j.engen

I recently just got into toyotas and after much research online I decided to join a forum to share my build and get input on future builds. I picked up a 79 from a buddy last year, it had many issues such as rot, electrical problems and leaks everywhere.

As a teenager I wanted to build a decent trail rig as cheap as possible. I started the truck a few months ago in order to take it for a few rides before hunting season this summer. I now have it wheelable as of last week but still needs some minor work to upgrade parts.

Will try and add some photos of it once I learn how. Thanks!!

j.engen

The day I picked it up

j.engen

First thing I did was remove the bed to reveal the frame, found frame rot on the rails as soon as they come up from under the cab on both sides.

j.engen

Next thing was to strip the cab and gut the old carpet and lay down some bed liner

j.engen

Picked up 5 31-15.50-15 terra tires and some jeep 15x10 wheels. I looked for months for yota wheels in the correct width but with out luck and being an anxious kid I purchased these and just fabricated my own wheels.



Worked out good no wobbles and are balanced, wasn't to worried about it knowing this rig is never going down the highway

j.engen

Mounted up all the tires and took it for a spin and screwed around seeing how much flex it had stock on a small rock pile in the drive




Not much but after I take it for a few rides and feel like spending the money I may get better springs. This rig is mainly gonna be going across big swamps and muddy areas instead of rocky climbs so not worried about the flex

j.engen

Ordered a 9500# xrc and built a winch plate out of 1/8" cold roll steel with 3/8" gussets. Eventually once I buy a pipe bender I will build the rest of my bumper off of the winch plate

j.engen

Finished the winch plate up and wanted to start the bed. The plan was to make a flatbed the same width as the cab in order to make it on most trails and not get hung up.

Chopped the frame 5" for clearance off of ledges and boxed it in with 3x2 1/8" wall steel with two d-rings for recovery hooks

j.engen

D-rings should hold welded them up with some 7018 instead of the mig

j.engen

Finally was ready to start the bed, wanted an nice 45 at the rear corners for pushing brush away and I personally think it's a cleaner look but decided not to because I still wanted it wide enough to load a wheeler

j.engen

Built the actual frame of the bed 2" narrower because I welded on 1" rec around the perimeter and bent some flatbar around the rec for unlimited spots to strap coolers and gear on

gillesdetrail

iTrader: (1)

That pretty cool so far! Keep them coming!

You say you have rust issues, I say, no, you don't Those floors are clean! What did you do with the original bed?

j.engen

Took the bed to a salvage company down the road along with one from an 81, one was pretty rough shape and original off the 79 was falling apart. Overall not to much rust some on front fender wells and the floor boards had some holes just riveted some sheet metal that I had left over from building trailers. Not a perfect solution to that but main purpose was to keep most of the mud and water from splashing up

j.engen

Decked the flat bed in some 3/4 plywood that I stained to help protect it from abuse

j.engen

Couple weeks ago I fixed the source of the oil leak, had a bad front main seal so I replaced it with a brand new one for a 22re so that it wouldn't ride in the groove worn on the pulley from last one going out.

While I was in there I decided to do a full oil change with filter to start off new since I didn't know how long the previous oil had been in there. Oil looked clean but upon changing it I noticed the oil was very diluted and had a strong gas smell so suspected a faulty pcv valve so replaced it also.

Few trips around the block noticed the temp gauge not working so checked ohms off sending unit and grounded the gauge, everything checked out. Read a thread on here about taking the cluster apart and tightening the screws up so am going to try that this weekend along with figuring out why my dash lights aren't working, no blown fuses so suspecting some burnt bulbs

j.engen

Have a new sending unit in order should be here Monday morning and hopefully that will fix temp guage before my first trip out with it for the holidays.

Tore the gas tank out and parched the frame with 3\8" plate and some 2" flat bar that I bent to fit bottom of frame

j.engen

j.engen

Got the frame welded back up and everything put back together. While I was in there I cleaned up the frame and painted the truck since previous owner did a crap rattle can paint job, didn't even tape anything off painted over blinkers, lights, etc..

j.engen

Got my sending unit in yesterday and replaced it now gauge works finally. Changed all my diff fluid also and loading up for first run out with it tomorrow, gonna be out for a few days.

j.engen

Been busy last few days changing glow plugs in my daily driver so work on the yota stopped but was able to make a quick gas can caddy so I don't have to strap them down I can just throw them in and go