I bought this 1991 regular cab, longbed, 4x4 pickup for $500 in January 2014 which I have lovingly named Bessie. It came with the 3.0 engine pretty much blown and useless and the front ifs was tweaked but I drove it until the registration expired because I could not smog it and I slid off the road and bent the ifs more so it has sat for over a year. But now, it is at long last at the mechanic/fabricator and he is doing a complete overhaul. I went with Trail-Gear because my mechanic is a certified dealer and installer. My truck will be a daily driver, farm truck, work horse, wood and soil hauler, tower, camper and portable house so I want it to be heavy duty and versatile. Here is a list of what my mechanic is doing: -SAS swap 4 inch lift (TG) -Rear suspension 4 inch lift (TG) -Remanufactured 3.0 with ARP studs -New clutch and resurfaced flywheel -New body mounts from Energy suspension systems -New windshield- my girlfriends ex didn't like me haha -Bench seat -Interior roll cage and sliders -Custom exhaust -33 inch tires -Painting frame and undercoat -All new fluids and seals all the way around I'm looking for advice on how to increase towing capabilities for this beauty. My mechanic said he knows of a special tranny fluid that helps keep the tranny cool but that's it. I'll think of questions and things to add later but that's the start! My mechanic should be dropping the engine and swapping the suspension this week and I'll be uploading pictures as he sends them to me as I am in Washington and my truck is in California. Please give me any advice or pointers you can, thanks!

 

She'll look great with all of that gear on her!

Do you have the automatic or manual? These rigs can tow well enough if under the gross weight limit. Maybe an add-a-leaf or similar on the rear to keep it from squatting if you're worried. As for the transmission oil..

"Toyota techie recommends is the Red Line MT-90 which is a synthetic 75W90 GL-4 Gear Oil"

Taken from this, which is one of the best posts about the 3vze: https://www.yotatech.com/forums/f116...k-3vze-187741/

 

It is a manual, and thank you for the link that is a great thread.

 

Ok so it has been a long time since I posted any updates but boy do I have some updates. So far the SAS swap is complete along with a new clutch, body mounts and tires. Still yet to be installed is the remanufactured 3.0 with improved valve springs and cams, headers, bigger oil pump, improved oil gallerys, and an engine oil
cooler and a transmission oil cooler. Also yet to be installed are flat black powder coated Trail Gear rear bumper and rock sliders and a custom fabricated front bumper and flat burgundy powder coated interior roll cage, a new windshield, a camper shell and a few other bells and whistles and then Ol' Bessie will be ready to go in about 3 weeks. The tires are 35x12.5x15 Mickey Thompson Baja Claw TTC Radials. Enough of the technical jumbo, here's a few pictures to drool over

 

For some reason I can only upload one picture at a time so here's one more

 

She may be dirty but I'll just spray her down with some rattle cans.

 

And another

 

Money shot

 

Money shot

 

And then some close ups of the Mickey Thompson Baja Claw TTC Radials

 

Look at those side lugs!

 

I got the baja claws on my truck and I love them! Good tires for a good price.

 

Ok I've got a few more updates! Shout out to Bryan Crain at Project 4x4 in Placerville, CA. He is the mastermind behind this work of art. He has recently finished fabricating the custom front bumper and attached the rear bumper and rock sliders, and is installing the interior roll cage. Check it out!

 

Sliders

 

Powder coated

 

Beast of a bumper

 

Interior cage

 

Test fit before she's powder coated