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Kevin B's 1985 4Runner

Owners Name & City- Kevin B., Magna


Make, Model & Year of Vehicle- 1985 Toyota 4Runner SR5


Engine- 22RE, 261 cam, Thorley header, K&N filter


Transmission- Stock W56


T-Case- Stock case with 4.7 low range


Axles- Stock front w/spacers, IFS width rear


Differentials- 5.29s, Spartan locker in the rear


Suspension- 2" OME/Dakar lift and NitroCharger shocks.


Wheels and Tires- 255/85r16 KM2s on TRD alloys


Lights- IPF H4 conversion (Rigid Dually's waiting install)


Power- 140 amp alternator, Optima Redtop


Other-

DSCF0044_zpsb7e751fd.jpg




Just picked this up from Tacoman99 to replace my 1986 4Runner with a blown motor. Except for a few little bits I'll be transferring from my old rig, it's going to stay stock while I get it cleaned up and reliable and get to know it. It needs a new rear main and has saggy springs. It runs a little rough, I expect to clear that up with fresh gas, new plugs and wires, a little seafoam, etc. Tentative long term plans are OME/Dakar front and rear, 5.29s and my 255/85r16 KM2s, duals and/or 4.7 transfer case gears, and a locked rear. And probably a 3RZ swap :D.
 
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Kevin B.

Kevin B.

Not often wrong. Never quite right.
Moderator
Location
Stinkwater
Oh, get my stereo and speakers installed and get 12v working in the cabin again. Hopefully it's just a fuse, but with my luck that's not likely. :D
 
sixstringsteve

sixstringsteve

Well-Known Member
Location
UT
Kevin B. said:
FYTO is going to be iffy. I've got no time off between now and then and it's getting harder and harder to motivate myself to keep at it when I get home in the morning. Assuming that the head gasket is good, I still need to:

  • address the front springs - this will probably entail putting in the 3" lift springs I got from 83trailblazer and blocking the rear to level it, and then removing the block and reworking the front pack to lower it when I have more time.
  • change the front diff and trans fluids
  • throw on the KM2s (which means getting my wheel spacers from Steve).


    No way I'll have time to do all that before FYTO, we'll see how close I get. If I have to pull the head again, I probably won't make it.
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  • So you did find oil in your coolant? How can we help you get this beast ready for FYTO?

    Are those things that absolutely must happen? Or will it drive as is once the HG is fixed? FYTO is super mellow, no need for 4wd or a lift or anything (unless you'll have clearance issues with the stock wheels). I think I can run those spacers up to you one of these nights. I need to break my gears in, and that's a great excuse to put some miles on the taco.
 
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Kevin B.

Kevin B.

Not often wrong. Never quite right.
Moderator
Location
Stinkwater
I did find oil in the coolant. It could be oil that got sloshed down a galley when I swapped the head out - when I'm done chasing down this new coolant leak I just found, I'm going to flush and fill the radiator again. If I get more coolant, then I'll know I installed the gasket wrong and I'll have to redo it. If I don't, then I'm gonna drive it. Besides that, I do have to fix the front springs. They're at negative arch with a broken leaf on the passenger side, I can't take it far from pavement with the springs in that condition. I really should get the KM2s on, because I don't know how old the existing tires are (I should ask Brandon if he put these on, that'd be cool if they were newish) and more important I don't have a good spare in that size. And I don't know the age of the trans or front diff fluids - the rear was black and nasty, so I'm assuming the others could use freshed up too, but that's quick easy stuff. Everything else is optional.

I'd love help/company any day, but it's difficult to throw a wrenching party when all I've got is mornings :). I don't work Thursday night/Friday morning, so if I'm close by that point maybe I'll throw up the bat signal.
 
sixstringsteve

sixstringsteve

Well-Known Member
Location
UT
I doubt brandon did a thing to that rig.

Thursday night/Friday morning might work for me, we'll see where I'm at with my project.
 
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Kevin B.

Kevin B.

Not often wrong. Never quite right.
Moderator
Location
Stinkwater
sixstringsteve said:
I doubt brandon did a thing to that rig.
Click to expand...

I know for sure he did the clutch slave, it's brand new with fresh fluid. I forget what else he said he tinkered with. The tires that are on there now have great tread, the nobblies are still on the side. I just don't know how old they are.

Found my leak, coolant return line under the intake plenum. PIMA to get to, and it leaks even cranked down. I'm gonna have to get some RTV on it, and to do that I may have to pull the lower plenum. Again. Blech!

I took it around the block before I parked it to tear it down again this morning - it runs great and pulls strong. I provisionally take back everything bad I've said about the 22re, and apply it instead to that dog of an automatic transmission. We'll see if I still feel that way when I'm trying to turn 33s up Parleys. :D
 
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Kevin B.

Kevin B.

Not often wrong. Never quite right.
Moderator
Location
Stinkwater
Fixed the leak (long story), flushed the radiator, no new oil in the coolant. I'll feel better when it stops smoking, but maybe I somehow failed to screw up the head gasket after all. Wanted to lash the valves, but I'm up well past my bedtime, so that'll be tomorrow's chore. Then I'll take it for a drive and see if I can blow the rest of that crap out of motor and get it to stop smoking.

Smoking is bad for you.
 
sixstringsteve

sixstringsteve

Well-Known Member
Location
UT
How's it going? Any progress on the valves? Do you still need help Friday morning? I'm trying my best to be ready to help you by then.
 
Kevin B.

Kevin B.

Not often wrong. Never quite right.
Moderator
Location
Stinkwater
I'm starting to wonder if it's not valve tick at all - thinking about it when I went to sleep yesterday I got to wondering if it's an exhaust leak.

I really don't know about Friday. The big question mark now is if it passes emissions, because my temp tag runs out Thursday. I don't know any reason why it wouldn't, but I'm learning not to take anything for granted with this truck :). Assuming it does, I still need to get the valve lash right/fix the exhaust leak, repair a weeping brake line, figure out why I don't have 12v or a dash backlight in the cab, and do the front springs and shocks. And pack :D.
 
TRD270

TRD270

Emptying Pockets Again
Supporting Member
Location
SaSaSandy
Your more than welcome to ride with me if you want to go to FYTO without your ride, I have 2 open seats and a lot of bed space
 
Kevin B.

Kevin B.

Not often wrong. Never quite right.
Moderator
Location
Stinkwater
I appreciate the offer, but if I don't pass I&M I'll be in my driveway with my wrenches, teaching my boy how to swear. :D
 
Kevin B.

Kevin B.

Not often wrong. Never quite right.
Moderator
Location
Stinkwater
Did I say exhaust leak? Had exhaust tracks all over the nice fresh gasket, machine shop had to take just over a 1/4inch off the manifold. That killed most of my morning. Not looking good for FYTO, that time wasn't in my budget.
 
Kevin B.

Kevin B.

Not often wrong. Never quite right.
Moderator
Location
Stinkwater
Today I lashed the valves one last time, changed the oil, and then played exhaust manifold games. Tomorrow morning I replace the O2, button up a weeping brake line, and take it in for I&M. If it passes, then maybe we're on for Friday. Maybe. Once I get the front springs on it'll be too high in front, and I'll have to figure out how to level the rear. Running out of time :(.
 
TJDukit

TJDukit

I.Y.A.A.Y.A.S.
Location
Clearfield
Autozone lift blocks to get you through until you can find the springs you need for the rear. Cheap solution. While I don't like lift blocks they aren't going to be terrible with your application for the short term.
 
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