Which project would you go with? Please help!

[PA_taco_13]

OK folks, I have officially decided......I have too many projects going on.  Which of course wouldn't be a problem, but the budget really only supports one project at a time, if I want to make any progress.  SO I NEED TO PICK.  

Here are my choices, and the pros and cons of each.  I'm just looking for everyone's advice....help me pick which project to go with, and which one has to go.


1.  Project Clampy (a.k.a. the tan truck).  A 1987 Toyota single cab pickup, 1st generation bed.  I figure I have a little over $5,000 in the truck and have been working on it slowly for quite awhile now.  Now it's important to note that the whole reason I was building this truck, and what I was modeling it after, was an 82 that my friend George owned, that would just walk all over any vehicle in this town (we'll talk more about that in a minute).

    PRO's of keeping this truck:

• I've already done all this cool stuff to it:  brand new Yukon gears 5:29 with spool in rear, custom made half doors, 2 1/4" exhaust, TRD racing seats, brand new rims with 35" boggers, new radiator, new clutch, new Marlin rear lift, new 2" body lift with all bells & whistles, new Marlin rock sliders, Monster tach, and a LOT of TLC including a semi-new rattle can job and spray-on bedliner interior.
• This truck also has a clean frame, which is good.

    CONS of keeping this truck:

• I can NOT get it to pass PA state inspection (for a handful of reasons, none of which have a super easy fix).  Also, I do not have a tow rig.  Therefore, unless I can get it legal, it sits.  And sits.   And sits.
• It is still IFS...I would really like to do an SAS but this only adds to the inspection hassles, not to mention the expense.
• It still needs stuff like a new sunroof as well a couple other little annoyances.
• I still owe a little bit on the loan I got to finance the project....if I sell this one, I could pay that off, and I like when things get paid off.

Here is my buildup thread on this truck if you want to see pics and more details: http://board.marlincrawler.com/index.php?topic=18941.0.


2.  Project George's Truck (a.k.a. the yellow truck, but if I keep it, it will become "The Midnight Rider").  A 1982 Toyota single cab pickup.  Oh and important note on why this is called Project George's truck...this is THEE truck that I was modeling "Project Clampy" after.  THEE truck that started my whole Toyota fetish.  Oh yes.....it IS my friend George's truck.  He wrecked it up, and long story short, I ended up with it.  And it came with an entire extra 1982 "parts truck" which is in daily driver condition.  Right now this one is actually 2 trucks, but I would use the cab off of the red "parts truck" to fix the yellow one (then paint it black).

    PRO's of going with this project:

• I love this truck and always have.
• It already has a solid front axle
• It already has the following cool features:  it was garage-kept and all repairs ever done to the truck were done professionally to almost showroom finish, it has a 7" superlift.....really way too much to list...the guy gave me a receipt book with over $5,000 worth of receipts of everything he's ever put into the truck (i.e. it came with a brand new centerforce clutch, still in the box)
• The frame on this truck is killer....awesome.
• The only thing it really needs is a cab swap and I already have the parts truck to use.
• I KNOW this truck is inspectable...it was George's BABY until he wrecked it and got sick...it was def inspected and in damn near showroom condition for the past probably 15 years.

    CON's of going with this project:

• Really the only "actual" con I can think of is that I'll be out my 87 that I've already put so much work into, and will be starting over with a new project (but not really completely over due to all the cool stuff that this truck already has on it).
• I would like to get some 5:29's for this one because it has the stock 4:10's....George only ever ran 33's on it and it still stomped .
• I'd like to run 36's but I'm not positive the Superlift will hold up to them...not a real major concern though.

Here is my buildup thread on this truck...check out the pics of what it looked like before George wrecked it, and imagine that (only black): http://board.marlincrawler.com/index.php?topic=29061.0.



As you can see, I am already leaning toward selling the 87 and taking on the 82.  I would pay off the small loan I still have left on the 87 and be able to use any extra profit to get the 82 whipped into shape. 

So what do you think??  Encouragement toward going with the 82 anyone??  Or am I to get rid of the 87 after putting so much work and time into it??   Remember........one of the projects MUST go.  If I keep the 87, I'm getting rid of the 82's so I can quit looking at it and getting sad that I have to sink all my money into the 87.

[79coyotefrg]

pull the  3rd from the 87  so  you have a 529 diff  to put in the 82,  then  use  that other 529  you  told me  you had  and put it in the front,  gearing problem solved

front shaft  issues  arrise   with 1st gens  but  dual cases  fix that

[PA_taco_13]

pull the  3rd from the 87  so  you have a 529 diff  to put in the 82,  then  use  that other 529  you  told me  you had  and put it in the front,  gearing problem solved

front shaft  issues  arrise   with 1st gens  but  dual cases  fix that

I knew you guys would have good ideas............keep em comin! 

thanks glen, I will seriously consider this.  it did already run through my head to pull the 3rds 

[DTB]

yup, glen has the right idea.....strip any parts you want off the tan truck (ie seats, thirds, boggers, whatever) and sell it...build the 82...already has a solid axle..would be easier to pass inspection.... put a nice lift on the 82 and you should be set....its a shame you just installed that marlin rear kit on the 87 

[DTB]

or how about give jan her own truck. you build one and she can build one...it'll be a build off of the century  

[79coyotefrg]

and  why is the 87  un inspectable??  crazy bumper hieght  laws 

[PA_taco_13]

and  why is the 87  un inspectable??  crazy bumper hieght  laws 

  yep the crazy bumper height laws def has me screwed.......if I SAS it they will give me about the spacers.........it has a combination of suspension and body lift which apparently is a no-no anymore, you can do one or the other but not both.......

i know there's more i'm forgetting right now

[PA_taco_13]

or how about give jan her own truck. you build one and she can build one...it'll be a build off of the century  

  she likes that idea....only problem is, they'd still be coming out of the same budget.   

[brainlessfool]

82 all the way!

[Gittinit]

 let one sit......What would it hurt? I would pull the parts from one and put them on the one you  want to drive on the street. After The driver(probably the 82) is to street ready status do a cheap budget build on the 87 for some hard core "who cares if I roll it" wheeling. You could even get a tow dolly or something to get the budget rig to and from. I would and have been thinking long term with my own projects because of budget restrictions.

[Tallchevy]

I say move to another state & build them both 

[jimbo74]

fix the 82, sell the 87...... yeah you did put work into the 87, but if you must get rid of something, get rid of the 87, and build your dream.....

harvest anything you care to keep from the 87


fix up the 82, and then get rid of the parts truck..... of course keeping anything you think you may need/want....

thats what i would do.....


the superlifts should have no problems with 35s.....

[BLACKDOG]

Keep both, build both!

If you really can't, I'd get rid of the '87, and stick with the '82.  between two trucks, you can build 1 with little to no extra expense, and you'll still have parts to sell to fund the stuff you do need to buy   And yeah, pull the third and throw it in the '82

[JanMarie13]

I say move to another state & build them both 

  I like this idea the best!!!  hahaha


Sooooo.....looks like we're definitely going to be selling the tan truck.  Soon as Brian figures out what all he's taking off of it, we'll get an official "for sale" thread started. 

[toy4x4ota]

use all of your "worth while" parts off the 87, like your entire rear axle assembly, the rear lift, tires ect. take all that is "worth while" off the wrecked 82 and swap everthing over to the cherry 2WD that you got with the wrecked truck. or just put all the goods on the 82 and do a cab swap. i just think SASed 2WD toyotas are damn sexy

[leorn]

just curious is the 87 carb or efi.  I don't know how much you need efi where you are at, but for what I do I would rather do an SAS over an engine swap

[toyrunner87]

i have an 87 4 runner with the sas and it is pretty sweet...but for sure if you wanna run 33's get the 5.29.  I did the same swap and was like adding 50 hp...