nvwiggins 85 V8 Toyota 4Runner

**nvwiggins** · January 18th, 2015

Been on here for a while but not to active in years. This summer I got ahold of an 85 4Runner up in Elko it has a Ford 302 out of a 95 Mustang. The coolest thing about the truck to me is that my dad did the original 302 swap into an 87 pickup then gave it to me when I was 16. I ended up getting hit by a drunk driver which totaled the truck. We ended up selling the whole truck to the guy that swapped it into this 4Runner. He later sold it to a guy who didn't understand that this truck needs a little more maintenance attention then most Toyotas. He let the hydraulic throw out bearing leak down to where it wouldn't engage the clutch so he did the most logical thing and started power shifting it to get around. one thing led to another and he ended up breaking the shift fork. Long story short it sat for seven years until a friend went and asked about it, he decided he didn't want to deal with all of the gremlins that go along with a swap so I hopped on it and have been working to make it my own since then. Here are some pictures of when I got it, what I've done to it and updates as they come.

How it looked when I saved it

The broken shift fork.

Half doors I've been working on.

Not actually leaning on the 56

**nvwiggins** · January 18th, 2015

Cleaning up the interior.

Custom radiator to replace the one the previous owner punched a hole in.

**nvwiggins** · January 18th, 2015

Knuckle rebuild, axle gussets, high steer, and ifs steering box.

Drove it to Reno for the winter and got new to it wheels and tires.

First little off-road shakedown from Lockwood to VC.

Painted the grille/new badge from the Relentless scrap bucket.

**nvwiggins** · January 18th, 2015

Yota Life My 07 and the 85

Taking the dogs for a run up Peavine.

Pick-N-Pull come up!

Most recent pictures of it after I installed the TG 3" HD springs and 6" shackles we cut out at Relentless.

Driveway flexing haha had to do it!

I'll try keeping this as up to date as possible, I love this thing even though its horrible riding and has some small kinks.

**Nevadabackroader** · January 18th, 2015

Nice 4runner, I miss mine. I'm pretty sure I drove past that 4runner parked in a driveway up in Elko a few times. North of 80 in the neighborhood between 5th and Mountain City Hwy?

**nvwiggins** · January 18th, 2015

Originally Posted by BattleBornK30

Nice 4runner, I miss mine. I'm pretty sure I drove past that 4runner parked in a driveway up in Elko a few times. North of 80 in the neighborhood between 5th and Mountain City Hwy?

Thats exactly where it sat. Getting watered all summer long for 7 years backing on some hard water stains, I had to use acid to clean the windows enough to see out of them.

**Nevadabackroader** · January 18th, 2015

Yep I thought so. Every time I drove past it I was sad to see it just sitting there neglected. Glad it was saved.

**Toyota_James** · January 19th, 2015

I've ridden in this. It's awkwardly fast for a Toyota.

**raging renix** · January 20th, 2015

I wish my Toyota was fast

**Desertninja775** · January 20th, 2015

How did you get it smog legal? If you dont mind me asking....

**nvwiggins** · January 20th, 2015

Originally Posted by Desertninja775

How did you get it smog legal? If you dont mind me asking....

Registered in Elko county.

**L.D.** · January 21st, 2015

that's a nice rig. I've been runnin a 302/5.0 for many years in both my flatty and a '79 toy p/u. I see you found North West Off Road, keep an eye on the right motormount. I've bent mine threw the years. I'ld love to check this out in person.

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