Aaannnddd all put together.

 

I got a lil time last week to work on the truck again so I set the flatbed back on so I could figure out how much room I have for shocks.

I couldn't find a good way to cycle the suspension to measure lengths so I just drove it into the ditch lol.




I was surprised at how well the truck flexed but i def need to get the ifs rearend swapped in. When the suspension is compressed the tire rubs the frame. In the pics the tire on the compressed side is actually limiting travel because it's rubbing the frame.

 

Then just for fun on the 4th I figured I would try the flatbed out.

Man this thing is gonna be handy when I get it done lol. Still got a long ways to go tho.

 

I had not realized you had started a build thread. You got it coming along nicely. Some great scenery you have there. I miss living out in the country. I was just scanning the 84/85 thread and found yours. Great job.

 

Nice!!

 

Thanks guys, didn't know anybody was following this so I haven't updated in awhile. I was looking at the rear portion of my frame awhile back and sadly it looked more like swiss cheese than steel so I chopped it off and replaced it with the rear section off my parts truck.
Here is the old frame stripped down

My cuts marked out

Aaaaand cut off.....hope I can figure out how to get it back together lol.

That was enuf work for one day so rolled the rearend inside the shop and under the truck. I instantly got visions of a super short wheelbase lol.

The next day I slacked big time on taking pics thru the process but I got it welded back together, the welds ground down, and plated over the seams inside and out. I intended to cut holes on the inside plates to add a lil extra welded strength but got in a hurry and forgot til they were welded solid so I just did it to the outer plates.

Now that the frame was done I went ahead and swapped in my ifs rearend. And I had a helper....

Daddy I love mud tires!!!

Now when I originally swapped in the ford springs my pinion angle was pointed WAY down and there's no better way to fix that than to cut off the old spring perches and weld on new ones. I am much happier now. I really need a longer driveshaft but most likely will just make a spacer for now unless I come into a bunch of cash. Here's a pic of the ifs rearend swapped in and the new pinion angle.

And all put back together.

 

I ordered some 10" travel bilsteins for the rear on my bday.
Huh?

Oh..........

I've still got to make the upper shock mounts b4 I can mount my new shocks but b4 I do that I needed the flatbed back on so I don't have any clearance issues. Oh and the section of frame I swapped has already been bobbed behind the spring hangers so my bumper will be flush with the back of the flatbed.
And a shot of the bumper. I'm very pleased with the result.

Oh and about a week after I got my shocks (which I ordered from low range off-road) they sent me an envelope with the invoice, warranty info, and a whole page of stickers! I was stoked about that. They will be getting more of my business for sure!

That's all the updates for now. Next up is getting the shocks mounted, finishing the flatbed, taillights, and then start on the ruf. Still gotta buy/make a few more parts for that tho.

 

Not Toyota related but wanted to share anyway. Here's a few pics of my dad's figure 8 car shortly after I painted it and right after the new decals.





He started racing 6 years ago after my brother passed away (my bro raced) as a tribute to him and he got addicted. I'm sure most of the ppl on this site can empathize with having a vehicle related addiction lol. Anyways, he races 4 local tracks around here and once in awhile goes to a few others farther away. He's won 3 or 4 features so far this season and up until a few weeks ago 5th was his worst finish all season. Very proud of him, just wish I could make it to more races.

 

You have made some great progress. Keep up with the pictures as you go. A year or two from now you will be glad you did. Time flies and what the truck started out as can be hard to remember. Also a great way to keep up with the kiddos. We wanted a girl and it just didnt work out that way. Got 2 boys instead.

Sorry to hear about your brother. When I was a kid, it always seems like when someone passed on that they were thousands of years old. Not anymore, you just never know at what age your time is up. I am sure it was hard for your dad to bury his own kid, but sounds like some good that came out of it is a new excitment in life due to your brother's hobby.

You did some great paint work. I enjoy the bodywork and painting more then the other aspects of builds. Those always grab my attention. I have been trying to paint atleast one truck a year as a personal goal of mine.

 

Thanks Terry. I try to take as many as I can but a lot of the time I forget when I'm in the zone lol.

 

The 86 and newer trucks have a Clutch Cansel Switch. In the FSM I dont see one on the 85s. Was wondering if you have one on yours. If so it would/should be to the left of the steering column on the speedometer bezel.

 

At first I thought it did as I've seen them so I know exactly what ur talking bout but as I recall I started the truck yesterday by just reaching in and turning the key so that leads me to believe it doesn't have the switch. I'll find out for sure this week and get back to u.

 

Short update. Got my upper shock mount made for the rear.


This will get welded right onto the 2" square tube crossmember already in place on the frame. Also I've started making a new front spring hanger to swap in my ruf pack. Will post pics when I get it finished.

 

Another quick update. Built a front spring hanger for the ruf's. Maybe someday I'll get em put in.

 

Looks good man . Another great truck saved. The ruf packs will compliment the rear springs nicely.

 

Looks like you did a great job on getting it built. Maybe you will get some free time shortly. I know how that goes.

 

Thanks 775toy and Terry. It's been a struggle to find time for the truck lately. I've been busy with work and trying to remodel my bathroom. It would be much easier to make progress if I had a welder also but for the moment if I have to do any welding on the truck I have to haul it to a buddy of mines shop. I was wanting to sell my snap on toolbox to buy a welder but the wife's not on board with that yet.........

 

Great build thread. That's some impressive work with the frame. I have made repairs in the past but have never cut the frame completely off.

I hear you with finding time. Life gets in the way sometimes. I find that my yota projects take forever sometimes.

 

Thanks man, I've never hacked apart a frame either before this one. I actually read about it in Peterson's 4wheel and off-road mag and thought to myself hmmmm I can do that lol. U just have to take ur time and measure, measure, measure. Then when u think u have it right, measure again. I think it turned out pretty decent. I've been keeping track of ur thread too, shouldn't be long before its on the road again if it isn't already. I haven't had a chance to check ur progress yet today lol. I'm really diggin the stance of ur runner with ur wheels and those red letter generals.

 

I can't tell you how many times in the last 15 yrs I have used articles in petersons 4wheel and off road as a guide to do something. Seriously a great magazine.

I actually got the engine in a few days ago and have been driving it everyday since.