This Awesome 1985 Toyota 4Runner is a Dream Realized
This 4Runner project has only been underway for about six months, but progress has been swift, and it looks fantastic!
If Jacob had known what he was in for when he bought this 1985 Toyota 4Runner, he wouldn’t have pulled the trigger. Because the rig came all the way from Alabama to California, and even for vehicles nearly four decades old, the Golden State is maddeningly strict about emissions. But Jacob had wanted a first-generation 4Runner since he was a kid, and with his 1966 Volkswagen Beatle and 1995 Toyota Pickup sold, he was ready to take the plunge.
Fortunately, while he bought it sight unseen, and getting a factory vacuum system installed — thanks California! — was no picnic, the truck was in pretty good shape overall. Most importantly, the rust-prone rear fenders had already been repaired, and the only remaining problem area was around the windshield. In a prescient move by a former owner, the frame and undercarriage had been rust protected years before, so the bones of the 4Runner were solid.
In the six months since he got the little Toyota, Jacob has already done a ton of work. First, the original 22RE engine has been rebuilt, and every sensor is OEM. So with only 650 post-overall miles on the clock, the legendary little mill is ready for another lifetime of use. Like a proper enthusiast, he’d have preferred a stick, and while a transmission swap isn’t off the table, the automatic is full of fresh fluid and functioning perfectly. So there’s no rush.
Additionally, the brake system has been fully rebuilt, the sway bar has new Prothane polyurethane bushings, and the steering stabilizer has been replaced. He’s made some improvements to the interior as well, as the cargo area has been fitted with new carpet, and the rear window now goes up and down as it should. The windshield has also been resealed, which should keep everything inside nice and dry.
As with any project, Jacob still has a list of things he wants to do. Chief among those are replacing all the bushings and wheel bearings, swapping in new shocks, and installing a 2-inch lift. He’d also like to put in sound deadening for the cabin, and get the air conditioning working again. Given how hot the summers in California have been of late, here’s hoping he’s able to get that last bit sorted in the next few months — otherwise, it’ll feel like a sauna come May.
At this point, Jacob is still net-positive with his project, but since he intends to keep it forever, that’s not a huge concern. Head over to this Reddit thread for even more details on this awesome 4Runner, and if you have any sources for OEM plastics, let him know. I’m sure he’d love to have new cargo panels to match the sharp-looking carpets!
Photos: Jacob