Water proofing and rustproofing ideas?

[shoudagotan85]

Hey all, first post here. I have a 1987 4runner SR5 all stock on 31's. Unfortunately last week I got caught out in a rain storm with the top off and no doors. Pulled all the drain plugs around the body and let several gallons dump out:sobbing: No serious damage. Dash lights don't work, radio doesn't work, and for a little while everytime I put in the clutch, it tried to turn the starter over...:wtf::wtf::wtf::wtf: After starting and turning it off a couple times, the radio works and the clutch problem stopped. I am seriously worried that my power windows and locks and rear window aren't going to work when I put em back on. I personally would prefer to have manual locks and windows ( easier to take the doors off and don't gotta worry about deciding to stop working) Have you heard of any one doing this conversion? I heard that if you leave one thing unplugged, none of the windows(rear also) and locks will work. were can I find a wiring diagram to help me figure out what the hell is going on?

Currently I'm about half way done with using Herculiner tailgate to firewall and Im going to rubber spray the inside of the body panels to prevent rust. I took out the rear seats and built a panel to fill the gap were they were so I could have a full bed. What more do you guys think I could do to waterproof everything? Wires and all? I know the fuse boxes and the ecu down by passenger's and driver's feet are pretty exposed and vulnerable to water damage.
Thanks guy's.

also, know any one that makes a snorkel for 1st gen 4runners? (22re)

 

[Jinjami]

Hey '85 - I have an '89 and today I pulled the side panels out of my vehicle.
The way I see it is more storage space. though it certainly makes it louder too.
I am hoping to rhino-line the exposed metal parts (after removing the carpet)
the left-passanger seat is on my list to remove too.
what is this spray you speak of?

my plan with electricals is to move them higher..

 

[cometobanks]

The water is not really the problem in a car producing DC current. ( well its a problem if it gets in the solid state electronics (ECM, RADIO, INTRUMENT CLUSTER) because it will short the printed boards. But your motors and wire are safe. You could put a electric window motor and car battery under water and roll it up and down all day long. What will get that stuff is corrosion. If you take your factory connections apart you may find some yellow brown grease in there, thats for corrosion control. Motors need lots of grease. Wires need good uncracked insulation ect...uh,,,

What was the question?

 

[cometobanks]

Oh yeah!

The power to crank window conversion is EASY

Need crank up regulators and different door panels(cos you got big cut outs for your switches) from a salvage yard truck and your done. bolts right up.

 

[shoudagotan85]

Oh yeah!

The power to crank window conversion is EASY

Need crank up regulators and different door panels(cos you got big cut outs for your switches) from a salvage yard truck and your done. bolts right up.

thanks. There are quite a few junked runners around my area and it will be pretty easy to find the different pannels and everything. What I was wondering though, what should I do with all the wires that go into each door? I don't want to leave them be because as soon as I unplugged one thing, the other door stopped working and so did the back window. It's like how if you don't have that one certain bolt in the top, it will think the top isn't on and won't let you roll the back window up.

 

[shoudagotan85]

Hey '85 - I have an '89 and today I pulled the side panels out of my vehicle.
The way I see it is more storage space. though it certainly makes it louder too.
I am hoping to rhino-line the exposed metal parts (after removing the carpet)
the left-passanger seat is on my list to remove too.
what is this spray you speak of?

my plan with electricals is to move them higher..

I bought some rustoleum rubber undercoating. I don't know if I'm doing it wrong, but this stuff sucks. Doesn't stick at all even when I primed the surface. I will try to find something better. I am using Herculiner for the exposed outside parts of the interior. I've had it in the cargo area for a couple of weeks and it holds up good.

 

[cometobanks]

I unpluged my window motors and locks and just left the wire in there. My back window and power mirrors work fine

 

[shoudagotan85]

I unpluged my window motors and locks and just left the wire in there. My back window and power mirrors work fine

I'll have to try that. The less electronics, the better IMO.