Builds CreeperSleeper's '85 Xtra-cab

[CreeperSleeper]

I was able to order some parts for the truck to make it a little more pleasurable. The window runs were shot, so I ordered a new set for both windows along with the inner and outer "wipers" or weatherstripping. I was also able to find a NOS full lock cylinder set, so that is being shipped to me as well. (The doors were not keyed the same as the ignition and I didn't have the door key.)

This weekend I will put the Iroks and wheels up for sale, so they can be replaced with 37x12.50r17's on my 2015 4Runner Trail Premium wheels. To make that work, I may have to move the 1.25" spacer in the front to the rear and buy 2.5" spacers for the front. I am also planning on running 10oz of DynaBeads for balancing just in case I spin a tire on the wheel up wheeling. The big decision I will need to make is what tire to run! I've had really good luck with Kanati Mud Hogs and would consider them again. I am also very intrigued by Milestar's new Patagonia M/T, but there isn't much out there on them. The last tire on my list is Cooper's STT Pros. If anyone has any insight, I would be more than happy to hear it!

Also on the to-do list this weekend is see if I can fix the dome and cargo lights, install my Ham radio, and start planning storage both in the cab and bed. I also may get working on the shifter bezel if a stock one doesn't show up for sale. My interior is clean enough that I would rather have a nice stock one, but cup holders would also be nice.... LOL!

 

[yotadude520]

I had the Cooper STT Pro's on my 1980 Crawler. They're a really good tire! Not terribly loud on the highway/road, grip well and held up to everything I did. Out here I ran over tons of cacti and they were A-1! My old Goodyear Wranglers side swiped a cactus and went flat - these didn't!

And I like not having cup holders - less chance of me or a buddy spilling s*** in my truck haha!

Do you have any interior pics? It looks like the seats aren't factory in the pictures you've posted.

 

[CreeperSleeper]

I do have some interior pics from the POs for sale thread. Actually, I will just post all of the misc pics I have from the ad...

The seats are out of a Mini Cooper. They are super comfy and have the seat heaters hooked up.

 

[yotadude520]

What a neat truck!

And heated seats in an 85 Toyota? Man you are living it up!

 

[KLF]

Probably not a big deal, but that is not the original dash surround and pad. That is from a later truck. The 85's had a more angular surround on the cluster, and the "tray" in the pad went all the way across. Just an FYI...

 

[CreeperSleeper]

Hmmm... I didn't notice that. I wonder if the interior is out of the '87. It would make sense because the VIN was a a tan truck.

 

[gnob]

Is the cab vin H or J?

 

[Mr Chuck Norris]

I should probably follow this one...

Figure out your plans for sliders yet?

 

[CreeperSleeper]

Is the cab vin H or J?

It's a J

I should probably follow this one...

Figure out your plans for sliders yet?

Still not sure on sliders. I will probably just build them, but I need to buy some steel.

 

[CreeperSleeper]

I got some work done on the truck Saturday: The tires and wheels are for sale. I fixed the dome light and the cargo light. I built a battery tie down to replace the ratchet strap. I de-stickered the interior. I added floor mats...

Of course, like any new toy, I found a few more things I need to adjust or fix. But, I did get to take her out for a little bit on Sunday and get her muddy.

Side note, does anyone have a set of the factory stereo brackets they would be willing to sell? Mine are missing...

 

[joseywales]

That thing was crying out to get rid of all the stickers! Mine came with a tire spoon drilled and turned into a battery hold down! That’s about 10% better than a ratchet strap, but I think one end is zip-tied, so that’s going to knock it back to a tie on who’s PO was more of a hillbilly! Must be a red late 80s thing?

 

[CreeperSleeper]

LOL! Must be for sure. There is a lot of little ghetto things that need to go... I'm probably going to keep the bottle open though.

 

[boots4]

Well, here we go again. You certainly are a good resource to ask about different rigs and different setups.

 

[gnob]

He'd have to actually drive them to form an opinion

Well, here we go again. You certainly are a good resource to ask about different rigs and different setups.

 

[CreeperSleeper]

Ouch... Rough crowd. LOL

 

[CreeperSleeper]

I guess it's time for a quick update. I haven't had much time to actually work on the truck, but I need to get my butt in gear since we are doing an annual snow camping/wheeling trip the first weekend of Feb. (Hopefully we will actually get some snow!)

The NOS lock cylinders apparently were non-existent and the company cancelled the order. Guess I will be buying aftermarket cylinders and getting them re-keyed. Not a big deal, but I wish I would have know that two weeks ago!

I'm not getting any real bites on my tires and wheels, so I may just keep them. I may end up pulling the wheel weights and running balancing beads to see if that helps smooth things out. Another thought of where the vibrations are coming from is the driveshaft. It is a 1 piece, non-CV shaft, so I will make sure that the angles are good and it is phased correctly.

"vikingsven" on Pirate was kind enough to mail me some stock stereo brackets and my BIL gave me an old CD player. That will be installed at some point along with my 2 meter radio. The ham needs to be in for the trip, so that is somewhat a priority. LOL

I have decided to build my own bumpers and sliders, but I need to get steel. Hopefully I will have them done for the trip, but I have to find time to get the materials. I see a lot of late night fab time in my future...

Georg at Valley Hybrids (@orangefj45) is the man and has 4.7 gears for me! He mostly deals in Land Cruiser stuff, but if you need anything I would recommend asking him. He is definitely one of the TLCA greats and I'm honored to have him as a friend. As soon as I can shuffle some cash around, the gears will be on the way, however, I won't install them until I can get a twin stick set-up. I'm torn between Dave'z or FROR...

Lastly, I figured out how the PO mounted the Mini seats. He bolted the Mini sliders to 1" square tubing and welded it to the floor. Totally not the way I would have done it, but it is what it is. The problem is the left front weld punched through the floor... That is my priority fix! I think I'm going to seal everything up and brace it with angle under the floor. I will probably do that to the passenger seat too before it breaks through.

With a little luck I will be able to start working on it tonight and I will update with pics as soon as I have some!

 

[yotadude520]

I’ve got a set of lock cylinders sitting at home. If you want them they’re yours for the cost of the ride!

 

[CreeperSleeper]

I’ve got a set of lock cylinders sitting at home. If you want them they’re yours for the cost of the ride!

That would be awesome! Thank you so much!

 

[yotadude520]

That would be awesome! Thank you so much!

Yeah absolutely! Shoot me your address in a PM!

 

[CreeperSleeper]

I spent the day Saturday in the garage working on the truck. It was a beautiful day, so it was pleasant, but I would have much rather been wheeling!

The first order of business was to see why the front left driver seat mount ripped through the floor. I pulled the seat, trim, and carpet back to find whoever installed the Mini Cooper seats cut the front support out. Then in their infinite wisdom (*sarcasm), they welded 2" chunks of 1"x1" square tube to the floor as the new seat mount. No other reinforcement at all...

Needless to say, I was not impressed... The fix was to use more square tubing to brace both front "mounts" the entire span of the floor and up onto the trans tunnel. I welded it in, then used JB Weld to seal up any holes and give it a little more strength.

It's not going to win any beauty contests, but it is nice and strong now!

After that I pulled mounted the stereo and my 2m Ham to the factory stereo brackets I got, only to find out they were the wrong bracket. I messed with them every way I could think of but they just aren't going to work. So back on the hunt for the factory stereo brackets... If anyone has a set, please let me know.

Lastly I put my new Special Interest plates on (no more registration ever!) and helped my neighbor install a spacer lift on his wife's 5th Gen 4Runner. It was a productive day!

Now I need to order some steel and a few other misc parts to try and get this thing set up for the 1st. The likelihood of snow is looking pretty slim, so I better get some protection on this thing!