Tye's '87 Runner Build and repair thread

[4runnertank]

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

The flairs don't get that much mud stuck in in it really. When ever it gets muddy just clean it right after, if you don't, it's literally 10x harder once you let it dry.

 

[slacker]

4Runner toyotafiberglass.com
.

 

[mytyeerinpie]

33"s are on nice and easy, pics soon and it only cost $265 total. Mounted them myself at the hobby shop here! Thanks for the links I might just replace them with the $60 ones from Rock auto. Def. need to find some decently priced flares tho

 

[BucknutBob]

Hey Tye, I believe I saw these on "Low Range Offroad"--they have bulk flare material that's curved kind'a like the old Jeep CJ flares. I don't know the price off hand, but I'm sure it would be a lot cheaper than model-specific molded ones. Might be worth looking into (maybe in the "builder parts" section?). Glad to hear you found some tires, and no, I'm not referring to the past with that (LOL)--I'm just happy for you that your search is over.

 

[mytyeerinpie]

Hey Tye, I believe I saw these on "Low Range Offroad"--they have bulk flare material that's curved kind'a like the old Jeep CJ flares. I don't know the price off hand, but I'm sure it would be a lot cheaper than model-specific molded ones. Might be worth looking into (maybe in the "builder parts" section?). Glad to hear you found some tires, and no, I'm not referring to the past with that (LOL)--I'm just happy for you that your search is over.

I looked all over on that site but can't find that bulk flare stuff, they do have a ton of cool stuff at decent prices though

 

[BucknutBob]

I looked all over on that site but can't find that bulk flare stuff, they do have a ton of cool stuff at decent prices though

Well, it isn't under "builder parts", I can tell you that (d'oh!). My bad. Look under "Toyota", then "HiLux/Pickup/4Runner", then "Body". It comes in either 2.5" or 4.25" wide, for $6/ft. either size. They're made of synthetic rubber that will resist just about anything, they have a nice lip to tuck up against the fender, and they're pre-curved to help follow the lines. At that price, you could probably do the whole truck for around $100!

 

[KidVermicious]

That must be new, they didn't have those the last time I browsed the LROR site. Good find, Bob!

 

[mytyeerinpie]

So after the ball joint spacers and alignment is needed and 4crawler recommends you do it yourself at home. So I can pretty much figure anything out so I figured I would do it myself. Only have had a couple issues so far but I think I can get it eventually. If anyone with an IFS has done this advice would be much appreciated. I have a pretty bad negative camber issue on the drivers side.

and a slight toe in issue but I know how to fix the Toe in just cant get the camber positive enough. the caster I am not too worried about as long as she drives straight.

another pic of the toe and camber. And an installed ball joint spacer

also the window actuator in the rear makes a horrible clanking I tried to get a picture of it I can't figure out how to tighten it or get it to stop banging around back there.

more to come later. The rear window exterior trim is coming out for some cleaning off of rust and painting.

 

[mytyeerinpie]

Alright so I think I figured out the alignment as good as it is going to get. The camber is still a little negative on the driver's side but I think if I just rotate tires more often than normal I will be ok. Anywhoo doing a adda leaf this weekend, then its off to the trails!!

 

[KidVermicious]

Why can't you get your camber in?

 

[mytyeerinpie]

Why can't you get your camber in?

I don't know when I would adjust the bolts out to try and get the camber in, it would adjust the caster to far straight or the toe wayyy too far in. Worked on it most of the day yesterday and couldn't get it figured out. It isn't bad now just not as perfect as I would like it.

 

[mytyeerinpie]

I went to the trails today! My buddy with a jeep convinced me to go with him so I did and it was a BLAST, durned little truck went every where. Hopefully he gets the videos up pretty soon but here's some pictures in the meantime.
Here she is complete with 33"s and ready to go

The jeep goin through a tight little spot, I went through after

Saw this right off the trail not really something you see everyday so I took a pic of it.

These road signs seemed ominous so I took a picture.

 

[mytyeerinpie]

Why can't you get your camber in?

I think I finally figured it out, I was having weird steering issues and the tired were squealing all the time, my toe was in horribly right after I just adjusted it out. Wellllllll apparently when your tie rod ends are shot to hell it creates these issues. So new tire rod ends tomorrow re align and hopefully good to go

 

[KidVermicious]

Shot TREs will do that to you. I think mine are about blown too, I get a steering shimmy that keeps popping up on long fast left corners. Not looking forward to replacing them, I have no idea when it was done last.

Don't sweat that mining claim, by the way. Property rights and mineral rights are two different things, and as long as you aren't messing with the mines equipment or removing minerals from the area (rockhounding, etc), you've nothing to worry about.

 

[mytyeerinpie]

Shot TREs will do that to you. I think mine are about blown too, I get a steering shimmy that keeps popping up on long fast left corners. Not looking forward to replacing them, I have no idea when it was done last.

Don't sweat that mining claim, by the way. Property rights and mineral rights are two different things, and as long as you aren't messing with the mines equipment or removing minerals from the area (rockhounding, etc), you've nothing to worry about.

Oh no I wasn't worried about the mining claim, they were just one the side of the road, little parking areas that led down to the stream where they panned. I just thought it was cool not something you see very often if ever.

 

[mytyeerinpie]

Off Roading Stock 1st Gen 4Runner South Dakota - YouTube

Did a little off-roading today

 

[KidVermicious]

That's quite the peanut gallery you've got there. They sound like a good crew though - get through the ribbing, and I'm sure they're loaded with good advice to share with you.

Couple chunks of advice that you may already know:
1) Slow it down. You were using momentum to clear a couple of those obstacles, that's how stuff gets broken and trails get damaged. You had better lines to take early in the vid that you wouldn't have had to thrash and flail at - if you can't crawl an obstacle, back up and look for another line.
2) Don't be afraid of the ebrake. You've only got two feet for those three pedals, and that can get tricky. If you have to pause in the middle of an obstacle, set your ebrake. Then you can let the ebrake out by hand while while you modulate throttle and clutch, and things will get a lot smoother for you.
3) Another option would be a thumb throttle - I've seen guys make 'em out of bicycle cable and shift levers, that'd let you throttle by hand and use your feet for clutch and brake.
4) Either way, you need to think about 4.7s or duals. The nice thing about an auto for low-speed crawling is the way you can idle up to an obstacle and slowly throttle up until you get purchase. A manual can't do that as well, so an extra-low range is almost a necessity for you to get the most out of your truck.
5) Air down. Don't let those monkeys give you grief about it either, there's no reason to be in terrain like that and not have all the traction you need.

 

[mytyeerinpie]

Cool thanks for the advice kid, I will try to remember all of it when I go out next time. We have a great crew! Most of the guys are guy from work with jeeps, they are all in other videos on the same youtube channel. We talk a ton of s*** but its all in good fun. Hopefully I can sell all my car audio stuff to get a locker then I won't have as much of an issue. I tried slow at first, and as you could hear the truck wanted to die, is there something I was doin wrong? Most of the time I try slower but once the wheels start spinning I figure I just need more speed....

The ebrake is an awesome piece of advice. I actually did do that once or twice yesterday. I should just get in the habit of using it more. There's a stock tcase on Craigslist for like $75 and I have thought about getting it but I cant afford the adapter plate and all the other required part at the moment. I was goin to air down but I usually run at 20-25 anyway so we figure takin 5 more lbs out wouldn't make a huge difference. They actually all aired down as soon as we hit the trail and I didn't figure we would need it, plus its such a pain airing back up....

 

[KidVermicious]

I tried slow at first, and as you could hear the truck wanted to die, is there something I was doin wrong?

You'll just have to get a feel for it, it's part of wheeling a manual. I've done that once or twice in my old Ford, and there's a sweet spot between lugging your motor and burning your clutch, you'll have to find it. Gears will make a huge difference, and frankly I'd do gears way before I did a locker. The cheapest locker out there is the Spartan for about $350 - you can get an adapter for duals for $400 or so, or just go to 4.7 gears for $450-ish. The only reason I locked before gears was because I found a a sweet deal I couldn't pass up. With you having a manual instead of an auto, it makes gear selection that much more important. Grab that top-shift now, that's a good price for it, and then save up for the adapter plate. Watch the classifieds on Yotatech and Pirate, they come through every now and again and aren't too heavy to ship.

Lockers are sexy, but for rocks like that you want gears. Trust me, it'll shut those boys right up when you clean that ledge without a locker.

 

[mytyeerinpie]

Well ok, but do I have to regear when I install the other tcase? or will the additional tcase automatically lower the gearing down?enough? SHould I get one of these axles from this dude as well as the tcase? Are they geared low enough?

http://rapidcity.craigslist.org/pts/2859756337.html