The Wife Runner

Discussion in '4Runner Builds' started by Dalandser, May 20, 2021.

  1. May 20, 2021 at 9:18 PM
    #1
    Dalandser

    Dalandser [OP] ¡Me Gustan Las Tacos-mas!

    Joined:
    Feb 19, 2015
    Member:
    #149090
    Messages:
    16,692
    First Name:
    Anthony
    Downey
    Vehicle:
    08 PreRunner Regular Cab / 98 4x4 Extra Cab
    Empty Wallet Mod
    Scoured Offerup and other social media posts now for months. Hoped for a 96-98 4x4 auto with the e locker. Missed one in San Diego for $8500. Last night went to look at one and didn't go for it, but there was this one:

    upload_2021-5-20_21-14-23.jpg
    upload_2021-5-20_21-14-39.jpg

    Has been owned by a Toyota tech since 2002. I paid more than $3k less for it than the Limited I looked at that night. I figure any aftermarket locker will be better and much cheaper and the SR5 package fits my preference with a super clean cloth blue / gray interior, J-shifter, etc. No issues on inspection other than a busted CV boot on the passenger side. It's for my wife (Beck).
     
    Kwikvette and Tour991 like this.
  2. May 20, 2021 at 9:41 PM
    #2
    Dalandser

    Dalandser [OP] ¡Me Gustan Las Tacos-mas!

    Joined:
    Feb 19, 2015
    Member:
    #149090
    Messages:
    16,692
    First Name:
    Anthony
    Downey
    Vehicle:
    08 PreRunner Regular Cab / 98 4x4 Extra Cab
    Empty Wallet Mod
    Had it for about a month and decided my vacation was the perfect time to freshen things up beginning with the engine.

    [​IMG]

    Had a guy try and pass off one with worse compression than my current engine and wasted a good deal of time on that so I had to act quickly to find another and this is where I got one from haha :-(

    [​IMG]

    Blessing in disguise - plucking the engine out of my can o' worms allowed for some deep improvements on it, and also was able to get the 4runner runnin again. Installed new King ext length co's, OEM rack, OEM Tacoma outer tie rods and lbj's, Tundra BBU (Callahan kit off Amazon), and Solo tube uppers and fabbed lowers.

    upload_2024-2-11_2-48-55.png

    Wife learned how to drive and it grew a little on me too (she grew up in a mega-city where no one drives lol).

    upload_2024-2-11_2-53-32.png

     
    Last edited: Feb 11, 2024
  3. May 20, 2021 at 9:42 PM
    #3
    Dalandser

    Dalandser [OP] ¡Me Gustan Las Tacos-mas!

    Joined:
    Feb 19, 2015
    Member:
    #149090
    Messages:
    16,692
    First Name:
    Anthony
    Downey
    Vehicle:
    08 PreRunner Regular Cab / 98 4x4 Extra Cab
    Empty Wallet Mod
    Fast forward a year and low and behold, someone crossed traffic in front of my wife:

    upload_2024-2-11_2-58-10.png

    Insurance blamed the other driver. That said, no way was I going to rely on this tissue paper thin excuse for a bumper anymore. First thing was moving the turn signal bulb to the corner lights temporarily.

    Started by rebuilding the radiator body mounts because they got a little tweaked by the accident.

    upload_2024-2-11_3-11-53.png

    Pulled something else off my Tacoma:

    upload_2024-2-11_2-59-40.png

    Now missing a bumper and an engine lol

    upload_2024-2-11_3-0-46.png

    I didn't like the whole bumper look on the 4runner. Found a replacement bumper on OfferUp for $65.

    upload_2024-2-11_3-2-31.png

    Luckily it was a chrome bumper painted with a rattle can and I was able to get the paint of with acetone.

    upload_2024-2-11_3-3-29.png

    Rebuilt the bumper into a pushbar:

    upload_2024-2-11_3-5-4.png

    Added a couple tubes going out to the sides of it.

    upload_2024-2-11_3-9-17.png

    upload_2024-2-11_3-9-47.png

    upload_2024-2-11_3-7-20.png

    Looks better imo. Still have to return the turn signals to the bumper, but I will put the the stock lenses back on minus the big honking halogen unit. I'll make a bracket with durable trailer marker led's behind them so it will still look stock, but better amount of space behind them for the side tubes. Been rubbing it down with WD40, perhaps one day I'll paint it haha.
     
    Last edited: Feb 11, 2024
  4. May 20, 2021 at 9:42 PM
    #4
    Dalandser

    Dalandser [OP] ¡Me Gustan Las Tacos-mas!

    Joined:
    Feb 19, 2015
    Member:
    #149090
    Messages:
    16,692
    First Name:
    Anthony
    Downey
    Vehicle:
    08 PreRunner Regular Cab / 98 4x4 Extra Cab
    Empty Wallet Mod
    Replaced rear bearings when an axle seal began leaking. Machine shop pressed them and looked good using the grease test ala' t4r.org gurus.

    upload_2024-2-11_3-22-56.png

    upload_2024-2-11_3-23-19.png

    New brake shoes and added a stainless rear line. Amazing how well it brakes with the Tundra BBU up front and all stainless braided hoses.

    Started refreshing the rear (all original factory) suspension. Figured SPC lower arms were a good enough price, it was worth it to not have to go through the hassle of paying a machine shop or messing around with a mapp torch and added gussets "while I was in there."

    upload_2024-2-11_3-29-12.png

    upload_2024-2-11_3-29-32.png

    Got a good deal on used OME springs and used King OEM clicker replacements (I was going to be making some mounts for outboard shocks, but couldn't pass up the deal and thought of all the time it saves for the Tacoma).
     
    Last edited: Feb 11, 2024
  5. Feb 11, 2024 at 3:31 AM
    #5
    Dalandser

    Dalandser [OP] ¡Me Gustan Las Tacos-mas!

    Joined:
    Feb 19, 2015
    Member:
    #149090
    Messages:
    16,692
    First Name:
    Anthony
    Downey
    Vehicle:
    08 PreRunner Regular Cab / 98 4x4 Extra Cab
    Empty Wallet Mod
  6. Feb 11, 2024 at 3:32 AM
    #6
    Dalandser

    Dalandser [OP] ¡Me Gustan Las Tacos-mas!

    Joined:
    Feb 19, 2015
    Member:
    #149090
    Messages:
    16,692
    First Name:
    Anthony
    Downey
    Vehicle:
    08 PreRunner Regular Cab / 98 4x4 Extra Cab
    Empty Wallet Mod
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