Hi, my name is Dan and I’m a toyotaholic. Long time lurker, and finally far enough along on my build that I felt it was worth starting a build thread.
A little about me, my first car I bought was a ‘99 4Runner that I modified lightly, and began wheeling a few years ago. After getting into some tougher trails, I decided I would eventually like to build a more dedicated trail rig that I wouldn't feel so bad about beating up a bit. A 40 was always a dream, but financially out of reach, and I would feel bad about beating up a perfectly good cruiser.
I am a 100% self taught, youtube certified mechanic and welder. This is the first project of this magnitude I have attempted, and I have learned a lot along the way. I can definitely see how people can lose interest in doing a build like this, but working on these cruisers is part of the fun for me. Much of what I know about cruisers has come from countless hours pouring over numerous build threads of other members with far more experience and skills than I have. I like to learn new and useful skills, and am told I am a glutton for punishment. So what does a 23-year old like me do once buying their first house with a big, empty driveway? Get a project car, of course…or a few…
It all started about 2 weeks after moving into my first house in February 2020, and I realized that a parts 40 I had been watching was still for sale, and nearby. This ending up being one of @buckroseau's parts rigs, a ‘79. After checking it out, he agreed to dump it in my driveway since I was just down the road.
I tinkered with it for a few months, started taking it apart and figuring things out on it. I soon after picked up another parts rig, a ‘69, mostly for a number of parts on it I knew I would need.
The frame ended up being bent and body trash due to its rough life, and after a lot of thinking I decided to use part of this frame to stretch the ‘79 frame, and fab up a cab to build somewhat of an FJ45 copy with an extended cab. This build will be getting its own thread, as it has taken a back seat to the current build. The 45 was going to be a more hardcore wheeling rig with an exo cage, but I also wanted to build a moderately modified 40 for cruising and some milder wheeling and exploring.
A little about me, my first car I bought was a ‘99 4Runner that I modified lightly, and began wheeling a few years ago. After getting into some tougher trails, I decided I would eventually like to build a more dedicated trail rig that I wouldn't feel so bad about beating up a bit. A 40 was always a dream, but financially out of reach, and I would feel bad about beating up a perfectly good cruiser.
I am a 100% self taught, youtube certified mechanic and welder. This is the first project of this magnitude I have attempted, and I have learned a lot along the way. I can definitely see how people can lose interest in doing a build like this, but working on these cruisers is part of the fun for me. Much of what I know about cruisers has come from countless hours pouring over numerous build threads of other members with far more experience and skills than I have. I like to learn new and useful skills, and am told I am a glutton for punishment. So what does a 23-year old like me do once buying their first house with a big, empty driveway? Get a project car, of course…or a few…
It all started about 2 weeks after moving into my first house in February 2020, and I realized that a parts 40 I had been watching was still for sale, and nearby. This ending up being one of @buckroseau's parts rigs, a ‘79. After checking it out, he agreed to dump it in my driveway since I was just down the road.
I tinkered with it for a few months, started taking it apart and figuring things out on it. I soon after picked up another parts rig, a ‘69, mostly for a number of parts on it I knew I would need.
The frame ended up being bent and body trash due to its rough life, and after a lot of thinking I decided to use part of this frame to stretch the ‘79 frame, and fab up a cab to build somewhat of an FJ45 copy with an extended cab. This build will be getting its own thread, as it has taken a back seat to the current build. The 45 was going to be a more hardcore wheeling rig with an exo cage, but I also wanted to build a moderately modified 40 for cruising and some milder wheeling and exploring.