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Recently bought this 83 pickup from a buddy. It isn't beautiful but it serves its purpose! Need to make some rear adjustments in the rear suspension so that it doesn't feel like I'm driving a tractor offroad, but otherwise its a solid truck.
The cab and frame extension is not exactly stock, but is not a "one-off" either. Many other things on this truck (like tall suspension and body lifts, wheels, tires, etc.) were either done by you or previous owners.
These trucks were originally regular cab trucks from Toyota.
These modified cabs are known as "custom cabs". A few companies did these conversions so the customer could seat more than the three occupants that a regular cab could carry.
Check out this older post by Customcabtoy on how these trucks came to be:
Originally Posted by customcabtoy
A company called Fabco licensed out a Toyota-approved process for making extended cab pick-ups that could seat 4 to 5 people. The trucks were bought at a local dealer by a customer and then the dealer would send the trucks to the "stretch shop". The cost for the conversion was $5000. A mighty expensive option when you consider that the truck's original cost was between $8,000 to $12,000. The modification called a "Custom Cab" was performed on Toyota regular cab trucks from about 1976 to 1988. In 1989 Toyota introduced an extended cab pickup with forward-facing rear "jump seats" that was cheaper than the Custom Cab option. It would have also required Fabco to re-tool for the new model.
For the conversion, the truck would be put on two trolleys that sat on rails. Everything connecting the cab half of the truck to the bed half of the truck was disconnected before the frame was cut. Then the two halves were rolled, on rails, apart from each other -- this is the same way a limousine is made. Then a piece of frame was welded into the gap and the back of the cab is cut out. Finally a platform, roll-bar and, a fiberglass cab extension was attached. Then the whole thing is repainted -- often with a "brown rainbow" graphic that was popular with car makers in the day. My truck was built by Custom Fab in Hemet, California, according to the D.O.T. permit on my truck. Custom Fab is no longer in business at Hangar 3, Ryan Field, Hemet, CA 92313.
Most of these conversions were done with the 1984-1988 body style.
That's good info about the truck. Also, most of the lift/tire/suspension/etc are done by the PO as I have not done anything on it yet since my time is already used up by my other rig - LX450/FJZ80.
Lift was like that when I acquired it, actually it was traded by a good friend in exchange for my other LX450/FJZ80 and really wanted to lower the height a bit for utilitarian use. Tried to give it to my Son but he is worried that his high school parking lot may not accommodate the size of it.
Still debating whether to trade it with any similar SR5 pick-up, Tacoma, another FJ80, 3rd Gen/N180 4Runner or Jeep XJ. Sad to see it not being used and enjoyed. Will keep all options open.
here is my 79/80 i rebuilt
also made the flatbed, full aluminum as well as the bumper.
I pulled the original truck out of my uncles bushes so it was pretty rotten, bought 2 more donors to make 1 solid one
also rebuilt the 20r from the bare block:
LC Pro Torquer cam
LC headers
32/36 webber
etc.
cheap 3" rough country suspension
5" trailgear suspension coming soon as well as hi-steer
10-15-2018, 10:19 PM
