ROTM: Toyminator's 1989 Pickup

[GarageRat]

Not bad at all, I've seen them used in amateur road race applications as well and thought they were cool motors but never went too far past the "hmmmmm....that'd be cool" phase. With that size stroke and the bottom end I'm sure it'll be happy through 7000 rpm no problem even with the detuning a street motor sees. Plus let's face it, very few people really need the be all and end all of torque monsters with the gearing options available today. It's easy to get caught up in theory like some of the web wheelers out there but I've seen a TON of different combinations of motors that are equally effective at their job. If it works it works, right?

We've never bothered buying a running motor for the older designs, all the motors here are built from a bare block up. I'll agree that the big block (as well as the BOP and Caddy motors) are heavy for anything meant to be somewhat nimble in off camber situations but I have to say the Pontiac in my '63 is a snorting, snarling beast that gets the adrenaline going from the grunt and a blown big block singing at a 6000 rpm upshift in boost is something you have to experience to understand. I'm using a small block in my crawler to help keep the weight balanced while using a motor architecture I know extremely well, however if extra cash was easier to come by I'd be just as likely to do an aluminum fuel injected V8 like an LSx or UZ since the power to weight for either is pretty remarkable.

I'm a rodder and racer first with this type of stuff being a relatively new venture so I've got a little bit different perspective on things motorwise, I hope you didn't think I was saying your motor was a poor choice or anything.

OT: Looks like a 70-72 Chevelle in the background, we've got a Daytona Yellow '70 SS396 here. What's the story behind it?

 

[toyminator]

OT: Looks like a 70-72 Chevelle in the background, we've got a Daytona Yellow '70 SS396 here. What's the story behind it?

Its a 1970 SS396. Forest green with white stripes. I was my first car that I bought back in 1988. I have a couple of big block Chevy's around here that have found their way in it at one time or other. Its collecting dust right now and has been for a long time now. If I can ever get my shop built it will be the first project I do in it. Its not in too bad a shape but I'd like to do a complete frame off resto on it an I don't have the room in my 2 car garage.

 

[4WheelUnderground]

Your current (new) motor mounts, where are they now in relation to the old ones. 2" further back, etc. ???????

 

[toyminator]

Your current (new) motor mounts, where are they now in relation to the old ones. 2" further back, etc. ???????

They are very close to the same but I never really measured that because the original motor mounts are partially welded to IFS related stuff that I intended to remove all along.

Here is a pic of someone else's re-design of the motor side mount to bolt to the trucks existing mounts. I don't know if it was a v6 or 4cyl truck though. Passenger side.

 

[Combat Chuck]

454s are a 4" stroke from the factory, 2F is like 4.01". They're very torquey off the line with the right cam and induction. Same with any given 396, 427, etc etc. We've got a blown 396, a nitrous 496, and a blown, nitrous, alcohol 540 in house. Believe me when I say they're FAR torquier than a comparable small block.

V6s and small block fords/chevys aren't meant for low end torque. If you have the room a big block chevy/ford/mopar, olds, buick, pontiac, or cadillac motor is a much better choice. No idea on the stroke of the UZ motors.

Nice. My greater experience has been with the small blocks, my uncle was a mechanic, used to piece together race cars to run at the local tracks. I hadn't even seen a big block up close until last spring, the girl I was dating then's dad was building a '70 GMC 10 unto a street rod with a block he scrounged up somewhere. Never was sure of the displacement, but I'd wager on the pistons being about the size of a coffee can.

I'm an Oldsmobile convert myself; I like the fact that their small blocks had a higher deck height than comparable small blocks from GMC and Chevy. Long before I'd even known what a Cruiser was, I was into the 442... I'ma go daydream now...



Toyminator, get that thing on the road, I wanna see what a 260 horse motor does for a truck that weighs less than 4K!

 

[GarageRat]

Its a 1970 SS396. Forest green with white stripes. I was my first car that I bought back in 1988. I have a couple of big block Chevy's around here that have found their way in it at one time or other. Its collecting dust right now and has been for a long time now. If I can ever get my shop built it will be the first project I do in it. Its not in too bad a shape but I'd like to do a complete frame off resto on it an I don't have the room in my 2 car garage.

It's great when people are able to keep their first car. Mine was a '78 Trans Am I still have sitting, albeit stripped of some parts, in my driveway though 2 more cars had passed through my hands before I actually had it running and driving! The Chevelle I referred to is my dad's which he bought in '93. They're beautiful cars and the '70 nose and tail are my favorites.

I'm an Oldsmobile convert myself; I like the fact that their small blocks had a higher deck height than comparable small blocks from GMC and Chevy. Long before I'd even known what a Cruiser was, I was into the 442... I'ma go daydream now...

What's funny is Olds, Buick, and Pontiac all had 350s that were completely different from both each other and Chevys. They all had around a 3.75" stroke and were basically little brothers to the bigger brothers displacement-wise. Fun trivia, Pontiac never produced a "small" or "big" block, blocks are all the same size with the only difference being small crank journal or large crank journal and the shortest stroke they used was a 303 with 2.75" of stroke .

I'm a Pontiac guy, my favorite motors and cars are Pontiac and I'd been trying forever (okay, like 6 months) to find a 30's Pontiac before I ended up buying my first FJ40. BOP stuff is tougher to get than corporate but the architecture is better in my opinion.

 

[Combat Chuck]

It's great when people are able to keep their first car. Mine was a '78 Trans Am I still have sitting, albeit stripped of some parts, in my driveway though 2 more cars had passed through my hands before I actually had it running and driving! The Chevelle I referred to is my dad's which he bought in '93. They're beautiful cars and the '70 nose and tail are my favorites.



What's funny is Olds, Buick, and Pontiac all had 350s that were completely different from both each other and Chevys. They all had around a 3.75" stroke and were basically little brothers to the bigger brothers displacement-wise. Fun trivia, Pontiac never produced a "small" or "big" block, blocks are all the same size with the only difference being small crank journal or large crank journal and the shortest stroke they used was a 303 with 2.75" of stroke .

I'm a Pontiac guy, my favorite motors and cars are Pontiac and I'd been trying forever (okay, like 6 months) to find a 30's Pontiac before I ended up buying my first FJ40. BOP stuff is tougher to get than corporate but the architecture is better in my opinion.

To this day, I still wish I had my '65 C10, but some sacrifices had to be made.

That's some cool trivia, I honestly had no idea they just ran the same style block, I just thought they had either big or small blocks, but it makes sense. Both Pontiac and Olds matured in an era when GM allowed their brands some autonomy before the modern cookie-cutter phase we see now.

Anyway, this is becoming a might bit chatty. Sorry to keep derailing your thread Toyminator!

 

[NorCalBorn]

You need to let me fiberglass mold that hood for you so you have a spare when you need a backup!!!

The truck looks really good steve, My 4runner is way behind your swap.

Make enough for the rest of us w/ swaps planned.

 

[dlucky894runner]

That is a sweet looking rig.

 

[toyminator]

Just thought I'd revive my build thread and post a few updated pics

The truck is running great....the only mechanical problem I've had to date is the Jegs thermo switch for the cooling fan failed.

It had also become quite obvious that the power steering pump on the Lexus motor is not as good as the truck's pump....I really need hydro assist.

Finishing the final assembly the night before it's first trip.

Fresh off the trailer

A few hours later - s*** happens. not gonna fix anything...just wheel it like it is

Short video

FlatNasty PappaBear Steve Computer - YouTube

 

[notsomint65]

dude....i love your truck...i only wish that i had the motivation/time to take mine off the trail and do a quarter the work you've done....hell, 1/8 those mods would make me happy!
congrats on being a badass!
haha, and isn't it funny how you can put a toy on it's side and the windows don't break...my x recently sent her runner off a hill, landed on the pass. side, and it didn't even break the mirror....and it had some momentum.

 

[toyminator]

haha, and isn't it funny how you can put a toy on it's side and the windows don't break...my x recently sent her runner off a hill, landed on the pass. side, and it didn't even break the mirror....and it had some momentum.

Yeah my girlfriend was even standing on it when she was getting out of the truck and it never broke. the door even opens and closes just fine.

 

[Lego]

nice rig, sucks about the body damage.

 

[jynx]

This is one of my favorite trucks of all time. i actually found a picture of it when it was white and I saved it and set it as my phone background. I had no idea it had a Lexus v8 in it. I really like the fenders and hood. I am going to have to reread the thread more thoroughly to see where they came from.

Again, awesome truck. Flop sucks, but that will "buff right out"

 

[NorCalBorn]

I don't know whether to stop smiling or cry about your flop. You already built it up all clean again, so I am sure eventually you'll do a cab swap.

Maybe this time follow our method,

"Rule #1. If you build it and use it, you're gonna dent or break it. Here's a ball-peen hammer, go knock a dent in it ASAP so we can have good clean fun the rest of the season."

Swap the cab and parts out, repaint it, then go smack the crap out of the inner side of the bed or tailgate w/ a ball-peen or bfh?

 

[GLTHFJ60]

I love the flop pics! The rig looks better with a couple of dents in her

"Rule #1. If you build it and use it, you're gonna dent or break it. Here's a ball-peen hammer, go knock a dent in it ASAP so we can have good clean fun the rest of the season."

This is sig line material right there.

 

[jynx]

I know this is a loaded question, but how long did the v8 conversion take you. After seeing this thread pop up, now I am looking into finding an sc400 for a v8. The use of the lexus trans and the inchworm adapters to get the auto with the duals is nice. And the friend that did the harness, would he do another one? I am by no means ready to jump into this, but I like to thought of it.

I think my 88 needs a Lexus v8 and a 4WU three link up front. A guy can dream anyway..

 

[toyminator]

I know this is a loaded question, but how long did the v8 conversion take you.

Yes, loaded question because I'm a lazy slacker so it took me about a year to redo the whole truck. Realistically if you gather all the necessary parts you could get it done it a couple of weeks worth of evenings and weekends. I have another swap with a 5spd and an 88 4Runner in the works now.

So far after several wheeling trips the only mechanical issue I've had at all is a failed Jegs thermo switch for the cooling fan. Also the power steering pump on the Lexus motor is not nearly as strong at the stock truck's pump. I only have 37'd and it can't keep up. I really need to get hydro assist.

Here's a short video and a couple of recent pics.

FlatNasty PappaBear Steve Computer - YouTube

 

[NorCalBorn]

"Rule #1. If you build it and use it, you're gonna dent or break it. Here's a ball-peen hammer, go knock a dent in it ASAP so we can have good clean fun the rest of the season."

This is sig line material right there.

Go for it, nice to know I can throw out a few good one's every so often.

The use of the lexus trans and the inchworm adapters to get the auto with the duals is nice

Make sure you get a lead time b/c Jim's adapters are running backorder b/c of this exact swap's popularity as well as the growing auto-crawler crowd.

 

[jynx]

Did you have to run a CV rear shaft due to the length of the drivetrain?

The more I look at this, the more I am trying to figure out where I could store a SC400 while I part it out after I rob the motor and trans out.

Just to make sure I read thru it correctly, you used the SC400 mounts, not the LC400? And the 2000 4Runner shifter and linkage would work with the A340E unmodified, or would you still have to play with it to get the pivots correct?

Also, how does the interior look? Did you keep the mini truck cluster and dash layout? Still got the A/C and heater? With mom and baby girl and a Tennessee Summer, those will be important to keep the peace.

Thanks for humoring me.