There is a short back story... and if it is TL;DR, you can skip to the photos
In 2000, I bought a 4Runner (last year for 5sp manual I believe). Unfortunately after only two months, I was hit from behind by a driver who was accelerating. The force was sufficient to push me up a small hill where I promptly ran into a tree. The frame was bent and that was all she wrote.
In a bit of cosmic lunacy, the insurance company paid me more for the truck than I paid for it to begin with.
I went shopping and picked up a TJ.
One day while driving down the Interstate, I realized that whenever the suspension compressed, there was a vibration and odd noise. Back then I didn't do my own wrenching so I took it in to have it looked at.
The transmission bell housing was broken in half. I had it fixed and contacted Chrysler to get it handled. They set me up for and inspection. The tech checked it out and said it won't be covered under warranty as one of the front control arms had hit the underside of the fenders. "It is obvious you jumped it" he said. I retorted with "not-uh". He said "yes you did" and that was pretty much the end of the visit (I honestly had not).
It took them a month to fix it because the new drive shift was on backorder. The final bill was $2000 for the repair and $1000 for the rental car.
Yes, I know I got screwed very badly. I lodged a complaint with Chrysler that proved fruitless.
A few months later, I was talking to a mechanic and he said he saw that issue many times and he believed it was the drive shaft was too short and thus pulling the housing apart.
Forward any number of months... I'm at a red light. On the green, I floor it. Yep, the tranny housing broke in half again. That was an interesting noise. I knew what it was immediately. The vehicle was not lifted and had stock tires. What a bunch of bullshit.
I dumped it and bought a Tacoma. Great truck. Had to sell due to financial issues.
Fast forward a decade... I have this piece of crap Saturn and its second motor ruined itself.
I tell the above story to illustrate my hatred for Jeeps
...until my wife finds the aforementioned '78 that is. We decided we wanted it and here we are. I can't believe I bought a freaking Jeep. My goals for the truck are mainly daily driver type stuff. I would like to hit some trails but for now, I don't plan on significantly extending its capabilities in that area.
So far I've fabricated new inner panels and installed a new head unit and speakers.
Here she is:
The rust is strong with this one...
Yes, that is a blue towel stuffed down the quarter. Without, the exhaust from the tail right there was entering the cabin.
You can see the side panels I made in this shot:
Panel and coaxial driver:
So it came with a gun rack. Being that we don't own a gun, the wife thought umbrellas would be hilarious.
Front panel and coaxial driver:
These seat covers came with the truck though the ladies in the house don't like them - "too itchy". Do you guys know where I can get a fitted seat cover? If not, what is the part number of a set that fits well?
Put in a new head unit. I'll fancy it up once I overhaul the interior.
As I recall, this is for electric trailer brakes (yes?):
I left the factory radio in its place. The clock to the right does not work. I'll check a yard for another...
4spd hell yeah. I was so jazzed when I saw that.
Factory air. PO says it works but there is no belt so I don't know for sure. I did purchase a belt but the tensioner bolt is stuck. I used a breaker bar but it won't budge.
Came with a CB but I removed it to make room for the head unit. If I ever want it back and running, I have the unit, mic, and antenna.
I was wondering how I could mount my phone when I recalled I had this bit I wasn't using. I epoxied a mic button on the back. I then rolled up some fabric so when installed, the phone would be appropriately tilted.
It even rotates for landscape use. Naturally that is my YouTube channel on the screen...
Finally, the fact that this thing has shag carpet is killer. I'm still going to replace it once I paint everything as the interior will get painted as well.
On our list for the as-near-as-I-can-afford-it-future is:
* 4-6" Lift
* 33-35" Tires
* Wheels
* EFI
* Fitted seat covers (do they exist for this?)
* New carpet
* Repair/Replace exterior body panels - looks like I need fenders, rockers, quarters, and possibly a tailgate (the PO ran his trailer into it on both sides)
* Custom paint - I'll make some custom colors, lay down some graphics and shoot the vehicle. Naturally the missus and I are fighting over the colors. She wants two-tone: Chocolate on the top and light blue on the bottom OR Orange on the top and light blue on the bottom. I. Do. Not. Want. This.
For completeness sake, previous vehicles in order:
1976 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme w/ Landau top & 350
1990 Geo Prizm (really a Toyota Corolla)
1992 4Runner (my favorite vehicle)
1998 Rav4 (bought this for the 1st wife)
2000 4Runner (this is the one I only had for a couple months)
2002 Jeep TJ (we don't talk about this one)
2002 Tacoma (great truck; sold it as needed cash at the time more than I needed the truck)
2002 Saturn (we don't talk about this one either)
1982 Toyota Pickup (still have this; you can see it in the above photos. A really great truck!)
1978 Jeep Cherokee (this one is still playing out...)
Well, there you go. If you made it this far, go get a beer and a sammy. I'll wait.
Sean in Fort Collins, Colorado
