Orion22rte

First ever post on this forum, I've been wandering around the forums for a while, but never had a yota of my own..... Until now. So this is gonna be my build and it's transformation. I could use helpful advise here fellas.

Ok, so I found this truck, and drove 170 miles to pick it up, and drove it back. Had no problems, had to add some oil though. I noticed the suspension is really really rigid. General rust on fenders, and the bed. Cab and frame are in great shape. I did notice once it got hot it would idle at 2k!

So this morning I was doing a complete TI on it and was writing down every defect or short coming. Well, then I decided to take a look under the valve cover to eyeball the timing chain. To my horror, there was no more guide, and there was 2 grooves in the cover that went all the way down, and even worse I noticed 3 little droplets of green coolant in one of the grooves....

So, I was planning a rebuild anyways, but I would've liked to drive the truck before then. So here is the plan:
-LC double roller timing chain conversion
-Full rebuild
-upgrade turbo to a ct26
-clean and detail engine bay
-service tranny, transfer, and diffs
This is just the engine rebuild phase, and I'll be adding to this list, but this is the minimum for now, gotta get this thing runnin! Lol

Ps. I'm on my phone, and I don't know how to add photos. When I get on a pc I'll give it a try

Orion22rte

Orion22rte

Yesterday I stopped by the local college, and got some info on taking a welding course, so I'll be able to get some welding in on it without buying a welder and everything, and I've always wanted to weld anyways.

Looked up fenders for it and it'll be $100 shipped for driver + passenger side.

Did some work on the inside of the truck, undoing someone else's little interior light project, disconnected the door beeper. And the window cranks needed some love, so I removed the door panels and sprayed everything with some wd40, much better now.

Also I noticed that the truck says it was made in 86, no huge changes between the years, no biggie. Also picked up a Hanes manual for it.

Tryin to get access to my buddy's garage, so I can rebuild this sucker, or at least get it torn down and cleaned while I figure out what I need to get

This is gonna be a journal-type thread, cuz I wish I had done it with my last project.

Terrys87

iTrader: (1)

Great looking little truck. As long as it wasnt ran to long with the leak from the timing cover, you should be ok. Sounds like you caught it in time. Hit the quote button on my post and you will see your picture in text form. You will need to start a Photobucket account and it makes posting pics easier. I use 960x1280 settings and that will give you a larger picture. Probably away of enlarging it in Photobucket, but I dont know that part. It will be [IMG....IMG]. Looking forward to your build.

Disconnecting your door beeper will disable your domelight. On my 88 Runner build below on the first page on where to find it, I show how to stop the beeper and not lose the domelight.

Orion22rte

Oh, thanks for the heads up, I don't really mind the buzzer for everyday stuff. But I was taking the door panel off and didn't want to listen to it for 10 minutes. I'll take a look at you thread and in the meantime try and figure out photobucket, I'm using the yota tech app, but I guess it only uploads little pics

Orion22rte

Well, had ta drive the truck to my buddy's house, we'll be cleaning out the the garage and gettin it in any day now. I'm hoping the bottom end looks good so I can get by with changing gaskets and gettin it back together.

Wondering if anyone has any experience with the double roller timing chain conversion from LCE? It's 400 bones and I wanna know if it'll last any longer or if I should just get the single row.

Other than that, I'm lookin at a street performer head and turbo cam and head studs.

Gonna do a compression test before I pull it apart. Pics will be on the way

Co_94_PU

iTrader: (-1)

Don't forget to plug that switch for the door back in I keep leaving my headlights on, my roomate keeps having to shut them off for me. I don't mind the buzzer when it's reminding me the lights are on but I tend to leave the keys in when I'm working or the door open and it gets annoying real fast.

For your tiny picture issue, edit the posts and you can remove the "t" after the first set of numbers and it'll sstop using the thumbnails.

The benefit of the double row chains is a hot debate issue you'll find justifications from both sides. My take is if your not getting on the throttle hard ALL the time it's probbly not worth the time effort or cash. For that kind of dough you can just about have a stand-by engine hanging around.

Orion22rte

Yeah, I kinda like the buzzer, it's kinda like the truck is tellin me it's still alive. I might put a low profile switch under the dash to toggle it on/off.

And I was lookin into the timing chain and it does come with the water pump, oil pump, timing cover an chain+guide. I wouldn't say that I'd be on it ALL the time, but it will be my daily driver and I want this thing to be rock solid. If anything I'll be able to let others know the pros/cons of it, if any.

On another note I thought I would go ahead and write down exactly what I'm lookin at doing with this thing. It gets pretty crazy so bare with me here.

Ok, the bed is coming off, I need to do some repair to the frame underneath it. I'm going to do a tubular truck bed type cage, kinda lilt the desert trophy trucks. Not sure on the dimensions yet, but there will be about 1' from the back of the cab, to the new bed, which is where I'm going to mount two 15 gallon fuel cells. On the right side next to the bed and flush with the cab will be a side mounted spare tire, and then beside it, towards the back of the truck(still flush) 2 Jerry cans. That'll all be on the right side, on the left, it'll have a pull out ramp, for a dirtbike that woul be strapped to the bed and ramp. Also flush with the side of the cab. Annnd whatever is in between all this will be the bed.

i need to look at what the PO did for lift, cuz it is ridiculously rigid, constantly bouncing around and such, it does help on corners and going down the highway and curves... No body roll. I want to do this build right and this shade tree lift kit isn't gonna cut it.

I'm always open to suggestions, and ideas. Cuz I'm new to toyotas and honestly trucks in general. I've always been on a drag strip and never paid attention to trucks. So any advice will help

Orion22rte

Well, it's been a few days, I still haven't been able to work on it. Buddy is still workin on his own stuff in his garage. It's givin me time to think and research.

I'm gonna tear the engine down(after a simple compression test) and then see where I want to go from there. I'll take pics of all the progress and really document the build.

I've been thinking about taking that sun viser thing off the truck. I'm not sure if I like it or not. I've never seen anyone else with one, but maybe I could get an extra mpg with it off.

Can't wait to tear into it. I want it up and going asap. Also need to source a engine hoist and stand. Gonna stop by auto parts store and see if they loan them? Wishful thinking

Co_94_PU

iTrader: (-1)

You can rent stands and lifts, but if you want to beable to take your time and not be rushed best bet would be harbor freight. Of course some of those aren't great, like the engine stand with only the three wheels tips kind of easy, they do have one with four. You could hit the price of buying one with just a few delays to the build while renting, been there done that

If you go with a HF model, make sure you get the four wheeled stand and the longest crane arm.

custom frame bed sounds interesting can't wait to see the pictures

Orion22rte

I'm checking on Craigslist to maybe find a stand and hoist, and the stand definitely has to be a 4 castor, I had a 3 legged stand tip over with my $8k race engine one time......

Well I hate to say it but still no progression with the truck, I am getting some parts from mightymouse, not engine related but for te truck nonetheless. Reason for no progress is that my buddy still has his car in his garage(replacing the head gasket) and he's got a pretty busy schedule, so I'm just waiting my turn.

All this time has givin me time to think though, I generally go out with every project I start , so this truck is going to get a lot of time and money thrown at it over a long period. But I digress, new ideas for the truck, or decisions rather

- VERY interested in doing a dual t-case
- Installing a REAL lift kit. Front ifs lift, and longer shocks and shackles in the rear
- rear locker(I've had good experience with Detroit truetrac in my racing projects, and the front I've been researching and still not sure, either a truetrac or an e-locker)
- after seeing the seats thread, I've decided to get some nice new seats(I've never had a bench before, not sure I like it)
- also I've decided to either keep the stock ct20, or have one upgraded with new internals and bring the boost to 10-12 psi and set up a new plumbing system with an intercooler.( I do want to keep my mpg decent...... If possible, I'd prefer 20ish mpg)
-various upgrades: high press. power steering pump kit, 170 amp alt, optima battery, pcv oil catch can, cree led light bars, bumpers front and rear, and winch, and those are the ones that come to mind first.

Any experience with anything can help here, because I am new to trucks as said before. Any personal experience, good or bad, is appreciated, im here to learn.

I'd like a sfa, but I don't see myself attaining one very easily around here, and I feel the ifs will/can do just fine. Maybe later down the road.

kornhuskerwizard

sounds like some major plans!

Orion22rte

Major plans indeed, lol.

I've been reading a lot of threads and I hear a lot of things about how slow Lil yotas are. When I drove my truck home, mostly all highway, I was actually kinda surprised how peppy it really was. I don't know the gear ratios, but in 5th gear and 33's I was cruising at 2600 rpm and I was passing ppl quite easily, speed limit was 70mph. The gauge was obviousely off cuz most of the time it was reading 60-65 when probly doin 70-75, and I got it to read up to 80. Coulda gone faster but I had another 160 miles to go. It is jut a little truck and not a heavy 4runner, and I'm thinking the 22rte+light weight is a great combo. I'm def not saying its a race truck, but it is pretty peppy. Just a note, if anyone ever wonders. That's my review of a drive with the 22rte and manual trans ( i only say they because I've heard the autos are real dogs)

liveoffroad

Sounds like you have some big plans, subscribed!
the 22rte should have plenty of power. my 2wd extended cab actually has a plenty of pep (not fast but enough to drive comfortably in the city) and its a 22re, not turbo so i can imagine how yours must drive. i think most people complain cuz they throw a lift (more air drag), a couple of heavy bumpers and big tires. that can make even a turbo engine seem slow. comes down to gearing and saving weight where possible

Orion22rte

Got photobucket workin and I got a few pics of the truck as it is right now, will take more before I start the build.

As it is now:

kornhuskerwizard

Sweet pics! I like the visor too. ive wanted one for my runner but i wont subject drilling holes in the roof

Orion22rte

Thanks, and I don't blame you.... If it wasn't already on there when I bought the truck, I wouldn't be puttin one on. Lol, doesn't seem to leak.... Yet

Orion22rte

Ok, just a little update. No real progress to report. I promise things will be heating up soon.

So I helped my buddy a little bit on his car, it's running and we'll be cleaning out the garage this week.

I just bought a cheap Lil pressure washer, so I'm going to see about really cleaning the truck and I want to check out the full extent of rust on the frame.

I'll be taking lots of pics and everything that I do.
It'll be Wednesday before I go over and clean it and everything.

Gizler00

iTrader: (1)

Nice truck you have there. The visor does give it a different look. Which I like. I always wanted to drive a 22re turbo just to see what it was like.

Looking forward to your build

Orion22rte

Ok, so went over to see my truck, brought the pressure washer and sprayed the truck top and bottom. Pleasantly pleased to find the frame from the front leaf spring joint nice and solid(and acually shiny black underneath the crude undercoating), but from the leafs back, there are some issues. I took some more pics, lots more to follow, this is just a few hasty pics