'81 Toyota Build

[Alex123456]

I think I may have set a record for slowest build up on this project. Now that I am seeing the light at the end of the tunnel I thought I'd start a thread.

I picked up this truck about 2 years ago. Bought it for $1000 sight unseen with no way to get it from California to Nebraska. Luckily my dad volunteered to go out and drive it back. Turns out almost every fluid leaked, but it made it back.





It's an '81 longbed. I spent the next 6 months trying to get all the paperwork ironed out, getting the title transfered and getting the truck licensed. Really, it took 6 months. Turns out the guy I bought it from bought it at a lein sale and decided to sell the truck when it failed emissions, so he had never titled it in his name. It required a ton of phone calls and correspondence with the California DMV, but I eventually got it worked out.

Plans included a 5" lift, lockers, 5.29's, crossover and 36's to start.

Bunch more to come, but work is interrupting.

[Alex123456]

So far the build has taken me a year of few and far between free weekends.

I used 5" Alcan springs for the lift with AOR u-bolt flips and shackles.

Out with the old...



In with the new









At this point my shackle angle was pretty sucky, it has improved as I've gotten a few miles on it now.

[Alex123456]

Next came crossover. Marlin crossover with FROR mount.







I was concerned about tie rod and drag link clearance, but it worked out ok and they don't touch.

[freeze365]

lookin' good there! This is gonna be a pretty sweet truck by the looks of it. Keep up the good work!

[RKREADY]

Looks good. Got any pics with tires? I have had to deal with the DMV in much the same way - not too fun

[Alex123456]

Originally Posted by freeze365

lookin' good there! This is gonna be a pretty sweet truck by the looks of it. Keep up the good work!

Thanks

Originally Posted by RKREADY

Looks good. Got any pics with tires? I have had to deal with the DMV in much the same way - not too fun

I do, coming up

[Alex123456]

36" Iroks and 2" backspacing wheels

[Alex123456]

I went on to rebuild the front axle, all new seals and bearings. Put in 30 spline longs, FROR hub and knuckle studs, 5.29's and lock rights in the front and the back. Also replaced the front and rear oil seals in the engine and put in a new clutch.





Rebuilding the front axle was probably the best thing I've done to the truck so far. Most of the rattles and slop in the front end are gone, it really made a big difference.

[Alex123456]

I mounted the rear shocks and took it outside and flexed the truck on some tires. I needed more tires, not really close to flexing out.

[Alex123456]

All I have left is to mount the front shocks, get some sliders on it and re-build the carb. Maybe a few other odds and ends. After that I'm going to enjoy it for the summer. In the fall I plan on going to duals and propane.

[1993YJ]

Looks like your rear axle is mounted far enough.

[Richard]

Originally Posted by 1993YJ

Looks like your rear axle is mounted far enough.

far enough

[4runner Freak]

Originally Posted by Richard

far enough

I think he means "far enough forward"

BTW Alex, Nice looking truck.

[Alex123456]

I got the front shocks mounted tonight. I didn't take any pics, I'll try to get some later.

[Richard]

I like the color

[Brian Ellinger]

Looking good. Nice to seen a old school body style built up with quality parts!

[Alex123456]

Originally Posted by Richard

I like the color

Thanks, I'd occasionally see your truck on the board during this project and it'd always made we want to finish up that much faster.

Originally Posted by Brian Ellinger

Looking good. Nice to seen a old school body style built up with quality parts!

Thanks for the compliment. All the parts I've gotten from you have been awesome. Shipping is also really fast compared to any of the vendors in California.

[Alex123456]

Here is how I mounted the front shocks. There 14" 5125's. I used Ford towers. I'm not sure I'm 100% satisfied with them. I may switch them out for 12" shocks in the future. For now I'm going to run them.





I also picked up a shiny new toolbox



This thing goes out on it's first run 7/4-7/6. I have a few small things to finish up yet, bump stops and sliders. I should be ready in plenty of time.

[scalecrawler]

This truck looks sweet! I was kinda wondering were you got the tool box?

[Yota Tony]

Looks good man. It's great to see more 1st gen trucks being built up.

I hear you on the DMV issues too. I didn't have an ownership for mine, had to get an affidavid from a lawyer and swear an oath to get my ownership, what a PITA!

[Alex123456]

Originally Posted by scalecrawler

This truck looks sweet! I was kinda wondering were you got the tool box?

Thanks, the tool box is from Tractor Supply. I was looking for one that was all the way under the bed rail, but I couldn't find anything shorter.

Originally Posted by Yota Tony

I hear you on the DMV issues too. I didn't have an ownership for mine, had to get an affidavid from a lawyer and swear an oath to get my ownership, what a PITA!

No doubt, I hate all that red tape. Although, the sketchy title situation and the failed Cali emissions is probably why the truck was so cheap. Worked out for me in the end.

[kibblerange]

That long bed makes it kick ass!

Great work

[Alex123456]

I took the truck out on it's first trip over the 4th. It did pretty well. The back doesn't flex as well as the front, probably has something to do with my crappy shackle angle.

I went to a place near Onawa, IA. Here are a few pics.











Sorry a few of the pictures are kind of blurry. I was concerned about the shocks not having enough uptravel, but they seem about right. They are fully compressed right when my spring is flat. Guess I measured right.

No damage to speak of, I did lose a lug nut (?) and got one small dent. Overall, pretty successful trip.

[Renaud33]

Originally Posted by Alex123456

I went to a place near Onawa, IA.

Where is that? Western Iowa? Nice build! Good to see another midwesterner here.

[BigMike]

Your truck looks great man! Round Headlight Hiluxes are SEXY

Take good care of that 1st gen! They are getting very hard to find clean like that