FToy 522 Build Thread

[bunchr1]

Ok, I finally have alot bought and done, so I might as well get this going. I wanted to wait until I had something to show before starting a thread, and tomorrow's a big day, so here it goes..

First, a few pics of what I got so far...

My 88 Pickup 22RE donor..



While waiting on the chassis to be made, I started on the little things...

Crawl box built from the donor truck


And after I converted a front-shift over, I bolted it up...


A set of recentered H1's and 37" Goodyears from TrailWorthy Fab...


Painted Graphite Metallic (so tired of Black wheels...)

[bunchr1]

Got my front axle built. Got to thank Foothill Motorsports for the majority of the parts. TG high steer, TG rebuild kit, Lockright and Cryo'd stock gears. Also did the Cruiser rotors and using my IFS calipers...


I have my 12VoltGuy panel sitting on the shelf waiting...


And the chassis ready to go... Thanks Poorboys!


And a little extra bracing...


The chassis on a SA frame cleaned of all mounts...





HUGE thanks to John for helping me get the major stuff out of the way.

More to come...

[bunchr1]

WOW, sorry about some of the pics being a bit big... I didn't realize they uploaded so large. I'll try and fix that later.

[offroadman83]

Nice start........Wish I had me an f-toy. I will soon have some sweet parts but no toyota frame or chassis.....oh well

[bunchr1]

Thanks! For the most part it's all bought and paid for except alot of the small things, but all the major things are sitting and waiting... I hope to get alot more done in the next week or so. This is a build I've waited about 2 years to do. I had an IFS truck, but sold it to buy a house and build a new garage. I'm ready to go 'wheeling again, it's my drug!

[offroadman83]

Originally Posted by bunchr1

Thanks! For the most part it's all bought and paid for except alot of the small things, but all the major things are sitting and waiting... I hope to get alot more done in the next week or so. This is a build I've waited about 2 years to do. I had an IFS truck, but sold it to buy a house and build a new garage. I'm ready to go 'wheeling again, it's my drug!

Yeah its my drug too man! I can't wait to build me a yota.........not sure if its gonna be a truck or all out buggy just yet. Wish It was a formula toy but oh well.

[runnerboyy]

Good luck on the build, it shouldnt take too long to get to a wheelable state... You have all the important stuff taken care of.



Good talking to you today.


-Keaton at alpine.

[mtbrjon]

Take your time on this build. You will be glad you did later. Just don't let me see any polished aluminum tread plate (unless is black powder coated or Linexed) and no angle iron. I do like the Lexan side panels and those threaded tabs that Mike sells make panel attachment a breeze. I would plan on a rear antiwrap bar even if you don't build one right away make a plan to add one later. Let me know if there's anything I can do to help.

[MT4Runner]

Originally Posted by offroadman83

Nice start........Wish I had me an f-toy. I will soon have some sweet parts but no toyota frame or chassis.....oh well

Buy a chassis, and get started! It is a fairly "committed" building process that will take a bit longer than you expect, but it's fun to build it from the frame-up. Then, you take it on the trail, and it's a BLAST!

Frames are reasonably easy to come across. If you're right in the middle of the rust belt, start looking...they might be free elsewhere in the country and $200+beer might get it to you.

Originally Posted by mtbrjon

Take your time on this build. You will be glad you did later. Just don't let me see any polished aluminum tread plate (unless is black powder coated or Linexed) and no angle iron.

Apparently painted steel tread plate is OK?


Quick-release (pinned) seat and seat-belt mounts are a major timesaver both during the build and after--you never know when you need to get at something under the seat, or maybe want to pull a seat quickly so you don't drop hot slag or grinder dust on a $300 seat.

Put foam weatherstripping on your side panels so they don't rattle.

[mtbrjon]

Originally Posted by MT4Runner

Buy a chassis, and get started! It is a fairly "committed" building process that will take a bit longer than you expect, but it's fun to build it from the frame-up. Then, you take it on the trail, and it's a BLAST!

Frames are reasonably easy to come across. If you're right in the middle of the rust belt, start looking...they might be free elsewhere in the country and $200+beer might get it to you.



Apparently painted steel tread plate is OK?


Quick-release (pinned) seat and seat-belt mounts are a major timesaver both during the build and after--you never know when you need to get at something under the seat, or maybe want to pull a seat quickly so you don't drop hot slag or grinder dust on a $300 seat.

Put foam weatherstripping on your side panels so they don't rattle.

Bright aluminum treadplate looks redneck and will blind the crap out of you when the sun hits it. If you paint or powder coat it looks better and is far less blinding.

X2 on the QR seat pins. It is very nice to be able to get the seats in and out easily both during and after the build.

[bunchr1]

Originally Posted by mtbrjon

I would plan on a rear antiwrap bar even if you don't build one right away make a plan to add one later. Let me know if there's anything I can do to help.

I plan on adding a weld-on version similar to BudBuilt's trac bar. For now, I just want to have it drivable!! I'll have ALOT more pics up after Monday or Tuesday...

[bunchr1]

Also, a couple of teaser pics I took last night. The axles are just rolled underneath it, but It gave me a new pic for my phone home screen!

[offroadman83]

Originally Posted by MT4Runner

Buy a chassis, and get started! It is a fairly "committed" building process that will take a bit longer than you expect, but it's fun to build it from the frame-up. Then, you take it on the trail, and it's a BLAST!

Frames are reasonably easy to come across. If you're right in the middle of the rust belt, start looking...they might be free elsewhere in the country and $200+beer might get it to you..

I was trying to buy this guys chassis recently on here but he never got back to me. I have 1500 to spend on one right now...........I have all the toyota parts I need already (motor, doubler axles), even a set of tires. May just buy a single cab truck with no drivetrain to start off with but would much rather have a formula toy chassis!!

[offroadman83]

Looking real good man..........makes me jealous!

[MT4Runner]

Originally Posted by offroadman83

I was trying to buy this guys chassis recently on here but he never got back to me. I have 1500 to spend on one right now...........

Keep watching, they're out there. I don't know what the East Coast chassis' cost, but they can't be a heckuva lot more than that, new. I paid $1,300 for mine and another $200 split to get mine hauled north.

If you build an FToy, the resale value will be about 1.5x what a "Toyota tube buggy" with a similar drivetrain would sell for...and you should be able to sell it faster. Not that you want to pour your effort into something you're going to sell--but if you had an emergency need for $$ or your interests change....

[mtbrjon]

Originally Posted by offroadman83

I was trying to buy this guys chassis recently on here but he never got back to me. I have 1500 to spend on one right now...........I have all the toyota parts I need already (motor, doubler axles), even a set of tires. May just buy a single cab truck with no drivetrain to start off with but would much rather have a formula toy chassis!!

If you have $1500 call or pm Skonkerd and order yourself one. Should be able to get one to you in a couple weeks.

[bunchr1]

I got the springs mounted tonight after work, just got to the the perches on the rear axle and then the axles are ready to bolt up. I would have gotten more done, but I suck at bolt buying apparently... Lots of trips to the hardware store. Anyways no pics, but more work to get done Monday and Tuesday...

[MT4Runner]

Do you already have your rear shackle hangers built? I shamelessly copied Pook's design, and have 14 different frame side shackle bolt locations...made it a ton easier when I switched spring lengths this winter.

[bunchr1]

yeah it's all done. Got a couple of pics to upload, then I'll post them on here..

[bunchr1]

It's now a roller. By the way I know it's WAY too tall, but I do plan on removing a couple of leafs from the springs. I just wanna see where it sits with all the weight on it first. \

[offroadman83]

Looking awesome.........so jealous!!

[MT4Runner]

Don't remove the leaves just yet...you'll still be adding a fuel tank + 200# fuel, seats, floors, drivelines, shocks, firewall, and drivetrain.

My guess is you remove 0-1 leaf from the front and only 1 from the rear....and especially if you have new spring packs, they're going to settle anyway.

[bunchr1]

yeah the are brand new, and that's what I figured. I couldn't help myself and I placed a piece of plywood on the framerails and set a seat in it to see what it's gonna feel like. Pretty awesome. After the pics, I got the steering box removed from the donor and mounted on the FToy, and now I'm working on the brake/clutch assembly until I get a little help removing the engine and transmission.

[bunchr1]

Oh, and by the way, do I have the tires running the right way? Or does it matter? On one hand the middle is backwards, but the outside tread is pointed like most directional tires are...

[bunchr1]

Got more done, got more pics.. Sorry if the pics seem to be a little washed out, but the only descent digital camera I have is my BlackBerry.. So, here's what I got done so far today..

Pedal Assembly wrestled out of the donor truck and mounted


Booster and Master Cylinders mounted


Pic of the Steering Box mounted


More after I rest in the A/C for a bit... It's flippin' hot out there!