SirDan's 4runner Build thread!

[sirdan]

engine temps have been staying where they should be since the fan install. The heat was still terrible after fixing the fan issue. I disconnected the heater core poured in some dollar store knock off CLR and let it sit for 30 minutes and then flushed for 45 mins. Now the heat is probably about 80% what it should be. I would have liked to let the CLR sit longer but I was short on time. I think the entire system needs a good flush but I think ill wait for spring to do that. Its been a week or two since I got the heat working decently and the heater hose cracked on me and is dripping out coolant. So now I have that to fix. At least I went over a week without issues. Hope everyone is having better luck than I am.

[sirdan]

I got some 5/8 heater hose from the parts store and fixed the leaking heater hose and the other one too. My throttle cable has been broken for a few years at the firewall. I had it zip tied to the heater hose which kept it the throttle from getting stuck but with the new non molded hose that wouldn't work. I had some of that pipe hanging stuff plumbers use so I cut a section bent it into a little L bracket I could zip tie the cable to. It seems to work pretty well and it was easy. I was going to get some fluid film to spray my frame/underside of the truck, they wanted 17 bucks for a can. PB blaster had their version for 7.99. Its supposed to be icy/snow tomorrow so I did my best to spray everything down. Hopefully things will stop breaking so I can start fixing some other things that are issues but don't prevent me from driving to work. 

[sirdan]

The heat it still meh, I think I need to flush the whole system in the spring. It was 10 degrees the other day the truck would only get up to 170 degrees, I wonder if I have a v6 radiator... Today was warm for a change so I finally put those wheel spacers on. I cleaned the flange up a little with a wire brush put blue loctite on the studs and torqued to 90 foot pounds. Hopefully they don't come off on me. The 2 inch spacers really widened the front a bunch and it should be within 1-2 inches of the rear end width now. Visually you can't really tell any difference. I am hoping it feels better in corners with matching track width. The spacers should put the wheels closer to the setup that was on it when I aligned it. These wheels sat in more and it seemed like I had more positive camber than I should have, which I have noticed in my front tire wear. I only took it up and down the driveway so ill find out when I drive it somewhere.


This was right after letting it down off the jack so the suspension has not settled so it has a lot of positive caster here.

[1933beer]

I love that toyota doesnt change the hub spacing so you cant use newer rims. I always wanted to put the trd rims on my 2002 4runner. My new taco is a trd sport with simular wheels as your 4 runner.

[sirdan]

So my heat sucks, the past time I tried to fix it, the heat worked good for the first drive to work then turned to shit. The coolant was brown again even though its been changed a few times. I think when I lived in florida I might have ran straight water for a while and rusted the block up a bit causing all this brown shit. Either that or someone put a fuckload of stopleak at some point. I've been meaning to do a proper coolant flush and finally the temperature was warm enough to do it.

I drained all the coolant and filled with water. Then drove to the parts store and back to get antifreeze/flush stuff. I drained the coolant hot and ran the hose directly through the heater core both ways until it ran clear. Then I added the flush chemical and water. I ran that for about an hour in the driveway. Then I opened the petcock hot and stuck the hose in the top of the radiator and just let it the truck and the hose run until it run clear. Let all the water drain out and filled with coolant. I also took the overflow out and blasted the hose in it for a while, it still had some shit in it but at least the loose stuff came off. The heat was working killer the whole time during the process and after filling with coolant. Hopefully now its clean enough that it wont clog up the heater core. It wasn't hard work but it took up half my sunday.

I'm pretty broke right now so my next fix is probably going to be fixing the drivers side door hinges. I think the repair kit is fairly inexpensive and my door panel is all messed up now from pushing the door open and its getting more annoying. I have to say the wheel spacers have made this thing handle great. I am taking turns that I would take at 45-50 that I now take around 60-65 and I could push it harder!

[sirdan]

Heat worked great for a day but, it sucks again.

I guess ill have to flush again.

[sirdan]

So the other day it was really nice after work. I looked at the coolant and it still looked brand new green, no crud on the cap either. I decided to just flush the heater core and see if that helped before I go and buy new coolant and flush again. I flushed the core out with water then soaked with vinegar for a brief period of time. The flushed again with water. Heat was weak on the way to work. After work the heat was non existent until I floored it then it came on hot like it should be for a minute or so and then became lukewarm again. the coolant is still a nice green so I think its clean now and just has air. I bought one of those nice funnels that goes on the radiator to get rid of air. If I was a wealthier man I would have done this already by the way. So hopefully this will solve the issue once and for all and if it doesn't I needed the tool anyhow.

[danf]

When I bleed the Celica, I always had trouble until I put the front on ramps and got the rad funnel that you mentioned.

[sirdan]

The funnel got a decent bit of air out. The heat went from blowing ice cubes to blowing barely warm. I guess ill call it good enough until we are no longer dealing with freezing temperatures. I think I am going to just run straight vinegar for a week of driving to get the cooling system clean once its warm enough. This truck has just been very frustrating since getting it back on the road. My leaf spring bushings shit out again, the moog ones lasted about 4 years. I went with a/c delco this time. I would have gone with poly ones but the wait was 6 weeks and we are metal on metal at this point so I'm not waiting. The drivers seat has also broken now. the back is cocked sideways and loose. Anyone got any seats for sale cheap? I think I could make almost any seat work but I need one that can tip forward or nobody can get in the back seat.

[1933beer]

Are you sure the valve that let coolent flow into the heater core is opening and closing when you have ot on heat? It could be all  corroded or plugged.

[sirdan]

yeah I've had both heater hoses unhooked with the valve inline still and hooked the garden hose up and there is no restriction there it flows free.

My leaf spring bushings showed up early, they are surprisingly made in japan. I hope to install them tomorrow.

[danf]

That's surprising. I wouldn't have thought much would be made in Japan anymore.

[sirdan]

Interestingly the old bushings said made in japan too. The old ones were moog, I went with ac delco since the moog ones didn't last. Not sure why they didn't hold up better maybe I torqued them unloaded like a moron?



Also a little mall crawler flex.

[sirdan]

I am considering going with 1st gen ford focus seats. There is a guy on facebook parting a 2 door with grey cloth seats. The rear seat bolts in similarish and the bottom tips forward so the top can lay flat just like the 4 runner. Then I could have a matched set of seats. The front seats I think are a good dimension the tracks will need work to fit. My dad has a focus 4 door I am trying to get him to measure the rear seat to see if the width will work. They are cheap to find used and aren't the coolest looking seats but also not the worst looking seats either.

My drivers seat is so messed up its hurting my back. The passenger seat bottom is blown out in the back, I don't think the rear seat is in the greatest shape either. So I think as long as the width is close enough these will be a good budget swap.

[sirdan]

So I did it I bought focus seats. Its about time I actually do a modification instead of general maintenance. I had my dad measure his sedan focus and the rear seat is around an inch or two smaller. Which I think will be ok. I tried to get the grey seats but they were sold. I looked a little further away and there was a nice set of SVT focus seats and I got them for $100 bucks!

The middle of the seat is cloth where the red part is. Its like a grey/black under color with red finely checkerboarded on top. The front seat bottoms have the red checkerboard wearing off but the fabric is fine. I'm wondering if I could get some spray paint for upholstery and spray it black or dark grey. ill have to make them fit first.