Builds Box Rocket 1980 1st Gen Hilux

[BHillteq]

Thank you. I'm pretty happy with the way shes turning out. Now if I can get rid of that auto trans I'll be cruising better.

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.

So stoked for the 3RZ swap. We'll have to have a Pickup outing when you get it all done.

 

[Box Rocket]

Thought we were all done with the 3RZ swap today but we had a small hiccup. Brand new MSD fuel pump decided to take a dump. So we're pickup up a new pump tomorrow and should be rolling again!

Dual 2.28 transfer cases, new long travel driveshafts, new exhaust, new clutch. All done.

Now to get back to some of the other work. More suspension work to be done, more electrical work to be done. Need to rework the interior a bit. Repaint the wheels AND clean up some of the body work. We have a high pinion e-locker front diff to put in and need to figure out a rear locker. Good times and still lots of work, but stoked to have it running again.
3rz swap by Adam Tolman, on Flickr

3rz swap by Adam Tolman, on Flickr

3rz swap by Adam Tolman, on Flickr

3rz swap by Adam Tolman, on Flickr

 

[BHillteq]

Heck yeah. This little Pickup is gonna be an animal.

 

[aztoyman]

Great build! How do you like the FROR crossmember? I need to buy one or fabricate one for my project.

 

[Box Rocket]

Great build! How do you like the FROR crossmember? I need to buy one or fabricate one for my project.

Haven't had a chance to really test it myself yet, but it's been proven by lots of hardcore wheelers for years. It's solid for sure, and way better clearance than the stock crossmember. I still need to decide on how to handle skidplates. FROR has a skidplate that also bolts to the tcase that is an option but I might fab something myself.

 

[Box Rocket]

New wheels with some tires that came off my 80. Love the look. The bigger surprise was how well the 3rz moves the big tires down the road even with stock gears.
Untitled by Adam Tolman, on Flickr

Untitled by Adam Tolman, on Flickr

 

[Box Rocket]

Some recent work on the pickup. It started as chasing some electrical issues that kept the oil pressure gauge from working. Then before I knew it the entire dash was pulled apart. Was probably a good thing since I found a bunch of sketchy wiring from the previous owner as well as some ridiculous attempts to keep the hvac system functional.
Untitled by Adam Tolman, on Flickr

Patched up the big floor holes left over from the engine/trans swap. It's no show truck and will be covered by sound deadening and carpet so I wasn't concerned about the repair being invisible.
Untitled by Adam Tolman, on Flickr

Untitled by Adam Tolman, on Flickr

Untitled by Adam Tolman, on Flickr

Here's the ghetto defrost vent that I found under the dash. Look at this thing! Who makes a repair like this?!
Untitled by Adam Tolman, on Flickr

Untitled by Adam Tolman, on Flickr

I wasn't able to find replacement vents from Toyota but I was able to track down some used ones in good condition.
Untitled by Adam Tolman, on Flickr

Untitled by Adam Tolman, on Flickr

 

[Box Rocket]

I've got a new Bluesea fuse panel to replace this mess.
Untitled by Adam Tolman, on Flickr

New Ultragauge is in and working too.

While the dash was out the paint was touched up to fix some dings and scratches.
Untitled by Adam Tolman, on Flickr

At some point I might have the 2nd gen 4Runner seats recovered but they're actually in really good shape, they're just blue. Since we didn't like the blue it's some cheap seat covers to keep the theme. The old Cabelas seat covers have done a good job but they've worn out their welcome and are filthy. Trying some Dickies leatherette seat covers that keep the black theme. We'll see how they hold up.
Untitled by Adam Tolman, on Flickr

Hoping to have this all back together in the next couple days and all working better.

 

[clx16]

What is odd... is that someone did the same cut hack job on my vents. I was wondering why someone clearly took a saw to them,. Fairly confusing to see you had the same person working on yours so far away!

 

[Box Rocket]

What is odd... is that someone did the same cut hack job on my vents. I was wondering why someone clearly took a saw to them,. Fairly confusing to see you had the same person working on yours so far away!

Are you serious? That’s really odd. I can’t think of any reason why those would be cut like that.

 

[clx16]

yep. cut "clean" through the cone section and not even on both sides. can't even glue it back. Not going to worry about it now, since i have to mess with things like getting the broken section of the oil sending unit out of the block... but my list is growing of things to keep my eyes open for. I have both the cab and engine wiring harness out and about to build a new one. hopefully it works and I don't mess it up. I am hoping it looks nothing like what happened to yours there, but i guess it depends on how impatient i get with it later.

 

[Box Rocket]

Man it's been a rats nest lately on this truck. There are tons of previous owner janky wiring, and now with a different harness with the engine swap it's been a headache chasing some of the wiring that needs repair or removal. This was last night. ACK! I freakin hate doing electrical work. It's something I've always struggled with. But we're figuring it out.
Untitled by Adam Tolman, on Flickr

Also, we're making some changes to the rear suspension. Wanted to improve the shackle angle a bit so we welded in new shackle hangers. And we're working on a new shock setup. The old shocks were beyond effed.
Untitled by Adam Tolman, on Flickr

Untitled by Adam Tolman, on Flickr

I've still got the donor Tacoma that we pulled the 3RZ from and I think we're going to swap the rear 8.4" axle from the Tacoma into the truck. This will give us a 60" width on the rear axle that will be about 1" wider than what it is now with the rear wheel spacers. This will let us ditch the wheel spacers. I've also got a new Lock-Right lunchbox locker to put into the Tacoma diff.

 

[Box Rocket]

The next headache is getting the original oil pressure gauge to work. The pressure was tested at the shop when the 3rz went in so I know it's got pressure but the stock gauge isn't working.

I read somewhere that I may need to install the original 20R oil pressure sending unit onto the 3RZ for it to work. If anyone reading this is familiar with this and can offer any info or suggestions I'd appreciate it!

 

[Box Rocket]

Don't think I posted this. But we put in some new carpet from ACC. Man! it's so much nicer than the crappy Autozone carpet that was in there. This picture was when I got it all together about a week ago before we tore into the wiring again.
Untitled by Adam Tolman, on Flickr

Dual cases!
Untitled by Adam Tolman, on Flickr

Untitled by Adam Tolman, on Flickr

Mocking up new consoles. We moved the front speakers to a small under dash console so that if the doors were removed or if we were running half doors we wouldn't have to worry about disconnecting anything for door speakers. Between these little 5.5" front speakers from Kenwood and another set of Kenwood 6x9's behind the seats it's pretty good sound inside this small cab.
Untitled by Adam Tolman, on Flickr

 

[Box Rocket]

Front speaker box wrapped up. Moved the oil pressure and amp gauge to the box to keep them in the same basic location as they were originally.

 

[BHillteq]

Very cool. This little truck is coming along nicely!

 

[pappy]

The next headache is getting the original oil pressure gauge to work. The pressure was tested at the shop when the 3rz went in so I know it's got pressure but the stock gauge isn't working.

I read somewhere that I may need to install the original 20R oil pressure sending unit onto the 3RZ for it to work. If anyone reading this is familiar with this and can offer any info or suggestions I'd appreciate it!

As best I can tell Pre-2004 Tacomas and 4Rs didn't have gauges. They have idiot light switches. Yes, you need to swap over your old gauge sender.

 

[Box Rocket]

As best I can tell Pre-2004 Tacomas and 4Rs didn't have gauges. They have idiot light switches. Yes, you need to swap over your old gauge sender.

That's what I thought. Ordered a new OEM sender today.

 

[Box Rocket]

Untitled by Adam Tolman, on Flickr

 

[Box Rocket]

So my son decided to go back to 35's. Better gas mileage and the 37's would have needed some sheet metal trimming which he didn't want to do. So it's back on some 35" Patagonias and some factory 80 series wheels.
Untitled by Adam Tolman, on Flickr

Before we scrap the Tacoma that has been our parts rig for much of this build we decided to use the rear 8.4 axle from the Tacoma. Even though it's still a 8" diff some argue it is stronger than the regular 8" Tacoma diffs because of the girdles on the bearing caps. In any case, we had the axle, it was in good shape and it's width matched the axle and 1.5" spacers that's been in the truck. So same width and no spacers with the 8.4 swap. We installed a lockright in the diff a few weeks ago so the truck finally has a locked rear end. It took some minor customizing that included welding a new bracket to the axle for the e-brake cable. We also needed to make a longer cable for one side of the e-brake. The original axle has the brakeline junction attaching to the axle on the passenger side of the axle but the 8.4 axle has the junction on the driver side. I had a longer brake line that gave us plenty of brakeline to work with for full flex etc.

We still need to reinstall the shocks (oh yeah we had to weld new shock mounts to the Tacoma axle), and then bleed the brakes and it will be all done.
Untitled by Adam Tolman, on Flickr

Untitled by Adam Tolman, on Flickr