1985 Banana Buggy (slow build)

[BananaBuggy12]

A few months back I picked up a 1985 pickup. Everything stock except the suspension. I'm a mild weekend warrior and at the moment I'm driving my truck to and from work (10 mile commute once every few days). Ride quality and on road drivability are for the birds. I'm going for a fully cabaple rig and an eventual trailer queen when I buy a tow rig. But until then, this is how she sits
-1985 Toyota pickup (mar. '85)
-stock straight axles f/r
-5" ish spring lift with 12" BDS shocks
-22re (187xxx miles)
-a340f auto trans. W/ manual valve body swap
-stock gears and axle innards
-stock steering components except lifted drag link
-15" rims
-33x12.5 BFG t/a KO tires

Anything else I didn't list is probly stock or insignificant at the moment. This is a build thread but also a suggestion thread. Thanks for checking it out and any posts or suggestions are appreciated.

Also follow my rig and adventures on Instagram at https://instagram.com/bananabuggy12/
Or @BananaBuggy12

Thanks!!!

 

[BananaBuggy12]

 

[badger]

Nice platform to start with!

Good luck.

 

[BananaBuggy12]

Thanks! I love it. I'm going to the lone star Toyota jambo next month. Gonna see if it can handle some trails.

 

[Mudder]

I'm jealous of the 22re and a340f tranny combo. I had a 22re and a340H and man you have no options because of the T-case. Gear looking rig!

 

[BananaBuggy12]

Thanks mudder. The tranny is having some issues when it warms up so I'm hoping to get a donor w56 to swap in before this one goes out.

 

[BananaBuggy12]

Thought I'd update.
Ive found an IFS steering box for a decent price from an '87 that I'm ordering Monday and start collecting the parts for my HI-steer conversion! Baby steps!

 

[muddpigg]

Nice score, looking forward to seeing the build.

 

[BananaBuggy12]

Thanks muddpigg . Hoping to get all my steering components before the lone star jamboree. So it may be a busy month.

 

[BananaBuggy12]

I've recently found signs of on oil leak... Not on my list of things I wanna do right blnow but I'm gonna start hunting it down. Doesn't look recent. And my oil levels since the oil change last week haven't changed,that I've noticed. Anyone have any suggestions?
Oil is splashed all over the bottom of the engine above the oil pan, on the pulleys, and around the valve chain cover. Majority of it is near the front of the block.
I checked the oil pan bolts today. All good. I'm gonna spray it down with some brake cleaner and clean it out. See if I can find the exact point.
Its dark outside bow so I'll get some pictures tomorrow if I don't have to work.

 

[muddpigg]

Those damn half moon plugs leak if no silicon is applied.

 

[BananaBuggy12]

Those damn half moon plugs leak if no silicon is applied.

Half moon plugs?

 

[muddpigg]

for and aft valve cover. Thought I was leaking at rear main but was the valve cover.

 

[BananaBuggy12]

Thanks Muddpigg. I'll look at it tomorrow if I get a chance. I think I have some extra silicone grease from my u joints. I'll update on how that goes!

 

[muddpigg]

Better use gasket sealant.

 

[BananaBuggy12]

OK thanks. I'll pick some up and see if that does the trick. Thanks so much for the help

 

[KLF]

If it's down low, it's probably the front main seal.

 

[BananaBuggy12]

If it's down low, it's probably the front main seal.

Thanks KLF. Ill also take a look at that. Once I clean the area out I should get a good idea where its coning from but this will be my main spot to watch.

 

[pappy]

If it's down low, it's probably the front main seal.

What he said. Common leak after awhile.

 

[KLF]

This is typically caused by a groove being worn in the harmonic balancer where it rides on the lip of the seal. The seal is installed into the oil pump. I hear about speedi-sleeves but I'm not a fan of them, seems like a bandaide fix to me. Another option is to get a new balancer, you can find them on eBay for ~$100 (don't buy a used one).

When I took my engine out I was plagued by a chronic leak at this seal, and I had a groove in the balancer. What I did was make a spacer out of a piece of 16-ga aluminum that I used to press in a new seal, which pushed the seal a little deeper into the oil pump, so the lip rides at a different spot on the balancer. No leaks whatsoever after 5000 miles, so I guess it worked.

Get an OEM seal.