1985 4Runner Project - overhaul

[ORS]

Mike's newest project is a 1985 4Runner. Mike acquired this 4Runner from a friend in the "Homegrown" crew. He has a lot of plans for it to fix it up & make it an even more capable wheeling rig. It got it's name accidentally when Mike was talking about it and accidentally combining the name of his last 4Runner "Ruby" and this one being blue and said "Boobie. In a shop full of guys, of course the name stuck.

Before we get into the details if what is to come, we should start out with what "Boobie" was equipped with before the work started. She started out with our ORS front coilover 3-link suspension, slightly modified with 2.5" body Racerunner Shocks on a stock front axle. Out back there are Alcan springs with an ORS rear long travel shock mount. On top of that is a 3" body lift. She is powered by a 22RE motor with an R151 Turbo Transmission, HD driveshafts, 5.29 gears, detroits front & rear, an IFS rear axle housing, v6 differential, high pinion front and Marlin dual cases. Finally for protection there was a Smittybilt front bumper, home made rear bumper and 37" MTR's for tires.

While most of us think "that sounds like an awesome rig"... Mike's mind works differently. He thought of just a few things he could do to improve her offroad capability and overall function.

Some of the plans include: removing the body lift and dropping the suspension lift height to lower the center of gravity, while improving the suspension with a rear 4-link, a fuel cell for added safety and function, a front ORS bumper, a custom rear bumper and a full interior cage to protect passengers, there will also be a new paint job and 42" Super Swamper TSL's.



Lets start with what "she" kind of started out like (I wasn't fast enough with the camera before Mike started chopping and working!) "She" is the blue 4Runner...

http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd131/offroadsolutions/Boobie/DSC05736.jpg

http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd131/offroadsolutions/Boobie/DSC05737.jpg

http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd131/offroadsolutions/Boobie/DSC05738.jpg

http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd131/offroadsolutions/Boobie/DSC05739.jpg

http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd131/offroadsolutions/Boobie/DSC05740.jpg

http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd131/offroadsolutions/Boobie/DSC05741.jpg

http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd131/offroadsolutions/Boobie/DSC05742.jpg

http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd131/offroadsolutions/Boobie/DSC05743.jpg

http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd131/offroadsolutions/Boobie/DSC05744.jpg

http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd131/offroadsolutions/Boobie/DSC05745.jpg

http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd131/offroadsolutions/Boobie/DSC05746.jpg

Rear shock mounts
http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd131/offroadsolutions/Boobie/DSC05750.jpg

Front coilover suspension
http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd131/offroadsolutions/Boobie/DSC05754.jpg

http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd131/offroadsolutions/Boobie/DSC05756.jpg

http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd131/offroadsolutions/Boobie/DSC05757.jpg


And the chopping commences.... at this point you can see the fender chops, and also the body lift has been removed, causing additional need for clearancing to the sliders

http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd131/offroadsolutions/Boobie/DSC05886.jpg

http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd131/offroadsolutions/Boobie/DSC05887.jpg

http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd131/offroadsolutions/Boobie/DSC05888.jpg

http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd131/offroadsolutions/Boobie/DSC05889.jpg



Mike also started building the interior cage... It is designed to be able to keep the top on, or remove it.

http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd131/offroadsolutions/Boobie/DSC06320.jpg

http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd131/offroadsolutions/Boobie/DSC06321.jpg

http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd131/offroadsolutions/Boobie/DSC06322.jpg

http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd131/offroadsolutions/Boobie/DSC06323.jpg

http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd131/offroadsolutions/Boobie/DSC06325.jpg


Now the cage is not done yet, there will be a section that comes all the way to the rear of the 4runner. Keep an eye ou tfor updates as they happen & all the changes to come on this project!

[ORS]

Mike finished the rearmost tubing on Boobie, almost all done, just to finish all the foot plates and finish welding it up.

And of course pictures:
http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd131/offroadsolutions/Boobie/DSC06343.jpg

http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd131/offroadsolutions/Boobie/DSC06347.jpg

http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd131/offroadsolutions/Boobie/DSC06351.jpg

http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd131/offroadsolutions/Boobie/DSC06350.jpg

http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd131/offroadsolutions/Boobie/DSC06349.jpg

http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd131/offroadsolutions/Boobie/DSC06348.jpg

http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd131/offroadsolutions/Boobie/DSC06344.jpg

http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd131/offroadsolutions/Boobie/DSC06345.jpg

http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd131/offroadsolutions/Boobie/DSC06346.jpg

[HOPPER]

:drool:Very nice.
Those are some big meats for those axles. Is it going to be a trailer queen?

[TubeWerx]

That is BY FAR the coolest 4Runner ever built from the factory....solid axle, EFI, clinometer, blue SR5 with the white top! Damn, i'm truly jealous!! :hail: Don't lose the vintage SR5 striping when you paint it though! That thing is already a sweet rig, can't wait to see the final product.

Brian

[Hayes]

that cage is sick

[ORS]

Thanks guys. One of the goals is to lose the SR5 white stripe.... no idea other than that regarding the paint though.....

[ORS]

Well things have been crazy around here, so I haven't gotten around to updates on "Boobie" However lots has been going on.

The cage is totally done! All the welding and footplates are done. Looks great without the cap and with it too.
some progress pics and finished pics of where the footplates mounted and the finished product.
http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd131/offroadsolutions/Boobie/DSC06366.jpg

http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd131/offroadsolutions/Boobie/DSC06367.jpg

http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd131/offroadsolutions/Boobie/DSC06368.jpg

http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd131/offroadsolutions/Boobie/DSC06369.jpg

http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd131/offroadsolutions/Boobie/DSC06370.jpg

http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd131/offroadsolutions/Boobie/DSC06371.jpg

http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd131/offroadsolutions/Boobie/DSC06384.jpg

http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd131/offroadsolutions/Boobie/DSC06385.jpg

http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd131/offroadsolutions/Boobie/DSC06386.jpg

http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd131/offroadsolutions/Boobie/DSC06387.jpg

http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd131/offroadsolutions/Boobie/DSC06388.jpg

http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd131/offroadsolutions/Boobie/DSC06389.jpg






Also, took off the front fenders and hood to build some engine bracing:
Can't tell what is going on here, but I will get updated pictures once it is all welded into place to show you!
http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd131/offroadsolutions/Boobie/DSC06380.jpg




We cut off the rear springs to make room for a 4-link setup we are building in house. Another thing that was done after that, is a cross brace was added to the frame, and the frame was cut-off behind that in order to make room for the tube frame we are building for the rear section of the 4runner.

springs are cut off here:
http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd131/offroadsolutions/Boobie/DSC06381.jpg

http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd131/offroadsolutions/Boobie/DSC06383.jpg

The rear frame section that we built to replace the frame that was removed:
http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd131/offroadsolutions/Boobie/DSC06799.jpg

http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd131/offroadsolutions/Boobie/DSC06802.jpg



Where we cut off the rear frame, and added the brace:
http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd131/offroadsolutions/Boobie/DSC06803.jpg

[ORS]

Well, the rear 4link is in and the Tacoma axle (with lots of fab work) is in. The truck has been completely sanded, and is at the paint booth as we speak. As soon as it gets back, pictures will be posted!