New project I think...first gen

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Cube Dweller

Cube Dweller

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Since I sold my 4runner a couple years ago I've been jonesing for another rig. I had an '80 Longbed right after highschool (20 years ago!) and maybe I'm having a midlife crisis, cause for some reason I wanted another one. So an '83 popped up on CL. I kept hounding the seller, who was having some serious personal issues and she finally was able to get it to someplace I could see it. She wasn't clear on how much she wanted, and I probably could have gotten it for $500, but with the drama going on her life, I didn't have the heart to grind her on price, so gave her $600 for it. So here is is on the trip home, and sitting in my driveway. This truck was absolutely FILTHY, inside and out. Check out the custom lumbar support. Oh, and the seats were held to the floor with a couple 3" deck screws, screwed in from the underside of the cab. When I looked at it, there was a child booster seat on the passenger seat :eek: :frown:
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There's something seriously wrong with the engine, there's a loud, irregular rattling noise coming from the engine. It doesn't sound like rod knock or piston slap; my guess is the timing chain tensioner isn't working for whatever reason and the chain is slapping around inside. First step is to pull the valve and timing chain cover and see what's up.

The other funkiness is the transmission. Since I couldn't drive it and all '83's came with an L52, I assumed it was a 5 speed. Apparently someone swapped in a 4 at one point :frown:

The bed has some rust along the seams and the tailgate is shot. I'm going to keep my eyes open for a clean first gen longbed to replace it.

The frame has a bit of surface rust in the bed area that I'm obsessing over. I can hit those with a wire brush on a grinder and paint it with POR or one of Eastwood's products, but any feedback on taking care of the inside of the frame rails? I'm from Cali so I guess I'm very particular about not wanting a rust bucket. I'm actually surprised it has any rust; the truck is from Nampa, which is semi arid and dry. Supposedly they sand the roads when there's snow instead of salt. :meh:
 
As far as plans and mods:

1. Get it running. Replace the master cylinder with a 1" bore, this one leaks and I'll run V-6 calipers eventually. Get it smogged.

2. Find a 5 speed, preferably an l52. Ideally from someone that has both the tranny and a case.

3. Find some seats and build mounts.

4. Elockers F+R. I found a deal on an 8.4 for the rear so I already snagged it.

5. Power steering. I'm hunting for the pump/reservoir/bracket. I found an IFS box I'm going to pickup Saturday, along with an IFS (wider) rear axle housing. The housing will be modded for the elocker.

6. Dual cases with a 4.7 rear.

7. High steer.

8. Rears up front and F150's in the rear, unless I score some aftermarket springs cheap. This is going to be a budget build, except for the axles.

9. 35's....BFG MT's, MTR's or similar. I don't want to go 37's with the extra stress on driveline, axles, etc. Plus I still want this to be a solid rig for the street for Home Despot runs, etc.
 
Thats not in rough condition compared to the one the first gen i have... I buckled up to drive it home, tapped the brakes in slid into the steeringwheel. Seat belt came out of floor, seat bracket fell through the floor, but its in decent mechanical condition.
 
Couple updates. Semlin and I have been having a friendly but heated discussion about which Toyota is more cost effective to build for wheeling, a minitruck or an 80. I have both, but I'm positive it's way cheaper to build a capable mini than an 80. So I hereby christen this truck "Project Semlin" :D

Did a little calling today and found a locked hi-pinion front dif for $450. Couldn't pass that up, so shipped to my door it was $500. So the running total so far is $1550. I <3 elockers. I'm going to build the lockers up in seperate housings so if I decide to change directions and pursue a different rig, I can roll the old axles back under the truck and sell it w/out. I had the same setup under my 91 4runner and it was a drag to sell them with the truck.
 
Nice going Cube.

If you need some help, I owe you and will be happy to pitch in. You are welcome to use my hoist and tranny jack if needed.

Great project


And, BTW---you are right and Semlin is out of his mind. He doesn't know the joy of real gear reduction, and the pain of getting that in an 80 series. With a minitruck, 1 phone call to Marlin or Inchworm and you're ready to go.
 
That's pretty sweet looking. Really sweet.

If you were near me, I'd sell you a G52 tranny with T-case cheap. Why you wouldn't want a W56 though I don't know.

That thing is screaming "I want a 3L" though. You just haven't heard it yet. ;)

Dan
 
Nice ride, my first rig was an '83 toyota mini, so it makes me a little reminiscent. Mine had a factory sunroof and A/C with intermittent wipers. :cool: Should have never sold that truck.

Body actually looks really good, but I think you have your work cut out for you with that interior! :eek:

You should auction that awesome shifter knob on E-bay, might get some good money for that!
 
DanS HJ-45 said:
That's pretty sweet looking. Really sweet.

If you were near me, I'd sell you a G52 tranny with T-case cheap. Why you wouldn't want a W56 though I don't know.

Dan
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Ya, why not a W56? Much more common and a better tranny. Too bad I'm not ready. I have a W56 bolted to a 4.7 case that I'm going to replace with a R151 and duals. I'm just not ready to pull it yet.
 
pappy said:
Ya, why not a W56? Much more common and a better tranny. Too bad I'm not ready. I have a W56 bolted to a 4.7 case that I'm going to replace with a R151 and duals. I'm just not ready to pull it yet.
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How long till you're ready? I'm not planning on doing anything to the truck except get it to pass smog for a few months. Is the case you've got a top or forward shifter?
 
Top shift. Not sure how long it will be. I've been waiting for the clutch to die, but after 200K it's still going strong.
 
Man, this is really weird. When I look at this thread on my netbook (Dell 2100), all the photos in the first post are glued together in a long horizontal row. Any other computer, they're vertical. Whatever.

It's too bad you're not closer, I have *TWO* perfectly good W56 trannies sitting here, in the way. Both came out of '87 trucks. Shipping would be a giant PITA though.
 
Cruiserdrew said:
And, BTW---you are right and Semlin is out of his mind. He doesn't know the joy of real gear reduction, and the pain of getting that in an 80 series. With a minitruck, 1 phone call to Marlin or Inchworm and you're ready to go.
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how much does that one call cost :D

and how much is cube's time worth for all the mods he is about to embark on?

it depends on you final destination, but good brakes and tranny, lockers and lots of torque means you can go a long way in an 80 without gear reduction. my point is that you can build a locked 80 simply by lifting it for $700 or less used, throwing on 35s and being careful, and you will kick the ass of most minitrucks. and you have a nice civilized daily driver too. adding armour all around adds to the cost, but minitruck armour is not free either.

valentine just bought a locked and medium ome lifted 80 on 33s for $3500 and the seats are properly attached and the engine is not making any funny noises ;) anyway, not intending to start a schotts like debate. the meter is on to see how much time and money cube sinks into this baby before he achieves the daily driver and offroad ability of val's truck.
 
semlin said:
how much does that one call cost :D

and how much is cube's time worth for all the mods he is about to embark on?

it depends on you final destination, but good brakes and tranny, lockers and lots of torque means you can go a long way in an 80 without gear reduction. my point is that you can build a locked 80 simply by lifting it for $700 or less used, throwing on 35s and being careful, and you will kick the ass of most minitrucks. and you have a nice civilized daily driver too. adding armour all around adds to the cost, but minitruck armour is not free either.

valentine just bought a locked and medium ome lifted 80 on 33s for $3500 and the seats are properly attached and the engine is not making any funny noises ;) anyway, not intending to start a schotts like debate. the meter is on to see how much time and money cube sinks into this baby before he achieves the daily driver and offroad ability of val's truck.
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OK, the value of time for mods argument is specious. Baselining an 80 takes a crapload of time too. Adding dual cases is barely more time consuming than R&Ring the transfer case alone. Modding the axle housing for elockers is about 6 hours for both.

I don't think the Cube vs. Val rig is a valid comparison. Perhaps part of our disagreement stems from different perspectives on intended usage. I'm building a mini that can transverse the Rubicon and other trails thru Sierra like Fordyce and Dusy Ershim, while still being useful for Home Depot runs and to drive 5-6 hours to go hunting. In current modified config, Val's rig would be seriously pummeled through the Rubicon, if it could even make it. He would definitely need to armor up the transfer case, add sliders, and run at least 33's. Even then there would be frequent recovery strap usage. And I'll give a 50-50% chance at a bent tie or relay rod. As for not regearing in an 80, I was riding shotgun with Norcaldoug one year climbing a steep granite slab when his tranny stalled- regardless of gear selection, in 4 low his truck would not move forward. He was forced to back up, get momentum and speed through that section in a rather uncontrolled fashion. 315's with stock gearing. The trucks that were regeared didn't have this issue.

As far as armor costs, I can buy sliders, front bumper and rear bumper for $800, from Marlin. For another $300 I can add a combo transfer case crossmember/skidplate, similar to what IPOR sells for the 80. $1100, done. How much are sliders alone for the 80?

I know Canada has equally difficult trails, but are those what you envision when you're thinking the 80 is nearly as capable as a built mini? I'll be the first to concede that for expedition wheeling, the 80 is a far superior vehicle- coil sprung, spacious interior, more comfy, heavier weight dampening road undulations, etc. But for the Sierra, bah!

How about this: if I can get it done in time for Rubithon, I'll register for both the wagon run and one of the hardcore runs, and you can have the passenger seat, plus drive as much or as little as you desire. You'll get first hand knowledge of the difference between the two on the trails I'm building for.
 
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Cube Dweller said:
How about this: if I can get it done in time for Rubithon, I'll register for both the wagon run and one of the hardcore runs, and you can have the passenger seat, plus drive as much or as little as you desire.
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I'd say the gauntlet has been thrown...for both of you.:D

It would be great to have you both on the Wagon Run.


I agree that Semlin's perspective is warped by the muddy goo they wheel in in Canada, and the beautiful and forgiving, traction rich terrain around Moab. The Sierras are a different animal, and while an 80 can be made to go through there, it isn't always pretty.

80-world's best expedition/versatile truck.

Minitruck-world's best hard core wheeler on a budget.
 
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