Tye's '87 Runner Build and repair thread

[mytyeerinpie]

You'll have to trim to stuff 33s in there, even with a spacer lift.

I'll suggest to you what I suggest to everybody else, though - before you worry about a lift, get some rock sliders and a belly skid and go hit some trails with your stock rig. A stock 1st gen can follow a base Wrangler anywhere, and will leave a stock Cherokee in the dust. It will go places you're not good enough to take it, I guarantee!

Here's your upgrade list:

Rock rails
Belly skid
Recovery gear
Lift
Tires
Gears

Then if you still have money burning a hole in your pocket, you can start thinking about lockers and bumpers and winches and dual cases and such. I made the mistake of lifting mine first, before I knew what I wanted, and it's costing me.

Ok, well I am taking her out tomorrow with BucknutBob and a few other guys. We'll see how it goes. I wanted to take her out stock since that's what you all recommended. I already have the ball joint spacers on the way but if anything I'll just leave them off if need be and add them later. I can do the rock rails and stuff pretty easy I think I just need to find the steel. I have a friend that wants to build all my bumpers and rails and all that for me. He has really good ideas and hasn't a vehicle to do them on so he wants to use my 4runner.

 

[BucknutBob]

It sounds like we're going to have some fun things to discuss, Tye--I may have you hook me up with your buddy, too, if he's willing to do more vehicles. I don't know any skilled metalworkers here, and wouldn't know who to trust--I've been planning on doing the aftermarket route for all that stuff. One thing in particular I'm very interested in is having a rear bumper built, one with a swingaway spare and jerry can holder. The only aftermarket option I've found for a 2nd Gen is TAG, who has a nice-looking set-up, but I've heard too many bad reviews of that company. See you tomorrow!

 

[mytyeerinpie]

Yeah for sure, I mean he has a problem with helping people for free. SO I have been trying to pay him when I can but he's hard to give money to. I am sure he wouldn't mind we just need to buy a ton of steel and let him go to town. He loves doing stuff like that, its just hard for him to find time, he's got like 15 projects he's working on. But I think if we bought steel and waved money in his face he'd probably get make time.

 

[mytyeerinpie]

Well took the ol girl out today and had a little fun, maybe one of the guys will post pics sometime soon. I think its sufficient to say that my tires are utterly useless off road unless its in a straight line and perfectly level. Everything else worked great. Aside from getting stuck 4-5 times I'm happy with the way she performed.

 

[mytyeerinpie]

Uh oh

Is this a bad thing? Can I just replace the boot? I noticed while I was in there spraying Liquid Wrench on my ball joint bolts in prep for the remove and replace later this week

 

[SV_Dude]

Yup, that is a bad thing. Yes you can replace just the boot.

Going 4WD - Replacing A Broken CV Joint Boot - YouTube

He makes it look pretty simple. I cannot imagine it's a hard job.

 

[KidVermicious]

CVs are cheap. Swap it out and keep the old one for a trail spare.

 

[mytyeerinpie]

CVs are cheap. Swap it out and keep the old one for a trail spare.

Sell me one? I'll go look in the Free section there's usually stuff like there.

Well I decided to take the fender flares off to see the rust damage and it is NOT pretty, Pics uploading

 

[mytyeerinpie]

Yup, that is a bad thing. Yes you can replace just the boot.

Going 4WD - Replacing A Broken CV Joint Boot - YouTube

He makes it look pretty simple. I cannot imagine it's a hard job.

Yeah I am just going to replace it when I do the ball joints Saturday I suppose

 

[KidVermicious]

Sell me one? I'll go look in the Free section there's usually stuff like there.

I guarantee I'd end up breaking one a week after shipping you my spare . They're 50 bucks at NAPA, or watch your classifieds for somebody local parting out...

 

[mytyeerinpie]

here's what I found under the fender flares,

 

[mytyeerinpie]

So I treid to sand a bit of the paint off to get to bare metal so I know where I need to start cutting but only ran into body filler and more rust, just going to have to cut it all out and hope I get it all....probably this weekend while we are adding a leaf and have the wheels off anyway

 

[mytyeerinpie]

Update. So Thursday I did my ball joints and installed the spacers. Everything went pretty smooth after we got the passenger side done. The driver's side was easy. The passenger side was a little tough since it was the 1st one. Anywhoo I still have to reset my torsion bars a little lower. I set them today with the fender flares on the front and wouldn't you know it, those flares hung down 1/2" lower than the actual wheel well. I was wondering why the ride was so rough.

On a different note, I took off the fender flares on the front and there's rust similar to the rust under the flares in the 1/4 panels. SO if anyone is selling a set of fenders oe just one I am in the market.

 

[SV_Dude]

Looks like you need to find yourself a rust free runner with a blown motor or something that will make a parts runner cheap! You need some body panels.
Good luck!

 

[mytyeerinpie]

Looks like you need to find yourself a rust free runner with a blown motor or something that will make a parts runner cheap! You need some body panels.
Good luck!

yeah I really do. We have plans for the 1/4 panels to cut the rust out then fabricate a wheel well. But for the fenders it is going to be easier to just buy them. This far north rust free is a hard thing to come by. Its all good though. I am still happy with the ol girl. I may ave found tires on craigslist too!! Pretty stoked about that! Hopefully I get a call back about them

 

[4runnertank]

Ok, so here's what you do. Cut it all off, sand, prime, and paint over it to seal it.:ak472:

And then you throw some flairs on it like nothing ever happened!

 

[mytyeerinpie]

alright I just need some of those bushwaker flairs! Sucks they are so darn expensive. I might just make some. I want some that won't hold water and dirt inside like those one you got 4runnertank

 

[Thurlo76]

i just ordered some today from o'reillys for $320. best i could find.

 

[SV_Dude]

Ok, so here's what you do. Cut it all off, sand, prime, and paint over it to seal it.:ak472:

Whoever is cutting on your fender should wear some better eye protection. If you cut for long enough you'll have some close calls and you'll wish you had some good eye protection. With a small angle grinder I always use a good set of oakleys and some mechanix gloves at a minimum. When using a bigger electric angle grinder I always use a full face shield and some leather welding gloves.

Good looking runner though!

 

[4runnertank]

Hes eyes are made out of metal...... Thats it.