The Old Wood Hauler: 1983 Toyota 4WD Build/Restoration

[Derek24]

Thanks all! Yeah 31s is all I'm going with stock gears. Coming from my tundra and a V8 I could feel a difference going to 285s, so only having maybe 90hp now I'm sure I will feel the 31s. Toyota takes the 4runner and FJ, and jeep takes their wranglers over the rubicon all stock. If they can do it with about the same size tires, my truck can!

 

[Derek24]

I forgot to update you all with the stereo I put in the truck. Simple Dual CD player with ipod ports and all. Got it for ~$40 off Amazon. The speakers are Kickers 6.5 crossovers. I believe those where around $20 off Amazon for both. The 8 inch slim self powered sub my brother gave me. So for about $60 this truck sounds great, probably the best sound I've had out of all the vehicles I have owned.

Install was a little nerve racking cutting up my doors and dash. The head unit just barely fit and I'm surprised it did. I had to cut a little metal behind the dash to make it fit flush. The metal I cut was a bracket for the ash tray. It still opens and closes fine, so I'm not too worried. Other than that install went well. Cutting the doors was fairly simple with a Dremel, just trace the hole for the speakers and cut. The tweeters came with brackets for mounting on top of something other than in the door. So I mounted them on top of the dash in the corner. Its nice to have some tunes now!

 

[Derek24]

Also I added some more wheels to the expo parade.

Picked this up last week. Brand new with 1 mile on it! TW200. Always wanted one. It's the modern day Honda Trail 90, which is what i learned on some 20 years ago. I can't wait to load it up with the camping stuff!

Also my Parents neighbor always had this ML430 sitting in the driveway. I asked him about it and he told me he was going to donate it. I asked why, he said because the check engine light was on and he did not want to deal with it. I told him I would deal with it, so he sold it to me for $1,400!!! I plug plugged my machine into the OBll port, cleared the code and found out it was because of low coolant. Drained and refilled the coolant and changed the oil, air filter, all that and now it runs great. Fast too with the V8, heavy as a tank! I may sell it for a profit and keep looking for a Sequoia, 4runner, Tundra, ect...Alright that is all the news I have....

 

[huntsonora]

Hell of a deal! I'd sell it and buy and build another Tundra

 

[Owyhee H]

Nice deal on the ML.....but sell it...or drive it when you have to go farther than a few hours and put a rack on the back for the bike.

Love the TW, they are a blast.

 

[poriggity]

Also I added some more wheels to the expo parade.

Picked this up last week. Brand new with 1 mile on it! TW200. Always wanted one. It's the modern day Honda Trail 90, which is what i learned on some 20 years ago. I can't wait to load it up with the camping stuff!

Also my Parents neighbor always had this ML430 sitting in the driveway. I asked him about it and he told me he was going to donate it. I asked why, he said because the check engine light was on and he did not want to deal with it. I told him I would deal with it, so he sold it to me for $1,400!!! I plug plugged my machine into the OBll port, cleared the code and found out it was because of low coolant. Drained and refilled the coolant and changed the oil, air filter, all that and now it runs great. Fast too with the V8, heavy as a tank! I may sell it for a profit and keep looking for a Sequoia, 4runner, Tundra, ect...Alright that is all the news I have....

Drive the mb but be prepared when something breaks. My mother in law owns one with just over 100k miles on it, and the last repair was a small radiator hose leak that cost $1500 to repair, and most of it was labor. I say sell it and buy something cheaper to fix.

 

[tanglefoot]

Nice work rescuing the ML!

I remember reading Peterson's 4Wheel when the ML430 was in the 4x4 of the year shootout. They sure liked it on the road but they had some funny experiences with the off-road traction control. They said that when a wheel came off the ground (which it did often), they'd give it some wheel spin and then "hold on for launch". Sounds like a pretty funny way to traverse the tough stuff.

 

[Derek24]

Hell of a deal! I'd sell it and buy and build another Tundra

I think that's what I'll do. The GF likes driving the ML, but loves her Avalon. We are talking about which one to sell. All in all I rather keep the avalon.

Nice deal on the ML.....but sell it...or drive it when you have to go farther than a few hours and put a rack on the back for the bike.

Love the TW, they are a blast.

It's a comfortable ride and the deal I got I could drive it for a while and get my money back. But coming from years of toyotas there is always something in the back of my mind wondering when something is going to go wrong with the ML. I may be a little crazy, but this is my first Mercedes and something other than a Toyota.

Drive the mb but be prepared when something breaks. My mother in law owns one with just over 100k miles on it, and the last repair was a small radiator hose leak that cost $1500 to repair, and most of it was labor. I say sell it and buy something cheaper to fix.

The reading I've done and the work I've done to the ML so far I've came to the conclusion to the saying Mercedes are expensive to own. It's the labor the people pay. The parts may be a little more expensive, but in all reality the people who buy Mercedes off the lot are those who will never lift a wrench to fix them. These things are pretty easy. The way Mercedes over engineered everything actually makes it easier to work on in the end. I do my own work on all my vehicles so labor, if not to involved, is not too big of an issue. But you bring up a good point on owning something less costly to maintain and own. Sounds like a Toyota!

Nice work rescuing the ML!

I remember reading Peterson's 4Wheel when the ML430 was in the 4x4 of the year shootout. They sure liked it on the road but they had some funny experiences with the off-road traction control. They said that when a wheel came off the ground (which it did often), they'd give it some wheel spin and then "hold on for launch". Sounds like a pretty funny way to traverse the tough stuff.

It's surprising this thing has 4lo. I would not want to take it where I've been before in my Tundra, although I'm sure it will make it. I think having a transfer case in this thing is more for snowy driveways to a mansion in the mountains!

 

[Owyhee H]

Do something like this with it. :sombrero:

 

[mortonm]

I would look no further for inspiration than the Lost World, although maybe if they had a G-wagen the trailer might not have gone over the side

 

[surlydiesel]

I'm beyond jealous. That's the bike I want!!!! Enjoy.

The Mercedes, eh pretty cool. I'd drive it until you find the vehicle you want and sell it. Unless it starts costing you for some reason.

-jorge

 

[Derek24]

Some updates. Did a little expo on my weekend a couple days ago to the Lost Coast here in Northern CA. Beautiful place, beyond words can describe. Made a bed platform to sleep, worked out great. Truck ran great, did about 500 miles all together! Also sold the Mercedes yesterday, made a few thousand so I have my eye out for something else or just put it into the truck, we will see. Hope everyone had a great long weekend!

 

[Derek24]

Little update. Installed all new brakes pads and shoes. On of the brake pads up front was broken in half! Drum brakes are such a PIA to work on, if I have to work on the rears again it will be a disc brake conversion! Also OME springs are on order for the front!

 

[tanglefoot]

Yes, the '83's back at the top!

Have you tried mucking with the brake proportioning valve (LSPV) in back? That can make a huge difference with braking. Often, the rear brakes aren't doing very much. You don't want them to do TOO much, but they can usually do more. There's a little adjustment in the axle bracket but I usually bend the long linkage or just unhook it at the axle end and tie it up to the frame.

You'll probably love the ride on the OME packs. They do end up lifting quite a bit though--it was more than I expected. Even with extended shackles in back, I was still dragging the back bumper over everything 'till I put some add-a-leaves in.

 

[Derek24]

Haven't messed with the brake valve at all. Before it felt as if only the rear brakes were working and it pulled bad to the left. Now after the new brakes and bleeding the entire systems it feels like everything is grabbing and does not pull at all! I can't wait to install the OME springs! I'll be using a 1.5" longer shackle up front as well. In the rear I'll be using the 88-95 Pickup OME springs, I've been reading at it seems to give a better ride and more flex since the springs are a couple inches longer. Once I get the springs on ill measure for what shock length I need and order up some bilsteins.