The reason for purchasing this 4Runner when I already had a 1988 IFS 4Runner, was that I wanted the solid axle for four wheeling. Another good reason was that the 85 was only ten dollars a month to plate compared to the 88 4Runner that was eighty dollars a month. The insurance company where I live did a cut off of 1988 for a vehicle to classify as antique and get the cheap plates. I drove a truck and trailer two hours away to go pick it up.

This 4Runner actually came with front and rear bumpers, a soft topper, and one of those cool inclinometers that sit in the middle of the dash but...... I told the previous owner to remove all that stuff because I was trying to get this truck for as cheap as possible. I was not a fan of those big tube bumpers anyways, and for some reason I just thought that soft topper didn't look quite right on there. Nor did that sticker on the window that reads "jeeps are cute barbie has one". I was quite happy about getting it with these almost new goodyear wranglers tires for the price that I did! A lot of life left in them.

I took the sticker off the wind shield that same day, also gave it a really good cleaning inside and out. First things first though, I check off some small maintenance items like cap and rotor, and spark plugs and wires along with an oil change.

Since this 4Runner is going to be my daily driver, I got myself an interior heater for when it's plugged in. It already had a block heater, which was needed for these dang cold Saskatchewan winters. When both are plugged in the windows stay defrosted all the time and I can just hop in and go without warming the truck up. This truck has really been an awesome winter beater.

A big thing that changed the enjoyability was adding a sub to the stereo! it just contributed to the whole driving experience. I started out with installing the amp under the passenger seat, I put it all back together then tried moving the seat back and forth. That did not work too well at all, It seems to hang a bit lower on the passenger side and also there is more mechanisms under that seat compared to the drivers side.

Worked pretty good under the drivers seat. Don't mind the mess! It's my daily driver I swear!

These sister's do have each others back though! When I bought the 85 the previous owners did tell me that after a few days the battery goes dead. So I have now realized to just drive it every day and I will have no problems!

The holes that the old inclinometer left on the dash are pretty ugly but I will probably find another one eventually.

I didn't even need new headlights but these knock off trucklite headlights look awesome with the black housing. I found these headlights on amazon.

The relays just screw in beside the battery and then just one extra plug runs all the way to the other headlight along with a ground wire and thats it!

I think they look awesome! give the truck a little more personality.

She does clean up nice though! and the drive with the roof off is very enjoyable, I will need a soft topper eventually or even a bikini top I'd be happy with. I'd like to be able to leave it in the rain with just a bikini top on but I guess the seats would still most likely get wet.

Next up on the chopping block! an ugly exhaust leak. I also have an exhaust leak at the exhaust manifold but that one can wait till I can afford to do a header. I have never done exhaust work in my life so it was quite the experience. The weld that was holding the bracket on finally rusted through. This is right below the drivers seat.

I actually had to go back to Canadian tire a couple times to get different size pipe. I thought the pipe flaring tool could flare it no problem but I was very wrong. I tightened that flaring tool so damn hard I stripped the threads. After screwing up I finally figured it out!

Here's what a thirty five year old starter looks like. After about six months of giving me troubles the starter finally gave up.

In winter time, my driver side window is very hard to crank back up. Especially when it was -50 celsius out. So I took the whole door apart and what I found was this window crank mechanism was slightly seized and needed a good lubricating. That seemed to help it a decent amount.

Speaking of -50 celsius temperature, that hole in my floor was chilly! These Canadian vehicles are rusty! especially these Toyota's.

It was like six times worse than I realized. This is how it looked after chipping at it for a while.

A couple times a week I will stay up till 1:30 in the morning. This was one of those nights I stayed up till it was prepped and ready for new steel.

I'm unsure what the best way would be to fix this but my goal is whatever is the most simple. I use as many flat pieces as I can. Since I'm not a fabricator I do what I can! And yes I kept the foot rest thing in there during this whole process! haha

Its ugly! but that doesn't matter because the carpet covers it anyways.

Here's the back side.

Primer and paint and call her good! should last for another thirty five years! Maybe this winter I will repair the passenger side floor.

Even my son loves this truck, climbing around pulling on every knob or lever.

This thing has been an awesome winter truck too. Lots of fun to drift around, drives really good even when stone cold(late for work), the block heater and interior heater sure make it more enjoyable on those really cold days.