85straights 85

85straight

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549
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Menifee,Ca
Story time kids.... skip to next post if you don’t like reading

I’ll use this thread to get anyone interested up to speed on the history of my truck and document any trips I go on

Currently sitting-
Rear spool
Crossover steering
3” lift on 33s , axle moved forward
Rear bumper and sliders

Bought my junk 7 years ago this November. Was looking for just any ole 1st gen and had no intention of picking up a 85. Was not into hard wheeling or anything a SFA would excel at, but was not clueless as to its advantages.
So scrolling through CL for a few months waiting for the right deal I found a post “1985 4runner”
In the description it mentioned “1985 4runner runs good” and that was it, no pics, nothing. Guy was asking 2,200

So I figured wth it’s worth checking out for such a good deal

Next day I drove out to check it out...as I rolled up to the address there she was parked next to the house looking like she had seen better days for sure. Windshield was rusted to hell and a few spot on the pillars. Everything else checked out though, ran great, motor was just rebuilt. Carpet was trashed, seats were as well

Well I pulled the trigger and started the drive 1 1/2 hr drive home. It started to rain, like really hard. Could barely see the road and the wipers were trash. Semis passing me as I blindly drive through deep puddles on the freeway. Shit was getting sketchy now. Then I felt a drop on my foot....look down there was 6” of water on the floorboard...shit the ecu was right there in the line of fire. Finally made it home adrenaline pumping

Following day I pulled into the shop I worked at and began to take a closer look at things. This was a pretty dam original besides some smittybuilt style bumpers. Spare tire was from ‘85 and the Bfg Ko tires were from ‘87!

That begins the long boring saga of my runner
 
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85straight

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So after putting some new rubber on her took her out for its first camping trip within the week
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And after removing the ugly ass bumpers I tackled the rust by cutting and patching, then painted it rattle can style in my garage a few years later
Besides that I ran it just like it sits for almost 5 years with nothing but routine maintenance, what a dam machine! I was always a Toyota fan (had a Tundra previously) but my experience with this truck turned it into a passion

After wheeling solo for years I knew every quirk of the truck and had long found its limits and mine. It was time to start stepping it up and that meant actually wheeling with others. So I started to be active on T4R and tagged along on my first group run up White mountain up in Big Bear. That run had me hooked and not only that the last few hundred yards was probably the hardest terrain I’d ever encountered and the truck handled it with ease while some of the newer rigs not so much
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Then I participated in a few more runs and even began to organize and lead some of my own. One of which is where I met @4runner DOA and few other people I wheel with whenever I can

1st run I led, just some fireroads
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/so-cal/206279-october-2015-meet-trail-run.html

2nd run I organized and my buddy Miah led had a pretty large turnout...oh shit what have I done
http://www.fourwheeler.com/events/1703-toyota-anza-adventures/

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/so-cal/220475-june-2016-meet-run.html

After a few runs of that magnitude I found myself pretty over it and began run small groups only with exception of the 2nd year of chilitown and last years Toyotafest
http://www.fourwheeler.com/events/1710-the-inaugural-southern-california-toyota-fest/


Shortly after the 2016 run my eagerness to start doing more difficult trails began but my truck had found its limits so slowly (very very slowly) I started to get an idea of what I wanted to do
 
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85straight

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Menifee,Ca
Sorry for lack of pics I’ll keep it brief as there are many write ups to the things I’ve done.

After fixing the exterior I focused on the interior. Out came the carpet and repainted the whole floorboard. Got new carpet installed and picked up some prp reclining suspension seats, heaven

Shortly after the chilitown trip I found myself installing a spool into the rear end, bam done, what a difference on the trail. The truck was no longer my dd so I did not care much about the negative effects

Right after that I fabd up my own sliders with some material I got for free and a welder that was less than capable (and didn’t have a bender)But by this point I was a journeyman welder so I did what I could and they came out ok and have held up somehow after many many hard hits. Plan to replace them soon
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Shortly after that I found a rear bumper on CL for cheap and threw it on

A few months later my rear springs broke and my fronts were done for. So I ordered some cs009r and got some cheapie Procomp for the front
Scored some new shocks from my buddy that came off a 2nd gen taco and they fit my needs perfectly so those went on as well
Also got some new tires, going from 31s to 33s. Dam it was like a new truck now

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So after all that this past summer I knew it was only a matter of time before my stock steering gave up and left me stranded or worse, dead on the side of the freeway.
So I began collecting parts for a crossover setup and axle rebuild as my seals had been leaking for years at this point
Got all that done just in time for a trip to calico this September, same weekend as the TW run
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And that’s where it’s at now

End of this season I plan to install some 4.88s I have sitting in box, throw in a front locker while I’m at it, and mayyyybe some chromo shafts
Also want to tackle the rear axle with shock relocation and lspv delete.
And again maaaaybe pick up a cage from 4xinnovations now that I have a welder that’s up to par I can handle that myself
 
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85straight

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Menifee,Ca
Most recent trip out to Calico Sep 21-23

Arrived early Friday morning and got set up. Checked out the ghost town with my co-driver while we waited for others to show up
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Went for a little run that afternoon, did some shooting and took my first winch up a waterfall usually walk right up wtf is going on this happened last run I went on with Danny. realized my exhaust leak had grown. Taking a close look, bam there was a dam 2” crack in the outlet of my cat. So off it went, straight pipe the rest of the trip. Ran much better than before but def wasn’t proper

Everyone else arrived that night and the stage was set for Saturday’s run which was a route I had planned for Tototafest which didn’t happen this year (F the BLM!)

We started up West Phillips which is a moderate trail and has basically 2 sections that require your attention but nothing really difficult. Also along the trail is the Kramer arch , a fun ledge that is inside a little tunnel of sorts, a lot of broken glass on the ground from peoples windows here. Spotted this massive lx470 on 37s through it unscathed though
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We stopped at Bismark mine for a little break and set off towards Vodkaberry which is rated 5-8 (out of 10) in difficulty. Main features are a 5-8’ waterfall (depending on conditions of the wash it’s located in) and 2 off camber 2-4’ ledges inside of sharp turns.

There was a little carnage in there but no breakage of any kind. On this trip we had a complete newb(like 1st time ever driving on dirt) with us and he handled it well, listening intently to our spotting and directions. Pretty sure he had a boner hahah
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After we all completed that we headed over to Wall Street which contains just one obstacle that is just a small ledge with some loose bowling bowl size rocks to one side of it. But this trail wasn’t for the obstacle we came for the view. This area was the epicenter for mining in its heyday hence the name Wall Street
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We exited the canyon and went up in elevation into the hills adjacent to the canyon, one of the passengers had a serious panic attack driving along the cliff sides that warranted me calling it to turn around. Still would’ve been nice to make it all the way to the best viewpoint in the area but had safety in mind on this one
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Exited to the west onto fort Irwin road and headed back to camp to drink and relax after the 8 hour run.

Day 3 of trip to be continued...
 
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85straight

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Day 3 started with some of us in a bit of haze...well maybe just me as I glanced at the empty bottle of Jameson.

Breakfast skipped as we (just 3 of us now. Miah and Mac) had some plans for the last day. Open desert wheeling and hit up Slash X for lunch. Leaving Calico we just made a B line for the cafe and I missed a turn that set us back about 20 min hahah oh well I was having fun despite the temperatures climbing into the high 90s.
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Finally made it for lunch and a refreshing beer and off we went towards Ord mountain then planned to jump on the 247 just north of Johnson Valley. Stopped several times to take in the views and the whole drive was pretty uneventful except just having a blast bombing though the landscape as fast as my 90hp could carry me, especially after crawling most of the day before. I like the change of pace but would sure like some more power
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Got to the 247 and aired up. Started the drive back towards the 10 with my now straight piped beast (sarcasm) screaming in my ears all the way. Even put some ear plugs on my boy
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Got to Yucca and turning onto the 62 Miah’s lugs decided enough was enough and I look in my rear view to his tire rolling down the street!! Oh shit
Mac with instinct like a cat used his truck to coral the tire onto the side of the road instead of oncoming traffic
Had a few extra lugs on him got that all fixed up and was back on the road in just 20 minutes.
Now I’m getting paranoid with my rig as it’s starting to really run like shit and Miah hoping his 4 out of 6 lugs will hold the rest of the way home

He got to his turn off at the bottom of the 62 and Mac followed behind me as we were headed in the same direction. Getting onto the 10 I noticed my truck still running like shit but kept moving, business as usual. Not but 10 minutes later my temp gauge began rising, and rising, and rising. Ah shit not now I’m almost home just 40 miles to go.
Pulled over coolant everywhere and truck will not stay running or barely start for that matter
After looking it over I called a tow and got her home. Thought I had coolant spewing from the rear of the head and it wouldn’t stay running so I jumped to the conclusion my HG was toast and all was lost
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Next day taking a closer look realized my dam idle screw fell out somewhere outside of JV and the leak was from a little hose under my intake. What a relief. Now she sits awaiting a new exhaust and hoses until the next trip....what a day!
 
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85straight

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Man we've both come a long way since that first time we met for Thomas mountain.
Yes sir, that area was my playground and I mostly just bombed around up there a lot, in both the 85 and my old truck. Hence why I can keep up with you guys sometimes when we start gettin it. 90% of my experience wheeling before that first white mountain I went on was just go fast stuff
 

85straight

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So over the last couple months been on a few runs out to ocotillo with a shitty exhaust. Finally ponied up and had a shop do it. Dam what a amazing difference with a new cat, new pipes, new muffler, and a proper routing . 5th gear is almost usable again haha
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Exhaust temps are super high need to figure out wth is going on. Need to shoot a temp gun at the cat maybe and see just how hot. The inside of the cab is roasting most of the time
 
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85straight

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Dam I’m terrible at this whole thread thing hahah
Guess I’ll update for my own reference

Trucks been running decent since the new exhaust but still misfiring noticeably at times. So finally stop procrastinating and pulled my injectors to get rebuilt, clean out my manifold, possibly throw on new regulator for good measure while it’s apart. Since ive eliminated literally everything else that could lead to a misfire.

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Also picked up a new to me Detroit locker for the front when I get around to installing my gears I’ve had sitting for months now

Most recent trip out to JV with a good friend that has never been and just picked up a used razor, that was a good time but too windy for the family to sleep well at night so cut the trip a night short
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AssBurns

will wheel for beer
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Dam I’m terrible at this whole thread thing hahah
Guess I’ll update for my own reference

Trucks been running decent since the new exhaust but still misfiring noticeably at times. So finally stop procrastinating and pulled my injectors to get rebuilt, clean out my manifold, possibly throw on new regulator for good measure while it’s apart. Since ive eliminated literally everything else that could lead to a misfire.

View attachment 7076

Also picked up a new to me Detroit locker for the front when I get around to installing my gears I’ve had sitting for months now

Most recent trip out to JV with a good friend that has never been and just picked up a used razor, that was a good time but too windy for the family to sleep well at night so cut the trip a night short
View attachment 7079View attachment 7077View attachment 7078
Did you try checking the spark plugs? :anon:
 

KevinK

Probably Drunk
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Tell Miah we said hey. I’ve only ever met him once in passing at big bear, but seems like a cool dude. Small world. He was leading a group of Runners and we were a group of Tundras plus one 4R. I think @osidepunker and/or @Spenny already knew him from somewhere. I think this was 2016 maybe?
 

85straight

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Tell Miah we said hey. I’ve only ever met him once in passing at big bear, but seems like a cool dude. Small world. He was leading a group of Runners and we were a group of Tundras plus one 4R. I think @osidepunker and/or @Spenny already knew him from somewhere. I think this was 2016 maybe?
Yea I was in that group, I organized the route and Miah led it. He’s mentioned he used wheel with osidepunker I think.
Fuck Miah. :rofl:
Yep and this since he’ll never see it hahah
 

4runner DOA

Hold my beer
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Yea I was in that group, I organized the route and Miah led it. He’s mentioned he used wheel with osidepunker I think.

Yep and this since he’ll never see it hahah

I tried to get him to hook up for a beer while I was at the condo in Palm springs. At first he was like yeah when are you there, then he stopped responding when I asked him what day/time range worked for him. So yep, fuck him, tired of getting flaked on.
 

85straight

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Well no pics but my faith has been restored in this old pig. Rebuilt injectors, new fuel pressure regulator, and a through cleaning and replacing random wires and this thing is running tip top. No misfire at all, can’t wait to get out see how she does
 

85straight

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Menifee,Ca
What’s up Al! Looks like your first handful of trips with T4R.org peeps I was on most of those runs as well. Your rig has changed a lot since those trips for sure.
Yea I ran the truck stock and solo for a long long time. Was ready for some change but I’m just getting started now my career is starting to accelerate
 
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