ROTM: YotaJosh's '79 Shortbed

[YotaJosh]

Hi, I'm Josh and this is the thread detailing the buildup of my 1979 Toyota Pickup

Current Specs:

20R with GM TBI fuel injection, and unknown long tube header
W56B 5 speed, dual 21sp stock tcases mated with a Marlin rotated adapter
Front Range Off Road crossmember and skid
Camry bucket seats
All-Pro 3" front springs
Marlin Ubolt flip kit for front
Marlin shock hoops on front
F150 57" Rear springs, RuffStuff ubolts/plates for flip kit
Marlin front and rear lift shackles
14" Bilsteins in the front, 10" Bilsteins in the rear
Marlin Crawler high steer
5.29 geared ELocker diffs front and rear
Marlin extended brake lines and 1" FJ80 master cylinder
Magnaflow cat and muffler - custom install by me.
RockKrawler 15x8 Steel Wheels. 3.5" backspacing
36x13.50 Super Swamper IROKs
Marlin Crawler rear tube bumper
Faber Fab front bumper and sliders
Warn 8274 w/ 125' Amsteel Blue rope
Front axle beefed up with 30sp Longs, hub gears, ARP hub and knuckle studs, Longfield wiper seals, trussed and armored.

As it sits today:

The buildup:

It all started in December 2006 when my wife purchased my first truck for a Christmas gift (I chose the truck).

After some slight modding, and some general maintenance work, this is how it sat around March 2007:

A few things that I didn't realize about this truck is that it was wrecked pretty bad at one time, and the frame was bad bent, and the body was tweaked to where nothing lined up right. So, I made a few phone calls, and found a good '82 frame, cab, and bed to move all my running gear over to. This was July 2007.

I worked frantically for 3 months making 2 become 1, and finally got it on the road again and ready for it's first real offroad trip in September (ARTTORA 1st Event). September 2007:

I won some better tires in the raffle at that event, so I had to get them mounted. They were 33x13.50x15 Pit Bull Rockers.

I then put in a IFS rear end, and made a few other mods, then it was time to test the tires. October 2007.

Some of the work that was done during the swap to the red truck was doing a "J-Arm Ball Flip" and running a drop drag link. I also was running an Aussie locker, and both axles had the stock 4.37 gears. I also when ahead and upgraded to a L52 transmission over the L43.

That wraps up the intro of my truck, and finishes up the first year of it's life with me.

More coming soon!

 

[YotaJosh]

I soon realized that I needed better springs in the rear, so I started researching the Chevy swap. I really didn't like how much spring was overhanging, so I decided to try Ford F150 (57") springs instead.

I got a sloped Chevy spring hanger from Datin fab (has a 9/16" hole instead of 18mm), and welded it to the frame to move the front hanger 4.5" forward of the stock position. I carefully cut the rear shackle hangers off and moved them back 3" (probably could move them 3.5"). I am running them short side forward instead of the optional long side forward.

I kept the factory Ford bushing in the front, and used the bolt from the Ford as well (hence the reason for the 9/16" hole in the hanger). I drilled out the shackle end bushings with a 1" hole saw, and the bushings that came with my Marlin Crawler shackles popped right in.

Shortly after the spring swap, I stepped up from the 4.37 gears to the 5.29's. That made a world of difference.

Then, I bought a MC rear bumper. So far I have no complaints of it. The side protection gets all the abuse on mine.

I got a smoking deal on a brand new MC07-R10, so I started working on dual cases. Both are stock geared at 2.28 for now.

The summer of 2008 was spent wheeling the truck as is, and taking a break from the garage in preparation of our daughter being born, so things kinda stopped until November. Then it was big upgrade time! Highsteer and new springs were installed.

Here's what I had piled up:

New All-Pro 4" front springs
Marlin Crawler front spring hanger
Marlin Crawler HySteer kit
IFS calipers for the big brake swap.
A pile of front axle armor and a 83 front housing to chop up and swap all my guts into
Some of those nifty Marlin inner axle seals

That pretty much rounds out 2008. I'll leave you with some wheeling pictures collected from various events that year...

2008 Lone Star Toyota Jamboree

2008 Razorback Ramble

2008 AR-TTORA Event

 

[YotaJosh]

So, 2009 started out with me finishing up the crawl box install.

I decided to ditch the L52 for a W56 while I was having to make room for the dual cases and the Front Range Crossmember. My L52 was getting sloppy, and the W56 gives me more options later (like 3RZ options ).

I built my own "4RnrRick" jig to setup the driveshafts. The front turned out perfectly straight (can run it 50MPH without any vibes), but the rear was off a tad. I used an All-Pro long spline kit, and some schedule 40 pipe to make a beefy front driveshaft. I also used the schedule 40 on the rear shaft, and had the local driveshaft place balance it.

I got everything installed, and took it on a trip or two. Man, dual cases are the mod to have! Lower gearing is so awesome, that I soon realized that my 33" tires weren't going to take me where the crawl box wanted to go.

So, I traded my PBR's for an 8274 Warn upright winch (more on that later), and found some used 36" IROK's. I love the size, but I miss the highway ride and traction the PBR's had.

Now on to the 8274. I bought some synthetic line from OKOffroad, and a Sky aluminum fairlead. Two sticks of 1 3/4" .120 tube and a Saturday later with gittinit left me with a new custom bumper! I wanted the winch recessed as close as possible without having to cut the body (didn't mind cutting the grill).

This is how it looked at the end of the day.

And this is how it looks now.

I still need to get better pictures of it. I kept the stock blinkers and mounted them with some welded bolts.

Some other mods done this year was running a 22R carb on the 20R. That worked well, but I never could get the offroad performance to an acceptable level. I also ditched my ProComp shocks in the rear for some good Bilsteins. Those made a lot of difference in the ride quality dept.

And there's 2009 in a nutshell. I spent more time wheeling than wrenching it seemed. I hit 4 major events in our area (LSTJ, OCC "non-ramble", National TTORA Takeover, and the Souther Cruiser Crawl), and probably half a dozen other trips with my usual crew.

I also started a bad habit - wheeling and not stopping for pictures often enough, or making sure there is a camera monkey for every trip.

Here are some pictures from various wheeling trips...

2009 Lone Star Toyota Jamboree

2009 Ozark Cruiser Crawl (the Non-Ramble) (not my pictures)

2009 National TTORA Takeover

 

[YotaJosh]

So far, 2010 has been pretty good to the ol' truck.

First thing this year, I adapted GM TBI fuel injection to the 20R. A full writeup can be found here: Project 20RE: Junkyard fuel injection with TBI - TTORA Forum

Basically, I took a 4.3 throttle body, a 5.7 computer and wiring harness, and detuned it all to run on the 20R. I had to fab my own adapter plate for the throttle body out of aluminum.

If there is enough interest, I can start a seperate thread on it over here.

Next came a set of Longfield 30 spline birfs and axles. I've wheeled 3 years without blowing a stock birf - that is until i bought the Longs, but didn't find the time to install them before the trip I broke the birf on.

Pretty much the next trip lead to more carnage. The center pin in my 4 cylinder Aussie locked rear diff broke, causing the locker to slip and pop, and eventually it rounded the teeth on the locker that it pops all the time. Oh, and that loose center pin took out teeth on the pinion. Thanks to a friend, I found another center pin, and kept wheeling that weekend. The chipped teeth on the pinion lasted the 45 miles home too.

Now, I've got a pair of Elockers going in. The rear is done and wheeled on already, and I'm working on the front as we speak. While I have the front end apart, I'm upgrading to the ARP hub and knuckle studs.

For the Elocker wiring, I'm using the basic relayless wiring diagram that's floating around on the net. I got my switches from OTRATTW (OTRATTW) and built the wiring harness myself. Also, while I am installing switches, I'll be adding in-cab winch controls.

That's it so far. I'll update this post with more tech and pictures once I have more to post.

 

[YotaJosh]

Reserved just in case

 

[2ndGenToyotaFan]

Lookin good! That body style always gets me.....

 

[liljlandon]

Gotta love the 1st gens!

 

[pappy]

Gen 1 trucks rock. Really miss my 1982. Sellers remorse.

 

[YotaJosh]

Thanks for the compliments guys!

 

[liljlandon]

I think you should post a thread here on the TBI, just because... I thought it would be nice to do a GM 4cyl TBI, but never looked into it...

If you were to do it again, how long would it take you?

Wanna make a few bucks?

 

[Fireman]

Good build up Josh. See you in October at the SCC!

 

[YotaJosh]

I think you should post a thread here on the TBI, just because... I thought it would be nice to do a GM 4cyl TBI, but never looked into it...

If you were to do it again, how long would it take you?

Wanna make a few bucks?

Sure, I'll make a separate thread over here about it. Look for 20RE in the title. If I had to do it again, the wiring harness prep will take the most time now that I've figured everything else out. I'd imagine with all the parts in front of me, I could do it in a day or less. Buying the 22R adapter from Affordable Fuel Injection will save you some time.

I'd be willing to help you out if you decided to go this route.

Good build up Josh. See you in October at the SCC!

Thanks Fireman! Hope you're in your 4Runner this time in Hot Springs.

 

[Fireman]

That would be nice!!!! Had fun wheelong what little bit we did together. Runner is moving along a little.
Just finished the battery box that will be mounted where the original fuel cell was.


https://forum.ih8mud.com/tx-white-trash-elwood-chapter/206569-finally-started-5.html

 

[ridgerunner]

Nicely done- anything big on the wishlist? Dig the full bed still.

 

[YotaJosh]

Nicely done- anything big on the wishlist? Dig the full bed still.

Thanks! As for the wishlist...

Eventually I want to run 37.12.50 Pit Bull Rocker Radials. I might step up to some 17" beadlocks like all the cool kids.

Might put 4.7 gears in my rear tcase.

I have an early 22R taking up space in the garage, so I'm going to try and build a 20/22R hybrid, and run it with the EFI.

Need to either build a traction bar, or add some more leafs to the F150 pack one day. Too much wheel hop when climbing ledges.

Some cheap rock lights might be cool.

And maybe I'll get bored and finally patch up the rust holes in the floor board and get the A/C working again.

Oh, and the bed is staying on for as long as I own the truck.

 

[Fireman]

get the A/C working again.

.

This!

 

[liljlandon]

Thanks! As for the wishlist...

Eventually I want to run 37.12.50 Pit Bull Rocker Radials. I might step up to some 17" beadlocks like all the cool kids.

I run these $124.95 8 Bolt Hummer Wheel Special and other than finding someone to balance a 37, cant complain. great price as well!

 

[John Stw]

Awesome truck Josh.
Do you think if the rear springs had the long section in front it would reduce the wheel hop on ledges?

 

[YotaJosh]

Awesome truck Josh.
Do you think if the rear springs had the long section in front it would reduce the wheel hop on ledges?

Thanks John!

Not sure on the direction vs spring wrap issue, but I know that I didn't want to go through the hassle of rotating the perches to get a decent pinion angle. Mounting them long side forward tends to point your pinion at the ground.

I know of people running them both ways. Mine aren't doing it bad. I'd say they aren't doing it any more that 63" chevy springs.

 

[cruiser88]

I really love the round headlights..............my buddy has one i am trying to talk him out of.

Nice work my man