BigBearSteve

OK, here we go with another build thread

My first 'Yota was an '82 LB 4x.

Bought it new, wheeled the ˟˟˟˟˟ out of it, and sold it in '95 with over 325,000 on the odo.

Wish I never sold it, but someday I'll find another Gen 1.

My current truck is a '92 LB, that used to be my neighbors work truck.

He had it from '92 to 2000, when I got it.

He beat the crap out of it, had a rack on it that destroyed the bed, put super heavy duty springs on the rear (rode like hell, empty)

Needless to say, it needed help.

So now it's my DD/dirt bike hauler/get away from the wife truck.


Since I've had it, I've done a little bit of work on it.

First thing was to get rid of the suspension, and fix the bed.

Rear end got Downey 3" lift springs, urethane bushings, a stainless brake line and bilstien 5150's.

Front got Rancho upper A-arms, mega travel BJ's, Custom shock hoops W/bilstiens.
Downey truss, 24 mm TB's, Slip axle yoke shafts, HD tie rods, and SS brake hoses.


Also, urethane bushings in the control arms and swaybar. (I haven't disconnected the SB, cause I do alot of mountain driving and I like the way it handleswith it)

The bed was so damaged from the lumber rack, that I had to weld the cracks, reinforce the corners, and make a angle iron frame to go around the top of the bed rail. (I was afraid to even haul a bike in the back, it was so bad)


Interior wise, I put a smittybuilt rollcage, Grant wheel, tach, stereo, and different seatbelts.

Still have the stock bench seat, but someday I'll swap in some buckets (Beards)




I haven't done anything to the motor, except a high-flo cat, and borla muffler, I think I'll replace the intake/filter, and maybe an electric fan.

The front bumper I made, and the lights were recycled from my old '82 truck.

Out back I'm planning to build a 'Tiregate'

There used to be a company that built a swing out tailgate/ sparetire mount, so I'm going to work on that.

I want to keep the back end open so I can haul a couple bikes, so everything that goes back there will be built around leaving room.

So, progress may be slow at times (working sucks), but I'll keep all my questions here in this thread.

Now how does that search thingie work again??

LGcrawler

sweet build man, hows that front suspension ride?

BigBearSteve

Thanks.

The ride is really nice,

I don't have the TB's cranked all the up, so it's a good ride.

LGcrawler

also how do you like the cage? was it hard to install? i might be in the market for one next winter

BigBearSteve

It's easy to install, takes up some room, but it's well padded

It's a smittybuilt cage (they no longer sell them)

I found it on ebay, added a few extra bars, and had it powder coated.

87hillbillyoter

wow! awesome looking truck man. i love the look of it!

LGcrawler

ya man looks good

yotasavg

Wow that truck looks great for being a work truck! i like that you painted the lower arms to match the rancho's.

BigBearSteve

Postman brought some goodies yesterday.



A couple new Birfs (just in case)

And a pair of Downey +1" shackles.

Also bought a Intake to remove the ISR.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...K%3AMEWAX%3AIT

And...This is what I'm looking at building this spring.

Wheelindealin

Man thats the EXACT thing im going to build^^ the tiregate
I found that site and found some prices and they were like $800 or somthin, so i was build one like that...but face my tire the other way

toyospearo

wow!!
nice build!

Taxman13

clean truck, i've always liked red yotas

RSuper

What size tires are you sporting? Can't tell if they are 33's or 35's.

BigBearSteve

They are 33" General M/T's that are going to get 86'd as soon as I get my tax refund.

I'm going to get some AR wheels with BFG A/T's

streetlancer

iTrader: (1)

33x12.5 on 15x8 steelies?

"going to get 86'd" what??

Love the mods. you've done; sharp looking truck!!!!

BigBearSteve

Thanks, I've got a bunch of mods in the works right now

I'm going to sell the MT's (they are going to waste on a DD)

and get some all terrains instead.

BigBearSteve

I guess it's about time I updated my build.

My dog has been really sick and had to have surgury, so progress has been slow.

I did lift the rear of my truck 1" with longer shackles, and installed an intake (ISR mod) as well as putting on a new horn and relay.

"Bear"


Shackles

Intake


Currently, I am working on my design for my tiregate, and trying to decide on what new wheels to get (AR-23's maybe??)

Then after that, I may get a TG rear bumper

BigBearSteve

Well.... the Big Bear Mobile finally got some new shoes





My son thinks I need to put on some fiberglass fenders.. I'm not so sure



They're 15x8 american racing wheels with 33x12.50 BFG's (still waiting for the fifth wheel for my spare )

Also got a start on my spare tire carrier.

Corner brackets.



Hinges and mounting tabs (that were too short)


My neighbor has a water jet, so he cut me some longer tabs out of thicker material.



Picked up a couple seats for my ride too..



I think those belts will end up in my prerunner though..

And I got a few other goodies too, I'll have to post them tomorrow.

Wheelindealin

That truck is gonna look good, i wanna see that tire gate

- some black paint on them wheels would good imo

BigBearSteve

Naww.. Gotta keep em' shiny for cruizin the mall parking lots

Besides, I still have my black steelies with M/T's for when I want to get dirty

Got a new battery box and rear window latch from Davez this week.





And new rear tail lights from E-bay (still need to get LED bulbs for them)