WTHIJ's '87 4Runner

[WhereTheHellIsJames?]

I was holding out for a good deal on a later model Tacoma to replace my 1995 Taco, but a neighbor was selling this 4Runner and I was getting sick of the crummy Saab that my buddy loaned me. I've thought about a 4Runner before, and although I was really looking for something newer (like 15-20 years newer), for some reason I bought this thing.

Basic details: 1987 SR5 model, 140k, red (badly faded) w/gold stripes & gray interior, factory steel wheels, 22RE / 5speed, very straight.

First things first will be a top to bottom cleanse (looks like it's been a few YEARS), wheel/tire upgrade to Toyota alloys from a late 90's Taco, gold "80's-rrific" stripe removal, and a thorough cut-n-rub job on the paint.

Pictures to follow within the next few days after I get it spiffied up a bit.

If anyone has good advise on how to bring back the color on the red fiberglass top, please feel free to advise!


:Mechanic:

 

[BKCowGod]

talk to boat people - they know how to deal with fiberglass.

Congrats on the purchase. I need another car like I need a steaming pile of elephant crap on my front lawn, but I still watch craigslist for those things.

 

[tdesanto]

James, looking forward to watching the progress. That seems like a nice find.

 

[FourByLand]

Very cool!

Will this be a build or a commuter since it replaced the Saab?

 

[Cackalak Han]

WOw, 140k? Nice pick up. Post some pics of it.

 

[4Rescue]

Welcome to the 1st Gen 4Runner club mate!!!

They're fun little trucks for sure. They feel like "mini-Cruisers" if you will (the hood kind of reminds me of looking out over the HJ75's bonnet so I like it )and will go lots of places they probably shouldn't even in stock form. I've got nothing for ya on the top, I'm lucky enough to have a Grey truck with a black top that has sort of morphed into a grey-sih black and, well, it looks fine to me.

I'd have a search over on Yotatech.com just because they have a ton of info on these trucks and Toyotas in general once you sort through the less intellegent board trash... It's not as bad a Pirate, but it's not teh Expo either...

The other indespensable knowlege base on the web is 4crawler.com this guy (Roger Brown if you're not already familliar with him) has done alot of work on his and home built alot of things as well as lay out some good common-problem trouble shoot's (the back wondow can be maddening if it's not working all the time, ask me how I know ) I seem to think that there's a body repair section for some reason... not sure.

Now we need pictures fo this little beauty.

Cheers

Dave

 

[toy_tek]

Hey James - Jon here, we met while talking with SOAZ Tim and Chris Cole a couple weekends ago...

Anyway congrats on your new Toy. This will be fun to follow for me as I had an 87 pickup with basically the same specs as yours. I did a lot of maintenance to it - including rebuilding the engine. That truck and I had a lot of fun - sometimes I miss it! Does yours have A/C?

 

[irish_11]

I've got an 88 myself and Im in the same boat with the top. If you can find a solution I'd be all ears. Im thinking of just painting the top black Ive seen that done before and it doesnt look too horrible with the red.

 

[Martyn]

James

One of our customer had the paint on his 80 rejuvenated I'll ask him to e mail you and let you know how they did it.

I think the 4 Runner would look good with a set of composite drawers in the back

 

[dieselcruiserhead]

Congrats James! I have a set of these that I'd sell for super bro deal hookup if you want...

 

[elcoyote]

The 22RE is a great power plant. I had one in my Celica amny moons ago. With a little bit of love you'll end up with a nice reliable rig.

 

[Skim]

Keep the 80s stripes, or replace them with repops.

It makes the older rigs stand out.

I am replacing mine with repops, along with the fake leather wrapped steering wheel.

 

[WhereTheHellIsJames?]

Keep the 80s stripes, or replace them with repops.

It makes the older rigs stand out.

I am replacing mine with repops, along with the fake leather wrapped steering wheel.

After removing most of the stripes (which were faded, cracked, and otherwise crummy looking) I have been thinking the same thing... some sweet stripes would look super cool! I found these reproduction stripes (they have a LOT more too), do you have any other leads? $250 for a set of gold stripes seems a bit steep- I was thinking I could justify about half of that.

James

I think the 4 Runner would look good with a set of composite drawers in the back

Umm.... You do have my address, let me know if you need dimensions. :sombrero:

Very cool!

Will this be a build or a commuter since it replaced the Saab?

Now lets not get things wrong here- the Saab was NOT mine! It was a crummy loaner that lasted all of the three days between my return from Prescott last week until about a half hour after I bought this 4Runner. I've driven a lot of crummy cars, but seriously, this Saab takes the cake- it was hands down the lousiest car I've ever driven... I felt like some college guy who was working part time for a non-profit or something whenever I drove the thing. I should post a picture (it's that bad).

To answer your question though, the 4Runner will be a mild build that is practical for a DD as well as getting out. The main focus will be updating the rig with some conveniences, increasing reliability and protection, while at the same time leaving it looking pretty close to stock from the outside.

 

[Bergger]

Congrats! I just bought an 87 turbo 4runner a few weeks ago. I had to leave the country only 7 days after buying it but will be back soon to start working on it. I can't wait to see some pics of yours. First it's off to Irbis Offroad for a complete go through on the mechanics then some body and paint work. I too have been going back and forth on the paint. I was thinking a factory color and redoing the retro decals but the wife is thinking something bright and loud to make it stand out. Any ideas on either idea?Any way enjoy the truck. On the few times I was able to drive mine so far I loved it.

http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=26100&highlight=1986+4runner

 

[WhereTheHellIsJames?]

Things are coming along pretty well so far. I picked up a set of 15" Toyota alloys off of craigslist for $150, and they even came with some decent tires on them! I bought them from a guy who had picked them up for his late model 4Runner, but didn't realize he needed 16" rims to fit his front brakes- his loss, my gain I guess.

I spent a couple of days of elbow grease and about $40 worth of 3M products...

...and turned the 23 year old faded paint and broken down factory gold striping into this:

Needless to say, I'm pretty happy with the end result! :victory:

I've also been busy cleaning out the interior. I'm not sure that the folks I bought this truck from ever cleaned out the inside- dog fur, old fries under the seats, sweets and goodies from the last two decades, old pennies stuck to various parts of the interior with copious amounts of random stickiness... on top of that, the interior really smelled. I stripped the interior, gave it a good thorough cleanse, poured baking soda all over the carpets, seats, floormats, etc, then vacuumed. It took 2 times of doing this and several hours of the interior sitting covered in baking soda to get all the smells out, but now it's all put back together, odor free, spotless, and pretty much looks like it did in 1987 when it left the Toyota dealer.

Again, if anyone knows how to get some color back in to the fiberglass top, I'm all ears.

More to come soon.