Hey everyone here at YotaTech. New member here.. grateful for these forums.. the do's/ don't and not worthy of power for the $$, LT vs crawl and all those that took time to write up their own artwork projects. CA truck, but possibilities of moving to a non smog in the future.
10 years ago, I bought my first vehicle. 1986 Toyota pickup 4x4 sr5, 5 speed. Ac and heat didn't blow. Didn't smog. Drove straight. Cold I'd pull off the shifter boot and warm up the hands. At 19, took it to a small Toyota know it shop, 2 grand later, smogged and drove fine. Has a 22re from a 93. I've been left on the highway, broken down middle of a mud pit, brakes go out 5th gear stall and E brake. Steering wheel too and almost hit the retaining wall. I was tired of working and then being broken down and wrenching on the weekend.
It has been 7 years, no tarp.. in the graveyard. Now.
Together, the misses and myself went out an bought a battery, I tightened down the loose starter ground.. cranked the key and before those dash lights lit, the motor was cranking. A few seconds of cranking and a little throttle, she fired right up. I don't know if I can post a video I took, you'll already understand the sound anyway. Lce headers and a flowmaster.
I brought out the pressure washer my friends.
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​​​​​​Door hinge got hung up all of a sudden, my frustration makes things noticable.

Upon opening up the doors, I saw rat droppings, speaker wire, insulation all inside the blower.. I tore out everything.

30 year old vibration deadener will be replaced with kilmat or similar. Whoever has the better sale..



Found some nice hardware I can find useful elsewhere. Solder wire for holding up insulation hah.
I was ready to throw out those rat piss seats, until I saw what people are charging for them on ebay! So yes, new idea is to get them done and add some extra cushion for the longer drives.

I'm still learning, to not grab the wrench every time. Patience, it's a build process and smile shows.

All gutted and those rats had pounds of insulation and stuff.

Now was time to take a peak at the roaring 22re.
I figured a tune up and while I'm at it, get the ac working. Get the throttle body cleaned up and maybe the later model TB. (throttle body) and upper plenum. All of these great ideas but let's tear into it.


Power steering, leaking all over the tubing. Not sure if the connections are bad, I just pulled it all off.

Filter wasn't in bad shape, the tubes were all in order.

Let's check to the throttle body now.

Going to shine everything up.


Countless hours on these forums here. Bring back any headaches??

Wires. Beautiful wires.

Hold up! When I was young this is why I had to pour water in the overflow tank every 30ish miles?? The damn thermostat and water outlet was caked shut.


One day nice and clean.

I Always read forums before doing the work. Hex was no problem, thank you all.
Going to add kilmat under the seats and feet as well as rear cab. Better to just cover 110% since I'm here?


Hacked up speaker hole with snips, I'll fix with a grinder and add metal if needed. Any ideas for some cool panels? Kilmat the door inside panel closest to road will be done. Hoping to keep the sound system pretty cool but nothing too large. Already have a high output jl in the hemi and it's a lot.

From here, I thought about endless upgrades options and gears, twin stick, I went mad on these forums searching. Now that we have some good time into this vehicle. Is it going to be a fix and sell? Or a keep forever? It's my first vehicle, it's a kick in the gut getting behind the wheel in, but let's check the frame.
I just wanted to say, the frame looked okay in spots, but so much was hiding behind years of dirt and grime. I had the house to myself while the lady was working..

The bed bolts, were the biggest F this I've ever had.

3\" metal body lift. Yikes, no more.

Guys, I'm 5'9, 150lbs and I have a recovering broken dominant hand. A couple saw horses, (2) 2x4 and the pressure treated don't use, I'm a metal framer so wood isn't my go to. It cracked too easily with the weight. But didn't break, don't do it though and get a friend.

I just kept shimmying down the bed a few inches on each side until I hit the teeter totter. Then stood it up tall, and carefully walked over by each wheel well a few feet at a time. shimmy shimmy.
Far as I know, no brutal damage was done and surprisingly dent free from this.

The frame looks great to me! I was worried of it rusted or all bent outta shape. Remember that Ford meme looks good to me guy? Was hoping it wasn't one of those frames.

19 gallon gas tank. Please any advice on an oversized tank? Nothing too crazy, I would enjoy a 22, just for the extra insurance or, let's see where this road goes moment. Keeping weight in mind too. 21-25 gallon with minimal fabrication?

Spare is no good and I heard they are known for rusting the frame?

Any ideas back here? I was shocked by the shock mounts welded like a bolt to the frame. I thought the guy before me had a couple screws gone, but wow hahaha. New shock location worth it here adding the cross bar? With in mind of going long travel, total chaos.

It's been a few weeks, has been steady.
The last thing I've done is hand sanded the tank.

Now, I'm onto another mission. I won't get the V8 power. But I won't put money into the 22re. I've always wanted more, hence the V8 now. But I love the little banger still. So keep it to it's roots, yes. Another 3rz fe 8port build. This is where the process is on hold. Getting the lower block, saving for the head. What stage, cam, blower size blah blah. Can 15psi safely daily drive and cruise getting 20mpg? Again, build process. The truck will probably be on 33s. I ​​have 4:10 gears now and I have a lot to go. Twin stick? 3low and spool lol.
I Have thought about making it a crawler, but my driving style is faster and sideways on dirt. I do enjoy hill climbs and trail riding is my favorite. I'm not going to be in the Baja with this truck. Mountains and safely sideways spooling the turbo in the dirt rwd.
Going to be doing a full frame restore. Getting set up to prep and paint the frame, this will be one fun project! I appreciate everyone's time and all the posts on here have gotten me this far.
Now I have a badass running 22re I was going to sell. But now on the hunt for another yota that needs a little tlc and an engine and w56. Clean it up and sell, fund the 3rz and build up an R transmission for it. This truck is in the process of an awesome build. I'll take all advice and cool side things anyone has enjoyed in their ride. Custom lighting on the interior, paint quality, links coils or Chevy springs, welding solid the holiness frame from dirt and reinforcement.

I'll hit the post here. It's great to have something cool to share on here. I'm excited for the process and will be posting whenever I get around to something interesting here and there.
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