Josh1982's 1990 Toyota Pickup Build *Pics fixed*

josh1982

New member
Hi everyone,

This is my first Toyota and my first build thread so bear with me. I walked into this project needing a vehicle in North Dakota for rotational oil field work. Since Toyota isn't a huge thing here like the big domestic three, I considered myself lucky to find this 1990 not too far from Williston via Craigslist. It had been hit in the passenger fender since the OP posted the for sale ad and I was able to seal the deal on a 1990 4x4 with only 138k on the odometer for $2500. As an Eagle Scout I have done all sorts of backpacking and camping trips growing up but was honestly oblivious to the term overlanding until I started looking at the various parts available for the Pickup and what other people do with them. So I'll start with what all I've done to this point and where I'd like to go. I always like to be critiqued and am open to ideas from the been there done that crowd. Thanks!






At this point I had already installed the LC Engineering header and Warn Premium hubs but was very lucky to find a matching topper right next door to my workplace.




The old exhaust had cracked and or rotted away before I bought it and it was the first on the list to be replaced.



New LC Engineering Header installed along with the full PCV and EGR delete to clean up the engine.



The interior wasn't in the greatest of shape just due to the truck being used on the lease roads and it clearly showed. At this point I ordered a new heavy duty vinyl flooring kit and started to gut and clean the floorpan.



I don't know what caused the paint to bubble like it did but it just flaked off to bare steel so I had to clean and sand before it rusted.






Floorpan cleaned, painted, sealed and new carpet pad installed.



The new vinyl was preformed to the pan from the company before they shipped it to me but with the thickness and oversized piece, it was a long night of work to get it laid in correctly.




Finally done!




I ordered the "round" full fiberglass front end from Fiberworx in California just to have a different look from the standard Pickup.



New LCE intake, fuel pressure gauge and small bits.



New LCE race valve cover and Pro Cylinder head with a Pro Torquer cam.



The front cover started leaking oil really badly, so the head swap and dual row timing chain conversion was perfect timing!


All the old stuff off and getting ready to clean and install new parts.




Almost there!



All done! The night I finished that, my wife had come to Williston and we were going to drive there to get other work done while I was back in Seattle. Turns out Williston realllly sucks for getting auto work done in...








Another lucky craigslist find. A local had just posted his 2013 Tacoma TRD wheels and tires for sale and after 1200 miles of not ballanced steel wheels on worse 31x10.50x15 tires, the factory alloys were a welcome addition for the return trip to Williston.



I also hauled the fiberglass back to Washington to have the local shop Line-X it in and out for better wear against rocks.




I picked up Trail Gear Rock Defender front and rear bumpers to replace the non existent rear and front that was only held in by bungie cords after the accident. (It made it all the way to Seattle and back just fine...)



I have a new core support I will be installing next and as the final piece before I can install the fiberglass front end but you can see how the accident tweeked the bars and broke the mounts.





Both bumpers installed and painted. Also installed a set of wind deflectors from WeatherTech.



The topper didnt have any form of seal left and the bed isn't in the best shape so I picked up new locks, struts, hold down clamps and a roll of sealing foam for the topper. I also had to straighten the sheet metal around parts of the edge to get it to totally seal. I took the top edge off all the way around, removed any rust or cruddy paint and primed and sealed it with rubber undercoating.



It's a work in progress but it is totally sealed to the elements now.


I'm averaging 115 hours a week at work so I have to jam in whatever work I can overnight while I'm in town but I'll be adding a fold down tire carrier with a Rotopax and Hi lift carrier to the receiver hitch at the begining of November and will be building a storage system in the bed after I finish sealing and painting. Thanks for reading!
 
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josh1982

New member
I'm new to flickr (former photobucket user) and thought the html coding would show the pics....changing them to quick links now...Sorry!

EDIT: changed the links so I hope it works but if anyone out there is a flickr guru and can tell me how to have the pics actually posted to the thread, I'd appreciate it!
 
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josh1982

New member
No Line-X in Williston. Nearest place is in Minot I believe and I have to have the truck. The trip to Seattle was a crime of convenience but I spent the rest of that time building the rest of the exhaust, replacing the brakes and redoing the rear axle seals. I haven't ruled it out, just finding the time again :/
 

djtc

Adventurer
I did the vinyl flooring in my truck and what a pain in the rear end! I also cut it too short on the driver sil which is teally pissing me off now..
 

josh1982

New member
I did the vinyl flooring in my truck and what a pain in the rear end! I also cut it too short on the driver sil which is teally pissing me off now..

Funny you mention that. I over cut the rear passenger corner by a few inches thinking it would lay down perfectly. Turns out I shouldn't have started doing that at three in the morning....
 

josh1982

New member
I ordered a new all aluminum radiator, silicone hose kit and a differential breather kit from Low Range Off road and went to work getting that installed last night....


The old plastic tank started to split and I have no idea when the middle and lower hose were replaced last so it all came out....


With the core support still needing to be replaced it took a bit of work to get everything to line up correctly...


All done and bled with new Toyota pink coolant! Heater runs hotter than it did before thanks to a new 195 degree thermostat and the burp valve I put inline with the heater core hose...


Tonights project will be the differential breather. Pics to follow.
 

MTaco

Adventurer
Looks like a fun project! I grew up 80 miles from Williston before the big oil boom. I'll be following your build.
 

zelseman

Observer
This is a sick build. I like the comforts of a newer rig, but I have a soft spot for older trucks like this.
 

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