Tx_Shooter's '87 4Runner Build

tx_shooter

It is not a war crime the first time.
Staff member
It would be a long weekend... but with around a grand I could do the 4" IFS lift, Spartan in the rear, and an electric fan. Three very good upgrades.
 

tx_shooter

It is not a war crime the first time.
Staff member
Please, just spend the grand on the LT kit. I have some T-100 CV axles I can sell you for cheap

I'm sure we can find you some cheap shocks too


That is part of the problem though. The LT Kit breaks the $1k idea, still needs more parts to complete, does provide for more travel - but how much of that is of a greater use? I guess I'm just asking if is is worth the extra +$400? I'd just get a Toyota axle and SAS it now with a regular axle once we hit those numbers.

Not trying to argue... just trying to undertand. The IFS lift seems like a good price breaking point between cost/function and going with a SAS right now. I damn sure don't have the money to go SAS right now.
 

drew02a

Moderator
Staff member
That is part of the problem though. The LT Kit breaks the $1k idea, still needs more parts to complete, does provide for more travel - but how much of that is of a greater use? I guess I'm just asking if is is worth the extra +$400? I'd just get a Toyota axle and SAS it now with a regular axle once we hit those numbers.

Not trying to argue... just trying to undertand. The IFS lift seems like a good price breaking point between cost/function and going with a SAS right now. I damn sure don't have the money to go SAS right now.

I went ALL OUT with my LT kit and it was about $1500. You won't NEED new torsion bars since your 22-RE is so light. Then you can probably use some Tacoma shocks until you can buy some Bilsteins. Your only real expenses will be the kit and CVs

There's no way you can SAS for $1500, NO WAY. Plus, if you ever do decide to SAS, you can just unbolt your LT parts and sell them to the next guy.
 

tx_shooter

It is not a war crime the first time.
Staff member
Here's the recap of my costs. Shipping isn't listed here though

999 - Blazeland kit
232 - Iron Man 26mm Torsion Bars from Camel 4x4
160 - 8.5" Bilstein 5125 shocks from Downsouth Motorsports
120 - T100 CV Axles
20 - Shock tabs from Front Range Offroad
- Manual Hubs, stole them off my other truck
$1531 Total

Not horrible, but defintently more than I was hoping to get this stage of the 4Runner done for.
 

tx_shooter

It is not a war crime the first time.
Staff member
Ok - need some thoughts.

Motor spins, spark plugs get fire, and they smell like gas... so wtf?

1) Leaking injectors flooding my cylinders? All 4 at the same time.
2) Bad coil not giving me enough fire to make the motor start; and trying to start it for a long period of time flooded my cylinders.
3) I'm fucked. Pull it that little 22RE and drop in an LS1.

Just trying to get some ideas on which way to go with this little motor. I'm good with carbed motors, but this FI problem is starting to piss me off. I'm leaning towards a bad coil because the spark is not real strong when I tested it and I have no clue how old the coil is. Last time I ran the 4Runner it ran fine but had a rough idle when it initially started.
 

taco4x4rar

Well-Known Member
Ok - need some thoughts.

Motor spins, spark plugs get fire, and they smell like gas... so wtf?

1) Leaking injectors flooding my cylinders? All 4 at the same time.
2) Bad coil not giving me enough fire to make the motor start; and trying to start it for a long period of time flooded my cylinders.
3) I'm fucked. Pull it that little 22RE and drop in an LS1.

Just trying to get some ideas on which way to go with this little motor. I'm good with carbed motors, but this FI problem is starting to piss me off. I'm leaning towards a bad coil because the spark is not real strong when I tested it and I have no clue how old the coil is. Last time I ran the 4Runner it ran fine but had a rough idle when it initially started.

Possible:
bad distributor
bad wires
bad coil
timing chain
mass air flow sensor and or cracked the tube behind the sensor (lots of un-metered air going into the engine)
 

tx_shooter

It is not a war crime the first time.
Staff member
Possible:
bad distributor
bad wires
bad coil
timing chain
mass air flow sensor and or cracked the tube behind the sensor (lots of un-metered air going into the engine)

Wires and coil are two parts I did not replace when I replaced the distibutor cap/rotor and spark plugs a couple of months ago. Timing chain will be hard to test without tearing into it.... Mass air flow sensor - any ideas how to check that?
 

taco4x4rar

Well-Known Member
Wires and coil are two parts I did not replace when I replaced the distibutor cap/rotor and spark plugs a couple of months ago. Timing chain will be hard to test without tearing into it.... Mass air flow sensor - any ideas how to check that?

Look for the tube behind the MAF to be cracked this happened to Seans old 4runner and it wouldn't start cause of all the un-metered air being pulled into the engine. As for checking the MAF itself I don't know how to go about doing that. I'd start cheap with a new coil and wires and see where it goes from there.
 

tx_shooter

It is not a war crime the first time.
Staff member
Look for the tube behind the MAF to be cracked this happened to Seans old 4runner and it wouldn't start cause of all the un-metered air being pulled into the engine. As for checking the MAF itself I don't know how to go about doing that. I'd start cheap with a new coil and wires and see where it goes from there.

I have a coil off an old air boat that my Dad had in the 70s I'll test it with. I ran it on my old truck for years and used to joke with some of the guys that my coil is bigger than most 4 banger motors. I don't know the make/model but it will throw an arc almost an inch.

 

tx_shooter

It is not a war crime the first time.
Staff member
Engine Troubleshooting Update:

I put the yellow coil on it and it cranked up almost immediately. It idled like complete shit and has no power. Pulling the plugs reveals that they are excessively dirty but not carbon fouled. Like they were almost rusty.... ???? Cleaned them and put them back in. It cranked up quick and easy; but still idled like shit and has little/no power. Closer inspection of the spark plug wires reveals that they were probably done by a "fits all" kit and not the same kit made all four. I went back to the original coil and it cranks on it now also; but the idle sucks like it is running on two cylinders and not always the same two. Without a load it revs just fine; but with a load it bogs down and back fires.

I'm thinking:
1) Plugs/wires
2) Coil
3) 6 pack of Shiner

Anyone have any other experience? ideas? It all feels/sounds like the coil is weak and the plugs/wires are crap.
 
Top