ocdropzone's 1981 Trekker (B4Runner) Build-Up Thread

[ocdropzone]

So thought I would start a thread on my '81 Trekker I bought a couple of months ago. It is my 5th Toyota truck over 20 years. (86 4Runner, '84 X-cab, 97 Taco x-cab, 2005 Tacoma, all have been 4x4) Bought the truck off craigslist 1981 Trekker, 112K original miles, 22R, 5 Speed, 33 BFG AT's, Unknown 4" springs upfront, 3" blocks in the rear (suck), 4Runner front seats. Need to count the tire rotation sometime with truck up on jackstands to see if it had been regeared, for 33's it sure seems to do fine if it still had the stock 3.90s or 4.10s--think 81 had 3.90. My 84 with 4.10's and 33's had to hope for a push over big hills. Overall it was in good shape mechanically. Runs strong and gets about 18 mpg around town... It passed Oregon DEQ emissions test first try Title search shows that the truck was in Alaska the same time I was stationed up there in the early 90's and has got a reddish orange paint under the blue. Makes me wonder if it is the same truck I almost bought in '91 --ended up buying my '84 instead... Stuff I have done so far: -new windshield and seal, extended SS brake lines F/R, cut out the junk carpeting and headliner, new mirrors, changed all the filters and fluids, fluids were in good shape, no metal filings etc so looks like it have been take care of...have got Trail Gear gusset kits and front end service kit to rebuild front end in the next few weeks...new timing chain is in the works..Heavy duty tow bar (light enough to tow with my '05) Plans(DREAMS) include: -half doors or tube -IFS front brakes with fj80 master cylinder -86+ rear end, hopefully convert that to rear disc (full floater kit would be awesome) --wheel spacers up to match the wider rear end -35's with 5.29's but if I find that it has got 4.88's like it seems to may just get some 33 MT's... -High Steer -Full Cage-May go with a Marlin or All Pro and have some loops put in the back for the rear passengers-but there is a guy on another forum that may be able to do it very reasonable. -New springs-Marlin or All Pro Kit would be cool but think I will go with Trail gear since my budget is not as big as I wish -Dual cases or at least 4.7's with twin stick -8K winch or the new warn powerplant if I win the lottery -Front winch bumper with tow bar mounts..hope to build my own--found a wire feed welder in my dad's barn he forgot he had...love'em for that.. --rear bumper with maybe a swing out tire carrier for the back bumper (probably have to plate the rear frame for that one) --sliders with kick out --bigger gas tank, 13.5 gallons is a bit small --propane conversion way down the road The build it gonna take some time, wish I could do it all at once, but with 3 kids and trying to save for college guess I am lucky to have a toy..THANKS JESS (my missus and the accountant) Just want to thank the folks on Yotatech, been here a few weeks and have already gotten a ton of help on questions, ideas, and some good deals on parts. Yotatech has got a very friendly and helpful atmosphere... Looking to see what slacker and the other trekker owners come up with too. when I picked it up: Interior shots: Rear Before: Herculined the back: Only real body damage: The lock for the rear hatch was fubarred so I picked up a set of match canopy locks off ebay and came up with this--aluminum to help strenthen the fiberglass and an aluminum striker plate on the inside lip. Need to find a new rear seal or something that might work... While I was at it I replaced the stratched up 2 piece leaky plexi with a new 5/16's piece my next door neighbor found in his shed, your Wally!! Added a little bling that Kitten Holt (the sticker chick) made for me--awesome lady to work with ...7 bucks for this sticker. I have got a 4Runner license plate frame that I may try to use to fix the hole that was left from the stock broken latch... gotta have this for trail running in Oregon--

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[slacker]

Rob
Nice .. I cant wait ..

are you going to put an/the interior back in ?

[Sonofmayhem]

Nice, but weak numbers, i will be on number 5 in a total of 3 years

[Tofer]

nice truck..... thank god the ATV stickers are blue now... last time i had to buy one it was pink

[coldwiz]

That is a sweet truck. Have you thought about (I hate to say this) taking it back to original condition since those things are so rare?

[89silverpu]

That thing is sweet!!!

[ocdropzone]

Originally Posted by coldwiz

That is a sweet truck. Have you thought about (I hate to say this) taking it back to original condition since those things are so rare?

Thanks, I thought about it restoring it, but am gonna be using this as a mild wheeler. I realize some folks would cring at that thought..The interior behind the seats was basically shot due to a leak from the back window, it caused the headliner, carpet and other upolstry (sp??) to be moldy.
I am going to retain the back seat. With it folded down there is just enough room for a couple of people to crash in the back.
I saw one of these as a kid next to an '84 4Runner (in early 84) and thought it was the coolest thing...

Am also going to be trying to make it so that I can take the top off like a 4Runner. I can tell that someone has taken it off before. Just the seal is going to be a pain to deal with..

[AndYota]

Very nice, I'm definitely jealous. And I understand the wheelin' it, why own a 4WD and not use it to its fullest capabilities.

Andy

[Elton]

looks nice

[98taco4x]

man that is great find for the condition it is in. Man I love it looks like you are going to enjoy the crap out of it. Yeah I would wheel the piss out of it.

[ocdropzone]

Originally Posted by AndYota

Very nice, I'm definitely jealous. And I understand the wheelin' it, why own a 4WD and not use it to its fullest capabilities.

Andy

Thanks Andy-I will be hopefully putting your spare tire winch on the trekker this weekend. Having a 33 in the back is taking up too much room...

[1eye]

Looking good Robb. Keep the posts/ pictures of it coming.

1eye

[ocdropzone]

So went on a little road trip today, it was raining nice and hard so my kids in the back found that the seal between the cab and the canopy are not as tight as I thought. It was leaking pretty good. So the top removal project is now a necessity so I can get it sealed up good again...
If someone has got a good recommendation for a pliable seal/gasket material I am extremely open to suggestions...I would like to make it so that I can remove the top with out it being seal by a few tubes of silicon....

[roadking8633]

hey elton how long have you lived in toledo? I grew up there. GO BOOMERS

[ocdropzone]

Got the windshield fixed, no leaking now. Still working on getting the IFS steering box in prep for high steer conversion.
Got lucky, through the truck up on jack stands and did the driveshaft count, looks like I have got 4.88's for sure possibly 5.29's, may pull the diff to verify, but it sure takes off easy with the 33's...

[smith89panthers]

Nice!!! I am all over the Trekkers. I didnt know about them until I found one on ebay a few days ago. Its the one in canada that had the frame problem.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...ayphotohosting

just in case you want to see it. the reserve is $2,997. I am looking at getting a Trekker ASAP and make it bad a$$ like you are doing. I got the approval from my wife so I am golden! Is it me, but most of the Trekker information I have found says that they mostly in the west? Good luck with yours and I cant wait for some more pics!! Dustin

[ocdropzone]

Dustin: Good luck, I sent you a PM about the craigslist trekker, I found the original ebay listing for it. Gives you a lot better picture of the interior. You might be able to get a good deal on it, he has had it for awhile.
--Robb

[MikeKaduce]

I am selling my Trekker as well, for those interested:

http://www.yotatech.com/showthread.php?t=118283

[ocdropzone]

Well a little update. Haven't really been doing to much but driving the '81 a day or two a week and trying to accumulate some parts.
High Steer is on hold for now so did a dropped drag link and put a another steering box on in conjuctions with a steering rod Pokey hooked me up with. Steering issues (for now) are a thing of the past.
John aka Luv24by hooked me up with a seller on ebay, picked up a set of Trail Gear front springs and a used BudBuilt 1stGen Dual Case CrossMember and skids way cheaper than I ever expected. So are course with that I had to find another transfer case. Will be converting it to 23 spline based on the Wisdom of WaskillyWabbit (Brian) who has been a wealth of info

Picked up the tow bar w/mounts (need to make the front bumper still),

Father's Day my wife and girls sprung for a set of Sliders w/ KO. Ordered them from Wab-Fab, who does a lot business with Adam of 4xInnovations. Tell you what, the quality of the work on these for the money can not be beat.

Donor set of doors for the Half door project. Was gonna go with a set of Tube Doors but these were a good deal...


The budget has been kind of tight lately. Saving up to do hip surgery on a close family friend. I am sure a lot of folks would say screw the pooch, but he is too much a part of the family to do that too..

[bballchrism]

save the pooch
but nice lookin truck

[slacker]

cool Robb .. duel cases .. some lift .. size tire you gonna run ?

nice ride .

[waskillywabbit]

Looking good Rob.

[Rock Slide]

Rob, nice find. Trekkers are indeed tricky to come by...just have to know where to look.

Like the half door idea over tubes. Don't know if you have seen this old thread before or not, but Sgirt made a set of half doors and even added a set of clear vinyl windows similar to a jeep (check out page 2):

http://www.yotatech.com/f2/info-half...91/index2.html


Looking forward to seeing all the progress that is to follow.

[ocdropzone]

Corey-looks like i will be staying with 33's for now unless the killer deal rolls down the road sometime. I would like to go 35's, Toyo has got a 35x13.50, same size as the smaller BFG Krawler that would be nice-Would love to go bigger than 35's but looking for a compromise so I won't break stuff all the time.

Rockslide--thanks for the info on the half doors--never thought about a set of snap on vinyl covers, I like that idea--I will definately be leaving the full frame of the door on (for strength) so that will give me a place to snap something to. Guess if my dad's boat top goes missing he will find in on my truck.. .

Brian-thanks dude, be looking for some future orders!!

[coryc85]

Rob,

Looks like some good progress. Also looks like you are planning to flat tow your trekker. I've been thinking of this myself for my '83 pickup. But I have a few concerns that maybe you have thought about

1) I think we are supposed to disconnect both drive shafts for flat towing -- not a big deal, but just something I'll have to reconnect when I get there

2) Are there pre-fabbed mounts that I can weld to a bumper? I have a Front Range Offroad steel front bumper

3) Do you have any braking concerns with your tow vehicle pulling that much un-braked (is that a word) load

I'd be very interested in how you plan to connect your tow bar to your front bumper and any other general thoughts you have about this.