Isgro
Member
Good morning folks, My name is Matt. I stumbled across this site while doing a google search for outfitting ideas for my 4runner and I have to say, I'm thoroughly impressed. The amount of knowledge and ideas that I've come across here is awesome. It will surely be a great resource as a tweak and adapt my truck.
A bit of background on myself. I'm 25 years old and have been in and out of the off-roading community for the past 8 years or so. I'm also a big outdoor enthusiast (moutain biking, skiing, hiking, camping, kayaking, etc). I've had a wide array of vehicles that were in a wide array of states of modification (Mildly modified '00 Jeep TJ, heavily modified '94 Jeep XJ, slightly modified '89 Range Rover Classic, very slightly modified '05 VW Touareg). Throughout this time I have had the desire to have a capable 4x4 that I could use for camping and exploring without having to rely on having civilization close by. This brings us up to my current vehicle. It's a 1986 Toyota 4Runner SR5. I had known about this vehicle for the past 5 years or so and always admired it for its capability. When the opportunity to purchase it arose, I jumped on it. Its originally a Colorado truck and while it has 237,000 miles on the chasis, it has no frame issues whatsoever (rare for one of these trucks in New England). The body is solid, though it was dragged across some rocks by the PO, so it doesn't look too pretty. I'm going to clean up the surface rust, pull some lareger dents, etc come spring time. Here's a list of the specs...
- 5 speed manual
- Engine is a 22R short block, 22RE top end
- Marlin Crawler dual transfer case setup on Budbuilt cross member
- Lock Rite in rear axle, rear disc brake conversion
- Alcan rear springs, after market shackles and Rancho shocks
- 33x10.5x15 Swamper TSL radials
- 2" body lift, gas tank lifted
- Custom bumpers and rock sliders with winch receiver mounts front and rear
- 8000# Warn winch with winch rope, modular plugs front and rear
- PIAA driving lights front and rear
- Allpro Offroad t-case mounted e-brake
- Interior stripped and Herculined
- Yakima Load Warrior roof rack with center extension
I need to do some things to get her running right again. I just installed a new alternator and battery. The rear axles seals leak as do both of the pinions. I have a small coolant leak that I need to figure out and the grounds seem to need to be cleaned up as my winch plugs/switch are being difficult. Hopefully I can get this all resolved sooner than later. I need new synthetic winch rope as the stuff thats on the winch at the moment is worn a bit more than I am comfortable with (I had it snap on me last time I used).
I have a bunch of plans for this truck - I plan on cleaning it up a bit, cleaning up rust and painting as neccessary. I'm going to go through the mechanicals to be sure that the truck will be as reliable as I can make it. There are also a few specific projects that I have lined up for over the next 2 months - Half doors with soft uppers (similar to Jeep Wranglers) and a storage/sleeping platform build. Along those same lines I'll be working to come up with some sort of a privacy curtain/misquito net setup so I can have the windows open. I'll be sure to take lots of pictures as I go along and share them with you all. I'm also going to work on collecting the neccessary supplies (tools, jerry cans, spare parts, etc). Long term I'd like to get the truck up on 35" tires and swap in a solid front axle, though it might be more than I can afford for a while.
Anyway, I look forward to looking around here more and absorbing as much info as I can. I hope to be able to add some of my info as I go along.
Pics of the 4Runner...
A bit of background on myself. I'm 25 years old and have been in and out of the off-roading community for the past 8 years or so. I'm also a big outdoor enthusiast (moutain biking, skiing, hiking, camping, kayaking, etc). I've had a wide array of vehicles that were in a wide array of states of modification (Mildly modified '00 Jeep TJ, heavily modified '94 Jeep XJ, slightly modified '89 Range Rover Classic, very slightly modified '05 VW Touareg). Throughout this time I have had the desire to have a capable 4x4 that I could use for camping and exploring without having to rely on having civilization close by. This brings us up to my current vehicle. It's a 1986 Toyota 4Runner SR5. I had known about this vehicle for the past 5 years or so and always admired it for its capability. When the opportunity to purchase it arose, I jumped on it. Its originally a Colorado truck and while it has 237,000 miles on the chasis, it has no frame issues whatsoever (rare for one of these trucks in New England). The body is solid, though it was dragged across some rocks by the PO, so it doesn't look too pretty. I'm going to clean up the surface rust, pull some lareger dents, etc come spring time. Here's a list of the specs...
- 5 speed manual
- Engine is a 22R short block, 22RE top end
- Marlin Crawler dual transfer case setup on Budbuilt cross member
- Lock Rite in rear axle, rear disc brake conversion
- Alcan rear springs, after market shackles and Rancho shocks
- 33x10.5x15 Swamper TSL radials
- 2" body lift, gas tank lifted
- Custom bumpers and rock sliders with winch receiver mounts front and rear
- 8000# Warn winch with winch rope, modular plugs front and rear
- PIAA driving lights front and rear
- Allpro Offroad t-case mounted e-brake
- Interior stripped and Herculined
- Yakima Load Warrior roof rack with center extension
I need to do some things to get her running right again. I just installed a new alternator and battery. The rear axles seals leak as do both of the pinions. I have a small coolant leak that I need to figure out and the grounds seem to need to be cleaned up as my winch plugs/switch are being difficult. Hopefully I can get this all resolved sooner than later. I need new synthetic winch rope as the stuff thats on the winch at the moment is worn a bit more than I am comfortable with (I had it snap on me last time I used).
I have a bunch of plans for this truck - I plan on cleaning it up a bit, cleaning up rust and painting as neccessary. I'm going to go through the mechanicals to be sure that the truck will be as reliable as I can make it. There are also a few specific projects that I have lined up for over the next 2 months - Half doors with soft uppers (similar to Jeep Wranglers) and a storage/sleeping platform build. Along those same lines I'll be working to come up with some sort of a privacy curtain/misquito net setup so I can have the windows open. I'll be sure to take lots of pictures as I go along and share them with you all. I'm also going to work on collecting the neccessary supplies (tools, jerry cans, spare parts, etc). Long term I'd like to get the truck up on 35" tires and swap in a solid front axle, though it might be more than I can afford for a while.
Anyway, I look forward to looking around here more and absorbing as much info as I can. I hope to be able to add some of my info as I go along.
Pics of the 4Runner...
