1st Gen Runner Project: High-Clearance Body Panels

[Pyroboy]

I got my 4Runner new in 1989 and it was my daily driver until 2009.  Current mileage is about 280,000 on the original 22RE.  Over the years, I made a few upgrades:
- 2" OME springs, torsion bars and shocks to get rid of the sag
- ARB bull bar on the front
- MC rebuilt t-case with twin stick
- 17" forged Centerlines and Dueler Revos
- Swapped the 4.10s for 4.56s and added and ARB air locker and compressor
- 1" body lift from 4crawler

I've done a fair bit of light wheeling in Ontario but nothing too serious since the truck was my DD.  Since I moved to BC, I've had the bug and now I finally have the time and some cash for some upgrades.
- Got a nice set of 36" Swampers and 15x8" wheels
- Picked up a built axle for a 3-link SAS
- Got an extra t-case for a 4.7 gear swap and a dual adapter
- Got a set of rock sliders and a fabricated rear bumper of a part-out rig

First I need to deal with some clearance and rust issues so I decided to get a full fiberglass high-clearance body kit from Corey at Toyota Fiberglass www.toyotafiberglass.com .

Will post some photos below.

[Pyroboy]

Here are some of the pictures of the truck along the way.  With the 2" lift and the 1" BL, the 36" will fit with high-clearance panels and moving the SAS forward a bit.  The first one was taken about 2001.  It was painted in 1999.

[Pyroboy]

Here are some pictures of the high-clearance panels from www.toyotafiberglass.com.  The flares are 3" wider than stock.  I am also getting the door skins replaced with fiberglass ones.

[Pyroboy]

Drove the truck up to Penticton Saturday and Corey tore into it.  Here is how it sits today.

The truck has always had rust in the A-pillars and this was fixed improperly (bondo) in the past.  I cut the roof off a parts truck years ago and Corey will use this to replace the bad parts on mine.  You can see the rust hidden behind the spot-welded drip rail, which was invisible form outside.  They will be left off.

Fenders and quarters have been removed and the outer rear wheel wells have been removed to transition to the new fiberglass parts.  I used to get the truck Rust Checked and it looks like it paid off.  The bad areas are the inner wheel wells, quarter opening lips and the A-pillars.

[Pyroboy]

And here's the progress at the end of today.

[laskt9]

anddddd subscribed. looking into doing this myself

[85_4RNR]

Wow that's sad to see one of the extremely rare special edition black and silver 4runners, in what looks to me mint condition, get hacked up.

[Pyroboy]

I felt the same way about it for years but the rust was becoming a structural issue that could not be fixed without major surgery.  The A-pillars are the worst and this caused leaks that caused the front floor to rust out.  It was 'flopped' years ago, and a bad body job didn't help anything.  The rear wheel wells are also bad and were 'gooped' years ago.  There is also rust in the rad support that I will deal with later.  12 Ontario winters wasn't nice to it.  This way, it will be rust free and I can keep it for another 20 years.

[chim]

With all the work I would put steel back on those quarters! To each his own... looks like a super clean runner though!

[toygasm]

With all the work I would put steel back on those quarters! To each his own... looks like a super clean runner though!

i agree.when i restored my 85 4runner,i used fiberglass quarters from the same company.i wished i had gone with steel.

[Pyroboy]

I thought about a steel-body restoration but, knowing the issues with the truck, and wanting to put on the biggest tires with the minimum lift, I decided on the high-clearance fiberglass.  It will be painted in the original two tone scheme once the body is done.  More pictures to come.

[85_4RNR]

Can't wait to see it done!

[Pyroboy]

Started test fitting the high-clearance panels and the outer A-pillars, today.  The pillars always made me nervous so I'll be glad to get rid of the rust.  It will be good to get rid of the drip rails, too.  Panels look great but the 225/75R15 snow tires don't do it justice.  36"s will look way better.

[46&2]

Looks good, cant wait to see the finished product. Subscribed. 

[bigarms23]

good job keep up the good work

[Okiyota]

i agree.when i restored my 85 4runner,i used fiberglass quarters from the same company.i wished i had gone with steel.

Care to explain, from what i have seen these fiberglass fenders are very strong and look very good (body lines matching etc...), did you have issues with yours?  I've been wanting to go the fiberglass route as well, instead of dents it gets cracks and is easier/cheaper to repair and obviously will never rust.  Curious to know why you regret it.

[Pyroboy]

Corey got into the doors today.  Stripped off the outer skins and cleaned up the rust for POR 15 and bonding the panels.  The driver's door had been re-skinned twice so the rust wasn't a surprise.  Didn't want it coming through the new paint.

[TacoRunner]

   WOW!.

She gonna be purdy.

[zippo]

Nice, you have a body shop up there?

[Pyroboy]

The work is being done in Penticton, BC at Toyota Fiberglass.

More progress today.  Got the door skins on and the new A-pillar steel installed.  Found some fiberglass goo in the passenger side A-pillar.

[Pyroboy]

Lots of progress this week.  Corey got the rear inner quarters prepped and the new outer wheel wells cut from sheet metal, formed, welded and sealed, then epoxy painted.

[Pyroboy]

Also got the A-pillars finshed and primed in epoxy.  Better than new!

[Pyroboy]

Also test fit the passenger side panels.  Body lines look great.  Should be ready for paint soon.

[Dingman.]

Ive seen Toyota fiberglass's work before and its nice!

Subscribed.

[Pyroboy]

More progress:  Got the panels bonded on both sides.  Body lines look great!

Driver's side:


Passenger's Side:

[BoG-ToY]

yeah, kinda sucks I have an 87 with some unhealthy rust issues, hoping to clean and lay some glass mat from the inside then bondo the outside, but by the time I get to it, it might not happen that way...
Right now one that I REALLY dont like is the body mount below the passenger side a pillar right where it hits the body its rusty

[Pyroboy]

The truck is now off to the paint shop.

Noticed the MC07-XD dual case adapter is on sale this week so I ordered one today.  Hope to have it in a week or two.

[toyotech]

looks good so far. in for more pictures

[Zs Confederate Toy]

I like it. What are ya thinkin for paint?

[Yota Rolla]

i hope your going to exo that thing 1st time you rub a fender lip its going to be splinter city