how to build a toyota, solid axle, rock crawler thread. (1 Viewer)

[missouriman]

weird, I am 50, wife is 41, Alice is 3 months, Jacob is 21 months. been a strange but positive turn in my life. Kids are just aw some!!!!

 

[jynx]

Yes they are!

 

[missouriman]

well, My wife's pink truck has blown a head gasket. pretty common, but what a bummer. Kids are now Jacob 3, Alice almost 18 months.


Wife took her sister out wheeling and the truck over heated and drank all the radiator fluid. they filled it up from the water bottles and then the melted cooler ice. then had some one bring antifreeze from the store. kept trying to get home....


radiator is bubbling, I will do a compression check. I am not sure why... so this is the first break down for her pink toy. I hope that I can save the head, as it is an unknown motor.


It sat for the last 3 months as to cold to work on it. oil looked fine. smoked like a bitch when it finally turned over and started. Will be able to look over the piston walls when I take the head off.


these 22 re's are so tough that I am not sure if it is even worth worrying about.

 

[john657]

Read your thread many times over the past several years. You made all good points and recommendations for builds! Used your front d-shaft idea to build a square tube for my 85 Crawler. Thanks!

 

[missouriman]

well, had to replace the fuel pump on my truck. If your truck is lacking a bit in the get up and go... might check the fuel pump. seat of the pants I would guess that it added a bit. I could notice the increase in power. Wifes truck, did the head gasket, less power for some reason but much smoother. Just bought an 1993 fj 80 for the family. been going through it a bit at a time. ps. the fj80 is a SLUG on the road. will see how it is off road this week end if the rain stops. front and rear electric lockers, 4.88 gears, 36 inch tires, came with a ARB bumper and a 9k winch. Mounting the kids seats I still had to throw in a ratchet strap. I just do not in any way shape or form want those seats to come loose.

 

[missouriman]

so, I find out the fj 80 has been pretty much sitting for the last 3 or 4 years. Old gas, after a few tanks of new fuel and some cleaner it is running much better. I would venture a guess at 30 percent more power, smoother, better idle. LOL it makes our 85's seem very dated and this thing is over 20 years old. Man this electronic controlled stuff is a bitch to figure out. been posting over in the 80s forum.. I want the electric lockers to lock when I want them.. they un lock in hi range at 5mph. the center diff (transfercase) only locks in low range. the lockers will not lock unless the transfercase is locked... ie low range.

 

[zidaro]

sweet. now a huge how to thread on FJ80 building!!

great tips across the board. thanks for putting in the time

 

[missouriman]

Those are some extreme modifiactions! Great job!!! I belive you have been welding for quite some time. These are great builds. I feel an 80 series four door may bee in your future. My wife loves hers and it fits lots of kids! I keep her 92 landcruiser going and she gives me the go on my freaky toyota 22r 4x4 projects. I am inspired by these builds!! the nice welds and clean prep.

Reading back through old posts... Very funny, we now own a 1993 fj 80.... guess that you saw the way we would be going!! Both kids are AWSOME, Jacob is getting ready to turn 4, Alice is 2.5 years old. I am very happy. some of the posts that come to mind.

one foot in front of the other you will get there.
truck, crib, diapers..
never been so scared as my first kid.

thank you all, this has been aw some.

we still have both 85's they are still working very well. when we bought the FJ 80 I had 3 club members ask if the 85's were for sale... so that is how well they work, aw some trucks. I asked why they would want the trucks, they are over 10 years old now. They all, said because they work so well and never break down. We still split the car seats up between the two and take them out... No huge repairs since building them, head gasket for hers. both need the front axle seals and wipers redone... have the parts, time not so much... So I would say if you are building a 85 rock crawler, this is what really works. And you have it all in one post, done in a gravel drive way with basic tools. The FJ 80 forum I am finding bits and pieces but no, poor boy build that did it in a gravel drive way.

God bless you all, I look back at this post now and then and think what a blessing that you were all here to support me, my wife, the great advice. And not one of you know me, Just good people with good wishes, giving great advice and support.

Thank You.

 

[missouriman]

That might just be the funniest thing I have ever read!

Missouriman I feel your pain. I consider myself thick skinned and well a bit of a jerk yet I have never been so scared in my life as when I was having a child. I had so many unanswered questions as to how I was going to ensure I protected him. He turns 4 in less than a week now.... It feels like yesterday that although I was 26 I was in your shoes. All I can say is I had to kick him off of youtube tonight and send him to bed with his mom so I could get on here and use the computer..... He can sit in front of the computer and watch mud trucks for hours before he builds his imagination enough that he has to go outside and splash in a mudpuddle or dig every mudtruck in the toy box out! Each night is the best night of my life....... I wish you the same BUT if he didnt like mudtrucks I would not have built my toyota and I may be spending my time on a tap dancing forum

 

[missouriman]

That might just be the funniest thing I have ever read!

Missouriman I feel your pain. I consider myself thick skinned and well a bit of a jerk yet I have never been so scared in my life as when I was having a child. I had so many unanswered questions as to how I was going to ensure I protected him. He turns 4 in less than a week now.... It feels like yesterday that although I was 26 I was in your shoes. All I can say is I had to kick him off of youtube tonight and send him to bed with his mom so I could get on here and use the computer..... He can sit in front of the computer and watch mud trucks for hours before he builds his imagination enough that he has to go outside and splash in a mudpuddle or dig every mudtruck in the toy box out! Each night is the best night of my life....... I wish you the same BUT if he didnt like mudtrucks I would not have built my toyota and I may be spending my time on a tap dancing forum

Jacob is now turning 4, same thing, our cruiser is his truck, but daddy can drive it. He got really upset, when mommy took her rave 4 on the forest service roads, to get a friend out in the woods for a bit to de stress. Because she needed to be driving his truck.

 

[missouriman]

I am still shocked a bit that only one person has tried to add to this thread. Thank you to the two people out of 80,000 that have viewed this thread that said a thank you and why. Kids are just getting more awesome... the 85's are sitting waiting for new seals. the cruiser needs some love this summer. lol... ever try working on anything with a 4 year old helping you.. would love to hear the stories. took the front skid plate fan belt protector thing off the cruiser. held on by 6 bolts. replaced the fan belts, ac... ect... went to put the plate back on... umm no bolts, looked every where. wtf.. went and got the bolts out of my bolt bucket, remounted.. let the truck back down and (found the bolts in the jack handle.) Jacob thought that would be a good place so I didn't loose them... I was like,,,,,, OK HE IS HELPING... uggg.


come on,, after all this time I have to have help more people out then this.

 

[yotasavg]

I've thoroughly enjoyed this thread, although I no longer have a mini, so thanks for the enjoyment I've had and keep up the good times.

 

[jynx]

I'd say over the years your thread has been more helpful then the comments reflect. I will say that I have read thru it, been a while but I have, and if I was to take a stab at it. I personally always assumed from the title that it was more of a true "how-to" thread, and as such I didn't want to clutter it up with comments.

It is a great thread, full of great tips.

As far as having help, I have a little girl that will be 5 in April and she loves being in the garage and "helping" Daddy. She helped me put the front coil overs on my 3rd gen when I swapped them out a couple years ago. As you have found, patience is a virtue when working with a kiddo, but I enjoy her wanting to help. I am afraid that in a few years, being in the garage will loose it's appeal to barbies and such. I have a jar of misc. aor fittings that she likes to play with too. Got a couple pics of her sitting on the stool next to the bench when when was 3 I think. Love those pictures.

The garage has been a wreck lately so haven't been able to get her out there as much as I'd like, but hoping when we get the shop finished I can get her out to help more. I have a set of ICONs to go on the runner and a list of other projects to go as well, gonna try to keep her attention as long as I can.

 

[missouriman]

pictures please.... never knew that kids were so awesome... yes, at times I have to bite my lip... but he is helping daddy. I thank you for saying how much this thread has helped others... I am glad that this thread has lived this long... I am shocked that if you google our address that both trucks are in the driveway... sacary s*** there.

 

[coryc85]

missouriman - great thread, have browsed it many many times over the years. Like jynx said, I have never wanted to clutter up your thread with my comments, but since you are encouraging posts I figured it's time to chime in. I love how both you and the wife (and now kids) are so into offroading. I have 2 boys and they love riding in my 4Runner, it's a special treat for them. And like you said, anytime my older son "helps" me, I end up losing some bolts. I have lost my patience a few times and have to remember to take a deep breath. Here's a pic of my son helping me under the truck, great day when you can turn a few wrenches with your kids.

 

[jynx]

I can't find the one working on the 3rd gen, but here are a couple of my little helper, both from a couple years ago.

Working on my 88 that I sold to a buddy.

And in "her" chair in the garage

Hoping to get her back out there now that it is warming up.

 

[missouriman]

thanks, that is awesome... don't you love it when they beat on the mud filled fender with a hammer while you are under the truck!!! both of you kids are to cute... Love the little girl at the work bench... yeah this thread is so old now, Not much more for tech... but want to keep it alive. What is she working on there. I see the dial for the side of a differential. I about s*** when Jacob layed a wrench on top of the battery,,,, um welding it to the posts, and daddies reaction of impending explosion.. didn't blow, wrench very fawking hot in short order. found it around 50 feet away. scraped his knee on something on the way to the safety zone...

 

[missouriman]

I am sorry that so many of the photos have gone away. I am guessing that photo bucket must reset or delet at some point. I feel that this has been a good read for many. Thank you all for being there. Giving advice. I am sorry that the pictures all went away. We are still rocking the 85's the 93 cruiser is doing well. it is hard to drive something that is a foot wider then the truck you have been driving for 30 years!!! Tore off the pass side flare once. found the tip over point, no damage, just a lay over onto the sides of the tires. 100 pound kid pushed it back onto all 4's. Kids are still rocking. Jacob is going to be 5. Alice is almost 4 now. Getting it together, less scared now... thank you all again.

 

[mesa man]

Great read, thanks! My 83’ pickup is getting some marlin crawler 4.7 gears for Christmas! Hope you and yours are doing well!

Lockhart Basin, UT

 

[874runna]

working on am 81 pick up build came here to do a little research and ended up reading the whole thread. even with out the pictures still a wealth of information. I do not have anything to add but I am going to be refering back as my build progresses. Funny I got back in to wheeling about the time i had kidds. first build was a tripple locked 80 LOve it but my kiddos and wife have no intrest in going wheeling hince the pick up project. keep up the good work