Time I started a build thread I guess.  I had one before, but failed miserably by taking on a project too big for me.  I had a 4bt, diesel yota, tons, link kits, etc... all ready to build, but no time and not quite enough skills.  Bit off more than I could chew.  So I traded all that for this.  Its an 87 runner, built to be a daily driver, mall crawler.  I don't want to ruin it, but I have no use for a rig that doesn't get used.  So this is my camping, hunting, daily driving, wheeler. 
Bought it with:
taco elocker rear
duals with marlin adapter.  4.7 in rear case
detroit in front. 
27spline longfields in front. 
4' all pro springs up front. 
Stock length crappy skyjacker springs out back. 
35 km2s
soft top and hard top. 

What Ive done so far:
3rz swap
rock ripper header
chilcat mounts
rock lights
wired up elocker
new radiator
hydro assist steering
2x4 rectangular tube sliders
chevy 63 swap with sky double shackle kit.  (lowered the rear about 2') 
cutting fenders as we speak. 

Plans:
4wu three link front. 
Diamond front housing. 
Rear rectangular tube bumper to match sliders. 
flush mount led pods for the front bumper are on the way. 
Alot of skinny pedal.
 
On to the pics.  The black rig was another runner I had.  took it to the con. 

I need me one of them soft tops...

Now some pictures from this week.  I have one fender cut, and the 35 stuffs perfectly.  That picture is obvious.  School me on my untrained welding abilities... Hobart Ironman 210 with 75/25. 

Looks like the machine is set good.  Work on overlapping the welds on your starts and stops so that it looks like 1 continuous weld.  Looks good if you are indeed new to the MIG gun.

Last piece's of advice, that I find to be some of the best advice.

1.  Joint prep is just as important as knowing how to weld, so keep it clean with room for penetration, but not big gaps to fill.

2.  Get as comfortable as possible and make the motion of welding once over the joint in position before actually pulling the trigger, it will show you if you need to re position or not. 

Looking good, carry on..

I got's the boost now I want to turn it up!

The soft top is one of my favorite parts of the rig.  Its waterproof, I just switch to the hard top in the winter for camping.  Me and the wife have a mattress from truckbedz.com and sleep in it.  Its warmer and quieter with the hard top.  Its spooky wheeling with the hard top.  Super unstable. 

Yeah I ended up with something like 9 leaves on my chevy 63s to help that but it's still better with the top off alltogether.  So the soft top setup is pretty light then?

I might just go for one of those short tops from tha killer toy tops guy or make something like it.  Just have to wait untill mosquito season is over.

nice rig, its never to late for build thread.

Nice looking 4Runner!

SWEET RUNNER! keep up the good work buddy!

Beautiful truck with a lot of the big stuff already covered! I'm looking forward to seeing what else comes down the pipe for this rig.

I'd love to see more pictures of your fender cuts as I'm about to tackle that myself. I also am about to put all-pro springs all around. Are you happy with your All-Pros? Which Truck-Bedz model fits our 4Runner?

 

Thanks! The biggest thing coming for this thing is the 4 wheel underground front three link.  That will be something different.  I love my front springs, but that being said, I wouldn't have bought them.  My other toyotas I used RUF.  Chevys With some extra leafs are the only way to go in the rear. 
I cant remember the bed model, but I think it was this one...  http://www.truck-bedz.com/truck-bedz/truck-bedz-weekender-series/truck-bedz-weekender-vcsb-t1.html
We love it, just make sure your cig lighter works.  It has a built in pump and everything. 

Old owner did. Arron Duncan. He had the green taco in ultimant adventure 2012. My neighbor. Needs a winch. Smittybuilts prices are so tempting... I don't winch a lot, mostly when I'm stuck in the snow on outsloped roads. Smittybuilt or spend more money?
Other question... The 3rz got a little warm today climbing a long 2nd gear hill. Has a new radiator and electric fan, which was working. Which way should the fan be sending air? Tward the radiator or engine?

Bad ass truck indeed! I have a 87 sr5 myself and love it. All stock and a daily. Love the pic with the trailer, don't see that with a 22re! Haha
Just curious, why cut the fenders when you can just build some bumps? I guess you get the maximum flex though. And as it is a daily, do all the creature comforts still work for you?!

Bad ass truck indeed! I have a 87 sr5 myself and love it. All stock and a daily. Love the pic with the trailer, don't see that with a 22re! Haha
Just curious, why cut the fenders when you can just build some bumps? I guess you get the maximum flex though. And as it is a daily, do all the creature comforts still work for you?!

I almost didn't cut the fenders.  I have bumps on the way...  Basicaly I hate tall rigs. And when I load 800lbs of camping gear, tools, firewood, dog, wife, me, booze... it would have either rode the bumpstops constantly and been a miserable ride over miles of gravel roads, or i would have had to add like 4 leafs and it would have been a monster truck again.  so I cut fenders and I'll throw air bumps in when I can afford it.  Uptravel is your friend, (despite what some people think) it does help when crawling.  IMO. 

Some of the comforts still work.  I still need to re-wire the power windows and locks.  Most likely I'll strip those wires from the old harness with the old plugs.  Wiring isn't my strong point.  NO A/C.  But it doesn't get over 75 where I live and I use the soft top in summer.  Sometime before next winter I'll have heated seats installed.  Or at least one for the wife...

Makes sense. Thanks for the reply!

Got my lights in.  Not as bright as Id hoped, but for the size they are way brighter than my headlights, and light up a huge area.  I think they look clean in the bumper too. 

Im planning ahead to order my diamond front axle and 3 link kit.  The options for width and hub/brake set ups are confusing to me.  Ive read some about FJ60 hubs or IFS hubs...  But Im confused as I havn't seen them work in person so Its hard for me to picture.  My rear axle is a taco.  I wouldn't mind going a little wider on the front, but it is a DD and I don't want to get too much hassle from the cops. 
Can someone explain to me my hub/brake options?  What kinda width and setup would you use?
Thanks. 

I'll take a stab at this....
I am guessing you want to stay with a Toyota based axle, sadly this only slightly reduces your countless choices; Ideally you will want as many "stock" components as possible, that way if/ when something breaks it is easily replaced. You can gain width from a wider housing (with applicable longer inner axle shafts) or you can get an extra 3" of width by running IFS Wheel hubs on a solid axle.

IFS is on the left, Solid axle on the right. The 3" in extra width comes from the 1.5" difference (ea side) in height of the wheel stud location on the 2 different wheel hubs.

Another consideration is brakes....
-Stock solid axle calipers
-v6 IFS calipers
-Tacoma calipers
-even bigger Tundra brake calipers
If I was running a mini truck axle I would run the Tacoma or Tundra brakes, to do so you will need to get the Tacoma brake brackets from Brian at Diamond Axle, this will also require the IFS Hub bodies. Talk to Brian about axle width, he knows what he is talking about. He can set you up with an axle that uses just 1 custom width shaft, tacoma brakes at just over 61" wide to be as wide/ just a tiny bit wider then your rear axle.

Myself I am running an FJ80 axle which has a 63" wide mounting width, as big if not bigger brakes then a tacoma, and larger birfields then a mini truck.