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

[Derek24]

Took the bed off today and pressure washed 30 years worth of mud. Whole truck probably weighs 50lb lighter. Need to buy some paint tomorrow to clean everything up. My add a leaf came today and the bilsteins should be here tomorrow. Sure is a lot easier working on the rear suspension with the bed off. The bed came of really easy. 8 bolts,4 on each side, unclip the tail lights, then three screws holding the fuel neck on. I had my brother help me lift it off, it's heavy but manageable with two people.

 

[adrstout]

Love how you are doing this thing! Keep up the good work.

 

[Derek24]

Thank you! Trying to keep the classic look with some refreshments.

 

[Stoffregen Motorsports]

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That truck thoroughly fits in the "farm truck" category. Whenever I buy a truck, I try to fit it into a category to give it a soul or identity. That soul or identity defines which way the build would go. Yours is too cool to modify too heavily. I love it.

 

[Derek24]

That truck thoroughly fits in the "farm truck" category. Whenever I buy a truck, I try to fit it into a category to give it a soul or identity. That soul or identity defines which way the build would go. Yours is too cool to modify too heavily. I love it.

You got it. Before I bought it, this truck has had its hubs locked for 20 years or more on a ranch in napa my uncle caretakes. Almost 4000 acres this truck would explore, carry firewood, or whatever it needed. It's been in the family name for 31 years now. I love your build. Makes me dream. Thanks for the comments!

 

[Stoffregen Motorsports]

You got it. Before I bought it, this truck has had its hubs locked for 20 years or more on a ranch in napa my uncle caretakes. Almost 4000 acres this truck would explore, carry firewood, or whatever it needed. It's been in the family name for 31 years now. I love your build. Makes me dream. Thanks for the comments!

My Rover was always in 4 wheel drive anyway so I figured I may as well run drive plates on the front hubs. No more lockouts for me!

 

[Derek24]

Got the frame paint. Skyjacker softride add a leaf in and bilstein 5100s. I'll get pictures of how it sits tomorrow if it's not raining too hard. Rides good and sits up nice! Now time for some tires.

 

[Derek24]

Lift all done. Rides great. I was a little afraid the add a leaf would be to stiff, but it seemed to bring back these tired old springs. Has a little rack like factory which I like. Now for new tires and I think that will be it for a while...

 

[uscg2008]

Looking clean. What size you thinking, a two skinny?

 

[Derek24]

Looking clean. What size you thinking, a two skinny?

Thanks! Well, after pricing everything out I can't get myself to spend $700+ for tires. Only bought this truck for $400. Best bang for the buck and reviews I've found are the Interco Irok ND's. So last night I order up some. 31x10.5 for $509 to my door. Can't complain about that! Cannot wait to get them as these tires now are so old and glazed that they slide all over in the rain, it's dangerous to drive. It should look good with the lift height and tire size, and still be drivable. I'll update later this week!

 

[Dwill817]

Shoulda went 34x9.5 Skinny TSL.. :sombrero:

Just kidding, 31s will look great on there! Wish I had another to restore, but I've got bit by the wheeling bug since I've joined a local offroad group and I just can't help it! This one is gonna get semi- built.. it is still my DD and will remain my DD for awhile. But I love the adventure of driving the back roads 3-6 hours to go hit an awesome offroad park and then turning around and coming back! I guess that's my version of ExPo lol..

 

[Derek24]

Shoulda went 34x9.5 Skinny TSL.. :sombrero:

Just kidding, 31s will look great on there! Wish I had another to restore, but I've got bit by the wheeling bug since I've joined a local offroad group and I just can't help it! This one is gonna get semi- built.. it is still my DD and will remain my DD for awhile. But I love the adventure of driving the back roads 3-6 hours to go hit an awesome offroad park and then turning around and coming back! I guess that's my version of ExPo lol..

Ah those 34s are so cool! I was thinking the km2s in 33x10.5 but right now I do not want to regear. What I like about these trucks is how capable they are near stock form, and I want to show that. Mild lift and 31s can go a lot of places around here. I have no offroad parks, just a whole lot of national forest and back roads! I love how we can go wheel and drive back in a 32 year old truck!

 

[Stoffregen Motorsports]

I've had 34x9.50 TSL's on my Rover since I built it. I love the look and the work really well off road.

Tall and skinny is the new black!

 

[Dwill817]

I agree.. I'm only lifted about 2-3" with 32" mud tires & it is really amazing what I can make it up.. I can run level 3-4s on a 1-5 scale if I pick my line right.. They are very capable stock and I surprise a lot of people what I can make it up.. I love the look on their face when I follow their locked Jeep around on every trail

I have 3.90 gears so these 32s already suck.. A regear to 5.29s, lockers, & 35s are in my future.. After that, I'll be done with "offroad" modifications to my truck, besides maybe dual cases. I want it to be mild enough to take trips in, but built enough to hand with the best lol.. When I get to that point, I'll be looking into a 22re/3rz swap, nice seats, & moving into paint & body work.. I want a restored wheeler type truck.

Like this:

 

[Derek24]

That's an awesome truck^^! Looks nice and clean yet can get very dirty!!

Look at what showed up today! Mounting tomorrow!