Day 1 of eBay 1995 4Runner adventure. Me, Houston. Car, Denver.

Ya welcome home ! She didn’t let you down on a long run. Beauty !

 

Great story!!.
Next, change the spark plugs and wires. Get yourself a gas cap cover to prevent thieves from draining you out. Yes, get some Factory aluminum 15" wheels. Ride looks great to me!!

 

Not to shabby! Wish I could get a find like that in NY where I am.

 

No joke I was hoping you were all good on that drive home. When I got the notification when I logged on I was like. Oh boy I can’t wait to read the latest status. It is good to hear that you made it back safely and are loving the 4Runner. Glad to hear the Mrs. is coming around.

 

I did the same thing... I went to Arizona to grab my 4runner I got off eBay. And drove it all the way back to Houston too. Now I am slowly restoring it and I daily it. Looks good man!

 

@JEQ5173052 Thanks for the reply. Mines is going to be a daily driver as well after I get the A/C sorted out. I will also need wheel bearings replaced and I have some slight oil leaks; valve covers and oil pan. I need to prioritize and figure out what I think I can do?
A/C is a no. Midas is currently doing the work. Wheel bearings? YouTube makes it seem easy.

I actually liked the drive back. No regrets. Hope your trip was uneventful?

I also want to clean/degrease the undercarriage and repaint frame, suspension and the like. I did that with an old Grand Wagoneer and it always impressed the guys at Jiffy Lube.

Thanks,
Jones

 

Well just with the way the engine and dash board looks... You got a good deal on it. Bearings are somewhat easy, I did mine... Do you have a press? Yeah fix thing to do is do a walk around and make a list of the things you need, then want... And just work your way through them. That's what I'm doing. But word of advise... Go with Japanese OEM bearings not the ones you find in Auto zone etc.

 

Nice truck! Here's a suggestion - based on the photo above, the hood lift strut kit sold by @SpikerEng on Tacomaworld for the 1st gen Tacoma looks like it would work on your truck. No more hood prop rod! He also makes a 3rd gen 4R kit, but seeing how the sides of the fender rails are, the 1st gen Tacoma kit should work.

https://spikerengineering.com

 

Thanks for the prioritization and wheel bearing advice as well as the link to Spiker Engineering. I reached out to Spiker and if the product fits then I will purchase. Thank you!!!

Oh! I do not own a press however will need to collect more tools so I can perform more of the work on my own.

I have two weeks off starting in a week so getting the garage and truck sorted is a priority.

Currently Midas is having issues with the high/low pressure hoses fitting to the compressor. They are looking at other sources for the lines. The previous owner living in Idaho and Colorado said he never used the A/C. Here in Houston? Yeah, It is mandatory.

I saw this excerpt in an article today and feel slightly better about the $1700.00 I've spent to date over my eBay winning bid.

"The average cost for a 1995 Toyota 4Runner is roughly $12,000, but this varies immensely based on the car's mileage and overall maintenance."

 

If Leon @ Spiker Engineering thinks the 1125S struts I received but didn't use after all will work on your hood, and he is willing to just sell you the hood and fender brackets and rivets, you're welcome to them for the cost of mailing them to you from Albuquerque.

 

@glwood54 Thank you sir! I will ask Spiker engineering. Thanks again. Jones

 

2nd gens have a interior pull latch to open/lock the gas door.

 

Hi and thanks!!! Mines is missing the fuel door. The spring and latch mechanism are all there and I can sort of tell where the latch was glued to the fuel door however it has gone missing. I imagine I can search the eBays for a replacement? I've seen a thread on this forum about replacement filler doors.
My vehicle has been in the shop since this past Wednesday for a replacement A/C compressor and high/low pressure lines. Its the lines that the shop appears to have difficulty sourcing. I've reached out to SPIKER Engineering about hood struts and they have responded saying I need to send pics of inner fenders and hood to see if their existing kits will fit with or without mods.

Thanks again for all the support,
Jones

 

Next time I see a red 4runner in LKQ... I will scoop a fuel door up for ya.

 

Thank you!!! And good morning.