Builds Box Rocket 1980 1st Gen Hilux

[Broski]

Great Father/Son Build Adam, Just stumbled on to this. Is he going to tag a long to Cruise Moab this this year ? Be nice to see you and your Son out on the trail this year.

PS I am a bet Jelly as my son had 0 interest in Cars or 4x4 and refused to even get a license tell he was 18.

 

[pappy]

... and refused to even get a license tell he was 18.

Apparently that is trendy with the kids today. My late-wife's granddaughter is in her early 20's, in college, and doesn't have a license.

 

[Box Rocket]

Great Father/Son Build Adam, Just stumbled on to this. Is he going to tag a long to Cruise Moab this this year ? Be nice to see you and your Son out on the trail this year.

PS I am a bet Jelly as my son had 0 interest in Cars or 4x4 and refused to even get a license tell he was 18.

Thanks! He's working on getting it ready for Cruise Moab but we're doing a 3RZ swap and may not have it done in time.

 

[yotadude520]

Thanks! He's working on getting it ready for Cruise Moab but we're doing a 3RZ swap and may not have it done in time.

A 3RZ?? This is going to be one of the coolest trucks on mud soon!

 

[Box Rocket]

A 3RZ?? This is going to be one of the coolest trucks on mud soon!

Haha. Yeah, we've had a rolled Tacoma sitting on the side of the house since last summer. Time got away from us and we didn't get to it before winter. If weather cooperates we'll get moving on the swap soon. Using the 3RZ and 5-speed from the Tacoma, running a Marlin adapter to dual gear driven t-cases. We also need to pull the front axle out soon to mod the housing to accept a 80 series high pinion e-locker diff we've had for a while.

It will be a fun little truck for sure if we can just get all of our plans accomplished.

 

[yotadude520]

Haha. Yeah, we've had a rolled Tacoma sitting on the side of the house since last summer. Time got away from us and we didn't get to it before winter. If weather cooperates we'll get moving on the swap soon. Using the 3RZ and 5-speed from the Tacoma, running a Marlin adapter to dual gear driven t-cases. We also need to pull the front axle out soon to mod the housing to accept a 80 series high pinion e-locker diff we've had for a while.

It will be a fun little truck for sure if we can just get all of our plans accomplished.

This thing just keeps getting better and better! Your son better be keeping this one for a while!

 

[Box Rocket]

This thing just keeps getting better and better! Your son better be keeping this one for a while!

He plans to.

 

[CreeperSleeper]

Screw that. Once the engine is swapped I will gladly trade you for my 85 Xtra cab...

 

[Box Rocket]

Screw that. Once the engine is swapped I will gladly trade you for my 85 Xtra cab...

well.......dunno if know anyone here remembers the old '85 reg cab I used to have 15+ years ago? The guy that bought it from me was a co-worker and bought it as a second vehicle to play with. Drove it for a few months then took a job in Canada and moved away. He parked the truck at his brothers and it has sat since then until last year. It was bought last year by a kid that put new tires on it and fixed some hoses that had dry rotted after sitting for so long.
last week it popped up for sale locally. I went and saw it today. It's like a freakin time capsule. The paint looks terrible after sitting for so long, but literally everything else is as I built it. Even the stupid steering wheel cover that I put on it is still in place.

If I can work out a deal, it could be back in my driveway again for my 2nd son who turned 16 this past summer. Both my boys would be in minitrucks. Just feels right doesn't it?

 

[Box Rocket]

Here's the last couple photos I have of the '85 when I sold it back in 2002.
flatbed_e by Adam Tolman, on Flickr

flatbed_c by Adam Tolman, on Flickr

 

[CreeperSleeper]

That really is awesome, Adam. I hope it works out! Meanwhile, I will just put this here....

 

[Broski]

Looks like you mite have to bring it back down to Earth, nothing like a drive way full of Toyota's & happy Kid's. It's sweet when something happens that is meant to be. I hope this comes together for you & your Son.

 

[Box Rocket]

Made a successful deal on the '85. Will be picking it up this afternoon.

 

[yotadude520]

Made a successful deal on the '85. Will be picking it up this afternoon.

NICE!! It's crazy how everything comes full circle. Can't wait to see the pictures of it!

 

[Box Rocket]

NICE!! It's crazy how everything comes full circle. Can't wait to see the pictures of it!

It's not much to look at right now, but give me a little time with it.

 

[yotadude520]

It's not much to look at right now, but give me a little time with it.

With your skills I'm sure it's going to be brought back to life just fine!

 

[Box Rocket]

After being put on the back burner for a few months my son and I took advantage of the long holiday weekend and finally finished up the rear bumper for his truck. I think we're going to add some side protection, but we're playing with a few different ideas for that so it will happen when we have something we're happy with. But for all intents and purposes the bumper is complete. It's a bit different from any others I've seen. I kinda like that, and enjoy the creativity aspects that come along with doing something different. This was a "make it up as you go" project. Sometimes those can turn into a mess. This one was close a few times but in the end, it came out ok I think. Most important is my son likes it, and it was mostly his design.

Rear bumper by Adam Tolman, on Flickr

Rear bumper by Adam Tolman, on Flickr

Rear bumper by Adam Tolman, on Flickr

Rear bumper by Adam Tolman, on Flickr

Rear bumper by Adam Tolman, on Flickr

Rear bumper by Adam Tolman, on Flickr

Rear bumper by Adam Tolman, on Flickr

Rear bumper by Adam Tolman, on Flickr

Rear bumper by Adam Tolman, on Flickr

Rear bumper by Adam Tolman, on Flickr

 

[KLF]

Wow, that is SAWEEET!! Nice work!

I was gonna suggest grip tape for the top stepping surface, but I see you came up with something better.

Utah is OK with the plate up there? Or is that just temporary?

 

[Box Rocket]

Wow, that is SAWEEET!! Nice work!

I was gonna suggest grip tape for the top stepping surface, but I see you came up with something better.

Utah is OK with the plate up there? Or is that just temporary?

Plate location is temporary but I don't think it's a problem in Utah either.

 

[Box Rocket]

Just realized it's been nearly a year since the last update on this truck. In truth, not a lot has happened since my son left home for a couple years of service as a missionary. But because of COVID he returned home for a few months and we were able to make a bit of progress. It's been a long time coming but we finally got the bed Raptor Lined.
Untitled by Adam Tolman, on Flickr

Untitled by Adam Tolman, on Flickr

Untitled by Adam Tolman, on Flickr

But the bigger news is that the truck should be going into the shop soon to finally tackle the motor swap. 3RZ and 5-speed from the donor Tacoma will be going in and we're planning to keep a single t-case but add 4.7 low range gears to the case. Looking forward to having this swap done so hopefully in the next few months we'll have it out on the trails more regularly.