Topic: SqWADoosh's 85 Runner Build Thread

[SqWADoosh]

1985 4Runner

Day I bought her:




Current:



Condition of the truck when I bought it:

• 281,000 Miles
• New 22RE long block with 16,000 miles
• W56 transmission with new clutch
• Various engine work done at the time of new block
• 4.88 Gears
• Eaton TrueTrac rear locker
• Warn Hubs
• 4" Pro-Comp suspension lift
• 33" Maxis Big Horn tires
• All-Pro 1st generation rear bumper

Guy I bought it from works overseas and even though he'd poured over 8k into building up this truck for the trails he never used it and therefore put it up for sale. He was asking 6k and I got him to take 5 cash. Even with that amount of money thrown into it, the truck does need quite a few things.

Work/Maintenance needed:

1. Rear window weather strip worn (Remove/Replace)
2. Shifter boot tattered (Remove/Replace - Only place I've found them is on Ebay)
3. Rear interior panels missing (Missing/Replace)
4. Driver side door weather stripping worn (Remove/Replace)
5. Passenger side door weather stripping worn (Remove/Replace)
6. Windshield trim missing vertical pieces on both sides (Missing/Replace - Possibly remove all stock trim and replace with rubber gasket TBD)
7. Carpet was stripped from entire truck and replaced with a bed liner that is now peeling. (Remove/Replace - Either replace with a superior liner or with replacement carpet TBD)
8. Exhaust leak where collector meets manifold (Remove/Replace - Planning to replace with Doug Thorley header and down pipe).
9. CAT is original and is likely clogged and the cause of above leak. (Remove/Replace - Plan is to replace with test pipe).
10. Steering wheel is not centered when tires are centered (Remove/Repair)
11. Brakes are in need of service (Repair/Replace).
12. Dome light switch is broken (Repair/Replace)
13. Passenger door lock is on its way out (Repair/Replace)
14. Speedometer is not accurate (Repair) 
15. Idle is surging (Diagnose/Repair - Possibly TPS and or air in the coolant system)
16. Exhaust is rattling off and on (Remove/Replace - Already planning to replace headers and collector, may just do an entire new exhaust)
17. Hard to shift, especially into 1st and reverse. Likely a bad slave/master cylinder (Remove/Replace)
18. Front brakes squealing (Remove/Replace)
19. Headlights need replacing as they are dull and the passenger side has burned out (Remove/Replace)
20. Strip sliders current paint and replace with POR-15 and POR-15 top coat(POR-15 and POR-15 Top Coat)
21.Belts are squealing on acceleration (replace with Toyota bando belts sourced from dealer)
22. Replace spark plugs and wires (NGK wires & Plugs)
23. 4th & 5th gear are going out on transmission (remove and replace)
24. Violent shuddering when leaving first gear especially on inclines (remove and replace clutch, flywheel, clutch cover, pilot bearing, and throwout bearing - Marlin HD 1,200 lb kit)
25. Knuckle Rebuild + axle refresh (Marlin knuckle rebuild kit +flap wheeled, wire wheeled, and painted entire axle)
26. Check engine light not working (was not connected to the ECM, stay away from NW Team Yota if you are going to have a shop do your 3rz swap)
27. Vehicle speed sensor code being thrown (was not connected to the ECM, stay away from NW Team Yota if you are going to have a shop do your 3rz swap)

Mods/custom work to be done:

1. New custom front bumper (Badlands Bambi Basher)
2. New custom rock sliders (4xinnovations)
3. New roof rack (TBD open for suggestions)
4. Swap in SR5 gauge cluster
5. Swap in SR5 inclinometer
6. Custom stereo system (TBD)
7. Add new alarm (TBD)
8. Add remote start (TBD)
9. Add off-road lights/light bars (20" freebie from a buddy)
10. Add front locker (FJ80 HP Elocker)
11. High Steer (Marlin Crawler if it ever comes back in stock)
12. 3RZ Swap
13. Add winch (Warn M8000)
14. Add CB radio and antenna (Cobra 18WXSTII and FireStik II 3 FT antenna)
15. Upgrade tires (Goodyear MT/R Kevlar 35x12.5x15)
16. Add 1.5" wheel spacers (G2 Wheel Spacers)
17. Replace tired stock 22re radiator (All Aluminum Nippon)
18.Replace stock 3RZ thermostat with 180* (LCE sells it and its accompanying o-ring)
19. Replace terribly stiff Pro Comp leaf springs (All-Pro Springs)
20. Replace unknown white shocks (Bilstein 5125)
21. Install long slip custom square driveline
22. Custom rear tire carrier with Hi-Lift mount & jerry can mount (Badland Metal Manufacturing Custom)
23. New steering stabilizer (Marlin)
24. New bump stops front and rear (Daystar 4 1/2" rear & Daystar 3" front)
25. Diff armor front and rear (Badland Metal Manufacturing Custom)
26. TRD ELocker for Rear
27. IFS width rear axle swap modified to take new Elocker 3rd(1995 4Runner shafts + 88 housing with  Tacoma TRD Elocker)
28. Re-gear rear differential to 5.29 (Nitro 5.29 gears via East Coast Gear Supply and built by the amazing zippo)
29. Cryo treat 5.29 R&P, side gears, and bearings (Performance Cryogenics)
31. Re-gear new FJ80 High Pinion front differential to 5.29 (Nitro 5.29 gears via East Coast Gear Supply and built by the amazing zippo)
32. Upgraded to dual diaphragm brake booster
33. Upgraded to 1" bore FJ80 brake master cylinder
34. Upgraded to RCV ultimate 30 spline axle shafts + birfields (RCV Perfomance via Jester Fab)
35. Custom parking brake assembly (created by zippo with helipilot's assistance)
36. Installed 1/4" steel knuckle gussets (sourced fromJester Fab)
37. Installed backing plate eliinators (sourced fromJester Fab)
38. Install differential breathers
39. Install 12VoltGuy E-Locker + Winch Panel with corresponding harnesses. (Found here)
40. Install dual cases (Marlin MC07 +2.28 stock crawl box)
41. Install Triple Stick (Radesigns)
42. Install dual case cross member (Sky's Manufacturing)
43. Install Rock Lights (All4OffRoad)
44. Install spot lights on front bumper
45. Upgrade power steering to TC style pump with remote reservoir and Chillkat bracket
46. Drill and tap steering box
47. Install hydraulic assist
48. Replace steering knuckle studs with ARP studs
49. Install soft top (Killer Toy Tops)
50. IFS hub swap
51. Front Range Off Road Tacoma Brake upgrade (except I used 3rd gen 4Runner brakes)
52. ARB 63 QT Fridge installed

Major Events:

Feb. 2014 - Truck purchased
May. 2014 - 22re Engine Fails - Mechanic diagnosis comes back as no compression on 2 cylinders
Jun. 2014 - 3RZ swapped in
Sep. 2014 - Truck stolen and recovered by police in same night
Sep. 2015 - Trip to Rubicon and Fordyce Creek
Feb. 2016 - Hit 300,000 miles on the spedo
April 2016 - Trip to Moab
July 2016 - Snapped driver side rear axle shaft at Naches
Aug. 2016 - Rear differential blows up at Evans Creek


I would like to say a preemptive thank you to any help I receive going forward on this build. I am a rather young inexperienced guy who will definitely need some advice on a lot of this stuff. I do have a FSM in hand and a will to do the hard work and research necessary. This build thread is a transfer from another forum. I will continue it from that point onward keeping it up to date from here on out.:

[SqWADoosh [OP]]

*Reserved*

[SqWADoosh [OP]]

Well I got my headers and installed them today



http://www.summitracing.com/parts/dte-542y-o-c/all/year/1985/make/toyota/model/4runner

They fit great except for one issue....



The angle is different and therefore my new CAT will not bolt up to my current muffler. So I guess that's my excuse to get a brand new 40 series Flowmaster with a custom piping setup!

Also added some HP like I said and here are the promised pics

[SqWADoosh [OP]]

Well no longer do I sound like a chopper coming down the road LOL. Got my local muffler guy to hook me up and let me tell you I am all grins. The difference with this header is massive on the low end. The truck has so much more pep now I can't believe it. I can actually merge like a normal vehicle! Well almost.... That means today I can officially mark off number 8, 9, and 16 on my list.

8. Exhaust leak where collector meets manifold (Remove/Replace - Planning to replace with Doug Thorley header and down pipe).
9. CAT is original and is likely clogged and the cause of above leak. (Remove/Replace - Plan is to replace with test pipe).
16. Exhaust is rattling off and on (Remove/Replace - Already planning to replace headers and collector, may just do an entire new exhaust)



http://www.summitracing.com/parts/mpe-23886/overview/year/1985/make/toyota/model/4runner



http://www.flowmastermufflers.com/?page_id=11118

[zippo]

What part of the PNW are you? I'm just outside Tacoma in Gig Harbor? Looks like a nice clean runner!

[SqWADoosh [OP]]

My first trail run with the new rig was at Walker Valley ORV






Walker Valley - Timber Tamer Trail - 1985 4Runner - YouTube

[SqWADoosh [OP]]

2. Shifter boot tattered (Remove/Replace - Only place I've found them is on Ebay)



http://www.ebay.com/itm/321265721447?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2649

[SqWADoosh [OP]]

The truck's re-man 22re took a dump with only 20k on it in May of 2014. The day it headed out for a 3RZ swap.

[SqWADoosh [OP]]

***Got the truck back in June with some issues documented below***

Well I got my truck back yesterday. I had a grin doing 80 all the way home. Up until about 10 miles from home. All of a sudden I start hearing a ticking as I accelerate. I check my oil to find that the stick is bare except a tiny amount on the tip. They either didn't put enough oil in it or oil is going somewhere. I had terrible gas mileage the whole way home as well. I'm pissed off that I possibly caused damage to the lifters and cam by running it with low oil. The journey was 176 miles. I don't know what to think. The truck was making incredible power and felt like a new truck. I'm just upset that I paid this extra amount to have a motor with 49k to go and run it low on oil my first  drive with it. I'm really down on the dumps and don't know what I can do to find out if any damage was caused or not. I am going to change the oil and put synthetic 5-30 in after work. I will see if that fixes the tick I guess. Any other advice fellas? I could really use some right about now. Here is a picture of what I found when I checked the oil.



Talked to my boss about it (an old timer with a lot of knowledge). He told me that if I have anything on the stick that means that I'm at most 1 - 1 1/2 quarts low.

[SqWADoosh [OP]]

***Had the guys who did the swap throw in a SR5 cluster I picked up from HeliPilot. It has since stopped jumping around and making the awful racket but still won't go below 40 MPH***

So they threw in a SR5 cluster I gave them to swap in for me. This is how the speedometer is acting... Any ideas on a fix?

SR5 Cluster Problem - YouTube

[SqWADoosh [OP]]

1. Rear window weather strip worn (Remove/Replace)





As you can see my old one was long overdue for a replacement.

[SqWADoosh [OP]]

2. New custom rock sliders (4xinnovations)

[SqWADoosh [OP]]

I formed a club back in May of 2014. This was the first run to Evans Creek.

[SqWADoosh [OP]]

Ended up having to replace the header gasket put on by the guys who did my swap. It was this bad in less than 200 miles. Found the culprit to be one of the header nuts was not torqued down. Pretty easy to see which one.

[SqWADoosh [OP]]

Did a club run to Naches for the first time in July of 2014.



It was also my first time with her top off. So friggin sweet!

Washington Wet Wheelers - Naches Pass July 26th 2014 - YouTube

[SqWADoosh [OP]]

17. Hard to shift, especially into 1st and reverse. Likely a bad slave/master cylinder (Remove/Replace)





I've also had a popping noise coming from my front end when doing hard turns. I believe I found the culprit today. My torque rod's forward most bolt has come completely undone. I'm going to just pull the torque rod as a lot of guys do it for more flex anyways. I won't be needing it anyways pretty soon. Hint Hint

[SqWADoosh [OP]]

Tackled my front brake job. It was quite easy with the FSM and 4Crawler's write up found here in hand.

18. Front brakes squealing (Remove/Replace)

I used Marlin's front bearing kit found here that comes with new gaskets, Koyo bearings and races, and new oil seal. Also went with Centric pads found here and Raybestos rotors found here.




Before:



After:

[MRHilux87]

Nice runner.  I just finished the 3rz swap in my 87 runner. 

[SqWADoosh [OP]]

***Truck was stolen on September 23rd 2014 below are the quotes from my build thread on the other forum regarding the theft***

"Truck was just stolen an hour ago. I ran down soon as I heard it revving.  Got down there just as he was peeling away. Called the cops and they found it abandoned shortly after. They have the dogs out looking for the guy now."

"They caught a guy about a mile from my place. Had shaved keys. Took him in on his warrants. Can't charge him with gta because he wasn't caught in or around the truck. I guess the possession of the shaved keys is a crime in itself. That guy was the one I saw on foot. The guy in the truck they were still tracking when I left with my truck."

"Truck is fine. Lucky I put the call out so soon or else it probably would be scrapped by now. Investing in some theft deterrent today."

"Pretty sure these two were toyota specialists. Had Shaved Toyota keys. Likely had their eyes set on tearing my truck down and selling the pieces."

[SqWADoosh [OP]]

4. Driver side door weather stripping worn (Remove/Replace)
5. Passenger side door weather stripping worn (Remove/Replace)

Before:



After:



Part numbers: 68160-89115 - For driver's side found here

68160-89114 - For passenger's side found here

[SqWADoosh [OP]]

Mods/custom work to be done:
7. Add new alarm

http://youtu.be/vcBvT3vIaes

While I was at the alarm/stereo place they showed me another customer's amazing 1st gen pickup. Check this beauty out!











Only 64k on the clock! The pictures do it no justice. The truck was beautiful!

[SqWADoosh [OP]]

1. New custom front bumper (Badlands Bambi Basher - http://badlandbumpers.com/bambibasher.html)









13. Add winch (Warn M8000)




Needless to say the truck got a huge facelift. The guys at Badland Bumpers did a great job on my new bumper. Their lead fabricator/installer Cody then spent over 3 hours installing the new bumper, frame reinforcement, and winch. As if that wasn't enough, I offhandedly mentioned that I had developed an exhaust leak. He then offered to help me find it and weld it up. Amazing customer service all around. I highly recommend them.

[SqWADoosh [OP]]

19. Headlights need replacing as they are dull and the passenger side has burned out (Remove/Replace)

Finally got time to put in my new headlights

New on the left and old on the right:



All done:



They are indeed a vast improvement over the Sylvania ones that were in there before. A very crisp white light that goes much further as well.

[SqWADoosh [OP]]

That brings the build up to date. Everything from here on will be live updates 

[SqWADoosh [OP]]

What part of the PNW are you? I'm just outside Tacoma in Gig Harbor? Looks like a nice clean runner!

Hey man. Me and my club are from all over the state. I myself live in the Everett area. We have guys from Seattle, Snohomish, Tacoma, etc. If you have Facebook we can be found here: facebook.com/washingtonwetwheelers.

[zippo]

Hey man. Me and my club are from all over the state. I myself live in the Everett area. We have guys from Seattle, Snohomish, Tacoma, etc. If you have Facebook we can be found here: facebook.com/washingtonwetwheelers.

I just like your group!

[SqWADoosh [OP]]

I just like your group!

Sweet! We are going to a huge meetup at Walker on Saturday. Its actually a toys for tots event put on by another wheeling club. You are welcome to come along if you like.

[toyodaaddict]

Pretty clean runner you got. Its always cool to see another WA. toy on here   So what happened with the 3rz, they just forget to put oil in it?  All good now? who did the swap?

[SqWADoosh [OP]]

Pretty clean runner you got. Its always cool to see another WA. toy on here   So what happened with the 3rz, they just forget to put oil in it?  All good now? who did the swap?

No they did put oil in it. Just 2 quarts too little. NW Team Yota did it and I would not recommend them. They were great up until they had my money then they could give 2 shits about the problems I had. I ended up fixing the problems myself (exhaust leak, oil low, tough to shift, etc.)

[81 shortbed]

Subbed. Sweet truck!