i figured its time to start my build and share my progress and my future plans and goals for my truck. between going back to school last year, starting a new career and now trying to buy a house and getting married this summer i really don't have a lot of money too spend so what i do buy i have to make sure i stretch out my funds as much as possible.

i bought the truck 100% stock even down to having 225 tires with 194k from the second owner. he had it for 8 years and already replaced the timing chain and head gasket about 2 years before (with paper work) and got it for a steal of a price.

as of now the truck is my daily driver, i commute about 30 miles round trip a day so i cant really do anything to extreme. i also spend alot of time camping and fishing so for now i would consider it my daily driver / exploration rig. i really just want something that looks good but is a capable 4 wheel drive truck and able to have some fun while im at it.

how she sits now/things ive done:
30x9.50 A/T
factory rims
partial decal removal
flowmaster exhaust
limited slip in rear
legacy canopy
aluminum shift knobs

future plans:
4.88 gears (front acquired 1/22/11)
33x10.5, maybe km2.
bj spacers and aal or 1" body lift.
selectable locker

pictures:

1st picture about 1 week after i got it









snow storm! some cool pictures.





shift knobs.



and the most recent picture.



and stuff i already have:

front 4.88 third


aluminum rims


thats pretty much it for now.

 

That cap looks good on there!

What size tires do you plan on running with those 4.88s?

 

i really want some 33x10.5 km2's but as everyone knows you cant find them used and if you do people want almost full retail for them. i figured i might as well buy them new once i get my tax return.

on another note i picked up a rear 4.88 for $100! woot! im at $100 for the rims and $160 for full 4.88's not to bad if you ask me.

 

Cool shifters!

 

thanks! had a good time making them when i was going to school for machining!

 

well i did manage to buy one more thing this weekend! after looking for a house and then giving up and then found this beauty. nice 3 bedroom with new windows, roof, plumbing and electrical! i really like it, it was built in 1908 so it has alot of unique features about it that really make it feel like home.

 

wow great house. i'm just getting ready for college this fall. i just bought a 1994 Toyota pickup and i love it. I'm bout like you,trying to stretch the funds lol. cant wait to see how you upgrade the toy.

 

Well hell, it's been over a year yotatech scince I've been a active member. Between buying a house and getting it fixed up, getting married, getting a puppy and working at a new job I've been super busy. So needless to say the Toyota has been on the back burner for awhile. She's still running strong at 234,000! Because its my only truck and I'm a grown up now I have to be responsible my plans are about the same. A daily driver/ camping truck.

My check list:

Needs:
•33" tires
•bj spacers
•aal
•addicted off-road front and rear bumper

Have:
•4.88 front and rear gears
•rims for 33's
•shocks for lift

I've also been keeping my eyes on flip PAC campers. They seem to be a perfect fit for out trucks. Ill keep everyone updated as I go. I look forward to being back!

 

well I made a "reasonable" adult decision today. my old job made me a offer I couldn't turn down but that requires a 30 mile a day commute. so as much as I would like to run bigger tires with a lift and all that good stuff im going to be headed a different route.

my new plan kinda follows the old saying about,"good tire, lots of armor and lockers with get you more places that you realize" so my goal is a daily driver that that get the job done with some light off roading.i started today with my new plan, I scored some kms's with rims for a awesome price. I wanted 31"s but for this price ill give up the " half inch" and run 30's.

before:



after:

 

I think it looks great!! I love the black rims with your color of blue

 

Man this is damn clean 3rd gen. dude. Those new tires/rims look great on it man and congrats on the new house!

 

thanks guys! I know its said a lot but its amazing how tires and rims change the look of these trucks!

 

so I need opinions guys, because I don't plan on running 33"s for awhile and im going to stick with my current tire size I have no use for my 4.88s. so im stuck between what my next step is.

should I:

A) sell/trade my gears for matching gears with a e-locker
B) sell/trade for some aftermarket offroad bumpers.

either way I figure ill spend alittle out of pocket money but im trying to figure out were to apply the value of my gears towards.

my practical side tells me e-locker but the visual side of me says bumpers.

 

I would do matching gears and e-locker that just seems more practical to me since I like the appearance of your truck and the front bumper looks like it in pretty damn good condition. If you really wanna improve the appearance of the truck I'd still go with matching gears and e-locker and just order or go to a junk yard and pull a stock rear bumper and put er' on. I do like the idea of the offroad bumpers but I think it would make more sense to do that when you have larger tires to give it more of an aftermarket/offroad look... I personally love the stock look with the cap and the tires you have on now give it a stock but more aggressive look in my opinion.

 

If it were me I would get marching gears an an e locker. Better yet. Sell the gears and use the money to get an e locker out of a limited 4runner from the junk yard for less than half of what you would buy one somewhere. And use the left over money to get bumpers or build your own. Or look on Craigslist. I always see stuff like this pop up here and there.

I agree that bumpers look great and can be "functional" but I would rather have the capability to use an e locker to get me places or through situations that your current setup won't take you.

 

Nice looking truck! Sorry if I missed it but what gears do you currently have? Stock 4.10s and 31s are very doable and good on the highway. I did it in my 87 for years and that was with the 22r carbed motor. I guess with that being said I am throwing my vote for the bumpers. Since Im guessing you depend on your truck to get to work and will off road it minimally.... e lockers are cool too tho.. lol so that's a vote for bumpers and a vote for e locker... lol guess im not much help

 

Yeah I have 4.10's gears now and there just fine for daily driving but I'm really looking for some 4.30 or 4.56 cause eventually I'd like to get a flip pac camper and tow my 10' Livingston boat for when I got camping. Just a little extra for when I'm loaded up with gear and with out revving out the 22re.

 

well after being on day shift for 3 years I just finished my first week on second, im tired but atleast I have Fridays off now! so I figure ill post some random pictures.

Toyota backyard parking lot!



same size tires but notice the difference?

 

i got an elocker out of a runner for 70 bucks with 4.30s. theyre out there