pfmedic's 1987 Pickup Build-Up Thread
 

OK here it goes:

First of all thanks up front for all the info, advise and knowledge i have accrued from pointing, clicking, and reading up on this forum.

It all started in 1986 when my dad bought a white 86 4runner. It was without a doubt the most reliable vehicle we ever owned and after many stupid decisions regarding my own vehicle purchases, I got back to the basics and with the help of my good friend Jeff and his gas-sipping Prius, we drove over 850 miles round trip to buy an 87 pickup that I found hiding out in Pagosa Springs!!

http://img593.imageshack.us/img593/5567/sidewu.jpg

http://img197.imageshack.us/img197/7406/frontreq.jpg

http://img11.imageshack.us/img11/6420/rearsi.jpg

http://img683.imageshack.us/img683/9590/interiormo.jpg

http://img10.imageshack.us/img10/7358/enginebaye.jpg


The engine and interior are super clean and the outside needs some work but I have the desire to devote the energy to restore the vehicle into a reliable daily driver that will spend its nights in my garage for the rest of its life.

http://img691.imageshack.us/img691/6550/ingarage.jpg


Up front I will say that I havent a clue what I'm doing. Im an epic noob who has scratched the surface and gotten a glimmer of what I should be doing. I have not done much yet because as the sun here makes it unbearably hot, I am having a complete a/c install done and it should be completed sometime next week. Im very happy to get started on the next leg of its journey when I install the tailgate i bought from a fellow Toyota enthusiast down the road. Im going to the junkyard to find a second swing-arm for the install tomorrow. I also found matching chrome circa 1990 ford bronco after-market mirrors on ebay because the ones I currently have are completely different from one another. The passenger side mirror is OEM and I will keep it in case I ever find another. I also located some vintage white steel rims I found through my love affair with the internet... and finally, maybe next week Im putting in the 488s I bought from NWOR to help turn the 33s it has. :D

That truck is clean. Being in the southwest really helps to. Looking forward to your build. Dont worry about being a noob, alot of good people here that are willing to help. Welcome to YT.

Thanks! Very excited and glad to be here.

The tailgate was pulled off of a white 86 from down the road. Nice guy, gave me a few parts for free too.

http://img18.imageshack.us/img18/4515/whitetailgate.jpg

The plan was to clean it up and do a fade from some almond-colored rustoleum spraypaint and fade it into the white.

http://img808.imageshack.us/img808/9...edtailgate.jpg
It came out decent for the amout of cost involved.

http://img13.imageshack.us/img13/2679/tailgatedone.jpg

The tailgate bolted on fine but closing was another issue... two steps forward...

http://img135.imageshack.us/img135/8742/photo1rpr.jpg

but a ratchet tie down action and it fits until I can get it into the body shop after its done with the regearing.

http://img405.imageshack.us/img405/601/photo3jy.jpg

... damn... I'm so happy right now.

Anyway... I also installed a red shift knob from sickspeed because the one that was in there had mirrored lettering that would blind me when I drove down the road. Whose idea was that?!?!:con:

http://img822.imageshack.us/img822/7659/photo2vm.jpg

Ok thats all I got. Next up is installing the Ford Bronco mirrors i bought... but as it turns out I need to go buy a star allen wrench set to do it.

Looks like you did a great job on the tailgate. Your picture looks like it was orginal tailgate. Wouldnt of noticed it if you hadnt mentioned it.

Thanks- I'm beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel.

Today I pulled off the old mirror arms before installing the mirrors. I did this because I feared there might be rust hiding underneath. Luckily, I found that NOT to be the case. I did however discover that both mirrors were off a Ford just like the replacements I bought. I was very surprised. No big deal. However, they weren't safely installed and were slowly damaging the door. As a result, I gave the bronco mirrors to a buddy of mine and went to my go-to man for some mirrors. Turns out that DESPITE what the web says, the sporty 84 mirror will indeed fit on an 87. I bought a pair of the 1987 mirrors off my friend for a quick fix and ordered a set of 84s from Amazon becuase I think they look better. I will have the extra holes filled in when it goes in for the cosmetic work.

http://img713.imageshack.us/img713/8007/img5955n.jpg

UPDATE: The 84 mirrors dont fit... but as far as I can tell this is not because the 87 truck is not compatible but because the aftermarket mirrors I bought where cheap... and not OEM. :bang: It MIGHT also be the angle of the screws are different on an 84-85

on the A/C install. did your truck come stock with one? or are you putting everything in?

It came stock, but was heavily neglected with many many missing components and had to be replaced from the ground up. My gas mileage seems to have gone down a smidgen, but it's so damned hot here there is simply no living without it.

where are you buying all the parts from?

I handed the truck over to a reputable shop I have used for the past 6 years. I don't know where they got the parts they used. I do know that the compressor is from Toyota.

Tomorrow I'm putting in a new air filter system.

thats pretty cool then. id love to get A/C in my truck, but it didnt even come stock so i'd have to get everything new..and idk how much that would run me

It's very expensive. I justified it by reminding myself that I'm going to keep the truck as a daily driver so some of the other fancy stuff like lockers and armor won't be needed although I would certainly want the a/c to work.

K&N installation
 

OK here is a brief synopsis of my K&N air filter installation, which made my truck much faster and more responsive off the line. You can PM me to find out where I got this kit if you want.

The old filter housing with top removed

http://img836.imageshack.us/img836/6868/photo4pms.jpg

In order to take the bottom of the stock housing off, there are some lines you have to remove that connect to 2 charcoal canisters. One of them you can see above directly in the airbox. The other is on the tube that extends out and dives down into the header area for some reason unbeknownst to me. :con: I just pulled them out where they attach to the carburetor, exposing the nipple. I capped these before I was through.

I spent some time on a thread on here called "De-smogging an early 22R." It helped me figure out what lines are needed and which ones arent. You can read this awesome thread here.

Anyway, the two vacuum nipples I capped off are labeled 1 and 2 in the next picture. You can buy all caps at your local auto parts store. They are called "vacuum caps" or "vacuum plugs"

http://img847.imageshack.us/img847/8339/photo3db.jpg

Had to buy a rubber cap/plug for the air housing at autozone shown here. Whatever this is supposed to go to... I dont have it :hillbill:

http://img860.imageshack.us/img860/7689/photocz.jpg

After insertion of the air housing plug (Note the old bolt is still in place in the middle of the carb. This has to be swapped out because its too short)

http://img196.imageshack.us/img196/5260/photo2bv.jpg

Just so you know, its a tight fit getting the hood to close after this. There may be some rubbing on your shiney housing over time. I was able to close it by abandoning the rubber gasket that surrounds the old housing where it sits on the carb. Instead, I just flush fit the adapter on there. It wasnt my first choice, but it was my only choice without shaving the hood as far as I could tell. Also, I almost forgot to mention, I bought that little red filter you see on the engine picture below to cap off the opening left when I took off the top of the old airbox. Anyway, here it is

http://img585.imageshack.us/img585/9770/photo1vl.jpg

Ok so thats pretty much it, Significant power increase in 1st through 3rd gear. Im pretty happy with how it turned out. Im going to take it with the dogs to go get ice cream and coffee now.

Have a great day everyone :wave:

Also would like to add that probably over the next week or so I will have some data to share regarding fuel mileage.

Its looking good. Am intersted in how the filter helps with mileage. In your part of the country, AC is a must. Pretty much that way here. I need to start checking into it.

I had one coverted to the 134 and it was around $150, and had to get a new dryer and I dont remember its cost.

If you can get it done for under $1000, you did well.

i just have a drop in K&N in my truck and it works pretty good. but another question. i im looking to install a vacuum gauge and i know you hook it up to a hose off the intake manifold or something like that. do you think it would be the hose you labeled #2 in the picture above. i was looking around on my truck and that one seems to be the right one...just wondering?

I have no idea. I would check out the link I posted to the desmogging thread. The answer might be buried in there somewhere.

I love the term "drop-in." I still have yet to find anything that is truly "drop-in" on this, or any other build I have done in guns and vehicles.

MSD stuff
 

Today I ordered a few MSD products; a Multi spark discharge ignitor box called the MSD 6A #6201 and an MSD 2 Blaster Coil #8202.

http://www.msdignition.com/uploadedi.../8202_full.jpg

http://static.summitracing.com/globa...e/MSD-6201.jpg

The 6A is supposed to help ensure complete combustion with quicker ETs, (I don't know what ET means) easier starting, reduced plug fouling, quicker revving, more power, and increased fuel economy. I have a bud of mine who is going to help me figure out the install on these two products. I'm hoping to have a rough estimate of my fuel economy BEFORE they arrive and get installed so I can honestly give you guys some real-world feedback on this.

I have currently set the black magic electric fan project very VERY far on the back burner. I am still moving forward with the regearing and the body work.

http://img839.imageshack.us/img839/824/phototl.png

I was originally incredibly bummed out at this but I forgot one little detail: I forgot to factor in the odometer being off due to the tire size. Based on my research I'm actually getting about 4% more distance than I thought, which changed the results to about 13.2 mpg. Still not too good, but getting better. I'm shooting for 18 mpg on this program when all is said and done. Most of my driving is city.

looking good.

Second fill up showed that my filter and vacuum plugs increased my mpg up to 16.2. The goal seems more attainable now.

The MSD igniter box battery terminal cables are too short... Fail. This project wil become delayed as a result... plus I discovered that I am in great need of a new negative battery cable.

While I wait for my friend Davis to become available to assist me in the install of the MSD stuff, I decided to sell my tires on Craigslist... and sold them in under an hour. :D As a result, I went to Discount Tire this morning and bought the 31s to put on with the white rims I had previously purchased.

http://img189.imageshack.us/img189/1109/photojyu.jpg

Truck runs good on these. I feel it is a good size for this truck and certainly puts it into the realm of DD for sure. I also went and got an alignment to go along with the new tires. A proper alignment, as many of you know, will extend the life of the tire, and improve gas mileage. Think about how much extra effort you have to employ in pushing a shopping cart forward that constantly pulls to one side.

I was hoping for today on the MSD install but sadly, it will not take place because last night was a very busy night at work so my buddy Davis is physically and mentally exhausted. Tomorrow the truck goes in to get re-geared so it will be a while still before the MSD stuff is installed. :think: I can probably get the shop to install all the MSD $#!t becuase it says on their site that they do this. Guess I'll go drop off the igniter box for them before they are done with the regear.

Truck went in to be regeared. Should be done by Friday... I hope.

what gears u getting?

Richmond 488s

Clean truck! I woulda drove to Pagosa to pick it up. If you dont mind me askin what ya pay?

I paid $5000. I'm probably $9000 deep in the build at this point. Here is the current breakdown of the major components:

-Truck $5000
-A/C project $1700
-Richmond 488s with kit $800
-White rims $400
-Tires with warranty (900-400) $500
-MSD components - $200
-K&N kit - $100
-Gear install $900

approximate cost thus far $9600 :eeek::cry2::laugh:

I anticipate that I still have about $3000 in body work and paint and another $1000 for the header and exhaust project. ha ha

...and let me just say that my bud Jeff has an 83 camero he is doing a build on. He is about $5k deep already and it is only about a third of the way complete.

Holy smokes. I'm liking the truck but wow you are getting deep on the $.

you will like the 4.88's. I'm running a 35 in m/t and getting 16-18 highway and 14-16 in town with an auto transmission. Leaky exhaust. And dog box in the bed. Are you going to up the tires in size or keep em 31's?

Truck looks great as it is. Really good condition. Great job.

Great truck, clean and simple. 31's and 4.88 should be interesting, report on how that feels, thanks.

I sold the 33s it had on there with the intention of going to 31s to save fuel, cost per tire, more of a stock-ish look, etc.

Still waiting for shop to finish job. Good thing I have another vehicle to drive ha ha

Took msd stuff over to shop yesterday. At this rate I'm hoping it's done by thanksgiving.

While Im sitting here home sick from work, Im going to reevaluate the toyota project because of several issues that have come up which are financial in nature.

As it turns out, women who happen to spend more than 8 hours a week with you do not appreciate you spending more than $10,000 on something that doesnt involve them directly. :dunno:

This was a profound discovery on my part and one that cannot be ignored. As a result, I have decided to spend some time reevaluating the toyota project with the idea that the truck still needs to survive the next 20 years and once this project wraps up at the end of the year, I will only be allowed by the wife to replace things that are mechanical in nature... like the engine, tranny brakes, transfer case, etc... but nothing cosmetic. :yap:

Anyway here we go!:safari:

Things I have left that I wanted to do:

I. Body repair
A. Removing bushwacker flares and evaluating whats inderneath
B. Repairing skins
C. Straightening passenger side of bed so tailgate closes
D. Sand
E. Primer
F. Paint
G. Linex flare and wheel well area

II. Performance etc
A. NWOR header purchase and install
B. Take muffler to exhaust shop and get installed.
C. Locate, purchase, and install SR5 gauge cluster

This is now politely being changed to the following:

I. Body repair
A. drill out bushwacker flares and have a look see
B. Straightening passenger side of bed so tailgate closes
C. Find someone to sand the rough spots
E. Paint over old paint
G. paint on do-it-yourself bedliner material around wheel well area

II. Performance
A. ask for NWOR header for christmas
B. Take muffler to exhaust shop and get installed covert ops.

Well thats all I've got for today. I'm gonna go take my medicine and watch some TV. Have a good day everyone. :wave: