Not your average restoration, 1982 SR5

[joe510]

Hey guys, I was lucky enough to come across a heavily optioned 82 SR5 with a factory sunroof. I found it about 40 miles from my place and the lady that was selling it needed money to pay rent. It didn't run and needed a handful of TLC. I bought it with the intention of getting it running and then wheeling it hard. I dropped in a little money upfront and got it running well enough to try to get it smogged. No Bueno...... spent a little more money and got it to where it would pass smog so i could get it put in my name and that's where it stopped for about 4 years. I just couldn't figure out what to do with it... also ran out of money. Should i do a swap to an EFI motor, Exo cage, flat bed? so many options but where to start???

Here it is the day I brought it home.




I made the decision that if I was going wheeling, It would need an EFI motor at best. I met a guy on CL that sold me an SDS EFI system from his truggy and i started tinkering with it.. I could never get it to work right so I just started looking for a 22RE.

Again truck was just sitting and sitting...

Lots more photos to come soon.

[joe510]

Just a few more pictures taken last summer just before the tear-down.
Somewhere along the lines my brother took the bumpers off and fabbed up some tube style bumpers for the front and rear. Not really to my liking but were going to change that when I put it back together.
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[redneckcustoms13]

I think you need to sell me the tailgate please. 

[joe510]

So all of the pictures that I have posted so far were of the truck before the tear down. This next group of pictures is going to be of the tear down and then the start of the body work. This next set should take us into current date.

After reading lots of build threads and checking out all kinds of goodies. I make some decisions based on a couple things. the initial solution was to rip out the old motor and drop in the 22RE.

Those plans changed when I realized the amount of HP and torque was not really a great improvement over what was already under the hood. I then started looking at the 2RZ/3RZ setup and after much consideration and research, I decided to go with the 2RZ simply for the fact that its about $700 less and its only about 10-20- hp less than a 3RZ. I figured I could get a few bolt-ons and get the HP back.

I found a decent motor and picked it up along with a set of front and rear Toyota electric lockers and a W56 HD trans. The next items to round up are a marlin dual case adapter and a set of gears for the 3rd members.

Since I never really gave detailed specs of what is actually going back into the truck, now is a good time.
Running gear is going to be a rebuilt 2RZ motor mated to a W56 HD transmission, Custom drive lines down to front and rear factory e-lockers. The rear end is going to be built with chromoly axle shafts and the front is going to get completely rebuilt with some type of chromoly birfields and new disc brakes. As far as the motor goes, I have a few tasteful mods to be done to it but nothing spectacular in terms of horsepower. My ultimate goal for the truck is to build a show truck and then make it a daily driver. It does need to be capable of trails and snow. I do a lot of fishing and camping so it needs to go where i need it to go.

Here are a few more pictures of the tear down process.

[joe510]

[joe510]

Here are a few more shots of the tear down process.

By the way, I'd like to add that I have some amazing friends that have given me a ton of help all along the way for this build.

[joe510]

Got some new shoes for the truck as well. 

[joe510]

 Cleaning out all the old tar mat stuff in the cab. Getting ready to repair some rust spots.



The rust really wasn't that bad, however there were spots that needed to be addressed. The passenger side floorboard had a few little Flintstone holes so that will be addressed.

Next up was the frame. I decided to run with the All Pro Offroad 5" solid axle swap kit because it included everything I needed to install the new springs and included the front spring hanger. In addition, it came with all the necessary brackets and bushings along with the Hy-steer and the shock towers for the front.

Here are just a few pics of the frame being worked.

[joe510]

lots of cutting, grinding, and welding going on in these pictures.

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[joe510]

lots of cutting, grinding, and welding going on in these pictures.

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[joe510]

Clearing room for the e-lockers front and rear.

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[joe510]

Finally got some bodywork done. 

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[LittleSteve]

Gonna be sweet, lots of attention to detail, i like it!

[mudmaster]

This will be nice when you're done 

[joe510]

There is going to be a lot of attention to detail.  every single nut and bolt has been taken apart, cleaned, and re plated or will be painted to match the body.  I have even started buying OEM parts online from toyota dealers across the US just to ensure i get the right fit and the part is a factory part. 

a little nuts....   I think so!! 

[LittleSteve]

a little nuts....   I think so!!

Seems normal to me

[kneedownnate]

What parts are you buying online?  I know there's a toyota dealer in oregon who has a lot of little parts for these and sells them on ebay.  I've purchased several oem items from them for my 1980.

[toyyota]

Nice work! I went through a similar frame off restoration on my 83. Last summer I rolled it 3.25 times down a hill, not many body parts left. I do have a lot of original hard to find bits, that I would sell for a worthy project, like yours. PM me if you can't find something. Bob

[joe510]

What parts are you buying online?  I know there's a toyota dealer in oregon who has a lot of little parts for these and sells them on ebay.  I've purchased several oem items from them for my 1980.

I think it's Griffith motors, or something like that.  I have been buying little bits and pieces here and there but nothing major.  Interior parts are hard to come by especially the sunroof stuff since there were not many factory builds with sunroofs.  At least so I am told....

[kneedownnate]

Yup, that's the one.  I've picked up several interior pieces and all but 1 outside marker/corner light from them.  Only thing I wouldn't buy is the dome light lense.  I bought 2 new and neither is built to correctly click into my oe rearview.  No biggie, they rob lots of light anyway, but it is a little annoying to have no lense on it now that the old one dried up and fell off in bits

[joe510]

Finally got some color!!!!   

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[Slabzilla]

Smokin' color, can't wait to see the rest of your work   

[Plainview]

Finally got some color!!!!   

Nice '65 GTO, is that yours too?

I like the color - this is going to be a sweet truck!

[joe510]

Smokin' color, can't wait to see the rest of your work   

Thank you!

[joe510]

Nice '65 GTO, is that yours too?

I like the color - this is going to be a sweet truck!

No sir.  My truck body is at a buddies shop.  He does a lot of classics.  His main business is Insurance work. 

Thanks for the compliments.

[kneedownnate]

Lookin good!  I may have missed it, but what are your plans for sound deadening on the floor now?

[HogCanyonHopper]

looking goooood!! 

[8T3]

This IS going to be an incredible build. I've had my hand in a few parts. Here's some pics.

This is the frame being sand blasted. Little Harbor Freight pressure blaster. We went through 10 bags of #30 sand. Recycled maybe 3/4 of it twice. That's my kid doing the blasting. Yes, he wore a respirator the whole time. Took a full day. But it was perfect when he was done.


3 coats of Rust-Oleum. The quart at Home Depot. Semi gloss. Thinned and sprayed. Seals everything up good, but will take a while to dry.

[8T3]

The bed has been blasted. It's in great shape. Almost zero rust. Had a camper shell on it the whole time. 3/4" carpeted particle board protected the bed floor and wheel tubs.

Joe made a perfect stand for the bed. Solid, square, and mobile.


At this point we're just surveying what needs to be done. The factory tow down hooks have been removed.  Both back bed corners need to be replaced. Remove all factory body sealer.  After that, it's just bodywork.

[joe510]

I have to give a lot of credit where credit is due.  Greg (8T3) has been a huge help in almost every step of the way.  he has scrounged parts and tools for me and helped with body work and prep without asking for anything in return...  He is a great friend and true mentor when it comes to my project! 
Thank you so far for all the help dude!!