When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
Inside of bumper. Had to bust some rust. Not really that bad after 23 years.
After steel wool scrub and wet sand with 1000 grit. Not sure If I will paint it or not now. May just wet sand again and call it good.
Bumper reinstalled. Looks great if I do say so myself.
In my haste to drive my shiny gem, the chrome windshield trim which was not fastened fell off! Bummer...now I have to buy all new windshield trim and that stuff is $$$!
Roll bar cleaned up and reinstalled. Have to get new mounting hardware. All the old bolts are rusted and need replacing.
Last edited by Back to the Future; 09-09-2015 at 07:59 AM.
Got new hardware for the roll bar. All fastened down again and not all rusted anymore.
I sanded the valance down and painted it only to have what I believe to be "laquer checking" even though I used enamel paint. Holy cow what PITA to strip to the bare metal and start over!
Sanded it down to the metal which took a lot longer than it should. I used a mixture of my palm sander and a paint stripping wheel with my drill and even then my drill didn't have enough RPMs to make quick work of it but never the less I was finally satisfied and got it primed.
Sanded it down to the metal which took a lot longer than it should. I used a mixture of my palm sander and a paint stripping wheel with my drill and even then my drill didn't have enough RPMs to make quick work of it but never the less I was finally satisfied and got it primed.
Putting it back together.
Did the same thing this time as it did last time. Checking and cracking.
I was digging through some photo albums and run across these pics. I know it doesn't go in this forum but this was My 2003 TACO Crew Cab PreRunner. It was the only one I have ever seen with a factory roof rack. Also a much younger me. Sadly I traded it for a V6 Mustang! WTH was I thinking!!!
After it's first repaint. That paint is why I had to get it repainted this time. This is circa '01-'02.
Last edited by Back to the Future; 09-16-2015 at 02:42 PM.
Truck is coming along great. Makes me miss my extended cab. That is one tough truck to find around here. I see it has Arkansas tags and when I am over that way don't see many there either.
Thanks. I am making very slow progress. I have very little time to work on it being in the military. You are right, you don't see the ext cabs much anymore in AR. I have seen a few around here in VA but it's mostly 4runners since we are on the coast.
Got all the mud flaps back on. Not really all that serious but it's progress.
On a different note I thought I would ask you guys opinion. Let me start off by saying that I really like both options but if I had to choose just one which would you go with and why. SAS or 1UZ swap? I'm not limiting myself to just the one engine so if you think the 3RZ or 5VZE is better let me know.
If I had to pick right now I would go with SAS and re-gear with lockers. I don't really need a new motor or the SFA because I don't get to wheel much but this is my never ending project and I want it to be Bad Ass.
Last edited by Back to the Future; 09-20-2015 at 03:36 PM.
Got all the mud flaps back on. Not really all that serious but it's progress.
On a different note I thought I would ask you guys opinion. Let me start off by saying that I really like both options but if I had to choose just one which would you go with and why. SAS or 1UZ swap? I'm not limiting myself to just the one engine so if you think the 3RZ or 5VZE is better let me know.
If I had to pick right now I would go with SAS and re-gear with lockers. I don't really need a new motor or the SFA because I don't get to wheel much but this is my never ending project and I want it to be Bad Ass.
Depends on your long term goals for the truck. Its mighty clean and you have done a lot of work restoring it and most people dont wheel their clean DD because of the inevitable damage. You will only get the benefit of an SAS on the trail, and it may actually detract from the smoothness of the ride on the street. A new motor you will benefit from every time you start the truck.
For me, I wanted an offroad capable truck, and so SAS was the obvious choice. The 22RE will do everything I need it to on and off the road so a motor swap was not a priority for me. But my truck was built to be a crawler, not a smooth riding street truck. If you dont wheel it that much then I would do the motor swap and get what you can get out of the IFS off road. If you plan to do serious wheeling, then the SAS is definitely the way to go as the 22RE will work fine with the right gears.
I am guessing they will cost roughly the same, depending on where you source your parts. The SAS is probably a good bit simpler to perform. As for what motor the 1UZ is definitely awesome but the 5VZE is a good second and will probably be much easier to find.
I appreciate the insight. It isn't my DD by any means. I have a significant list of "to do's" to accomplish yet. The reason I need to figure out which way I want to go is because even though I don't wheel much I just can't get past the capability that a SFA brings. I really want to get back to where I used to be when I got the truck and take it off roading because it is just down right fun. Plus I think I could pull off the SAS much easier than I could the engine swap.
If I was just talking restoration here is my list of to do's:
-Replace shocks (still has factory originals)
-Replace steering bushings (has sloppy steering feel)
-Replace brakes (Front and Rear)
-Replace old brake fluid
-Replace radiator fluid
-Replace idler pulley
-Purge A/C system and convert to R134
-Repack/replace wheel bearings (Front and Rear)
-Replace all suspension, steering linkage, and body bushings
-Replace Ball joints
-Replace all u-joints
-change tranny, transfer case and front/rear diff fluids
-Replace driver side window regulator
-Replace Back glass locking clip
-Check/adjust TPS
-Replace Valve cover Gasket, grommets, and half moons
-Completely replace exhaust system
-Replace Timing chain with dual row timing chain
-Re-gear (going to happen no matter what) Needs more torque/acceleration
-Port/Polish head (nice to have but not necessary ATM)
-New cam (nice to have but not necessary ATM)
-Degrease and repaint IFS and rear axle
-Have seats re-upholstered or replaced
-New Stereo system (current one is worn out)
-Take Carpet out and deep clean.
That's all that I can think of right now but I'm positive that isn't all. All of those things seem relatively easy. They are just time consuming and the money train stops at more than one location than just BTTF. Have a family to think about too.
I appreciate the insight. It isn't my DD by any means. I have a significant list of "to do's" to accomplish yet. The reason I need to figure out which way I want to go is because even though I don't wheel much I just can't get past the capability that a SFA brings. I really want to get back to where I used to be when I got the truck and take it off roading because it is just down right fun. Plus I think I could pull off the SAS much easier than I could the engine swap.
If I was just talking restoration here is my list of to do's:
-Replace shocks (still has factory originals)
-Replace steering bushings (has sloppy steering feel)
-Replace brakes (Front and Rear)
-Replace old brake fluid
-Replace radiator fluid
-Replace idler pulley
-Purge A/C system and convert to R134
-Repack/replace wheel bearings (Front and Rear)
-Replace all suspension, steering linkage, and body bushings
-Replace Ball joints
-Replace all u-joints
-change tranny, transfer case and front/rear diff fluids
-Replace driver side window regulator
-Replace Back glass locking clip
-Check/adjust TPS
-Replace Valve cover Gasket, grommets, and half moons
-Completely replace exhaust system
-Replace Timing chain with dual row timing chain
-Re-gear (going to happen no matter what) Needs more torque/acceleration
-Port/Polish head (nice to have but not necessary ATM)
-New cam (nice to have but not necessary ATM)
-Degrease and repaint IFS and rear axle
-Have seats re-upholstered or replaced
-New Stereo system (current one is worn out)
-Take Carpet out and deep clean.
That's all that I can think of right now but I'm positive that isn't all. All of those things seem relatively easy. They are just time consuming and the money train stops at more than one location than just BTTF. Have a family to think about too.
A lot of those things will be taken care of if you SAS. I threw a lot of money at my front end before my SAS. Just keep that in mind when prioritizing that list.
Gotta a great prospect on a complete yota axle! Not gonna divulge the price but if this works out I will be lucky. 4.10 gears with no locker but that doesn't concern me at the moment!
Gotta a great prospect on a complete yota axle! Not gonna divulge the price but if this works out I will be lucky. 4.10 gears with no locker but that doesn't concern me at the moment!
Going to pickup my front axle in the morning. Found a guy with a Samurai with Yota front and rear axles. Going to pull the front. He threw in the wheels and tires on front no charge but not the rear. Gonna see if he will add the rears when I get there.
Here are the pics.
Last edited by Back to the Future; 09-26-2015 at 12:50 PM.
09-02-2015, 02:33 AM
