85' 4Runner build up thread

[wslytoy]

ok guys..... this is going to be a slow process, but here goes nothing. I've got an 85 4Runner that I paid $1500 for and a 3RZ that has been sitting in my garage just aching for a rebuild. I will update this as often as I can. I got a little bit of to do and I gotta spend a little bit o' , but it's gonna be worth it in the long run. My plans are as follows:

3RZ w/ LCE cams & header w. ORS 3RZ swap harness
R150 5spd w/ Marlin R-Series bellhousing & clutch
not REAL sure on a t-case setup just yet
86 IFS rear housing w/ V6 3rd
line-x the rear portion of the cab
Marlin front tube bumper/make my own rear bumper
Sliders
Re-paint
no more than 4" of lift(all suspension)
4.88's & lockers front/rear
33's, maybe 35's

That's really about it for now, I'm sure more will come as I get into things a bit deeper. The main issue is getting the 3RZ rebuilt now, so hopefully that'll go smoothly. Here's what I'm working w/



Hoping to have it running by August. I took the block, head, and crank to the machine shop yesterday.... so the rebuild process has officially begun!

[Valkyrie]

Subscribed.

That's got the makings of a great swap!

[exacto]

no cage after all those post and pics of people flipping?

[whitetaco02]

good luck with the build and I will be watching this thread closely!!

[jester_motorsports]

That's a great looking shell Wes. What a steal! I'll be anxiously awaiting the updates.

[wslytoy]

Originally Posted by exacto

no cage after all those post and pics of people flipping?

ha.... a cage? That'd be nice but my fab skills aren't up to par for a cage just yet.... My main most concern is getting the 3RZ in and running correctly. All the extras will come w/ time. I would love to have an interior cage, though... Only time will tell

[wslytoy]

Originally Posted by jester_motorsports

That's a great looking shell Wes. What a steal! I'll be anxiously awaiting the updates.

yeah and if you put some wax on it, the paint clears right up . It actually runs fine, the auto trans is EXTREMELY tired and slips like a son of a beach under load. However, the lil 4 popper in it cranks everytime and hasn't given me a minutes trouble. I just want more power, but keep simplistic at the sametime.

[KyleSGorter]

Originally Posted by wslytoy

yeah and if you put some wax on it, the paint clears right up . It actually runs fine, the auto trans is EXTREMELY tired and slips like a son of a beach under load. However, the lil 4 popper in it cranks everytime and hasn't given me a minutes trouble. I just want more power, but keep simplistic at the sametime.

cant beat the r series motors for reliability and longevity.

[Boheefus]

and out of fawking nowhere comes wes...

[wslytoy]

Originally Posted by Boheefus

and out of fawking nowhere comes wes...

LOL!

[wslytoy]

Rebuild kit has officially been ordered.... RPMmachine.com for $715 to my door, they took care of shipping. Sweet deal compared to LCE's $950 ! Man, my bank account is going to hate me

[TruckinT]

Originally Posted by wslytoy

Man, my bank account is going to hate me

Don't worry, the adrenaline makes up for it

[thehopping1]

Originally Posted by TruckinT

Don't worry, the adrenaline makes up for it

X2

[SAR_Squid79]

Originally Posted by Full_Tilt_Fud

1985 4Runner
Truck comes with lots of spare engine parts and a complete rear IFS axle that needs to be swapped on for better tire to body clearance (typical need of these trucks)

Originally Posted by wslytoy

86 IFS rear housing w/ V6 3rd

So this is the 2nd time that the mention of "IFS Rear" has confused me.

If it's IFS for the rear, isn't that IRS? ...and why would you want or need independent suspension in the rear and solid axle in front? What's the problem with the rear axles on these early 4Runners?

Can someone please explain all this to me?

[87forunner]

Originally Posted by SAR_Squid79

So this is the 2nd time that the mention of "IFS Rear" has confused me.

If it's IFS for the rear, isn't that IRS? ...and why would you want or need independent suspension in the rear and solid axle in front? What's the problem with the rear axles on these early 4Runners?

Can someone please explain all this to me?

the 86+ rear axles are around 3" wider than the 79-85 axles

[RedRunnertc]

The solid rear axles on the IFS trucks (86-95) are wider than those that came with the SFA trucks. Its an easy way to get a little extra width/stability (of course, it requires the use of wheel spacers or the IFS hub swap to get the extra width in the front to match)

[SAR_Squid79]

O K A Y ! ! !

So it's the rear (solid) axle off of the 86+ (which were IFS), therefore it's an IFS(series) Rear. . . Makes sense now!

I was envisioning that you crazy 4Runner guys were somehow modifying IFS setups to run as IRS. . . I was like WTF?!?!?!

SAMSONITE! - I was way off!

[TRoss]

Originally Posted by SAR_Squid79

O K A Y ! ! !

So it's the rear (solid) axle off of the 86+ (which were IFS), therefore it's an IFS(series) Rear. . . Makes sense now!

I was envisioning that you crazy 4Runner guys were somehow modifying IFS setups to run as IRS. . . I was like WTF?!?!?!

SAMSONITE! - I was way off!

Yea, got me a while back too... finally figured it out though...
Usually, if I hang with it long enough, the answer slaps me up side the head....it's usually not pretty.

[KyleSGorter]

Originally Posted by RedRunnertc

The solid rear axles on the IFS trucks (86-95) are wider than those that came with the SFA trucks. Its an easy way to get a little extra width/stability (of course, it requires the use of wheel spacers or the IFS hub swap to get the extra width in the front to match)

and not only just the width which is 3" over (which can be cured with all pro spacers if on a budget) but the tubes were bigger and stronger and the rear drums are considerably larger as well, I recall two inches larger, the 3rd is the same though I recall hearing that the housing is a different stronger material and is slightly thicker and heavier.

[TruckinT]

Originally Posted by KyleSGorter

and not only just the width which is 3" over (which can be cured with all pro spacers if on a budget) but the tubes were bigger and stronger and the rear drums are considerably larger as well, I recall two inches larger, the 3rd is the same though I recall hearing that the housing is a different stronger material and is slightly thicker and heavier.

The 3rd member on V6/IFS trucks is nearly identical and can be interchanged with a 4cyl 3rd. The main advantage is the V6 3rds have a much thicker and stronger housing along with a longer pinion gear. All this adds up to less R&P failure due to the beefier V6 3rd keeping the gears in much better alignment and reducing deflection by a lot.

I'm pretty sure 4cyl R&P's can be used in V6 3rds with no problem but you don't get the advantage of the longer pinion gear.

[John Doe]

You've got a good start and a great plan. Looking forward to seeing this pan out.

[wslytoy]

Originally Posted by John Doe

You've got a good start and a great plan. Looking forward to seeing this pan out.

Just need more money..... and less drinking on the weekends LOL! My motor is at the machine shop still, they're hella backed up right now, hopefully they'll be done this coming week. One problem, I over spent in my budget a little bit, and now I don't have enough for the LCE camshafts I was hoping for .... So the actual build up of the motor might have to wait a few weeks. Or I could always dip into my emergency fund for the extra $200 that I need for the cams, but Dave Ramsey might not approve of that .... I will have pics of the motor as soon as I get it back !

[im4u2nv]

Originally Posted by wslytoy

ha.... a cage? That'd be nice but my fab skills aren't up to par for a cage just yet.... My main most concern is getting the 3RZ in and running correctly. All the extras will come w/ time. I would love to have an interior cage, though... Only time will tell

You will love the 3rz in there. I have drove my 84 about 50miles since I got my 3rz swap up and running. The difference is huge. My 84 xtra cab has G52 5 speed, stock 4:10's and 37's. My 22r ran great but the only way I could run 4th on the hi-way is flat ground and there was no point to even have 5th. Last night I cruised down a 5 mile section of hi-way w/ease. And the fact that the 3rz runs so much smoother then the 22r. If you have any little questions PM me. I did the 10k ohm tach mod and it also worked perfect(checked w/OBD II scanner). Good luck on the project!

[wslytoy]

Originally Posted by im4u2nv

You will love the 3rz in there. I have drove my 84 about 50miles since I got my 3rz swap up and running. The difference is huge. My 84 xtra cab has G52 5 speed, stock 4:10's and 37's. My 22r ran great but the only way I could run 4th on the hi-way is flat ground and there was no point to even have 5th. Last night I cruised down a 5 mile section of hi-way w/ease. And the fact that the 3rz runs so much smoother then the 22r. If you have any little questions PM me. I did the 10k ohm tach mod and it also worked perfect(checked w/OBD II scanner). Good luck on the project!

I will have TONS of questions, don't worry . I'm waiting on a few more bucks to order my LCE cams and my motor will be ready for assembly. I'm hoping to have the cams ordered by this Friday.

My list of things I have left to order:
ECM
ORS wiring harness
motor mounts
accessories & belts
accessory brackets
LCE header
LCE crank pulley
A few misc sensors
3RZ flywheel and clutch kit
Marlin bell housing
Starter
Misc. vacuum hoses & spark plugs w/ wires....


That's not that bad, right? haha!

[im4u2nv]

Big list, good luck w/all that.

[ATLRoach]

Wes I suggest you find a R151F Trans that came out of the Turbo Trucks and 4Runners. They had a lower first gears(better from crawling) and you don't need an adapter since they came with a 23 spline inputs passenger side drop t-cases.

Also IFS rear axle also helps keep the tires off the frame. The 79-85 axles are known for cracking and impacting the tire into the frame.

[wslytoy]

Originally Posted by ATLRoach

Wes I suggest you find a R151F Trans that came out of the Turbo Trucks and 4Runners. They had a lower first gears(better from crawling) and you don't need an adapter since they came with a 23 spline inputs passenger side drop t-cases.

Also IFS rear axle also helps keep the tires off the frame. The 79-85 axles are known for cracking and impacting the tire into the frame.

well, I wanted an R151, but I found a R150 on ebay for $50.... you can't beat that w/ a stick. Of course, I don't know the current state of the transmission, but the outside is fairly clean and it seems to be in good shape. Only time will tell. After I get it up and running w/ the 3RZ, the IFS rear axle will be the next project!

[ATLRoach]

Well you will need an adapter to run gear driven t-cases there went another $400.

[wslytoy]

Originally Posted by ATLRoach

Well you will need an adapter to run gear driven t-cases there went another $400.

I know.... don't rub it in. I might just run a V6 t-case for now, b/c they're cheap and readily available. After I get the rest of the drive train and other stuff done in order to get it road worthy, then I'll worry about the t-case. This thing probably won't be trail worth until next summer

[wslytoy]

Just a small update..... LCE cams came in this past week, now I just need to order my oil pan parts, and the motor will just about be ready to go in, minus the accessories.

I'm having issues w/ damn near every electrician under the sun, for some damn reason.... No one wants to come hook up my 220V outlet that will be necessary to do this swap. It's pretty damn hard to weld when you have no power grrrrrrrr!!!! Hopefully something will get done this weekend. We shall see.