Gatorgrl's Grand Gen2 4Runner makeover

Aka, sheshed

 

Heck yeah! I here you on the heat and humidity. I'm not a big fan of them either. I would love to have a shop like that. Plus having four seasons is awesome. Late fall and winter are my favorite. I hope it works out for you guys.

 

Today she is getting some needed new brake shoes in the rear. Those mountain roads did a number on her brakes I guess.

 

That’s the rim I’m going to go with too. I had similar ones on my 89 P/U. Wait those are 15’s?

 

Yes they are. 15x8 running 31s

 

Well they let me out of cyber prison finally. Not a big fan of having my 1st amendment trampled on, but whatever. Guess I can't be showing any more pics of my beloved 4Runner out enjoying herself with any flags on.
I have NEVER made a political statement on here, nor will I. That is all I have to say in this regard, not open for discussion.

This entire thread is about MY 4RUNNER...her trials, tribulations and fixes. I have enjoyed all of the support I have gotten from other members on here and think this is a great place.

She has now made 3 trips to TN and back while we finalize the warehouse acquisition. Just the other day, all of her back lights went out. No blinkers, no running, no reverse and no brake....dead Fred. The trailer plug was also dead. Has to be a short somewhere...just great. Kept replacing the 15amp fuse and it kept popping. Dismantle the back, pull the plastic sides away and there is was....one little red wire was pinched between the interior panel and the metal frame and eventually broke. Fixed this little wire and she is back to being ALL GOOD!

I will also mention while she was in the beautiful state of Tennessee, up high in the mountains, she did GREAT! No trouble climbing, no trouble in the snow and she even was doing 80mph on the interstates. We did, however, notice a new little quirk, when its cold, like freezing, the speedometer really screams for some distance until it warms up. It quite loud. Being from FL, it never gets that cold so we have never had this happen. Guessing the speedo cable needs to come out and either be replaced or lubed to quite it down. Its like driving around with a screaming baby in the dash.
Anyone else have this issue and a known fix?

 

Welcome back, i was wondering where you been. I thought you were just taking time off.

 

More like a forced vacation. Been busy packing all the same. Recently acquired a 2004 Ford E350 Super Duty 25ft box truck so I have been modifying it a bit....new lights, tires, radio, LED inside lights, etc. Got this to help with the big move since UHaul doesn't like you putting engines and motorcycles in their trucks.

 

The speedometer cable is prone to noises. My oldest son Blake's speedometer cable snapped on his 1990 3.0 Extra Cab SR5 2WD pick-up with 300K on the odometer. We have since replaced it. My 1991 now has 240K and when the morning is colder I can hear it squeaking if my Phonac Marvels are working properly! At first I thought it was a wheel bearing going out during a desert trip out near Borrego Springs. But know I know it is not because the wheel hasn't come off, LOL! My youngest son Bradley's 1990 4Runner is still hanging tough and no noises yet and he has to be close in mileage to my rig. So there are three examples. Also while your up inside the dash, if it was equipped with a manual 5spd R150F, the clutch pedal mounting bracket on the fire wall should get a good looking over for stress cracking, FYI.

Just so you know where I stand Gatorgrl, I can be counted as part of the 73 million and am quite ticked off!.......

 

Welcome back! Glad to hear the good news.

 

Thanks for the tip Parker. Working on the Ford today. If only Toyota made a super duty box truck.

 

Did have a funny exchange at the auto part store earlier today. I am wearing my Toyota 3.Slow Gang shirt and the kid behind the counter asked me if that was a band. Sad and funny all at the same time.

 

Yeah they do everything from slow rock to freeway jams.

 

If they play at black bear they do some rock & roll.

 

Well she does sing to me when its cold out.

 

Also have noticed she has some Mom squat going on now. We took her to TN to retrieve a transmission for the Rav. It was about close to 200lbs that we put in a metal basket and hung off the back of the Runner so it didn't make a mess inside. Well that basket was hanging low and when we took it off, she still isn't sitting right. Time to give her a butt lift.
Airbags or new springs?

 

Original springs?

I would do springs first. If you decide to use her is a tow vehicle regularly then add air bags.

 

IMHO i think the air bags might work best in your application, because of the adjustments of airing up or down. Some folks do not like air bags because of the possibility of leaking, springs on the other hand can be to rigid or to soft depending on your load.

 

Well I am now in FB jail for 7 days for referring to a female politician as a female dog. It was the nicest thing I could possibly say, whatever!

So I ordered a new radio for our newest acquisition....the E350 Box truck. Did you know it is practically impossible to find a single din unit with CD & Bluetooth that DOESN'T have a removable fuckin faceplate? I searched high and low on Amazon and thought I found a winner in an Alpine unit. I finally get it and open the box and there is it...the friggin faceplate detached from the unit! I HATE this feature and find it totally unnecessary. No one wants to break into my ride to steal a $120 radio. I could see the point maybe on some of the high ends ones, but seriously, this is not a high end unit. Guess I will just 3M tape the bitch in place. Don't feel like returning it and trying again.

Maybe its just me but I hate detachable face radios. End rant.

 

Hey don't sweat today like I've been saying I'll be just fine and will keep on grinding

 

Yeah a lot of alpine units have removable face plates so someone who breaks into your car can take the faceplate off to be a dick. No fucking way I am going to carry a radio faceplate around on the off chance someone breaks into my car to steal my radio.

 

Funny, I was thinking about this the other day and I figured removable face plates had gone the way of the '90's.

The cynic in me thinks it's really a ploy to sell more units - I bet more people lose or damage (when removed) their face plates, and I'm guessing buying a new one costs nearly as much as an entire head unit. Plus, I bet after 2-3 years the manufacturer magically no longer offers the face plate for your so-last-week head unit, meaning you're stuck buying new again.

Maybe I'm wrong....

 

Yes I definitely had a removable faceplate back in the 90s. I thought that they were extinct

 

J & B Weld it onto the head unit problem solved, LOL.
3.Slow Gang is a band, glad I'm 60 and am none the wiser for it.
I just installed new Pro Comp coils on the back of my 4runner. They are a free length of 19 inches which is a hand full to install and requires a spring compressor set for sure. But the rear end is now ready for the Blazeland A-arms. About 140 lb/inch rate and running at a ride height of 5" off the bump to about 3" of droop to the limit strap. Softer than the OME's , Edelbrock and perhaps even the Moogs.

 

Packing my shit for TN mid summer

 

Well we just made it back to FL from dropping off the first truck load to TN. Left behind in TN: the bus, the Camaro, 4 motorcycles and 2 mini bikes along with one small tool box and a giant heavy assed steel welding table that weighed around 2,500lbs. Not easy to move without equipment, but we managed it with a winch and a heavy duty floor jack.
The next load will likely be engines and tool boxes and various machinery along with one more motorcycle and my now fixed Rav. The Runner will be the last to go up with the furniture and household stuff.
She has developed a small oil leak. If we didn't have a Ferrari hogging up the lift (because the owner doesn't have room for it at his house), we would investigate but it looks as though it will have to wait until we get her up to our shop in TN.

 

Glad you were moving and didn’t get the ban hammer again.

 

Well, we have now made 3 trips up from SWFL to NETN with equipment, tools and some furniture. Hopefully should be completed in one last trip.

The Runner has developed a slight leak and we suspect it is the o rings in the block oil cooler. We replaced every gasket but the gasket set did not include these so we ordered them and a new circuit opening relay just because we can get them still. (better to have it and not need it) The one in there now is one we harvested out of the junk yard so I know we are on borrowed time.
Been busier than a one legged man in an ass kicking contest lately but making mad progress on the building and the giant move.
Not much new to report for the Runner...thankfully.

 

Wow! That is a lot of moving.

 

You've replaced so many parts on that 4runner it is practically a new vehicle hidden under an old skin. Anything related to the cooling system is critical because that engine is very temperamental when it gets even a bit hot. How many miles have you put on it?