stockwell45's 97 4Runner Build Up Thread

[Stockwell45]

Its been a bit since I've done much to the 4Runner. I've been putting most of my extra funds towards my other vehicles and home projects. It still gets driven at least once a week as my fishing rig and playing around in the snow. Unfortunately, I finally killed the auto transmission last week. I bought a donor rig to do a tranny swap a few days ago. That will keep me busy for the next month or so! In the last 6 months I've added dual batteries as well as a National Luna battery controller. My ARB Fridge ran flawlessly on this system for several days without an engine start this summer, I'm really happy with it. Here's some pics (these pics were taken only a day or so after install, the wiring has since been cleaned up a bit). Also some pics of my adventures this summer.

https://flic.kr/p/23mMpLThttps://www.flickr.com/photos/151713664@N08/

https://flic.kr/p/21XWkyhhttps://www.flickr.com/photos/151713664@N08/

IMG] https://www.flickr.com/photos/151713664@N08/

https://flic.kr/p/YHAZ6g https://www.flickr.com/photos/151713664@N08/

https://flic.kr/p/Y7qWXo https://www.flickr.com/photos/151713664@N08/

https://flic.kr/p/YHAYUz https://www.flickr.com/photos/151713664@N08/

Here's the donor rig I bought for the tranny swap. Minor front end damage, still runs and drives. Craigslist score for only $1000!

https://flic.kr/p/24E7Sko https://www.flickr.com/photos/151713664@N08/

https://flic.kr/p/F4PJFp https://www.flickr.com/photos/151713664@N08/

https://flic.kr/p/24E7SYs https://www.flickr.com/photos/151713664@N08/

 

[JBurt]

What a sweet donor rig! Glad to see you're still going strong.

 

[habanero]

Dual battery awesomeness.

I ended up having to run a brace from the center of the box to the front support because the batteries wiggled a crack on the inner fender. It's much more solid now. Ruffstuff box with 4 bolts holding it onto the original battery platform.

Don't know if you meant to use the battery handles as insulators from the battery hold-down, but I really like the idea.

Glad to see you're still around!

 

[Stockwell45]

Update:

I've got quite a bit done in the last few weeks, basically just putting in an hour or so everyday before work and a half day on my days off. Such a pain! so many bolts were either bent or frozen that it took so much longer to get everything off. Things I have done so far:

Engine and tranny removed from both 4Runners
All swap parts removed from donor 4Runner
New timing belt, water pump, thermostat, valve cover gaskets and spark plugs
Master cylinder and clutch petal installed
Manual brake petal installed
Transmission tunnel cut and prepped
Auto body harness repinned for manual ECU
Clutch cancel switch wired up

Still waiting on my Marlin Crawler clutch to show up (it's on back order). Then I'll be ready to stab the engine and tranny back in.

I figured I'd save some time by pulling the engine and tranny out together. The only way I was able to do that was by taking off the shifters and both front wheels and lowering the front as far as I could, and raising up the back a few inches. Even then the oil pan cleared the AC condenser by only about a half inch, with the tranny barely clearing the transmission tunnel.

https://flic.kr/p/25DCoFchttps://www.flickr.com/photos/151713664@N08/

https://flic.kr/p/24yQsaUhttps://www.flickr.com/photos/151713664@N08/