Just picked my 4Runner up from the mechanic that I had do some work to it. I work at a Toyota dealership and had one of my friends/coworkers (Toyota master tech) do the following: valve cover gasket, valve seals, head gasket, thermostat, timing chain & gear set, timing cover, water pump, all new belts, new plugs, PCV valve & oil & filter change. Parts totaled $427 (some Toyota & some NAPA) & labor was a flat $400. Not too bad if you ask me for all that work. The head gasket was leaking a little so I wanted to get it taken care of so I figured while he has it apart, may as well replace stuff that may have issues in the future.
Step 2 is going to involve suspension stuff like tie rods, idler arms, ball joints & lift kit. Does anyone have any experience with those kits on eBay? Here's a link: Ball Joint TIE ROD END Idler Pitman Toyota 4RUNNER 1986 : eBay Motors (item 330405365682 end time Mar-17-10 17:49:42 PDT)
Or any suggestions to where to buy good stuff cheap? Didn't check yet, but I'm sure Toyota parts are going to be ridiculous even at an employee discount.
Step 3 is going to be body work. Mine has the typical fender well rust etc which the previous owner bondo'd up pretty good. I was debating between the fiberglass fenders, new or newer metal, or cutting the existing ones but then I don't know if I can install the Bushwacker flares like I want to. Then I want to sand the entire body down and Herculine the whole thing...lol
Step 4 will be engine mods for performance & changing the gearing to 4.88's most likely. (BTW, mine is a 22RE 5spd 4x4), and maybe mess around with the stereo but nothing too crazy, just replace factory speakers with better ones. One of the first things I did was put i a Pioneer head unit with Bluetooth & iPod controls. Gotta have that! lol
Open to suggestions/ideas if you have some. FYI, I will be keeping this until it dies. As of right now it's a daily driver, but will be play/trail rig at one point.
Step 2 is going to involve suspension stuff like tie rods, idler arms, ball joints & lift kit. Does anyone have any experience with those kits on eBay? Here's a link: Ball Joint TIE ROD END Idler Pitman Toyota 4RUNNER 1986 : eBay Motors (item 330405365682 end time Mar-17-10 17:49:42 PDT)
Or any suggestions to where to buy good stuff cheap? Didn't check yet, but I'm sure Toyota parts are going to be ridiculous even at an employee discount.
Step 3 is going to be body work. Mine has the typical fender well rust etc which the previous owner bondo'd up pretty good. I was debating between the fiberglass fenders, new or newer metal, or cutting the existing ones but then I don't know if I can install the Bushwacker flares like I want to. Then I want to sand the entire body down and Herculine the whole thing...lol
Step 4 will be engine mods for performance & changing the gearing to 4.88's most likely. (BTW, mine is a 22RE 5spd 4x4), and maybe mess around with the stereo but nothing too crazy, just replace factory speakers with better ones. One of the first things I did was put i a Pioneer head unit with Bluetooth & iPod controls. Gotta have that! lol
Open to suggestions/ideas if you have some. FYI, I will be keeping this until it dies. As of right now it's a daily driver, but will be play/trail rig at one point.
