Hilux 81 first gen project # 2

[SFROMAN]

Although I’m not very good at this build thread stuff it is a good way to keep track all the changes or updates to my trucks.
I currently I have another first gen I have been building for a few years. Although my other truck is built with some pretty beefy and cool parts and can do some pretty tough trails I have decided to keep it a nice looking truck and only use it for daily driving and exploring type outings ie: camping trips, beach trips, club events, forest roads and easy off-road trails.

This new to me first gen is going to be my strictly for me to try to keep up with my buddies in the olde north state and upstate cruisers clubs.

Although a little more “beat up” the truck is all there and already had some good parts on it when I found it for sale.

The owner and I came to what I thought a very good deal for the truck and I got on the road from North Carolina to Wisconsin to go pick it up.

Here is what the truck looked like when I bought it.

I don’t know if he built it or someone else did but I thought it was built just right to suit my purposes.

Here is what the truck came with:

-1996 2RZ swap
-Full PSC hydro steering
-5 speed swap - need to confirm what tranny it has.
-Dual case with 4.7 gears in rear case
-Twin sticks
-Skid plate crossmember
-60 series front axle, 4:11 gears, 30 spline RCV axle shafts, Aussie locker, IFS hubs rotors and calipers
-80 series semi float rear axle, 4:11 gears, mini spool
-anti wrap bar
-steel braided hoses all around
-5100 bilsteins all around
-15 gallon aluminum fuel cell
-optima batteries x2
- new gauges
- complete new wire harness of entire truck
- corbeau seats
- 4 point harness
- 12volt outlets in dash
- led headlights
- light bar x2
- 10k winch with synthetic rope
- 38 x13.5x15 maxxis creepy crawlers x 5
- 15” beadlock rims x 4
- 15” steel rim for spare
- exo cage

 

[SFROMAN]

One week after going to pick it up I took the truck out to Uwharie for our clubs event the Carolina Relic Run (June 2021). Although I managed to get the truck out to the event I was not able to take out on any trails at all so I didn’t have a chance to test it out.
I didn’t even take any photos since I was to busy hanging out with club members and my two sons.
A couple of weeks later (July 2021) I took the truck out to Tennessee to wind rock park for the Great Smoky Mountain Trail Ride (GSMTR).
I figured it was I good way to learn the truck and see how capable it was.
The truck did not disappoint it did every trail that I attempted and was just a pleasure to drive. Having fuel injection was nice and the very low center of gravity along with the 38” creepy crawlers made the truck very stable especially when attempting off camber trails.
After this event I knew I had made a great decision in purchasing a trail only truck.
I have a few cool videos but I don’t know how to post them so here are some wheeling photos

Lunch break at the top of the flats

This is an old prison we went to that is now a museum, restaurant and distillery.

I ran out of gas out on the trail so I had to bring an extra gas can with me. It turns out that the fuel cell needs to be filled up before going out to the trails or else you will run out

This is back at camp. The truck is super muddy at this point.

More trail shots

 

[SFROMAN]

Before GSMTR, I only did two changes to the truck before going out on the trials.

I cut the crap out of the bed sides to clearance the tires a little better. I did this in the parking lot of wind rock which coincidentally is not the first time I have chopped up my truck in the parking lot while attending GSMTR.
Before I left I also made myself some quick half doors out of spare doors I had in the garage. These doors are game changers. Makes it a lot easier for my big but to see out while on the trail.

 

[SFROMAN]

In late July 2021 two weeks after the GSMTR ride I went up to Pennsylvania to attend the coal miners cruiser classic (CMCC). I wheeled the truck at ANthracite off-road park and at Rousch creek.
Before the event I replaced the steering wheel with a removal type to make it easier to get I. And out of the truck.

Keeping with the theme of wanting to constantly make subtle changes to the truck to not only make it more capable but also make it more comfortable and more of my own since I bought the truck already built.

After the first day of wheeling soMe red trails at anthracite it was time to pull out the big guns.

My buddy and I spent the day relaxing and putting these bad boys together inside his crawler hauler.
I ordered 40” MAXXIS trepador stickies before leaving to the event but they got to my house just as I was leaving so decided to bri g them with and put them together at the event.

 

[SFROMAN]

The new stickies are just awesome. Can’t really say more than that. I was hesitant to pull the trigger on such expensive tires but now I know why they are so expensive. Because they work!!

My buddy and I went to rousch creek right after torquing down the new rims and tires and we had a blast.

 

[SFROMAN]

Here is our campsite at anthracite
And then at a campground closer to rousch creak where CMCC is held

The trails at anthracite were pretty crazy. This the only photo I got from my buddy

Some more rousch creek wheeling photos

I had a caliper seaze on my driver side so I had to pull it off and pinch the hardline shut. Other than that it was an awesome wheeling weekend.

 

[SFROMAN]

September 2021
Attended ONSC event Logan’s run at Uwharie national forest.
Didn’t do much wheeling but still had fun on the trails for a few hours.
I mostly don’t wheel at club events but I wanted to try out my new to me crawler hauler.

The truck performed as good as it has been and still continues to impress me every time I take it out.

After the last event I was changing out the dif gear oil and pressure washed the truck real good.
I went ahead and POR 15ed the whole frame while it was nice and clean.

At the event we had to change out the caliper that sealed the last time and replaced the hardline I crushed to pinch it off.

Again, didn’t do much wheeling but was able to do a few hard obstacles.

 

[SFROMAN]

That puts me up to date.
I am currently getting ready for fall crawl in Gore Virginia at the end of October and going back to windrock in mid November.

Currently working on replacing the current driveshafts with Tom woods long travel double Cardin driveshafts and use the current ones as spares.

Also going to replace the semi float 80 series axle with a full float axle that I have in the garage.

I might be replacing the shocks as well but will see.

 

[SFROMAN]

since my last trip in October ended in catastrophic failure. Sheered the stearing arm right off the knuckle.

I have since replaced knuckles with six shooters and rebuilt the whole front axle replaced the calipers, rotors and brakes.
We also did a knuckle bearing elimination kit.

Truck has been sitting on trailer since for the next wheeling trip.

Will post up photos later of some wheeling , the carnage and how we towed it off the trail.

 

[onemanarmy]

We love carnage pics!

 

[SFROMAN]

Wheeling photos day 1
This was at Cruiser Crawl In Gore VA. October 2021

 

[SFROMAN]

More day 1 wheeling and day 1 carnage.
Body got a little banged up. The new half door on passenger side got smashed
And broke rear drive shaft.
We replaced the Ujoint on driveshaft and was able to weld it good enough to work for another day.

 

[SFROMAN]

Day 2 wheeling. Not as many photos as we were moving along the trails and didn’t want to hold anyone up. I have some cool videos but have no idea how to load them to mud

 

[SFROMAN]

Carnage and trail recovery

 

[SFROMAN]

 

[SFROMAN]

Thanks to my friends for getting me off the trail.
Also for coming over and helping me put it all back together.

Rebuilt front axle
Added six shooter knuckles and steering arms
Tom woods driveshafts, front and rear ( now I have spare front and rear)

 

[SFROMAN]

That last photo is from yesterday. On trailer with a tarp ready for the next trip. Well it’s not quite ready. Need to go back and check to see if I need to tighten or loosen the knuckle studs. Also need to drill out the driver side 6 shooter knuckle to fit the 60 brake calipers.

 

[SFROMAN]

Since the bed was completely banged up and very impractical I decided to cut it off. I’m going to build a steel flat bed that is more stout and will allow me to carry all the crap I need to bring on the trail.

While I’m at it I’m going to replace the rear semi float 80 axle with a full float.