Soobarubin's 1987 4Runner Build up/Expedition thread!

[Soobarubin]

(Copied my thread over from YT because it's pretty expeditionary too)

This has been a long ongoing project, and I just now have decided I have done enough work on my truck to start a build thread on it, and I will update it as I go, so here it goes! :drink:


In June of 2009, I got tired of my little tired 86 4wd Subaru, so I looked and looked and found this little gem, kind of! But for $500, I couldn't pass it up!
I have/had a lot of plans for the Runner, ultimately for it to be a rig I can drive way out into the woods, and live out of it for extended periods of time!

-Here it is the first minute it sat in my driveway, with some 31" snow tires the guy took back, a small engine miss, and some minor body damage!

-And shortly after he gave me the old tires on it, I painted the sheet metal fenders black, debadge the front, and paint the grill black!

-My father and I traced down the engine miss to what we thought was an old stretched timing belt, and in the process of putting the front end all back together, we managed to send all the pistons up into the valves...
Then I decided at 226xxx miles on her, she needed a refreshed heart, one with a titanium valves, broad range cam, 9.3x1 KB racing pistons, and a few other cool things. And this is what the transplant looked like after 4 months of work!

-Got tired of the balding little 235's on it, so I bit the bullet and ordered 4 31" Kumho Road Venture SAT's, had them installed, and haven't looked back since!
(Don't mind the bad sag, that will be addressed here real soon!)

-After the tires not much happened for a while, got the front clipped at a friends house, whoever it was never confessed...

-I do a lot of hunting so it is off road quite a bit, and with open diffs, this is as far flexed I could get or cared to get in -10F!

-Got the interior, my "cockpit" set up pretty nicely, iPod mount, Garmin, sticky pad for my phone etc, CB (out of the picture) and some various other gadgets!

-And then spring break 2011 arrived, I had come into money suddenly (tax return) so I decided, while I'm on family vacation in Oregon, I'll order some suspension "parts!"
Here is a very good before comparison picture, pictured with my other daily driver, the Kona...

And now I plan on keeping you hangin for at least a day while I prepare my pictures for viewing etc, and I don't throw everything all out at once, this is an ongoing build thread dontchaknow! :camp:

Hope I didn't bore you too much!
Thanks for readin!

-Jaren

 

[4RunAmok]

After the tires not much happened for a while, got the front clipped at a friends house, whoever it was never confessed...

Now your bumper looks like every other 80-something Toyota! The exact same part was missing on my 82 P/U and 3 of my friends 80's trucks as well!

Other than that! It looks great!

 

[toyota_jon]

Now your bumper looks like every other 80-something Toyota! The exact same part was missing on my 82 P/U and 3 of my friends 80's trucks as well!

Other than that! It looks great!

lol amen to that I ripped that plastic bit off my first summer of wheeling mine. Didn't even flinch, it's going to get an upgraded bumper anyway right? Nice to see another 1st gen!

 

[corax]

titanium valves, broad range cam, 9.3x1 KB racing pistons, and a few other cool things. And this is what the transplant looked like after 4 months of work!

-Jaren

That's a pretty engine, how's it run with your upgrades? I remember embarrassing an A4 Quatro stoplight-to-stoplight with the Toyota p/u I had before the 4runner - that one had .080" over 10:1 Wiseco forged pistons, Comp cam, port/polished head, polished/lightened rods and was balanced/blueprinted - the 22RE can be a decent runner if it's set up right.

 

[Soobarubin]

So last week I decided I was very tired of having maybe 2 inches of up travel in my rear leafs...
I got in touch with "kratter" on eBay, very nice guy, and ordered 2, 14" tall 150psi coils! While doing some research, I didn't see many guys using the 150lb springs, but I decided since I have a box/drawer system dealio in the back of my 4Runner that weighs 60+- lbs and has about 50lbs of gear in it, I'll order some stiff coils!

-Here is the distance between bumpstops, this is on jackstands so it had maybe a millimeter more, probably not though.

Sorry I didn't get any before measurements, I just wanted to get this thing the heck done!
-Chose these stiff coils because I have this setup in the back, normally more than 2 people, and guns/camping gear/other nonsense, and am looking to haul a trailer this summer!

-I pulled the sawzall out, and did work! The first coil was a little more tricky, but by the second one, with the help of a pump jack, and a scissor jack, these popped mostly right in with a little BFH work!

-Once I got the right side coil in, the left went smoothly!

Hey look an overload spring! I thought those were a myth made up to make kids think these trucks had suspension in the rear? Who knows.
This is at full maximum droop I could get the leafs to go, they compressed nicely.

-I pulled it outta the garage, and this is the sight that greeted me!

I was pretty excited about it, course I had to take it off road, closest dirt road is about a third of a mile from me!

-So on Sunday, I decided to address the front suspension, it also had little to no travel. Pulled the stock shocks, put my new monroe's I ordered up next to them.

-Took maybe 30 minutes to replace both sides, pulled it outta the garage, and this is the final ride height after the weekend!

More updates here real soon! :costumed-smiley-007

-Jaren

 

[Soobarubin]

That's a pretty engine, how's it run with your upgrades? I remember embarrassing an A4 Quatro stoplight-to-stoplight with the Toyota p/u I had before the 4runner - that one had .080" over 10:1 Wiseco forged pistons, Comp cam, port/polished head, polished/lightened rods and was balanced/blueprinted - the 22RE can be a decent runner if it's set up right.

Man the engine, after a carb head was put on first by the machine shop, a knock sensor fiasco, and finally just putting a new 053 Ignition module in it, she runs like a dream! Pulls good, but as I've said before, it's still a 4cylinder in that size of a vehicle! :snorkel:

lol amen to that I ripped that plastic bit off my first summer of wheeling mine. Didn't even flinch, it's going to get an upgraded bumper anyway right? Nice to see another 1st gen!

I was very happy when I first got mine because the front end all looked good, and for a while I was going to order the corner plastic piece from rockauto, like 3 bucks? But I decided to just leave it for now, and I'll deal with that when it needs it!

At the moment I'm pricing metal to build a nice stout brush guard that I can mount lights, and some other special stuff to. Soon, once that's done, limb risers!
Thanks guys!

-Jaren

 

[4Rescue]

Good lookin truck mate. I'm lucky, I still have my bumper ends. If you want, you can have mine when I get my tube bumper on (you can have the whole bumper for all I care if you want) Glad to see another 1st Gen. Corax, Laoutback and I all have them and love them I'm sure there are more of us, but their names escape me. SAid it 1,000,000 times, but these are litteraly one of THE toughest, best 4wd's ever offered in N.America... Underpowered, sure, but built like tanks and the WB is PERFECT for mixed terrain. Mine's set-up with no back seats (mostly just me and the Fiance) and we sleep back there so it's a little different. I like the way those coils came out thouhg. I've seen that done alot over on Yotatech (I'm Diesel_Freak over there) everyone call's it the ZUK-MOD... I went with OME springs and BJ spacers and I couldn't be happier, but the coil mod looks to be a good cheap alternative to full spring packs. LOOKS GOOD man.

Daveindenver, Corax, Dieselcruiserhead, myself(sometimes) all have alot of knowledge base in these trucks (both runners and P/U's since they're all the same trucks) so any questions, or anything else, just drop a line.

Cheers

Dave

 

[PirateMcGee]

Good lookin truck mate. I'm lucky, I still have my bumper ends. If you want, you can have mine when I get my tube bumper on (you can have the whole bumper for all I care if you want) Glad to see another 1st Gen. Corax, Laoutback and I all have them and love them I'm sure there are more of us, but their names escape me. SAid it 1,000,000 times, but these are litteraly one of THE toughest, best 4wd's ever offered in N.America... Underpowered, sure, but built like tanks and the WB is PERFECT for mixed terrain. Mine's set-up with no back seats (mostly just me and the Fiance) and we sleep back there so it's a little different. I like the way those coils came out thouhg. I've seen that done alot over on Yotatech (I'm Diesel_Freak over there) everyone call's it the ZUK-MOD... I went with OME springs and BJ spacers and I couldn't be happier, but the coil mod looks to be a good cheap alternative to full spring packs. LOOKS GOOD man.

Daveindenver, Corax, Dieselcruiserhead, myself(sometimes) all have alot of knowledge base in these trucks (both runners and P/U's since they're all the same trucks) so any questions, or anything else, just drop a line.

Cheers

Dave

do you still have the lower valance?

 

[Soobarubin]

Good lookin truck mate. I'm lucky, I still have my bumper ends. If you want, you can have mine when I get my tube bumper on (you can have the whole bumper for all I care if you want) Glad to see another 1st Gen. Corax, Laoutback and I all have them and love them I'm sure there are more of us, but their names escape me. SAid it 1,000,000 times, but these are litteraly one of THE toughest, best 4wd's ever offered in N.America... Underpowered, sure, but built like tanks and the WB is PERFECT for mixed terrain. Mine's set-up with no back seats (mostly just me and the Fiance) and we sleep back there so it's a little different. I like the way those coils came out thouhg. I've seen that done alot over on Yotatech (I'm Diesel_Freak over there) everyone call's it the ZUK-MOD... I went with OME springs and BJ spacers and I couldn't be happier, but the coil mod looks to be a good cheap alternative to full spring packs. LOOKS GOOD man.

Daveindenver, Corax, Dieselcruiserhead, myself(sometimes) all have alot of knowledge base in these trucks (both runners and P/U's since they're all the same trucks) so any questions, or anything else, just drop a line.

Cheers

Dave

Thanks Dave! I've been a lurker for at least a couple years, so I'm not really a newb at all! I know these trucks out and in, been helpin my buddies but them for years!
Your truck was an inspiration for ride height for me man! I really love your set up!
I'm plannin on takin my truck to either Colorado or Alaska this summer, so I'm tryin to get things ready for that!
I might have to take you up on those bumper caps, pm me when you take them off and I'll let ya know?

Thanks!
-Jaren

do you still have the lower valance?

I actually have the lower valence from my Runner...

-Jaren

 

[PirateMcGee]

Thanks Dave! I've been a lurker for at least a couple years, so I'm not really a newb at all! I know these trucks out and in, been helpin my buddies but them for years!
Your truck was an inspiration for ride height for me man! I really love your set up!
I'm plannin on takin my truck to either Colorado or Alaska this summer, so I'm tryin to get things ready for that!
I might have to take you up on those bumper caps, pm me when you take them off and I'll let ya know?

Thanks!
-Jaren



I actually have the lower valence from my Runner...

-Jaren

ahem, if you want to get rid of it along with your bumper brackets and a passenger side pumper end, hit me up! I'll give em a good home.

 

[Soobarubin]

Man I was just through that part of Oregon too! But in all seriousness, I want to keep the passenger side plastic bumper corner piece and the brackets, I'll take a look at that valence and pm you cool?

-Jaren

 

[PirateMcGee]

works for me

 

[ZUK]

Nice job there on the coil install Soobarubin :ylsmoke:
You had alot of sag there going on.
I see you cut the upper steel stoppers short which I think is the only way to go. I imagine even with the 150 pounders that the ride is softer than you thought it would be . ZUK

 

[4Rescue]

Guy's I've got a lower Valance and a bumper in great shape with the corners that I'm willing to let go to a good home free of charge just to keep the Toyota love alive. Let me know if you want em Subarubin (as I originaly offered them to you) and Piratemagee the valance is yours if you want/need it as well. I'll let you know about the brackets when I get my front bumper all finnished and ready to go cause if I don't need them I'd rather they go to a fellow Toyota enthusiast AND an Expo'r first eh.

Soobarubin: Ya know mate, I spend ALOT of time in Idaho come the spring/summer months so in theory we could certainly meet up and go for a wheel and I could bring you the bumper if need be... I LOVE IDAHO. I'm a big rafter and Idaho is like my second home come the warmer months. My personal fav. spot is the Payette River Valley near Lowman, but were all opver really, Stanley, Orifinno on the Lochsa River, We alwasy come out I84 then up what 21 or 22 to Lowman so were down in the south end too... Not exactly sure where you are, but drop me a line and we'll chat mate.

Oh and THANKS for the com pliments on the Runner. She loves to hear nice theings said about her. I know I certainly LOVE these trucks for SO many reasons, glad to hear you're a big fan too eh. Again, thanks for the kind words.

Cheers

Dave

OH snap!!! Pirate, I didn't see you were down in K-Falls (love that area down there) that's great. I head down south quite a bit and I'll be down for a Rafting trip/Bachelor party on the Rouge river later in the spring (actually should know the dates here in a week or so) so if ya want I can pack the vallance and swing it by, I love an excuse to seperate from the herd heading home and poke around down there One of my favorite things to do is play "let's get lost" trying to get out to gold bar on all those twisty back roads up in the mountains down there. My family actually used to own mnost of the land in Wolf Creek and there are still some Kings down there that are my relatives. anyway, I'm just blabbering now eh.

 

[Soobarubin]

Nice job there on the coil install Soobarubin :ylsmoke:
You had alot of sag there going on.
I see you cut the upper steel stoppers short which I think is the only way to go. I imagine even with the 150 pounders that the ride is softer than you thought it would be . ZUK

Thanks man! I took a lot of inspiration from your website and writeups, thanks so much! I originally cut the stopper a little longer, and thought what the heck, I'll chop em way up, they are 14" long, they'll be fine! And the ride is great!

Guy's I've got a lower Valance and a bumper in great shape with the corners that I'm willing to let go to a good home free of charge just to keep the Toyota love alive. Let me know if you want em Subarubin (as I originaly offered them to you) and Piratemagee the valance is yours if you want/need it as well. I'll let you know about the brackets when I get my front bumper all finnished and ready to go cause if I don't need them I'd rather they go to a fellow Toyota enthusiast AND an Expo'r first eh.

Soobarubin: Ya know mate, I spend ALOT of time in Idaho come the spring/summer months so in theory we could certainly meet up and go for a wheel and I could bring you the bumper if need be... I LOVE IDAHO. I'm a big rafter and Idaho is like my second home come the warmer months. My personal fav. spot is the Payette River Valley near Lowman, but were all opver really, Stanley, Orifinno on the Lochsa River, We alwasy come out I84 then up what 21 or 22 to Lowman so were down in the south end too... Not exactly sure where you are, but drop me a line and we'll chat mate.

Dave

I love Idaho man! It's one of the greatest places I've ever visited, ever been to the Coeur D' Alene area? I live 10 minutes north of the city, and I love it! I've been around the Boise, and it would be way sweet to meet up/camp out! I'll have to see how things go as I'm putting together a "take my 4Runner to Anchorage" trip soon! Lowman is a ways away from me too!
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&sou...8788,-116.268311&spn=4.170098,14.0625&t=h&z=7

PM me whenever about whatever dude, always cool to talk with guys!
Take care!

-Jaren