DRM's #515 Not-so-F-Toy

[DRM]

I picked this up in late 2008, and it has sat in my shop for almost a year used for little more than an indoor jungle gym for my kids

This past weekend, I finally started working on it.

Basically - the previous owner rolled his trail truck and picked up an F-toy chassis to drop on top. He got burnt out, and I picked it up as it sits.

What it has right now:

-Fresh rebuilt 22re that needs finished buttoning up and started for the first time
-5 speed & dual cases
-BudBuilt crossmember
-Complete propane kit ready to install w/ 2 al tanks
-5.71 geared axles, rear spool, front lockright, Longfields, hydro assist,
-Practically brand new 39" TSL's on black wagon wheels
-New Corbeau front seats
-Floor and trans tunnel built and in place.

The pics sent to me by the PO:



I posted a few times that I wasn't sure what I wanted to do with it - link it, cut it up, sell it, etc. I finally decided I just need to get it finished since basically everything was there to at least get the thing out on the trails.

[DRM]

So in Saturday I dug out all of the boxes the PO included with the deal and started trying to figure out what needs to happen.

The motor had been rebuild, but needed to be finished buttoning it up. Luckily the PO had included all of the necessary gaskets and seals for us to wrap that part up.

I had also picked up an 82 donor truck with the Ftoy, but the 20r in it has made stealing some parts just not work out.

About as far as we got this weekend was temporarily wiring up battery, coil/igniter and just trying to get it to turn over.

We got as far as getting it to turn over and crank before the OEM 82 igniter decided it wanted to stop working.

Here are a few pics from Saturday, and hopefully - I am setting a tentative trail test by New Years Day.

[chvyhs]

I have a flat firewall like you have in the pictures. If was to do it all over again I would push the firewall out into the engine bay to add a little more leg room. I'm only 5'7", so if your tall you'll really appreaciate that change.

[Air Ride]

Definitely ditch the fire wall and I also would move the motor back 8".

[DRM]

Originally Posted by chvyhs

I have a flat firewall like you have in the pictures. If was to do it all over again I would push the firewall out into the engine bay to add a little more leg room. I'm only 5'7", so if your tall you'll really appreaciate that change.

Originally Posted by Air Ride

Definitely ditch the fire wall and I also would move the motor back 8".

Thanks guys. The PO had a clean firewall, floor, and tranny tunnel put in but as you can see - they are not optimally placed, and are pretty thick (weight I don't need). I was going to swap the floor out for expanded, and will now look at relocating the firewall as well.

As for the motor - I wanted to get it running, then it will get moved the full 8" allowed. I really want that flat front with the winched tucked in behind the crossmember.

[MT4Runner]

Originally Posted by chvyhs

I would push the firewall out into the engine bay to add a little more leg room.

Originally Posted by Air Ride

Definitely ditch the fire wall and I also would move the motor back 8".

Yeah, what they said!!! I saw the pics, and that was the first thing I was going to say before I read their responses. A lot of the FToys have the firewall/pedals pushed forward 6" from that "cowl" tube. I'm 6'-6", and wish I'd have pushed mine forward farther than that. I fit well, but my seat back is still even with the b-pillar, and backseat room suffers.


The only things you really have up there are your steering box, steering pump, brakes/clutch, and alternator. The box, pump, and alt are all on the very front of the motor and your brake booster doesn't get into that space. Go for 8" if not 10" forward.

Check out Air Ride's 'Ultimate Formula Four Build' to see how to fit the forward footwell and firewall around the engine moved back 8".

Do this soon!!--as you're buttoning up the motor, you're probably already looking for places to hang the igniter and p/s reservoir.

[Propane]

Bummer if they told you that it was my kit when they sold it to you. Looks like the ebay kit you have there.

[DRM]

Originally Posted by Propane

Bummer if they told you that it was my kit when they sold it to you. Looks like the ebay kit you have there.

Stop raining on my parade

[losekannon]

Originally Posted by MT4Runner

Do this soon!!--as you're buttoning up the motor, you're probably already looking for places to hang the igniter and p/s reservoir.

That is so true, when the motor is back and the firewall is in, you start searching for places to hang shiat.

[DRM]

No pics until tommorrow, but we worked a good part of the day piddling with it and it now runs on propane

I used the GM ignitor and coil since it seemed easier - went together ok. I also started cutting the floor out, and should have it completely out tomorrow night along with the firewall.

With that done, everything will be out of the way to move the engine back the full 8" so I can figure out the new firewall location as well as the seats.

It's slow... but at least it's progress

[DRM]

Just some quick cell phone pics for now - motor as it sits in running condition, and hacking out the floor that was in it when I got it.

[DRM]

Just a little update to this.

The Ftoy sat for another year practically untouched, until back about a month ago a buddy begged me to sell him the chassis only so he could build it. With me having gotten so discouraged having to re-work so much of the previous fab work, I stripped the drivetrain out and sold it to him.

Then, through an odd twist of fate - I ended up buying it back 2 nights ago when he delivered it back to in front of my shop.



This time, I'm doing it like *I* want it - so tonight I cut the toyota frame and plate floor out of it. The pictures didn't come out - but as it sits right now, the Ftoy chassis is sitting on it's own, ready for me to clean up and set up with my drivetrain in the shop and start building a sub-chassis and the rest of the frame when I get back from Dixie Run next weekend.

This time it is planned to keep the Toyota drivetrain, get coilovers and 4 linked front & rear.

[Mustard Dog]

Originally Posted by DRM

This time it is planned to keep the Toyota drivetrain, get coilovers and 4 linked front & rear.

If that was gonna be the plan you maybe should have re-sold it as is and found an X-Chassis.

I'll probably have one for sale in late Feb

[SanDiegoCJ]

Originally Posted by Mustard Dog

If that was gonna be the plan you maybe should have re-sold it as is and found an X-Chassis.

I'll probably have one for sale in late Feb

Huh ?????????????

[Mustard Dog]

Hendrix is building us a new chassis, after KOH the running gear get's stripped out and everything else gets sold, either as a package or parted out.

[DRM]

Originally Posted by Mustard Dog

If that was gonna be the plan you maybe should have re-sold it as is and found an X-Chassis.

I'll probably have one for sale in late Feb

The way things have worked out - I've got so little wrapped up in this Ftoy chassis, turning it into a full buggy chassis is not gonna cost me much money or time.

[SanDiegoCJ]

Originally Posted by Mustard Dog

Hendrix is building us a new chassis, after KOH the running gear get's stripped out and everything else gets sold, either as a package or parted out.

Okay. For a bit there I thought you were getting out of wheeling.
That almost caused me to have a heart attack.

[SeaBass44]

Originally Posted by SanDiegoCJ

Okay. For a bit there I thought you were getting out of wheeling.That almost caused me to have a heart attack.

DRM wheels?

[Wilson]

Originally Posted by SeaBass44

DRM wheels?

He was referring to the dawg...

[SeaBass44]

Originally Posted by Wilson

He was referring to the dawg...

[moveaside]

Originally Posted by Air Ride

Definitely ditch the fire wall and I also would move the motor back 8".

x2 was thinking the same thing pros and cons in doing it but just picture trying to see over the engine going down the cliffs on jackhammer. Maybe you already posted but any plans to keep the jungle gym and add a back seat?

[TachedOutOffRoad]

I heard a roumer on the Internet that this thing would be ready on New Years??

[DRM]

Originally Posted by TachedOutOffRoad

I heard a roumer on the Internet that this thing would be ready on New Years??

The chassis is currently sitting in my shop having been cut off the old frame. One way or another, something is going to get done with it. Depending on which direction I go determines how fast it gets done.

[DRM]

Well, I loaded it up on the trailer and dropped it off @ Mo-Fab's Shop. I just don't have the time, and I felt Amos could get it to a rolling chassis for me and let me take it from there.

Already picked up some of the parts, still got some more to buy in the next few weeks. Here's what is going in it:

22r on propane
5speed, dual cases (considering adding 4.7's to the rear case)
60's (yes, from my 4Runner - it's getting dismantled )
Also the 39.5" Pitbull Rockers and H1 rims from my 4Runner
Full tube chassis built under the F-toy body
2" aluminum links
14" coilovers (Bilstein remote reservoir front, Fox rear)
air bumps up front (maybe in the rear too)
Full hydro steering w/ double ended ram
Seating for 5 (3 kids in the back - if I can)

[bluzuk80]

I wish I knew you lived so close to John Duvall. I bought a truck from him awhile back and he just now told me you live right around the corner. Loved to stop by and checkout your rigs.