Newbie checking in - my first pickup truck!

eyw · 02-11-2008, 11:39 AM

Always been a Toyota guy ('84 Corolla, '91 Camry and now '97 Corolla) - but I've always been wanting a pickup. Came across an older Pickup that was in good running condition and the price was right. So as of this past weekend, I'm a Toyota Pickup owner. It's a '93 4x4, 4cyl, 5 speed with about 140K miles on it:

It's got a small laundry list of problems that need to be addressed, including a vibration when the front hubs are locked, an A/C controller that might have to be replaced, and a sticking emergency brake cable that needs to be replaced. I'd also like to replace the front bumper since it has pretty much rusted away (can anybody identify it?).

Somebody pointed me to this forum and it looks like I've got alot of reading to do!

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Yodaforce · 02-11-2008, 11:46 AM

It's a Smitty-built.

tortis · 02-11-2008, 05:03 PM

welcome. how does the frame look? looks like the tailgate has the normal rusted areas.

JohnnyRanger54 · 02-11-2008, 05:40 PM

Its a smitty built front bumper.. and damn, who let it go to hell like that?? I have the same one its 20 years old but dont look like that...

Jay351 · 02-11-2008, 05:49 PM

smittybilt products ( their 3" tube bumpers mostly) are known to rust away. Looks like you have the smittybilt step bars too. I would suggest you ditch all of it.

As for vibrations, I would suggest you pull the hubs and take a peek. Probibly a good time to rebuild them.

heres a good writeup on how to rebuild them:

http://forum.ih8mud.com/79-95-toyota...b-rebuild.html

p.s where are your front turn signals?

JohnnyRanger54 · 02-11-2008, 06:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jay351

smittybilt products ( their 3" tube bumpers mostly) are known to rust away. Looks like you have the smittybilt step bars too. I would suggest you ditch all of it.

As for vibrations, I would suggest you pull the hubs and take a peek. Probibly a good time to rebuild them.

heres a good writeup on how to rebuild them:

http://forum.ih8mud.com/79-95-toyota...b-rebuild.html

p.s where are your front turn signals?

????? WHAT??
Not entirely true, I have the SB Front and rear bumpers and Nerf bars.. all were put on the rig in 1989..... No rust, Just the typical fading.. I guess it depends on where you're from though too also, doesnt it???

Albert.G · 02-11-2008, 06:15 PM

i agree with jay...ditch all that stuff...truck looks like a good start, really digging that topper...makes it look like a 4runner

**aviator** · 02-11-2008, 06:18 PM

welcome to the family
sweet looking little truck you have there...
you even got the 4runner look-alike top you can't find anymore...
a little tlc and your laughing.

Jay351 · 02-11-2008, 06:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Johnnyanger54

????? WHAT??
Not entirely true, I have the SB Front and rear bumpers and Nerf bars.. all were put on the rig in 1989..... No rust, Just the typical fading.. I guess it depends on where you're from though too also, doesnt it???

Well yes, it does depend where you live, what the climate conditions are, what they use on the roads in the winter. But generally speaking, smittybilt products had a HUGE rust problem. Just about everysingle one I have seen have already started to rust away.

eyw · 02-11-2008, 08:48 PM

Thanks for all the encouraging words and the warm welcome.

I'm in the Cleveland, Ohio area. The truck's previous owner is also from the area and I think he purchased it previously from someone who lived in Utah who put on the bumpers and side bars. Not sure how many years the truck spent in Cleveland, but they do use salt quite liberally around here.

One new thing I discovered tonight is that the headlights seem to have gotten some moisture in them so I got some replacements for them. Now I've found that the upper hoop of SB bumper gets in the way of getting the clips off the grille. Have you owners of this bumper found any easy way to get the grille off or is it just a finesse kind of thing? Also found the screws for the retaining rings to be pretty rusted and pretty much fused to the rear part that holds the headlamp in place. Sigh - nothing is easy.

The signal lamps are held in place by a bracket between the two horizontal bars. If you look hard in the first picture, you can sort of make them out.

Got the truck for $800 so I'm not looking to put a whole lot of money into it. Definitely want to get the 4WD mechanicals and A/C working before I tackle the cosmetics (unless I can find a bumper cheap).

I ordered the Haynes and Chiltons manuals so I'll be going through those when they get here. And look at getting the hubs off and rebuilding them. Thanks for the link to the article.

Also - any Northeast Ohio YotaTech members and if so, any trusted places you go to to have your truck worked on?

02-11-2008, 11:46 AM	#2 (permalink)
Yodaforce Registered User Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: West NC Posts: 276	It's a Smitty-built. __________________ "Diverse-Customs" Hot Rods, Street Rods, Custom audio and video installation, sheet metal fabrication, tube work, bumpers, lift kits, just about any kind of custom work imaginable! Visit us at Diverse-Customs.com

02-11-2008, 05:03 PM	#3 (permalink)
tortis Contributing Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: shreveport, La Posts: 1,273	welcome. how does the frame look? looks like the tailgate has the normal rusted areas. __________________ 89 Truck X-tra Cab LCE Timing Chain 31'' Maxxis Buckshot 4.88's built by ZUK(the mind reader) Aussie Locker Front and Rear 63'' Chevy Springs Marlin HD Clutch Bilstein HD Shocks 2.5" Exhaust W/Dynomax Muffler 2-50 Watt Backup Lights

02-11-2008, 05:40 PM	#4 (permalink)
JohnnyRanger54 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Grants Pass Oregon Posts: 275	Its a smitty built front bumper.. and damn, who let it go to hell like that?? I have the same one its 20 years old but dont look like that... __________________ 1988 4Runner, 3.Slow, 5 spd.... not stock.... I have 2 sets of BFG AT's 33x12.5x15 Brand New.. 660 per set.. Oh yeah http://http://www.geocities.com/serioustoys/home.html

02-11-2008, 05:49 PM	#5 (permalink)
Jay351 Contributing Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: maple ridge, British Columbia, Canada Posts: 8,557	smittybilt products ( their 3" tube bumpers mostly) are known to rust away. Looks like you have the smittybilt step bars too. I would suggest you ditch all of it. As for vibrations, I would suggest you pull the hubs and take a peek. Probibly a good time to rebuild them. heres a good writeup on how to rebuild them: http://forum.ih8mud.com/79-95-toyota...b-rebuild.html p.s where are your front turn signals? __________________ 91 Pickup - xcab - 5sp - 3.0 - SR5 - 4x4 - 246,000kms \|2.25" catback w/ magnaflow cat + glasspack \| Weasy2k cams \| Aisin manual hubs \| Diff breather mod\| Marlin HD clutch \|3" BL \| es3000's \|2" AAL \|1.5" bj spacers \| ISR \| Alpine headunit \| 4" Infinity fronts/5" rears \| 4.88's \|Rear lockright \| 33x12.50" BFG M/T on 15x8" steelies \|Hella 500's \|4" reverse lights\| Grant GT \|Downey idler arm brace\|hella E-codes\| Marlin armor \| %100 Amsoil synthetic http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2572486 Last edited by Jay351; 02-11-2008 at 05:59 PM.

02-11-2008, 06:15 PM	#7 (permalink)
Albert.G Registered User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Thunder bay Ontairooo Posts: 401	i agree with jay...ditch all that stuff...truck looks like a good start, really digging that topper...makes it look like a 4runner __________________ Snoyota...thirtee tree's lifted and locked

02-11-2008, 06:18 PM	#8 (permalink)
aviator Super Moderator Staff Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: COTKU,Ontario,Canada Posts: 7,444	welcome to the family sweet looking little truck you have there... you even got the 4runner look-alike top you can't find anymore... a little tlc and your laughing. __________________ Silver 1994 Hilux Xtra cab 4x4 3.0 K&N cone filter, ported MAF, advanced timing, oversize exhaust, free flow cat, "rumble" muffler custom covered SR5 seats, map lights, factory AC tv4184 style black interior conversion started mods to come... header, custom centre console, stereo upgrade tinted windows Founding member 1972TLC fan club - Get well soon Mary Toyota Hilux... Get in or Get out of the way.

02-11-2008, 08:48 PM	#10 (permalink)
eyw Registered User Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Cleveland, OH Posts: 20	Thanks for all the encouraging words and the warm welcome. I'm in the Cleveland, Ohio area. The truck's previous owner is also from the area and I think he purchased it previously from someone who lived in Utah who put on the bumpers and side bars. Not sure how many years the truck spent in Cleveland, but they do use salt quite liberally around here. One new thing I discovered tonight is that the headlights seem to have gotten some moisture in them so I got some replacements for them. Now I've found that the upper hoop of SB bumper gets in the way of getting the clips off the grille. Have you owners of this bumper found any easy way to get the grille off or is it just a finesse kind of thing? Also found the screws for the retaining rings to be pretty rusted and pretty much fused to the rear part that holds the headlamp in place. Sigh - nothing is easy. The signal lamps are held in place by a bracket between the two horizontal bars. If you look hard in the first picture, you can sort of make them out. Got the truck for $800 so I'm not looking to put a whole lot of money into it. Definitely want to get the 4WD mechanicals and A/C working before I tackle the cosmetics (unless I can find a bumper cheap). I ordered the Haynes and Chiltons manuals so I'll be going through those when they get here. And look at getting the hubs off and rebuilding them. Thanks for the link to the article. Also - any Northeast Ohio YotaTech members and if so, any trusted places you go to to have your truck worked on? Last edited by eyw; 02-11-2008 at 08:53 PM.

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