I bought this 88 base 4x4 pickup after it was wrecked and would of been for parts had anyone else got it. I tear down a ton of worn out and tired 4runners and pickups that need way more work than they are worth but I try to save them as much as possible. Even tho this truck reads 367k and the body is only decent I've decided to revive it and make it my shop truck and eventually an Ivan Stewart replica.

Here is a list of damaged parts:

Bumper
Hood
Fenders
Core support
Inner fenders
A/C lines
Condenser
Radiator
Fan shroud
Fan
Water pump
Steering lines
Ps pump pulley
Fuse box
Crossmember

When the truck rear ended another truck it mashed the front so hard it pushed the radiator into the fan and pressed the water pump in to where it couldn't spin. The ps pump pulley was crinkled and fuse box was broke off all 3 mounts.

To make part replacement easier ive decided to convert most the accessories to 4runner style including the a/c condenser, compressor, lines, core support, ps lines, etc







After tugging out the front end with a tow strap





Fitting up the 4runner donor core support/inner fenders





New cross member cut and in place.

Converted to 4runner a/c compressor and Ps lines

Ps pulley and water pump replaced



Just back from frame shop. Lining up hood and fenders before removal, prep and paint



Starting on the interior:

Already updated:

Gauge cluster surround
A/c faceplate
Converted to dash clock
Glove box
Right speaker cover
Right kick panel
Door handle trim
Right dash vent
Mirror replace with original

Next updates:

Recover lower 1/4 of door panels with vinyl
Replace dash pad
New floor mats
Convert to buckets
Install SR5 cluster and run tach wire
Install the radio




The shifter setup looked hideous before with rough cut leather glued to the boots and excessive trucker style shift knob with chains.



After installing new shifter boots, stock shift knobs, painting the shifter plate and mounting it over the carpet to clean up the cut carpet look





After having the core support/inner fenders sandblasted then priming. Halfway done painting

Replaced the passenger wiper arm that was snapped off



All painted and prefitting before permanently mounting

Also replaced the entire fuse box/harness since all 3 mounts were broken and both headlight plugs were crunched along with about everything else on the harness

Installed oil pressure sending unit for the SR5 cluster that's about to be installed.

Ditched the home job cold air and wooden mount for a factory air box



Decided to make the battery tray removable



Because it had a mumbo jumbo ac setup I had to have the high pressure line mated with a new fitting to work on the evaporator. Then ran an elbowed low pressure line to clear the canister and make the recharging easier.

The ac vacuum switch was missing in favor of an oddball vacuum switch screwed to the inner fender to turn on the compressor. That mess is gone and now it has a vacuum switch again.



I've taken loads of measurements from an arrow straight original 4Runner so I can make sure the truck comes out as straight as new





After the truck is complete I'm gonna get ahold of the fiberglass and my paint guy is up for replicating it and air brushing the decals, with a few revisions to the sponsors



It lives! Put on the head lights, radiator, fan, shroud, intake/mass air and finished sealing the a/c lines then fired it up.

 

Sweet project man. I'm deffintaly subscribed to this one. Your pickup reminds me of my 93 in so many ways. Hopefully I can learn from what you have done so far. I purchased my 93 wrecked and been fixing it ever since. I've got mine on the road but still need to do some more body work. I have several questions for you if your interested in chatting with me. My cell number is 304-561-4657 feel free to shoot me a text and check out my build thread for my 93

 

I will shoot you a text and feel free to ask away. Your truck is looking great so far.

 

Yup, sweet transformation can't wait to see more!!

 

Thank you.

 

It lives! Put on the head lights, radiator, fan, shroud, intake/mass air and finished sealing the a/c lines then fired it up.

 

That's awesome man. It's really cool seeing someone revive a truck rather then part it out or worse crush it. From the looks of it you seem to be a really intelligent guy.

As for the Baka kit I believe I'd leave it stock. If anything maybe some high clearance fenders with high clearance bedsides. There's a guy on here Slacker I believe AKA Corey who specializes in Toyota fiberglass. You may already know him as your not a newbie here to this site

 

Took it out to the gas station for a first drive. Got some odd looks haha





Lining up the body before spot welding the firewall back on. Gotta take it back to the frame shop because it was not pulled out far enough.

 

Working on my truck at the frame shop





Driving it back to the shop today



Looks a lot better now and drives right



I will show you how to repair your badly cracked dash using a matching hot wheels truck.....

 

freakin awesome great work.

 

Added a roll bar and spare tire in the bed. I'm gonna cut up a 2nd gen 4runner tire carrier and use it as a removable bed mount spare tire carrier.

Just picked up the 84 next to it, gonna start on that one when the 88 is road legal.

Found where the 2 squeaks and rattles were coming from. Fixed the jack tool squeak and just need to add the window pads when I recover the door panels.

 

Made a swing up spare tire carrier using a 90-91 4runner swing out carrier. I used all toyota factory hardware to mount it including front sway bar bushings/mounts, core support bolts/bushings. Just need to mount the front latch bracket but first need to decide how much angle I want.

I've set up the carrier so it will swing up and sit in place so the spare will stand straight up on its own and will be really easy to take on and off. The way I mounted it was specific so that you have a straight shot at the bolts from underneath so its easy to remove if needed. Also it will fit at least a 35" tire with the tailgate on.







Goin for this look

 

Always like seeing big repair build. You have done a great job. Looking forward to seeing your dash repair and liked the little Hot Wheel. I got a chuckle out of your first test drive. I have gotten looks like that when taking one to the windshield shop and no windshield or missing a bed on a truck.

 

Thanks man! It's been a ton a work and one thing after another but totally worth it. Haha yeah I couldn't wait to take it for a drive so getting gas was just an excuse. Your trucks are lookin really good!

 

The gate will stand up on its own so its easy to remove/install the spare. I still wanna install a cable so it can't swing too far forward.



Trying to decide on the angle I want for the spare before I drill the bracket holes

 

Made a matching clone with the same directional wheels and SR5 aluminum spare. The truck is a 1989 tamiya monster racer with traxxas vxl trans swap and brushless setup 70mph+

 

Its been a long while since i've posted anything on the truck so heres a start on what i've done since


I acquired this pre-runner style light bar and instead of bolting it to the bumper I wanted to get rid of the chrome and the bumper altogether so I bolted it to the factory brackets using 2 22-RE exhhaust manifold block off plates and 14mm hardware and it holds very tight.

I added the rear pre-runner style bumper and a Carr light bar with 4 KC Daylighters

Next will be to make a skid plate, relocate and properly mount the turn signals, and add 2 KC Daylighters.

My sign guy made me the headlight covers to look like the ones used on the ivan stewart trucks. They are perforated so at night you would never know they are on but at day they look great

 

Put a nice alpine radio in the truck and some new floor mats. Also installed a newer foam in the bench seat since the old one was shot, the seat feels like new again.

Next is to address the dash and recover the lower 1/4 of the door panels.

 

Acquired a front lock rite locker that was new in box from the 90's and installed it today. Of course I had to go test it out on some ditch crossings. The truck was teeter tottering but never slipped once. Next is to install the new spartan I have laying around for the rear

 

Looking good.