Hi guys...SoCal resident... two weeks ago I seen a bone stock clean 1985 Toyota 4x4 SR5 EFI Xtra-Cab Pickup, Loaded w/AC- in Oregon next day I was on a plane a drove it back. 997 miles later I have a build waiting.

This is going to be just a daily driver exploratory type truck - no rock crawling planned for it - mainly just for Glamis dunes when we go riding quads and Big Bear when we go snowboarding and stuff... have the 4x4 for $h!ts and giggles.

First off I came to find as the crazy with all powersports these days everyone wants to long-travel their goodies (understandable my quad has got complete long-travel suspension upgrades plus a lot more); not an option for this truck...

Not looking to chop up a vehicle that was so hard to find in tact like I was after.

Anyhow, what I have come to find - some clean simple, yet very usable upgrades are:

1. Old Man Emu Suspension (with all options)
2. IFS Brakes/Vented LC Rotors
3. 33x10.50R15
4. Aftermarket Wheels (15x7)
5. ARB Rear Airlocker (will get front later)
6. H4 Headlamp Conversion
7. PIAA H4 Bulbs
8. Front/Rear Bumper (exploring options don't want gotty looking, or tube - I like Jeep style bumpers; plate looking... yet no one has off the shelf Toyota Bumpers??)
9. Flex-Lite Electric Fan
10. Line-X Bed Liner
11. 4.88 Precision Gears Front/Rear

Well, that's all that I can think of that I have on order or have in the works that I can't figure the right ones to, or know the right answer for what to order.

Can anyone think of anything that I am missing - and the questions I have are...

1. Longer Brake Lines Necessary (not doing Heavy Springs)?
2. Front/Rear Jeep style bumpers? where to get...
3. Had a heck of a time finding someone to made or where to buy 15x7 with a backspacing of 3.5 (I would rather pay more and do it right then run spacers) - yes I want to run 7" wide for many reasons...
4. Are these wheels good and street worthy (yes I know they aren't DOT) http://www.rockcrawler-mrt.com/ (you can order them custom, whats the specs I need for NO IFS caliper interference?)
5. 4.88 gearing is good? or 5.29... I like to keep up a good freeway pace.

Okay, that's my story 3/4 of the stuff is on order the rest of it is in limbo till I feel I have solid information to work with. (I don't do anything till I am confident its being done right or in good taste - I would rather not do it if not)

Here is a very crappy picture I took with my phone... Haven't had a chance to get picture crazy I have been super busy.

PS. Yes, I have the Factory Rear Defrosting Window I need to put back in original owner had the slider in there for some reason? and... are those moldings factory or what, I was planning to $h!t-can them but they are RIVETED WTF!! one on the far back lost plastic insert anyone have one if its a factory upgrade?

 

Sounds like a plan!

4.88 is fine for 33's. ARB makes a nice front bumper for that truck. Rear bumpers are tough. I bought mine from Kennesaw Mountain Accessories. You might try their webpage. Warning: They build to order so you have to be very patient!

Good luck with the build.

 

the flexalite electric fan is bad money IMO. search my thread(s) on the topic. I would however consider the standard flexalite fan (its a clutch type, but very lite) if i wanted to keep throwing money at the truck (which i obviously do).

that said, i still have the flexalite black magic e-fan on my 4runner, just havent gotten around to taking it off yet. i do keep the stock clutch fan in the kit so i dont get totally hung out like i did in my tacoma.

 

Not good at all. I seen what happened in that posting you're referring too and im not down with that. I guess you're right; its not worth it in the long run if that's the case I, nor does anyone else need a fac acting up on ya..

Anyone have any additional insight having the wheels fit without having to run wheel spacers when doing the IFS rotors I would like to buy some wheels and get it right the first time looks like the 15x7 with a 3.5 backspace is what people are saying to run?? what wheel do I buy so I don't rub!?

Im seriously thinking about that ARB bumper I can get it for 600 bucks - I would really like some close ups and side shots that would help big time!

 

Here's a shot of the ARB for you.

 

Heres a couple pics of the ARB

 

ARB bumper looks good, shoot!!!!!!!!!!!... that's another 600 bucks to spend plus 500 on the warn 8000 and who knows how much for the lights LOL. I'm thinking to just wait on it for now or this will drain me too crazy at once.

Would I even need a winch? I'm not really into rock crawling just more adventuring around and going to the mountains to snowboard and when we get in the sand at Glamis dunes. Just so I don't get stuck being cruising around.

Lets see some back bumpers that look similar and keep that theme going.

PS. what back space are you guys running... w/ or w/o spacers and do you have the caliper upgrades?

 

33x10.50 tires fit very nicely on the 15x6 stock steel wheels:
- http://www.4crawler.com/4x4/BFG_AT_KO.shtml

I've run that sized tire for about 8 years now, and 33x9.50 before that.

 

I have the IFS calipers and vented rotors on my truck. Its a bolt on process. I don't have spacers and I'm not sure what my backspacing is on those wheels. If you can afford a winch then I'd say go for it. I just got mine after 8 or so yrs of owning a 4WD and it adds such peace of mind. I've already had to use it on a night trip by myself. It would have been a very long night if not for that winch.

 

i would consider runnning marlin springs and a 15x8 rims so that if you want to go with a larger tire in the future than you wont have to cange your rims but other than that i like your build plans

 

Definitely will be going for the 33x10.50 on 15x7

Curious to know what wheels you're running and what size and backspace they are

Oh - I hear the idea of looking to the future... but I can assure you this is not a truck that will get used for crawling or beating on. Its going to be more just an all around daily driver that looks good and is useful. I wont be hacking the hangers and relocating for long travel springs or welding in shock hoops. That's against what im after here on this build.

I have plenty of money to throw at this truck - just weighing how and what to do first. so if I wanted to long travel it, it would happen right now. BUT I definitely wont do it on this one.

If I for some reason get into crawling and stuff I will be getting an early 80's truck...I dig them...



Okay so side note - want to add to the list of things to do... spray-on bed liner? I'm thinking Line-X they color match now from what I see on their website.

Any negatives to doing them?

 

I cant really tell what color your truck is but some of the lighter colors will stain and fade with the line x, i dont know about other companies. my old work truck had blue linex on the tonneau cover and grease and oil will stain very easily and the sun will fade it after awhile, linex has a new formula out for the black that looks bitchin.