charger

Started out as a base model 318 automatic car... white with a green interior with 2.76 gears with manual drum brakes all around.

Now it is a 6.1L Hemi, 6-speed trans, hydroboost 4 wheel disc brakes, black interior, upgraded suspension pieces here and there...

 

[Rolling_Thunder]

Today I had a "F it" moment - decided to tear into the R150F and see what the problem was in it....

When I drove the black parts 4runner it drove ok but it would not stay in first gear - would pop out during acceleration... So I immediately thought shift bushings... they look brand new.... So I stopped there and looked for info... and it seems very few people know ANYTHING about the R150F... I see a lot about the R151 and the W series transmissions... hell I can't even find synchros for the 150.... but I can find them for the 151 and 154 easy...

Me: :rockthrow: Toyota

Anyway - rip the trans apart and get the front / rear shells off... start looking at the synchros and they all look great - very little wear at all. If it were a mopar 4-speed I'd run it for 100K miles as it...

So I'm at a loss.... so I started my normal dickery of playing with things and the 1-2 shift fork... I engage 1st gear and notice the slider does not fully engage the gears - but think very little of it... it engages about 75% of it... I grab my ratchet to remove the set bolt to remove the fork and didnt need it.... the bolt was loose... took it out with my fingers.

So I am going to assume the play the fork had on the shaft from a loose bolt allowed it just enough play to pop out of gear.... so then I threw it all back together and now it is patiently waiting to be swapped in....



So - whenever I can get a few days off in a row I will be tackling the transmission swap - until then I plan on running the clutch hardline and getting everything else ready to simply bolt in - without taking my car off the road...


Was putting off the transmission because I have been priming / block sanding my new project car (1973 Dodge Challenger Rallye) in the garage so there is sanding dust everywhere... currently waiting on additional primer for that.


Suspension is my next step after the trans swap - It will finally be a 4x4 5-speed rig... I already bought some 16x8 wheels and have 265/75/16 tires mounted --- I am not looking for some rock crawling beast - I would more be interested in an overland style build - with that being said I think a moderate 2-3" lift would be sufficient - but also welcome to opinions

I'll be keeping my front / rear bumpers for now - no need for massive / heavy steel bumpers IMO

Later tonight will be pressing in the new universal joints in the 4x4 driveshafts and then setting them aside for "the day" to finally come.

 

[theesotericone]

my first car - my 1968 Charger

Now it is a 6.1L Hemi, 6-speed trans, hydroboost 4 wheel disc brakes]

I'll be keeping my front / rear bumpers for now - no need for massive / heady steel bumpers IMO

No need for a 6.1L Hemi in a charger either. But it sure is nice to have it. Same thing goes for aftermarket bumpers. lol

You obviously have the skills do to what you want with the rig. So take some time and figure out what you want it to be. Go wheel it and see how into it you want to get. Then build from that base.

 

[Unner]

If you're not gonna off road with it really you could just get some 99 tall coils, and with your 265/75/16s you'll have a nice looking ride. Of course things might snow ball from there.

 

[Rolling_Thunder]

I'm sure the project will snowball - everything in my life seems to. The idea of rear could is appealing but honestly I do like the lift idea as well - just in case I take it here or there over some "unimproved" surfaces.

I would like to do some other creature comforts for distance driving - possibly an aux fuel tank - I got this thing in 2014 with 86,xxx miles. Now it's rocking about 135,xxx miles. Just drove it to TX and back from D.C. So having slept in it a few times made me realize I like the idea of a camping rig that I can go exploring somewhere.

The 6.1 is nice in the charger... it's back in CA but I'm going to replace the factory style PCM with a Megasquirt 3 and add some boost - I also have a 6.2L hellcat short block - forged internals and I figure about 12psi would be a lot of fun.

The 64 Polara is also in CA but I'm accumulating parts for a 440 build with an old school 8-71 on it with EFI and a 4 speed --- kind of a throwback street race theme.

The 73 Challenger is getting a 5.9 magnum with an overdrive automatic - engagement gift for my GF. We will see how that all pans out.

 

[BrianSD_42]

Welcome to the forum man! Subscribed.

 

[Hepar]

One of my dream cars is the '69 Charger, but I wouldn't say no to the '68! Gorgeous.

 

[Rolling_Thunder]

That picture was actually before body and paint - ended up shaving the drip rails and getting a fresh coat of paint and painted stripes (no decals) - the new colors are actually Toyota Super White and Anthracite stripes...

I havent gotten many pics of it since its been hibernating in SoCal while i'm in DC.


Random 4Runner work today...

cleaned up and lubed the rear hatch window mechanism -- was making popping noises and working a little slow.

Been looking around for lift kit options and just some general things to buy - was thinking of adding an aux fuel tank - been looking at the Ford tank but still want to keep a spare... I am wanting to keep my factory rear bumper so thinking about building am "A" frame mount to mount the spare inside the rear luggage compartment - also make it a mount for a jack and what not... weld some nut-serts to the floor so it simply bolts in and can be removed it i need to.

 

[Rolling_Thunder]

So new little project --- was thinking about a spare tire mount -

I want to keep the factory rear bumper but want to run a aux tank in the future... was thinking of making an internal spare tire mount - anyone done it?

Was playing with a CAD program and came up with something like this --- opinions?

 

[Unner]

[MENTION=63487]A.Wilson013[/MENTION] has something like this in his new GX470 I think.

Personally I wouldn't want the tire inside, you already don't have very much cargo room back there. You'd be loosing a lot of interior space.

 

[Rolling_Thunder]

Been thinking about that... just not sure how much space I really need back there... some sleeping bags, tent, stove, and some randomness here and there...

 

[Mr.Rick]

If you are looking at mounting a spare and aren't dead set on having it in the cab, maybe you could build something similar to a wilco hitch gate, it just slides into the factory receiver and then swings open and allows you to retain the factory hitch. It would let you keep your stock bumpers, and give you a tire carrier swing out. Sounds like you're fairly handy as well, find my buddy Jeremiah's (Dirtco) aux tank thread. He did an aux fuel tank on his 3rd gen in the spare tire location and it turned out pretty sweet. I got to see it in action on our trip last weekend and I works great! It basically gives him about 32 gallons of fuel total and is tucked up tight between the frame rails.

I agree with not putting the spare in the cargo area, that is a small area anyway and a spare just takes up a ton of valuable space.

 

[Rolling_Thunder]

Read Dirtco's thread - very detailed and very informative --- lots of good ideas. I am fairly handy - just looking at trying to keep this thing from spiraling into a money pit -- A hitch mounted spare mount would be pretty interesting

Currently I just primed my 73 Challenger project - hoping to get the flywheel surfaced tomorrow and then maybe start tackling the transmission swap this weekend - maybe two weekends out --- uncle Sam is keeping me really busy.

 

[Rolling_Thunder]

Well another little update - ended up changing the universal joints on my driveshafts for the upcoming swap -- I believe I have all the parts needed for the swap - ended up also taking off the running boards as I never use them anyway and they honestly just get in the way... The swap is planned for next weekend. Ordered some Moog rear springs - just to try and level the stance out a bit and see how the 265/75/16s fit after


I'll come back and post pics in the thread - just slowly building the progress

 

[Rolling_Thunder]

Ended up ordering some Moog rear springs to replace my sagging coils - the internal shocks were literally contacting the axle housing while the car was sitting - so I figured the Moogs were a decent price and would at least get the thing sitting better.

Took about 45 minutes to change the coils, disconnect the sway bar, shocks and pop the old coils out - wrestle the new ones in - before my car was sitting ~19" from wheel center to fender well - now she sits at exactly 21" on driver's side and 21.75" on the passenger side with 3/4 tank of fuel

Next on the list is the 5-speed 4x4 swap :first:

 

[Rolling_Thunder]

Well - my 4Runner kicked my ass this weekend... I started my swap on Friday and finally finished it this morning (Sunday)

I learned quite a few lessons but some of the biggies were on a 4x2 the transmission cross member brackets are about 6" further rear then on a 4x4 application.... so have fun cutting those off and re-welding them to where they need to go....

Aftermarket security systems suck - dealt with mine as I had a no-start issue for several hours and then realized the security system had a blown fuse....

MAKE SURE YOUR BELLHOUSING LOCATING DOWL PIN DID NOT COME OUT IN THE HOUSING. Mine did and I forgot to verify that there was one in the block - spent about 45 minutes wrestling the transmission under the car just to have that "I'm a dumbass" moment....

If you install the transmission separately from the transfer case - you can access all the bolts and it makes things a lot easier then installing together (personal opinion)

I ended up swapping the engine harness - I know a lot of people repin the auto harness but considering I was going from 4x2 auto to 4x4 manual I figured I would get a lot more ahead for just taking the house to swap the harness....

Speaking of harnesses... I was fully anticipating the need to repin the ECM dash connector - but it was the same connector... it literally just plugged in.

Clutch switches and clutch cancel switch wired in nice and easy - connect to the junction block for the black/yellow (x2), white/black wires... the white/red wire for the Cruise control just gets ran over to the passenger side body connector --- and the remaining black trigger of the NSS harness gets connected to the green/black ignition switch wire

 

[theesotericone]

Well - my 4Runner kicked my ass this weekend... I started my swap on Friday and finally finished it this morning (Sunday)

LMAO. You realize it would take most guys on this forum a few weeks to do a full 4x4 manual swap right? I'd say you kicked it's ass.