2nd Gen 4Runner Redo

[JDaniel85]

Well I have had this vehicle for a while, bought it a few years ago and been changing things as time and funds allow. Bought it from a fella in Virginia, came with some old MT mtz’s and extra parts in the back seat including gears. Truck has been manual swapped and was rust free. Already had a SAS but was lacking on things like shocks up front and had a home brew lift in the back with extended upper link arms to get the pinion angle right. And a track bar mount that was pretty ugly. Truck has the 3.0 V6 that I have been babying for the last 4 years and a 3.4 swap is coming in the next few weeks. I’ll be updating this thread as I go along and showing some stuff from the past and thing going on with it currently.

 

[JDaniel85]

So once I got the truck home I knew what I had in mind for this thing. I light wheeler that I could haul the family around in but still be able to take on some moderate rides when time allowed. I knew I wanted a winch and some bumpers so I waited for a sale and bought a smitty built 9500 lb winch with synthetic rope and a trail gear front bumper for starters. Did some horse trading and got a pair of 63” leaves for the rear along with a Low Range Off-road Chevy spring swap kit. Replaced the home brew front packs with OME medium duty leaf springs and longer shackles. Jumped on a deal for a Toyota gear drive single Tcase with a 4.7 low range gear set with the adapter already installed.

 

[Mac5005]

Awesome buddy. Every time I see this, it makes me want to get back to work on my 2nd gen

 

[JDaniel85]

Thanks man slowly tinkering on this thing. Still a long way to go yet.

 

[JDaniel85]

Getting ready for my 3.4 swap, and trying to get this engine a little cleaner. All the belts and top end gaskets are going to be replaced. Took the intake and calve covers off yesterday, cam loves look good and nothing abnormal looking. Took a wire wheel on a drill and cleaned things up primed and painted them gloss black.

 

[JDaniel85]

Last of the goods came in yesterday, so the surgery will begin pretty soon!

 

[JDaniel85]

Ok been working on this motor a little at a time. Got a new water pump and timing belt on. After a few rotations I notice that the marks on the belt for timing do not line up on the cogs any longer. Is this normal? They seem to move over a tooth on the crank and the cams after several rotations. Everything is in place and tightened as it should be. This is the first overhead cam engine I have worked on so I’m a little unfamiliar with how this is supposed to go.

 

[a_kelley]

Yes, marks on the belt will only align on install. The marks on the sprockets should still align with the ones cast/stamped into the head/block/cover/etc.

 

[JDaniel85]

Ok I thought that was the case thanks for the reply

 

[dlcrawler12]

looks great man, you have any more pictures post 63' leaf spring swap?