87 4Runner build Slowww build

[Doable]

This started a few years ago by convincing the wife how nice it would be to wheel a 4Runner instead of my 86 Extra cab. So here we go. I wound up locating a 87 4Runner in Austin,TX  RUST FREEEE . Well that was the good part the bad is it was a father and son project that the son gave up on so the father was tired of seeing it in his parking spot under the carport.Which means the engine and trans were torn apart and in boxes in the 4Runner. He was positive all the part were there to reassemble but we all know how that goes.




The interior was not in bad shape




It sat for three years then I got motivated to work on it for a trip  we had planned to go wheeling in Moab.So time for the IFS to be removed for the SAS.




Found my donor truck for the SAS just in time before they crushed it at the scrap yard.

[4Runner_kid]

What are the plan's? Beside's sas.

[Doable]

Guess I should not have waited so long to pull the tank or at least drain it when I got the truck. This is what it looked like. This project keeps costing more and more.
.



Started making my frame plates for both sides now that everything is all cleaned up.
The suspension will be the same as my Extra Cab RUF, F-150 in the rear. Really like the way they preform and keep the truck low.

[Doable]

What are the plan's? Beside's sas.

The same as others I guess. Keep it low ,tube bumpers, sliders,lower geras with lockers . Try to build it once with out having to keep redoing everthing and wheel it, wheel it, and keep wheeling it 

[Doable]

Nothing fancy at all, just wanted to clean up the dif because I tend to pull the drain plugs out.I had an old third member with cracked teeth that I used and bolted in tight to maybe help not warp the housing when I weld on it.



And added a fill plug higher than the factory one. Still need to put some armor on the diff to help protect the ring gear.

[Zs Confederate Toy]

Looks like a fun build

[Doable]

Was able to finish off the rear axle and installed the Marlincrawler 5.29 diffs. with lockers. With old school 35" MTR's this is the clearance.The third in the pictures is my spare to help keep things straight.






Got the front shaved down also.










Took almost two days of on/off cutting grinding and welding. I was trying to be carefull not to warp the housing, so i did not put to much heat to it when I would weld. Weld for a while then work on the spring pack. or the steering shaft. The third did not bind slippinng it into the housing and the Longfields both went in without binding.

[Doable]

The front springs are just mix matched with old leaves from different springs i had laying around. With good bump stops they will last a while.





With the rear suspension set with F-150 springs and the front with 87 RUF this is how it sits.



Should have the front axles finished this week after I get finish clearness the knuckles

[Zs Confederate Toy]

Lookin good

[jimbo74]

is that brown primer or is all that new work rusted?

i lie kthe way it sits, looks good

[Doable]

Thanks. Mostly  rustoleum brown primer, but we do have a lot of humidity down here. Just makes me use the flapper wheel a little more. Moving the axle forward with the use of rear springs helps me not to have to trim the fenders like I did on my other truck. 

[SloCrawler]

Nice start, looking good

[Jrod]

Looks like it's coming along sweet

[Yota87Truck]

Nice ride height.  Looks great

[konarider1993]

ill have to lower mine abit

[Doable]

Thanks for the complements on the 4Runner. Got both front knuckles cleaned out for the Longs to go in, thought I had good bearings in the front but after a good cleaning it shows that I had water in the front knuckle and the bearing show it, pitted pretty bad so now I'm waiting on more parts to show up from Marlin to put the front end together. Getting close to being done but man it seems like it will not stop.

[Doable]

Making room for the new axle shafts




seeing where they will rub at it really was not much.



hopeing with the weight of the bumpers sliders and tools bags it will sit like my Extra cab does and it will be moving in the yard under its own power. 8)

[prawl44]

  why did you do that to the axle ?

[Peterbuilt84]

Nice build, coming along great. Also like your extra cab, I think I've seen it posted somewhere else 

[Doable]

why did you do that to the axle ?

You mean painting the inside of the ball area of the axle? To see where the new Longfields would rub at. I allready have all the paint removed only needed it for test fit purpose.

[prawl44]

o thats cool but i was wondering about the one you cut open

[SloCrawler]

Shaving the diff, he's gaining ground clearance, you made that look easy

[prawl44]

ooooo got yea still kinda new to this lol

[88_YotaCrawler_88]

Wow some sick work!