Topic: 84 4Runner Buildup - Last minute summer mods

[Volcom]

I originally was going to buildup my 85 truck but my family has gotten bigger (we've got a cute little 4 month old) and only having two seats in the standard cab truck wasn't going to cut it if all of us wanted to going 4wheeling.  So I found this 4Runner for $500.  It's got 202K on the clock and the engine isn't running yet. 












Well, plans are getting the 22R up and running for now.  I plan on running the Marlin Trail Flex kit, 37's or bigger, quite a bit of trimming, dual cases, caged, custom bumpers and sliders, welded rear and an aussie for the front, 5.29's.  Pretty much the standard build these days in the Toyota world 

I'm hoping to finish this thing by next spring break to take it out to Moab.  We'll see how much the wife is going to like me spending on it 

[Volcom [OP]]

This thing is not going to be a DD so that makes it nice.  The guy I bought it from said it doesn't run because his daughter lent it out to her step brother and he took it out mudding.  Those pictures were after a 45 minute spraydown of the undercarage to get all the mud out of it.  My dad and I were trying to get the 22R started the other day and the starter kept clicking.  We had it tested and it failed.  The guy testing it at autozone didn't really have a clue so it doesn't say much.  I took the starter off of my 85 truck and we're going to see if we can't get the 4Runner started.  I hope it's not hydrolocked like the guy keep telling me when I bought it.  If it is, no biggie, I'll rebuild it.

[Volcom [OP]]

Well, my dad and I got it started yesterday.  She sounds like a trainwreck      This thing sounds like 100,000 ball bearings dumped inside and then started.  It clanks on every revolution.  Were guessing a bend rod.  Anybody ever deal with a bend rod?  Looks like we're rebuilding the 22R.  Does anybody have any suggestions on how to rebuilt and what kinds of parts I should look at upgrading while I've got it apart?  I'm thinking cam shaft and some kind of valve job. 

[CTENG in KS]

Well, if you have a bent rod, or the clanking could be spun bearings, either way you will need to have the cylinders honed, or possibly bored out to fix that mess.  Best get the valve job while you have the head off, of go with a performance head.  have the crank turned because either the spun bearing or the bent rod will have done damage to the journals even if you can't see it with your little eye.  If you ever wanna do a cam do it now, and go double row timing shain.  New pistons and rods are a given as you will have beat yours up pretty good.  I might even test the cylinder walls ultrasonically incase there are stress cracks...

[Volcom [OP]]

Thanks for the reply.  I'm trying to get my hands on a spare block from a buddy of mine.  That way I can have that block machined and ready to go rather than taking the current block and having it machined.  Good call on the crank being turned!  As for the performance head, are they work the cost?  Same goes for the dual row timing chain setup?  I was planning on a new cam and some metal chain guides.  How are the engblder rebuild kits?

Another thing to consider is I'm trying to snag a supercharger from another buddy that has had it sitting in his shop for years.  On top of that, maybe running propane.  So, with that combo, should I consider some better pistions and looking at a certain CR? 

[CTENG in KS]

Don't know if they are worth it, I would just get the valve job done on your head...I like the nice reliable stock engines...one more thing, you will need to have that block line honed or possible bored along with the crank turn...anytime something like that happens and things get that far out of balance, there will be damage to the block, mains, and the crank.

[Volcom [OP]]

Well, I'm picking up a supercharger for the 22R today after work     A family friend of mine owns an automotive shop and I was talking with him the other day about my rockcrawler project.  He said he's got just the thing for me     So, I'm back to rebuilting the dead 22R that currently in the 84 (maybe building it for a little boost) and running propane.  After doing some research on Pirate for serveral hours, looks like quite a few people are running propane supercharged succesfully. 

My biggest problem is getting a propane tank that could fit under the rear of the 4Runner in between the frame rails.  Cary at gotpropane.com has a nice 23 gallon tank in that exact spot on his truck. 

So, on builiding the 22R for alittle boost, what are some tips? 

[Volcom [OP]]

Pics of the supercharger on this post (http://board.marlincrawler.com/index.php?topic=14694.0)

[Ramrod]

I was thinking about buying a supercharger for my 22r and it may be in the future still.  can't wait to see how yours turns out

[Volcom [OP]]

Well, I'm kinda scared about dropping $1000 on propane and a 22R motor rebuild for this thing when I could do an engine swap and stay gas powered.  I keep eyeing the 3RZ swap but the wiring kinda scares me.  Or I could try and find a 22RE to swap but it would probably be a similar amount of work to swap in a engine that's 40hp less than the 3RZ.  Anybody in the Colorado area want to help me out with an engine swap 

[Volcom [OP]]

My parents for my birthday have bought me the $99 Marlin rock sliders     I have found a place in CO that selling a 3RZ, engine wiring harness, and ECU with 65K for $1200.  I asked about the bellhousing and they wouldn't seperate the bellhousing from the tranny 

I started my marlin wish list a couple of days ago and it looks like it will almost be a $3000 order     I better get back to work to make some money for my project 

[Volcom [OP]]

Picked me up a set of 4 black steel wheels, 2.5 inched backspaced for $25 each used.  I also bought another one that is the same except it is beadlocked for $60.  I plan on ordered up some rockstomper beadlocks http://www.rockstomper.com/catalog/wheels/beadlocks.htm for the other 4 later on in the build.

I can't believe how much steel wheels weigh beadlocked     Looks like I'm going to need that 3RZ swap for sure just to turn these wheels and tires down the road

[Volcom [OP]]

I looked at another 3RZ this weekend in a 97 4Runner.  96k on the clock.  They wanted $1200 for the engine, engine wiring harness, and ECU.  They won't seperate the bellhousing from the tranny and they want $600 for the tranny     

I've got some more questions for the 3RZ gods 

Do I need the dash wiring harness as well?  I was doing a Pirate search on the 3rz and found a couple of people stating they also grabbed the dash wiring.

Motor mounts, how tough are they to make?  Another dumb question, how do you figure out where they need to go on the frame?  Do you bolt the engine, tranny, and t-case all together and put it in the truck and mark the places on the frame?

Does anybody have a W59 bellhousing they would like to sell???

[Uncle Jesse]

If you decide to rebuild the 22r, and it is an early block, then install the dual chain with metal backed guides.  If it is a later block then just go single chain with the metal backed guides.  Either way, go with metal backed guides.  The chain really isn't the problem, its the cheapo guides.

If you go with the 3rz, then just buy the tranny, seperate the bellhousing and resell the trans.  Possibly on ebay.  I see trannies on ebay all the time minus the bellhousing.  Most poeple looking for a replacement trans don't need another bellhousing anyway.

[Volcom [OP]]

Thanks for the reply UncleJesse.  Do you know if the 84 22R is considered early or late block? 

Anybody know what the going rate for a W59 tranny minsus the bellhousing?  Is $600 too steep for the W59 and me selling it minsus the bellhousing for $500 too steep?

[TrackVino]

Looks like its going to be a good build. Take your time, and do it right the first time. Its not worth the trouble of having to go back and doing it again after your done. 

[Uncle Jesse]

My 84 was an early block.

Here is a link to LC Engineering, they have some good info on determining block and head styles.
http://www.lcengineering.com/TechNotes/TechNote49.htm

[Volcom [OP]]

Well, another turn of events.  I found a 1985 Toyota 4Runner for $375!!!!!     It's got 250K on it and it shows.  But, it's got a 22RE.  It needs rebuilt as well.  So, the plan is now to yank both motors, rebuild the 85 22RE and swap it into the 84 4Runner.  The 84 has a better body and interior than my new 85.  I'll probably part out the 85 and sell the tranny and t-case from the 84. 

So, this has to be one of the slowest buildups ever!  I just keep buying Toyotas but never fixing them 

[toyo487]

hey I see you pruchased new wheels for the 84 runner,  what are you going to do with the wheels that are on it?  I have 3 the 4 is bent real bad.  I'd be very interested if you want to sell them, pm me if you are selling.
That is a good deal for a solid axle runner,  cant even find those things very often.  Cant wait to see how yours turns out, my buddy is building an 85 runner.  Good luck with the build.

[Volcom [OP]]

I actually just sold those mag wheels (the ones in the pictures) to a buddy that neeed them.  I'll have a set of stock chrome 15*6 wheels after my build though.

[Volcom [OP]]

Picked up the 85 4Runner yesterday in the snow  .  Put it on a trailer and hauled it away to a buddies house for right now.  It's pretty rough inside and out but that's OK, I really only need the engine and gas tank.  I'll clean it out and start figured out what I can part off of it and make a list and post it in the For Sale section.  The guy is giving me another seat of bucket seats for it.  He is also giving me some brand new rear Bushwacker fender flares.  I plan on selling them as well.  I've got some pictures that I'll post later.

One of these days I'll actually start the buildup and actually have some progress 

[kneedownnate]

Sooooo, is the supercharger project gonna go by the wayside now? 

[Volcom [OP]]

Sooooo, is the supercharger project gonna go by the wayside now? 

Yea, for right now.     I basically wanted the EFI for rockcrawling.  I would have loved to run the SC and propane but the availabity scares me as a non-trailered rig.

[Volcom [OP]]

Here's the parts truck, 85 4Runner




Here's the nasty interior.  I plan on using this dash since it's better than the one in the 84.  I've got to remove the dashes anyways to get to the wiring harness, I might as well use what looks better



Notice the nice seat with part of the metal frame sticking out.  Imagine getting in an accident with that piece of metal in your back  :cry:





Factory cruise???  The unit looks aftermarket but the control inside looks factory.




Some engine shots.  I need to mark each and very one of these vacuum lines.








And last but not least, short block pictures.



















The short block is on an engine stand, ready to be built.  My buddy Joe is going to swap me heads.  He has one that has 140K on it and mine has 260K. 

More to come

[whiteman]

Hmmm! 

Looking good there man.   

[BUDDERS]

That cruise control is definately not factory.  My '85 truck has factory cruise and the button is located on that "punch out" to the right of the steering column and actually on the dash itself - not the steering column. 

Looks like you got your hands full.  I hope it turns out nice.

[Volcom [OP]]

That cruise control is definately not factory.  My '85 truck has factory cruise and the button is located on that "punch out" to the right of the steering column and actually on the dash itself - not the steering column. 

Looks like you got your hands full.  I hope it turns out nice.

Thanks for the heads up on the cruise.  It depends but I will probably take it out.  I don't know how much I'll be using it here in CO loaded up with camping gear and or going wheeling     The 22RE isn't that powerful.

As for having my hands full, I agree.  I wish the 85 would have been cleaner body wise and not had a slavage title.  I could have skipped the entire process of swapping motors, wiring harnesses, fuel lines, and fuel tanks. 

[dune_it86]

I as well just bought a 85 4 runner efi w/137,000 on the clock but mine already has lift wheels and tires but I would LOVE to have that cruse control whats the deal on that pm me if your willing to part with it I l    cruse control

[Volcom [OP]]

I as well just bought a 85 4 runner efi w/137,000 on the clock but mine already has lift wheels and tires but I would LOVE to have that cruse control whats the deal on that pm me if your willing to part with it I l    cruse control

I'll send you a PM 

[Vic stuff]

wow looks like quite the project.  where in CO are you im in north denver area and wouldn't mind helpin if i can (when i can) if ya need it!