'84 4Runner - Project Desert Rat

Pulled this '84 4Runner out of the desert last week. Introducing project Desert Rat

Should be a fun build, any input is welcome! You can follow on instagram @84_T4R

 

Great project starter! Love those old solid axle Toyota's. Enjoy your project.

 

Thanks man! Looks like we’re going to drop an RE in it this month. Once it gets running I’ll be diving in head first

 

Ok here we are a month after pulling the truck out of the desert. The truck is super clean with absolutely no rust. There’s a few dents and creases on the front fenders and passenger door. The interior... well that’s pretty close to shot. Anything plastic falls apart with the slightest touch. I’ve been able to get in and cleanup as much as I can so there’s at least not years worth of dust in every crack and crevice.

 

First thing we noticed when opening the hood was the 20r motor. The original motor was a 22r, so we’re thinking the original engine was blown and the last owner swapped an older 20r in the engine bay. The old owner also had the wiring harness spliced and cut about a million times.

So we decided to swap a 22re into the truck for that extra horsepower, simplicity, and reliability. My brother had a newly rebuilt 22re that he donated to the build. So with that we set off on the engine swap. This was going to take a new ECM and wiring harness.

Once I started pulling the wiring harness we found the last owner had (Very poorly) spliced in 4 different kill switches, multiple audio modification, electric door lock actuators, and who knows what else. Luckily I was able to source a replacement wiring harness thanks to the awesome 1st gen 4runner community

 

Also the paint is cleaning up really well with some rubbing compound.

 

Gave the dash a thorough cleaning while it was pulled, and got the 22RE sitting pretty.

 

Awesome! So glad to see another yota being saved and fixed up!

 

Getting closer! Should be running tomorrow

 

Very nice! Miss my '89.

 

Engine swap is done, deep cleaning the interior and putting everything back together.

 

Alright, big news!! The 4runner is officially registered, time to start having some fun!!!

I had the interior blown apart because I knew I’d be tempted to drive it before it was registered. I’ve been doing some of the finer details while I was sorting through dmv paperwork. Rebuilt the shifters with new bushings, insulated the cab and doors, and deep cleaned everything. Will spend the weekend putting the cab back together and taking the top off and taking ol’ girl out for some fun!!

 

Alright here she is! Top off and fully registered!

 

Great job

 

Thanks man! It's been fun, and I've learned a ton.

 

Wow!! I am impressed. The 4Runner has really come a long way. This is a project you really should be proud of and hopefully get to enjoy. I had an '87 4Runner for many years and the early 4Runners are a great vehicle to drive and enjoy.

 

Thanks man, I got really lucky with being able to find one that was so clean (under all the dirt). I'm having a blast cruising around in t!

 

The Desert Rat made its debut at the @yotatrader OC Yota Nights. Fun turn out.

 

New rubber and about 4 hours of wheel polishing later...

 

Been working on trim restoration as well, really happy with how everything is coming back to life! I was able to score a perfect condition inclinometer off FB for $100!!! Big come up on that one.
Also put in some shop time working on our rebuild of my uncle's 76 Trans Am Firebird Special Edition. He's the original owner