First of all I want to thank Yotatech and it's staff on a great, informative and knowledgeable website... Now for the reason I got here... My wife and I along with our 2 Chocolate Labradors explore waterfalls in Northwest Arkansas to take photographs of on the weekends. Back in February on a late dusky Sunday evening I went to cross the Buffalo River at a place I had crossed many times before, but it had been a couple of years since I crossed there...as I started across my youngest son in the back seat said he crossed about 75 yards up the river yesterday... I told him no, this is where the ford to the river has always been and bailed off all gung ho, after the water reached the windshield I knew we were in trouble, panic mode foot to the floor didn't help matters none, locking the motor up. after crawling out the sunroof and waiting 2 hours on a buddy to come get me out of the river. Well the car my wife had bought new was totaled..

So I purchased her a LX 470


It's was 10 times the car over her old Mitsubishi Montero, but she didn't think so... But now for some reason, she wouldn't allow me to take waterfallin... So this is where the Toyota comes into play, my oldest son has had 85 4runner parked out back of my shop for the last 5 years and has done nothing with it, so I began searching for parts to put it together and ran across a 87 4runner on CL running and driving cheaper than I could put his together for... After driving a 150 miles to look it over, it had no rust and 107K miles on it...so I purchased it for $2800, On the drive back home I began to wonder if I had made a mistake, on some of hill's I was having to shift to 3rd on I-540 that was pretty slow, at this time I named her the Dragon Fly... Drag her up one side and Fly down the other... The reason I know she's female because she the first one down and the last one up

The day she come home...


I took her to one of my best Buddies that has been repairing foreign cars for 40 years, to look her over and tune her up... After he was done I swear he add 50 horses to her...(he said the main thing was the timing was 10 degrees off) the next thing was the exhaust pipe, my lawn mower has a bigger diameter pipe than she had...so 2 1/2" all the way back with a Thruster muffler was installed... It still seemed to be a little loud (sign of old age) so I took it back and had a resonator installed in front of the muffler... sounds just right!

My financial adviser seemed to think I had too many toys already and should consider parting with some, so up on the block went my 95 F350 Powerstroke (only was good for taking to Branson's Midnight Cruise anyway)



Next thing to purchase was some chrome trim rings (not a big fan of black rims, another sign of old age... you ain't cool if your chrome don't shine) and a soft top.. The Dogs love hanging their heads out it going down the road and have shade on hot sunny days.


Then came the new steering wheel (center logo is memory of the above vehicle that got me into this runner)


Now to work on some of the small stuff that was irritating me...why do I have to push a button to turn the key all the way off? Simple solution from yotatech forum epoxy button down... I've always drove bigger trucks...my daily work horse


and the 4runner seat seemed to crowed me...after removing the seat I noticed that the track had left over teeth at the end of the stopping point..after locating the stop dimple and drilling it out I had another 1 1/4 slide..doesn't sound like much but made a world difference.

I had spent a whole day on my B pillar badge restoration (another good fine on YT.) Thanks Nervo19!


Now it was time for some lift... 2.5 BJ spacers and new rear leaf springs


Next I got me some BFG 33x12.50 KM2's and wheels


Now I needed a gear change... 4.88 it is... might has well install an e-locker while I was in there...Thanks ZUK for your setup page!

Front locking hub rebuild day... had another set off son's truck that I used paint remover, sanded and polished, finished off with polished stainless steel hardware... New Toyota gaskets and o-rings...Pretty proud of my Bling Bling job..


up to date as of now... next projects is carbon fiber hydrograhics on mirrors, rock guards and license plate light holder...

 

I think you did fine on the price. Beautiful work. I can't wait to see more.

 

Thanks Nervo... and thanks for your badge restoration writeup!

 

Great looking runner you have. I havent been on White River in quite a few years but I have seen where it can be shallow in one year and deep in places the next year. Ouch on the Montero. Great looking runner you have got. Looking forward to your build and Welcome to Yotatech. When in Branson, we like to go to Whipper Snappers for the all you can eat lobster and crablegs.

 

Thanks Terry!
The White River is very unpredictable due to how many generators Bull Shoals Dam has running...

We like Whipper Snappers too...

 

Have you had any vibration/grinding noises most noticeable above 45mph? I have been chasing a noise on my 87 4Runner.
Thanks in advance for your reply.