Hello all! New here, just posting up for the benefit of others in case I do something clever that anyone wants to use for reference. I got this '88 stripped down model with 15" American Racing Bajas wrapped with 31" Dick Cepek MC's. It has a 4" body lift with a saggy backside and the most questionable interior ever. It's a 5spd/22re/4x4 stock driveline.



The eventual ending is a 1900 ALH V-wagon diesel swap.... but that's for a different thread, a different time of year, and a different forum section. Don't worry. When it happens there shall be a link posted.

You can tell I'm rather serious about this diesel thing. Careful observers will note that there is a TDI jetta idling behind the truck I just bought, which my girlfriend is waiting to drive home for me. That is now known as the Sacrificial Frankencar. I fell in love with my sketchy 'yota immediately, and I wanna begin dailying it even though it needs a frame-off desperately. That begins in two weeks.

MAJOR issues are:

1.)The bed is beginning to rust. I shall weld furiously to save it and seal it as soon as possible to preserve this gem.

2.) The round tube that connects the box frame sections above the rear axle has rusted badly and is severely perforated. The entire frame is good but this spot. All other areas have been preserved by the PO's painting efforts. I guess he forgot the tube.

3.) The body lift is essentially a physical symbol of all that I hate about pickup trucks. I should be clear that I historically DO NOT like TRUCKS. I like motorcycles, and trucks carry them. THE BODY LIFT MUST BE DESTROYED!!! ....or at least reduced to 1.5 to 2 inches as to be less hillbilly.

 

Like your plans for it. I have been wanting to do a diesel someday. Really like your bodystyle. Just seen you were from Missiouri. Where bouts you located? I am in Anderson, south of Joplin.

Any question on doing a frame off on these just ask. I got some notes on my 88 build. These trucks are easy to do.

I missed out on a 84 Toyota Diesel 4x4 a year ago. Heard it went to Panama. Urghh.

Just found another guy on here from Sedalia. He is PowerstrokeJoe. He did a diesel swap.

 

You're just the guy I need! I'm a st. louis dude, so fairly far away from you. I travel there occasionally. I worked in springfield for a summer and went down there recently to get my mini milling machine from Grizzly Tool.

I'm competent at the go-over and also noticed that this truck looks particularly fun/easy to rebuild. However, I definitely need someone for the "what part is supposed to go in these empty and clearly previously occupied holes?" I appreciate the offer to lend an E-hand! I've already found and solved several similar style mysteries. I'm almost done fixing up oil leaks. Just need to do timing chain/front main seal leak this weekend and crack the hogs head off the rear diff and seal that joint too. It seeps a bit. No drips. I'm trying to make it a clean little guy in the next few weekends so the reburb and painting will be easier.

It's essentially my favorite truck make/model, driveline, body configuration and trim package (stripped down manual everything) ever. Too bad it looks like a trash heap. I consciously avoided an SAS'd or orignially SA truck because I'm not a wheeler, I just need the coolest most reliable simplest vehicle with a bed and road manners. I also like 4x4 to pull people out of holes and such. I have some grungy quadrunner friends that I am happy to help when they go "muddin" and get "sunk'd" but can't really do it with the Jetta. I am more of the questionably clean 2-wheeler-snob dirt bike type, so I rarely have to drag my own crap out of stanky holes.

You may have done allright on the diesel. I think given the availability of the ACME plate for the w56 & compatibles, this may be the way to go over the Toyota diesel from the very small US production run and the euro trucks. Sure they're reliable as the Top Gear episode clearly shows, but the horespower and aftermarket support for the semi-recent VW motors is pretty impressive, and they're cleaner too.

ALSO: what's the ROUND tube called that goes between the two frame members in the back, right above the rear axle area? I'm allrighty at welding/fab but bad at truck words.

 

Hello jimmyhoffa..Will be glad to help. That bar you are talking about, I am not sure of the name. Lewis did a nice write up on it and will post a link to his.

You have a Toyota goldmine in your part of the country. I havent gotten anything from them, but they are in your part of the country. One day would like to check it out.

I used to ride 3 and 4 wheelers. I had a 250R 2 stroke Honda that I had built to the max. It was quick. Really would like another one someday. All of the places I rode have been developed or shut down. Those were some good times. Alot cheaper then four wheeling a truck.

Here is Lewis's build.. He did a great write up. https://www.yotatech.com/forums/f199...10/index2.html

Here is the parts goldmine. Dont know what they are like to deal with. http://board.marlincrawler.com/index.php?topic=39620.0

They appear to still be in business.

 

Yeah... that is a crazy find. I cannot thank you enough. The thread looked active as you mentioned, and I e-mailed her and asked me to contact me asap, and I will pay fair price for what I need and pick up: so no effort on her part.

I couldn't restrain myself and I took the bed off with my new shop crane, and discovered along the way that I have a 2-piece side panel bed with an integrated license plate holder. Yep. As research indicates, somebody fitted a 2WD bed. This cannot stand, so bed search commences. I'm hoping for two things: One, that she is still in operation. Two, that because most of that Marlin Crawler thread seems mail-order based, things like BEDS that are impossible or grossly unreasonable to ship have been bought in lower quantities. I need a bed.....

About powersports... Personally, I dislike two strokes. I'm also not an ATV guy. You know what I really would like? A 250r. As much as I might prefer bikes, I got my start on quads and can't deny what that quad did for the 4-wheeled sport. I've had a 250ex, 300ex (do NOT buy) a 400ex, a 450r (blew up constantly) and a yfz450. Innovations on every single one of those quads are a result of development of quads like the 250r, banshee, quadzilla, etc. There are some things that deserve absolute respect because they are a symbol of engineering triumph of the time.

 

Just read Lewis's thread as well. He seems like a good character and did a great job on the tube swap. My frame looks in about 5 times better shape that his did originally, so only the top was rotted on mine. His.... gave up the ghost completely. He did a fantastic job fixing it though. I already sectioned out the piece and am fitting a new one in a few minutes. I just need a half section of pipe for the top bit. No need for me to cut and refit exhaust and fuel cell mounts.

I noticed you mentioned not having a welder. I have a good lincoln MIG and am in the middle of buying a TIG, so if you get a few small jobs lined up and need a couple beads laid down and wanna take a road trip to Stl....

FIRST BUILD PICS TOMORROW!!!

 

Cool idea, my daily driver is a vw Jett tdi diesel gets 47 mpg highway, you may get 30-35 with it in a Toyota. I was looking to do a tdi swap but I get a 4.3 V6 so that's my project.
Good luck , there are some vw swaps on this site.
Also some YouTube videos out there.......

 

So I need some help now. I have this bed:

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=926661

Is that the normal '88 short box 4x4 bed?

I just found that on google image search. I'm thinking now that mine is not a 2wd bed and someone just "added" the bumper in addition to the bed, so they cut the license plate illumination lamps and remounted the plate on the new bumper.

 

I havent been on in awhile. Got tied up on a few things. Your bed looks like the bed that should be on it to me. There is an orginal 86 truck down the road from me I can look at. I dont know the 84-88 truck styles as I do the runners. Just arent many of them around here.

The 2wd and 4wd are interchangable. The only difference may be that the four wheel drive will have flared fenders on the rear as well. I just cant say for sure.

I will check today and see if I can find a 2 wheel to compare to the 4 wheel and see if there is a difference.

 

Here is a picture of a 4wd bed. It is an 86 trubo that caught fire due to an electrical problem with the window. He is looking for parts to fix it. He has had the truck since almost new and really likes it.

Im sure you have the right bed though. Hope this helps.

 

Jim,
This is my 87 4x4 6 foot bed when a got the truck.

 

RPM8080.. That is a sweet truck. I like it alot. My other favorite body style.

 

Ya I definitely want to be friends with RPM's truck. It is fresh as my armpits after the morning shower.

This also double-confirms that I have a correct 4x4 bed, however destroyed it may be. The Marlin Crawler lady is nicely preparing me a quote and has a few questions for me, so hopefully I'll go down there sometime and pay her what will probably be an uncomfortable sum for a ridiculous amount of parts.

Sorry about the picture delay. I got hung up last weekend on Jetta issues, so the build now starts this weekend. Chain hoist, several friends, cherry picker crane and woodchuck hard cider are at the ready. I will be posting teardown pics for everyone to laugh at and tell me what parts I'm missing.

 

Jim, thanks, the my truck was in a barn for 12 years and I'm the 2nd owner. Good luck with the build can't wait for the pixs.....

 

Jimmy do you know what your hp rating is on your 1.9? I am planning a similar swap with a late 80's 1.6 w/hyro lifters-not sure if it will have all the uummf i'll need but plan to try anyway-Dan--Warsaw mo.

 

it's 90HP stock but I have the european 520 (VW part number) injector tips on rebuilt balanced injectors and a well-refined tune by KERMA TDI. It probably pulls 115HP or so probably at around 2600 r/min, with just over 200 ft/lbs at 1900 r/min. It's really fun (not fast, fun) in the 3300lb car, so I bet it will be a phenomenal mill for this truck. To be honest I'd be a little scared of much less than that. I'm a huge VW diesel fan but I also believe the engine needs to be carefully considered if the truck is expected to rise above the level of "experiment." Got any more specs on the 1.6 you have? Most of them are really really durable motors.

My apologies on the pics. The truck is now a bare frame on blocks but i haven't had a chance to post up. I promise soon.

 

Jim, run diesel klean in your TDI as the new diesel fuel Lubricants were removed and the injector pump will cease up. That will break your timing belt and than the values will hit the pistons, and it's re-build motor time.
It happen to my Jetta.

 

That sounds like bad news bears... I run diesel kleen and always have. It seems to make for less raunchy cold starts as well. I do think you had a bit of bad luck, though, as there's plenty of examples of genuinely neglected TDI's that keep on chuggin. I've always been of the opinion that the vehicles of mechanically inclined people break several times as often as the average aloof fellow, simply because we know what can break, so it does.

 

Hey ALL.....
I like the plans going on up in here!!

Im a VW guy buy trade > see shop in signature
I have seen some talk above about ALH TDI and its capabilities
There are more "MOD" options then we know what to do with for that engine.

On a "tuned" stock North American ECM its possible to squeeze 245HP + 375TQ with some bolt on upgrades.
Using the euro ECM part # and a proper tune along with engine internals + MAJOR bolt on upgrades.
These engines can push 300HP + 750TQ

For those of you getting serious about VW swaps
I can immobilizer defeat the ECMs on the bench.. NO car needed
I can also source just about every VW aftermarket part available at a discount!
PM me if you have interest


Sorry to thread jack...
Just tryn to help where I can
And thats VW's
-Jeff

 

If I could rub the German car lamp and be granted three wishes, here is what they would be:

1.) Since I have an entire VW to source from (which runs) what is the minimum amount of external electronics jazz I can retain to still be able to use my Ross-Tech VCDS.

2.) I assumed disabling the immo. also has an effect on the versatility of VCDS. I was considering keeping the dash and keeping the immobilizer feature in the ECU, but removing the tach, speedo, fuel and temp gauges so I just have the VW central "information center." Is there a chance the chip that communicates with the immobilizer is housed in the center of the dash behind the "info center" on MKIV cars? If so, that would be excellent because I could keep the SR5 dash I have coming and just integrate the "info center" somewhere. This would keep a very toyota look in the cab. It also makes life cheaper because my VW speedo is on the fritz lately and I wouldn't have to fix it.

3.) Are you RocketChip Jeff or a different Jeff? If you are a different Jeff, nice to meet ya and thanks for stoppin' by! If you are RocketJeff, thanks for all the knowledge you pump TDIclub full of!