1998 Prado rescue mission! (2 Viewers)

[John Young]

This is my first post in the 90 Series forum. I've been interested in these trucks since we got our 2.8 liter four-banger1991 Model 77 which was called a 'Prado' in some markets.

A few weeks ago I was looking at a local auction site and saw a pitiful little truck that was just so, so forlorn....

I also thought it looked very cute with only two doors and it seemed like a little brother to my tan 1998 100 series I also acquired in Dubai.

The day for the auction came and it took a few hours but I bought the poor old thing. I sometimes feel a little silly driving by myself in a full sized SUV and this one is a manual transmission with the 3.4 V6 so it should be pretty peppy.

After a long delay they delivered it today. Here are a few photos:

It seems to have both lower ball joints intact

 

[John Young]

Here are a couple more photos:

Strange but it looks like they replaced the passenger side lower ball joint but not the drivers side

Lots of evidence of shoddy body work:

 

[John Young]

And a few more...

Never seen these rims before

Somebody been having some fun with the exhaust:

 

[John Young]

The plan is to start with the engine and see what we see. I'd like to make a nice little daily driver out of it. From what I can see here, that looks doable.

(And yes, thanks to my reading in this forum, I brought with me OEM lower ball joints from the US on my last trip. Replacement is high on the task list.)

 

[yourID10Tdriver]

It's the cutest 4x4 ever, but those cute looks won't fool anyone here. Prados pack a punch

 

[John Young]

So today I heard the little Prado start for the first time:

 

[John Young]

I listened for a while, sitting still. Then I very gingerly put it in reverse and slowly let out the clutch to see if was at all driveable.

 

[John Young]

Then my friend Waseem and I took a little ride amongst the warehouses (not on the street!):

 

[cruiserdan]

You can't help yourself John.

 

[MoJ]

Very cool find!

 

[OGBeno]

You can't help yourself John.

Addicted indeed.

 

[cruisermatt]

Very nice considering the purchase price

 

[John Young]

It actually felt like it might be a really fund little ride when it is brought back into real operating condition. The shift lever was floppy. CruiserMatt suggested a replace the shift seat for that. New thing I'd never heard of before.

I really need to stop buying these things. Today I spent a very hot afternoon pulling the window gasket off of two scrap rear barn doors so that the 80 I'm trying to save can progress. Tomorrow I go to Sharjah to get a bunch of top hat lug nuts. Originally I had intended to put these rims on the Prado:

I think the smooth lines will look really good with the Prado, but I also was thinking to put them on another vehicle. Not sure what I am going to do. I also found out that two of the tires are still new enough to pass inspection, so I might just get two cheap tires on the existing rims just for the time being to see how things go.

 

[D21FJ60]

Put steelies on the prado and paint them grey

 

[John Young]

Well, now that you are mentioning it, I am headed up to Sharjah. I have found 6 bolt steel with OEM tires on them in the past. Just not right now. I know I can get fire truck wheels. Some of them are 6 bolt.

 

[John Young]

So... we got the front suspension apart...

These were from the driver's side. Here are photos of the passenger side en situ:

The ball joints were loose as a goose

It sure looks to me like someone took a sledge hammer to the upper arms. Maybe to make more space for tires?

Has anyone seen this before? I'm going to replace the upper arms in any event, assuming I can get them.

Any thoughts or suggestions or experience with this would be gratefully received!

 

[John Young]

So things are moving, if somewhat slowly.

I was all set to put the alloy rims on when I came across a set of five TRD rims with decent tires:

I thought it would be hilarious to put TRD rims on the Prado, so they are going on the truck...when it can actually have the wheels put on.

The prior owner had had some 'fun' with the exhaust:

Fortunately, I was able to find a salvage yard in Sharjah that specializes in nothing but Prados! Here is part of a replacement exhaust system. I was able to buy a complete system for a 4 door, so it will have to be cut down, but still, a major hurdle.

And I'm taking the opportunity to do a reasonable amount of preventative engine maintenance while all this is going on:

At this point I have about doubled my 'investment' in this poor old truck just in buying replacement parts and supplies. I'm still enjoying the process immensely.

 

[D21FJ60]

Maybe it is the dust and dirt but that alternator may need to be cleaned off for longevity?

I also vote you install this:

Dobinsons Direct

Dobinsons Direct

www.dobinsonsdirect.com

 

[apexwerks]

Maybe it is the dust and dirt but that alternator may need to be cleaned off for longevity?

I also vote you install this:

Dobinsons Direct

Dobinsons Direct

www.dobinsonsdirect.com

+1 from me. That Dobinsons lift is the ticket.

 

[D21FJ60]

+1 from me. That Dobinsons lift is the ticket.

we gonna see it in your build thread