Steve's '94 Toyota x-cab mild build

[sixstringsteve]

Well, I just sold the coiled sidekick I just built, and it's back to a Toyota for me. I'm trying to simplify life (yeah right), so I want a truck that'll handle DD duty and some light wheeling (most of the moab trails, RS+CON). Here's the vehicle:

1994 Toyota pickup, extended cab. 22re from Idaho (that means no rust).

and a beautiful 22RE

The camper shell will be cool for camping/sleeping back there.

and although these seats are tiny and almost usless, at least I can legally carry 2 people back there if I have to (about 1% of the time I ever drive a vehicle).

 

[sixstringsteve]

Build plans:

- keep the leaf springs
- keep it low
- RUF, not sure about rear springs yet, but I'll probably try shorter chevy springs
- dual ultimates (dual t-cases with a 4.7 in the back)
- sliders
- 35s
- elockers front and rear

Simple, small, and practical, yet still very capable.


A HUGE thanks to the following individuals who have been instrumental in this build:
- Kenny at Sunrize Auto Dealership in Nampa, ID (for the truck)
- my wife who has been the most patient and supportive person I know
- Low Range Offroad - almost everything. For bringing me parts, special-ordering things, and changing my orders many many many times. This would not be possible without you.
- low range dudes: dan, sean, nick, coco, lee
- Sawman85 (4.7s pirate)
- 81yotalove (4.7s marlin forum)
- jardine (tires)
- cruiseroutfitters - Kurt (knuckle rebuild kit, trasharoo)
- jinxspot (sas parts)
- tacomaman99 (top-shift tcase, chevy info, parts delivery)
- taco4life (front axle)
- venture13 (brakes, dshaft, steering parts)
- Colton (twin-stick, 6-shooters, elocker)

and everyone else in this thread who provided great ideas and who put up with my constant updates and questions.

 

[iamsparticus]

Steve it sounds like a good build i like all the stuff you have planned, but the only thing your missing to make it a rig that could do anything is a roll cage hhahahaha

 

[sixstringsteve]

roll cages bring on the body damage, which I want to avoid. I must be strange, but I have just as much fun on the mild trails as I do on the hardcore ones. And if I start beating this up, I'll sell it, and I don't want to sell it.

 

[iamsparticus]

So i think you have a sub consious fear of rigs not being what you want them to be steve, a beat up rig still wheels and drives great just not as pretty so i think you need a beater and a pretty rig to drive and go camping with that way you can not worry so much

 

[iamsparticus]

i say build this one milder even than you planned and use it to DD and camp. Then get another rig and mod the crap out of it and that can be your wheeler, something cheap and easy to work with,but make it really capable and i think you'll like the combo

 

[airmanwilliams]

i say build this one milder even than you planned and use it to DD and camp. Then get another rig and mod the crap out of it and that can be your wheeler, something cheap and easy to work with,but make it really capable and i think you'll like the combo

Ill even sell you my samurai for the wheeler lol

 

[Devel]

i use to think both Greg and Bart went through a ton of rigs, but you my friend have taken the cake

 

[pELYgroso]

That's a clean x cab! When you sell it in a couple months, let me know first! haha

Serious question: why in the heck dual ultimates? MILD wheelers will never ever need the lower rear case gears. I've had stock dual cases, and 4.7's in a single case, and I never wished for lower gearing, and those weren't in MILD wheelers!

Also, didn't you build your last rig for "mild wheeling/DDing??" It was huge! haha (for a sidekick)

If you crank your torsion bars, throw some chevy springs in the rear, do the stock dual cases and your e locker in the rear, on 32's, you'll have a great wheeler and a comfy daily driver. A lot less hassle than the SAS.

If I were you (here I go trying to think like you would when in all reality I have no idea what the heck you're thinking usually because it doesn't make sense to me) I'd start with that, and then if you really want more than a "mild wheeler" (and I guess I don't really understand what your idea of a mild wheeler is, either) than SAS it in the future. On your last rig, it was kind of all or nothin w/ your plans. With this one, you can do most of the plans you outlined, leaving out the SAS, then if you Reeeeally want the SAS in the future, do it and the other mods are already done and ready to complement it.

I'm just thinking of the little pickup that I had....22re, IFS cranked, 4.7's in the case, 4.10's, lockright in rear, 31's....and it wheeled awesome! AND, it was way more comfy on gravel/dirt roads than my SAS rigs have been!!

(I hope you don't take any offense to any of this...It's just my constructive criticism. Again, I just don't understand your logic behind your builds. Well, I think I do, then you sell them for X reason, and I realize I must have had no idea because I thought it was finally your perfect rig because you built it exactly to your "needs." haha)

 

[Manlaan]

The only real problem I see with putting the SAS off till later is the exact same situation I'm in with my 02.

If he's going to be running 35's, he's likely going to want to regear and since he wants front lockers, he's going to have to pull the front diff either way. Quite a bit of labor to do all that when considering ripping it all out for SAS anyway.

Also, if I remember right, his 04 was close to the same setup that you mentioned, except it was 4 door. Not sure why he got rid of that one.

 

[pELYgroso]

ya, I was thinking of running some 32's for now to see how he likes that. My truck on 31's was a blast. So, he'd keep the stock gears for now as well until the decision to SAS it is made.

I guess Steve, that I'm just thinking that if you go all-or-nothin and then decide that it was too much, you'll sell it and be at first base again.

....but I guess that's your style, so git 'er done!

 

[Bart]

Saw the new avatar and had to come find this thread. Subscribed for the long haul. Sounds like a good plan, for today anyway.

 

[iamsparticus]

I think steves idea of a mild wheeler is what most consider a hard core trail rig the only difference is steve dosent want body damage or anything to happen to it

 

[Manlaan]

He should line-x this next one. Wont have to worry about the body damage near as much, and dents are supposed to just pop right back out like nothing ever happened.

But like you said earlier, he probably should go with a semi-built rig, and then a built rig that he can beat and not care what happens to it.

 

[spencevans]

I love it, my dad has a 93 just like it and I can't wait to snatch it up when he decides to get a new ride. These little trucks seem to run forever with minimal repairs. The thing I like the most about these Toyota's is the roomy cab. The front seats have so much leg room.

 

[Taco4life]

Build plans:
- RUF, not sure about rear springs yet, but I'll probably try shorter chevy springs

Have you looked into the F150 springs?

 

[sixstringsteve]

Have you looked into the F150 springs?

A tiny bit, but not enough to have an opinion about them. I haven't done enough research on the rear end. I like the flex of the 63" chevies, but I'm afriad I'll get my springs hung up all the time. All I know is the TG 3" springs are WAY too tall for what I want.

 

[sixstringsteve]

I think steves idea of a mild wheeler is what most consider a hard core trail rig the only difference is steve dosent want body damage or anything to happen to it

I think you hit the nail on the head there. I guess my idea of a mild wheeler is something that still does well on the road and doesn't look like a huge rockcrawler.

Like I said, I've been reading too many threads on pirate where they build these insane rigs and do little things like shave the spring perches to keep it lower, and boatside the rocker panels for more clearance. So in comparison to those, this build will be mild.

 

[sixstringsteve]

I'm not in too big of a hurry to build this rig. I already know it won't be ready by hole in the rock, so I don't really have a big deadline. I'll probably just do sliders for a while, then slowly go as I can find parts for cheap.

Since the 4.7s are backordered for a month from both TG and Marlin, unless I find some used ones soon, I won't have a choice to hold off on the build.

I did already order sliders though. I should have the sliders before I even have the truck.

 

[sixstringsteve]

the sidekick was going to be my last rig for a while, but after I sold my taco i didn't realize how much I missed having a pickup with a bed, especially for camping. My tacoma was my favorite vehicle ever. It was great on the street, great offroad, and very practical for everything I did. but after the accident it never drove the same, so I sold it. Tacos sit so high that a sas just makes them higher. I wanted a 3rd gen so I could keep it lower to the ground.