You are offcially worse than me
Part it or Wheel it?
- Thread starter Leaping Deer
- Start date
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You are offcially worse than me
How good does it have to be? I have an old one I gave a friend he never did anything with, but it is plated on the sides,
no middle crossmember, etc. Rear hangers, crossmember was redone. I swapped my frame last year when I went SOA and the like, as I was given a better one. I could get pics.
I can ask him if he is using it, but you could probably find better.
If I can pry it out of his hands, mine would be a 12 pack and gas money, though.
A nice frame around here will not be cheap.
- Thread starter
- #43
To share my though process:
I posted up a feeler thread in the Classifieds section of North East Toyota Crawlers (NTC) and didn’t get much interest. I figured if people wanted parts it would have been them. So I have an 87 pickup with a running drive train and questionable frame. I could try to sell it as a yard truck after fixing the clutch and brake lines but the plow blade itself it pretty rough. I have a lot of people telling me that I should keep my 45 the way it is. I want to something to beat the snot out of. I have a lot of spare cruiser parts (cowl, hood, aprons, bib, bezel and others). I picked up a solid mini truck axle for $50. Why, because it was $50. One of the issues I have with the 45 is only one passenger seat. I’d like to take more friends wheeling. I have purchase a good amount of things for the 45 instead of fabbing them since I wanted it to come out nicely. I enjoy welding but just don’t want to screw up the 45.
So I have all these parts. I want to hone my fab skills. Should I make something out of this puzzle?
The idea would be to build a 40 series looking vehicle. Run the drive train of a mini, gear the t-case w/ 4.7 and run Q78’s. I would want to build this thing cheap as to not take money away from the 45, and use as salvaged/scavenged parts as possible. While I would want cheap I would also want safe.
I posted up a feeler thread in the Classifieds section of North East Toyota Crawlers (NTC) and didn’t get much interest. I figured if people wanted parts it would have been them. So I have an 87 pickup with a running drive train and questionable frame. I could try to sell it as a yard truck after fixing the clutch and brake lines but the plow blade itself it pretty rough. I have a lot of people telling me that I should keep my 45 the way it is. I want to something to beat the snot out of. I have a lot of spare cruiser parts (cowl, hood, aprons, bib, bezel and others). I picked up a solid mini truck axle for $50. Why, because it was $50. One of the issues I have with the 45 is only one passenger seat. I’d like to take more friends wheeling. I have purchase a good amount of things for the 45 instead of fabbing them since I wanted it to come out nicely. I enjoy welding but just don’t want to screw up the 45.
So I have all these parts. I want to hone my fab skills. Should I make something out of this puzzle?
The idea would be to build a 40 series looking vehicle. Run the drive train of a mini, gear the t-case w/ 4.7 and run Q78’s. I would want to build this thing cheap as to not take money away from the 45, and use as salvaged/scavenged parts as possible. While I would want cheap I would also want safe.
- Thread starter
- #44
Doesn’t have to be in great shape as long as you think its solid and somewhat straight. I would probably have to redo the crossmember anyway. If you could get some pics that would be great. Thanks
my thoughts on this areRandy takes his pristine 40 on the hardcore trails. your not going to hurt your tubI don't think you will roll it but if you do you have a roll cage now. i have tried to keep up with 2 cruiser projects for 3 years now and have had enough. bu8ilding a truck from the ground up is way more expensive than you think it will be and way more time consuming than you thought it would be too. I would get the 45 to where you want it then start on a buggy project. there will be other cheap mini's in the future.
thats just what I would do. if you feel the 45 is over the hump of the amount of attention it needs then go for it but if you feel it still has a long list of things to be done I would hold off on the buggy project.
Jason
thats just what I would do. if you feel the 45 is over the hump of the amount of attention it needs then go for it but if you feel it still has a long list of things to be done I would hold off on the buggy project.
Jason
Called and left a message. I will let you know.
If you want a truck with more room, how about a cheap runner? You have a parts truck.
It is cheaper to run a doubler than regear the t-case, no? Wildman can help you with this one.
If you are keepign the mini, SAS it (hell you have one, and the sas kits are not too expensive), reinforce the frame, put long chevies in the rear, spool it and give it hell.
If you want a truck with more room, how about a cheap runner? You have a parts truck.
It is cheaper to run a doubler than regear the t-case, no? Wildman can help you with this one.
If you are keepign the mini, SAS it (hell you have one, and the sas kits are not too expensive), reinforce the frame, put long chevies in the rear, spool it and give it hell.
Sporin
Site Addict
Just buy Matt's 4runner. https://forum.ih8mud.com/vehicles-trailers-sale-wanted/188118-85-sr5-4runner.html
- Thread starter
- #48
I remember seeing that truck last year at FG. I liked it but don't have $5k
- Thread starter
- #49
Checked the frame through out and it is filled with scale and dents fairly easily in quite a fewplaces.
Frame pics?
My buddy called back and said he is using the frame on a project. A plow truck, of all things.
My buddy called back and said he is using the frame on a project. A plow truck, of all things.
On the mini drivetrain in the Cruiser chassis: I love the 22R-series engine more than any other engine on this planet. But I think you're gonna be disappointed with the lack of power after you go thru a lot of trouble and expense to swap a carb'd 22R over, and the G-series tranny is really not that great. I know you're not intending to impress any chicks with the takeoff (being married does that to ya), I just think it's not that great of a platform.
Is it worth fixing the clutch & brakes to drive? Eh... prob'ly not, honestly. You're be looking at about $200 in parts for the clutch, plus a day or so of labor if you've never done one. Not sure what the brakes will be, hopefully the expensive bits (calipers, MC) are OK, so you're looking at replacing some rusty lines.
I would start hawking parts now, see what you can get for things. You don't want to wait for the SO to start nagging you to get the piece of junk out of the driveway, and by then it will be bitter cold out, no fun at all.
Is it worth fixing the clutch & brakes to drive? Eh... prob'ly not, honestly. You're be looking at about $200 in parts for the clutch, plus a day or so of labor if you've never done one. Not sure what the brakes will be, hopefully the expensive bits (calipers, MC) are OK, so you're looking at replacing some rusty lines.
I would start hawking parts now, see what you can get for things. You don't want to wait for the SO to start nagging you to get the piece of junk out of the driveway, and by then it will be bitter cold out, no fun at all.
JUNK
dont bother. Been there done that. Part it!
Yes I have anger and tear down issues... especialy when there is a rusty junk wagon of a frame involved!
Do the 'time math'
frame swap 2 months, with fabing half assed brackets, motor mounts, etc your looking at having a MAYBE wheeling rig by APR? Its not worth it, rip it apart, sell the parts dump money into your 45. The hot setup would be to build a simple 2x4 box tube frame like the hotrod guys do and build your spring hangers from there, then mount up the cab... even more time&money...
http://www.ratrodsrule.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1147&highlight=Frame+fabrication
http://www.ratrodsrule.com/forum/showpost.php?p=45788&postcount=43
That plow with all the stuff it needs to work is worth $500 all day on CL. I could have sold it 2X this fall alone
the rum on a stick MIGHT just work! (but in a few more months it will take even less)
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- Thread starter
- #53
Thanks for all the great input guys. I know where there might be a 4Runner frame in good shape. IF it's still available I might consider swapping over the cab and drivetrain and do an SAS. If not it will be parted.
I had this exact truck in college and loved it. Wheeled it exactly like this one sits with the exception of the wooden flat bed that I build for it.
I had this exact truck in college and loved it. Wheeled it exactly like this one sits with the exception of the wooden flat bed that I build for it.
Part it out and I'll sell you Heidi's 4Runner for cheap money. I need to unload it. Swap SFA into front of 4Runner. Beat in submission. Keep the drivetrain if you want.
Gearing a case is cheaper than running a doubler initally. You need to change driveshafts with a doubler but you have more options gearing options with a doubler.
Gearing a case is cheaper than running a doubler initally. You need to change driveshafts with a doubler but you have more options gearing options with a doubler.
Thats a good deal! do that. (even though its a 3.slow)
When the 3.slow dies, you swap in a 3.4 out of a Taco and roast the tires off the thing....
Thats a good deal! do that. (even though its a 3.slow)
Might be a 3.slow, but that truck has gone everywhere that I have wanted, on & off road. It is stock & I usually stayed on Class VI roads, or stocker trails, but if you know how to drive, it will go almost anywhere. I drove it every day up until a month ago, it is a solid little truck. Make an offer....what do you have to lose?
- Thread starter
- #59
Thanks Heidi and Roger but I think that I have a line on a good 87 4Runner frame and I might just swap it all over and do the SAS while the frame is bare.
So if I get the frame here is what I was thinking. Keep it low,light and very very budget cheap.
SAS using the 79 mini truck axle I have.
dual cases
Q78 Swampers
welded rear
homebuilt bed (no wood this time)
So if I get the frame here is what I was thinking. Keep it low,light and very very budget cheap.
SAS using the 79 mini truck axle I have.
dual cases
Q78 Swampers
welded rear
homebuilt bed (no wood this time)
I agree with Foggy that this is a bad idea. You're gonna end up with 2 project trucks instead of one nice one. Eventually you will lose motivation since your energy will be way too spread out. I could understand if parts swapped between the two trucks but.......
You have a kid on the way and trucks like these are a dime a dozen. Having a kid costs a shizzload of money. Part it out and sink the money into the 45. It definitely still needs more resto and all your free time is going to VANISH in June.
You have a kid on the way and trucks like these are a dime a dozen. Having a kid costs a shizzload of money. Part it out and sink the money into the 45. It definitely still needs more resto and all your free time is going to VANISH in June.
