second life
#1
second life
Pulled my 83 4x4 dlx lb out of outdoor storage for over ten years. I almost cried when I saw what mother nature had taken hold of. It was not a pretty site. Could not fit car seats in back then so went to a van. Awd of course, but now its time to put the rig back on the road!
I have driven this truck 150,000m thru all 48 states many times with more than half the miles not on pretty pavement, across Canada and up and down the baja. The truck has been right side up, sideways and wrong side up. In and under water, mud, snow and to the highest and lowest places a rig can drive in the 48. Licensed in 3 corners of the us and 3 other states thanks to uncle sam.
Some say I should give it a proper funeral but I say its time for its second life, its finally grown up and even old guys like to go out and play in the mud again.
New to the forum but hope I can use it to help with the project and get info from all who can help. Good to see there are still some many enthusiasts of the old toys around.
I have driven this truck 150,000m thru all 48 states many times with more than half the miles not on pretty pavement, across Canada and up and down the baja. The truck has been right side up, sideways and wrong side up. In and under water, mud, snow and to the highest and lowest places a rig can drive in the 48. Licensed in 3 corners of the us and 3 other states thanks to uncle sam.
Some say I should give it a proper funeral but I say its time for its second life, its finally grown up and even old guys like to go out and play in the mud again.
New to the forum but hope I can use it to help with the project and get info from all who can help. Good to see there are still some many enthusiasts of the old toys around.
#5
Welcome to YT. YT has a pretty active 1st Gen truck crowd 
Congrats on your decision to resurrect an old friend...too often a truck ends up at the boneyard because of too much rust or what have you.
A free service like photobucket.com is a great place to upload your digital pictures to. Just copy and paste the [img] code into your post.

Congrats on your decision to resurrect an old friend...too often a truck ends up at the boneyard because of too much rust or what have you.
A free service like photobucket.com is a great place to upload your digital pictures to. Just copy and paste the [img] code into your post.
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#8
Thanks all for the warm welcome
not to keyboard savvy just got one recently and still figuring it out with much patience. wrenching is easy, keyboards are wrenching.
Yes,pictures are in order but most of mine are in 35mm film. Have to figure out how to convert them to digital. Got a digital camera recently but still learning how to move things and connect them to where I want them to go as well. Are there any forum help topics here to help learn how to post pictures and guidelines?
Re -built the drag link today as the truck is wandering all over with scary free lane changes but it did not help. Any ideas here would be swell. I will post what I've done to truck so far later.
Thanks again for welcome.
not to keyboard savvy just got one recently and still figuring it out with much patience. wrenching is easy, keyboards are wrenching.
Yes,pictures are in order but most of mine are in 35mm film. Have to figure out how to convert them to digital. Got a digital camera recently but still learning how to move things and connect them to where I want them to go as well. Are there any forum help topics here to help learn how to post pictures and guidelines?
Re -built the drag link today as the truck is wandering all over with scary free lane changes but it did not help. Any ideas here would be swell. I will post what I've done to truck so far later.
Thanks again for welcome.
#10
Registered User
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,705
Likes: 12
From: Yotatech, because Pirate is too expensive. NorCal.
#12
Thanks, I'll start digging and take the film to one of those places and get it transformed.
What I have done to the truck so far to date:
complete f/r axle rebuilds, 4.88s put in, will put locker r and l/s f when the kids learn respect and manners for the toy.
f/r wheel bearings( toyota is proud of those puppies$$$$)
Complete knuckle rebuild front. calipers rotors brakes.
new ranchos all around with steering stabilizer.
updated stereo with big amp eq and two 12'' thumping back massagers.
new front door speakers jbl963gto's 6x9's, these really rock if you are needing new. they fit nice front lower corner. worth the fitting but don't forget to Dynamat everything even the inside of the exterior mirrors.
new carpet, custom hand sculpted jungle floor pattern.
full interior upholstry refit with custom mossyoak break up cammo including headliner and dash, you can hide inside the cab now.( I know," Pictures") looking for a camo steering wheel cover to match. Cabelas??
Put on 33 12 15' deans sxt mud terrains on 15x10 old style alum directional mags. After 3 sets of 32''bfg mt's this was a hard choice but the street ride right now is better and the kids will head to the passes for skiing alot. Do miss the bfg's thou.
hella euro style drive lamps h4's 55-100's
most anything that was rubber or plastic replaced. toyota plastic biodegrades I found out. lots of red energy suspension bushing.
All belts and hoses, that rubber thing again.
draglink
Upcoming,
Need to replace springs, 2-3'' lift?? any brand ideas on this?I'm going to prefer ride quality first so don't have to drive with a mouth guard in.
Probably steering box, unless it can be adjusted or rebuilt. Is there a better replacement for using 33's?
Clutch, probably centerforce 1, unless I can find the exact same factory replacement that belive it or not lasted 150,000 miles. Only 3 people ever drove this truck which probably accounts for it lasting so long.
The list is endless..
What I have done to the truck so far to date:
complete f/r axle rebuilds, 4.88s put in, will put locker r and l/s f when the kids learn respect and manners for the toy.
f/r wheel bearings( toyota is proud of those puppies$$$$)
Complete knuckle rebuild front. calipers rotors brakes.
new ranchos all around with steering stabilizer.
updated stereo with big amp eq and two 12'' thumping back massagers.
new front door speakers jbl963gto's 6x9's, these really rock if you are needing new. they fit nice front lower corner. worth the fitting but don't forget to Dynamat everything even the inside of the exterior mirrors.
new carpet, custom hand sculpted jungle floor pattern.
full interior upholstry refit with custom mossyoak break up cammo including headliner and dash, you can hide inside the cab now.( I know," Pictures") looking for a camo steering wheel cover to match. Cabelas??
Put on 33 12 15' deans sxt mud terrains on 15x10 old style alum directional mags. After 3 sets of 32''bfg mt's this was a hard choice but the street ride right now is better and the kids will head to the passes for skiing alot. Do miss the bfg's thou.
hella euro style drive lamps h4's 55-100's
most anything that was rubber or plastic replaced. toyota plastic biodegrades I found out. lots of red energy suspension bushing.
All belts and hoses, that rubber thing again.
draglink
Upcoming,
Need to replace springs, 2-3'' lift?? any brand ideas on this?I'm going to prefer ride quality first so don't have to drive with a mouth guard in.
Probably steering box, unless it can be adjusted or rebuilt. Is there a better replacement for using 33's?
Clutch, probably centerforce 1, unless I can find the exact same factory replacement that belive it or not lasted 150,000 miles. Only 3 people ever drove this truck which probably accounts for it lasting so long.
The list is endless..
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