timeline/build of a forsaken 88 4runner.

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kcn974r

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Timeline/build of a forsaken 88 4runner. (3rz swap)

First build thread, be gentle lol.
A little back story i guess.
5 years ago I picked up a crusty 91 3.0 auto for a 700$ nothing special but I got hooked.
The typical 3.0 story ensued and it died.
Traded that plus cash for a 97 5speed 3.4 sr5(miss it so much)
Second photo is after it was totaled by a moron.


The insurance money from the wreck got me my first 1st gen 4runner.
Always loved the little trucks was so happy to get it.

Unfortunately the rust was well buried by fiberglass a mistake I wouldn't make again.
 
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As the rust problem of the 87 became more apparent I started searching for replacement panels. A local Toyota guy, I was fortunate enough to meet, gave a line on 2 1st gens for sale in Delaware.
So I made the call on the 1.5 year old info. Wasn't expecting much of anything to come from the message left for my random contact.
2 days later got a call saying they were available and found they were about 3 hours away.
Found out he had an 86 and an 88 that had been already partially stripped.
 
It's getting to the point I promise

Had to take both and he wouldn't go under $1000

Red 86: No motor, front seats gone. Floors had no rust, rear quarters had typical Toyota stuff.
Did have a 4inch bracket lift professionally installed and some other good bits.

The black 88: blown up 3.0 automatic. No roof no interior at all.
Couple of months of deciding what to do with them.
87 used as doner for the 86 that's is now my DD.


Trip to davis West Virginia 2weeks later.
 
Without any further ado, the 1988 I've been hinting at.
It has sat being picked off of since 2012.
Found the sales receipt in the dealer folder in the glove box
Truck came out of Houston Texas. At some point it was brought east. I assume the 3.0 popped sometime after and was sold as a parts truck.
This runner does not have a spec of rust on it, other then small spot on the poorly painted replacement fender. Will be replaced at some point in the build. Minimal dings, and one dent in the passenger fender.
:horn: BUILD TIME!!!!!
 
Original plan was to 3.4 5speed swap it. I sold the totaled 97 to the guy I mentioned in previous post not know I was going to need the drive train. So I was in the market for a 3.4.
Picture of said friend's 87. Because everyone likes pictures

My searching yielded nothing good in my budget. I did however stumble on a 98 4runner with 3rz and a smoked automatic for $600. (^ Jim) need a body for his 3.4, and I needed a motor so we split the cost and I had my swap doner
 
I know this is moving fast right now. Had a bit done before I started the thread.
Thanks for the likes and support guys. Nice to see a couple ppl are interested
 
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I like where this is headed.

At first I didn't understand building the red one when the black one looked in so much better shape.

Now I see you were just setting it up to do right. What's the plan?
 
I was really fortunate to find such a clean truck. Really is a blank slate. So much is missing I can do what I want with it and not worry about messing up stuff I can't buy anymore

I have 4.88s I picked up off a friends part out. Good working e-locker pulled from a local yard. Pretty sure I'm leaving it IFS. for now
 
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3RZ mounts and mockup

I found next to nothing on putting a 3rz in a 3.0 frame. 3.4 is just so much more straight forward. So we decided to just go for it.
First I got a (tacoma) W59 bell housing that has been mated to the W56 and 4cyl cross member.
Mounts from the 97 had already been removed to install v6 mounts.

Cleaned off the 87 mounts
 
going off some early measurements we cut some of the mount down thinking it would land slightly ahead of the torsion bar pad.

After lowering it in for a look it landed further to the rear and the motor needed to sit lower.
Ended up cutting the front tab off. Leaving an the top of the mount for welding to the pad. Nuts were welded to the mount due to proximity to the frame.
 
Little update:
Waiting on BACKORDERED rear sump t100 pan. I hate it when that happens. New clutch and flywheel is here and in.
 
Finally got the runner back in the garage.
Put the pan on and attempted to get the diff in.
I knew the pan needed modified but wow.
IMG_20160430_185448551_zps3id70bts.jpg~original
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I knew it was too wide to clear the pinion. But everything was in the way. Pinion, housing, axle tube to the driver CV, all of it. Oh well.


This was as far as I got before woods fires and beers were calling my name.
 
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