Newbie - 83 YOTA!

[Brian83]

Newbie here. Names Brian, from CO. Just bought my first toyota form my neighbor for a mere $200( He has to move in 1 day and the guy he had lined up to buy it for $500 crapped out last minute. I SCORE!! Lookin for some ideas on a budget. A college students budget that is. Thanks guys.

[WHITE_TRASH]

You want budget, read project $300.  Now thats a buildup on a budget!

[83yota]

welcome i am kinda a newbie also. what do you want to do? i am putting chevy rears and toy fts with a locker. i am going to do some engine mods and then a full cage(built by me) run 35's and hopefully keep the shiney side up

[yotaboy79]

c'mon when u put a cage in it, its almost a law that u have to test it!! i did one for a friend and even tested it for him it worked but he was a little pissed off oh and most yotas dont have a shiny side, lol.

[Brian83]

I'd like to fit 35's too. Are there any problems I should know about if I want to swap in chevy springs in back? will it move the axle? Could I get away with stock steering for a while using rear springs in front or would I have to upgrade right away to hy-steer?  I also thought about doin a 2 inch body lift and run 3 inch springs all around.

[Brian83]

Oh almost forgot, Where do you guys suggest I look for a good rollbar for the bed? I like the double tube ones. whats a fair price to pay. I'd also like to use it as an air tank once I convert my A/C pump to onboard air

[WHITE_TRASH]

Trust me all the info you need about how to build your truck is in my $300 thread.  From how to fix the steering, installing springs and making 35"s fit with 3" of total lift.  Its really easy and cheap to boot!

[Hyena]

Yes, go look at the $300 thread.  It is a really good one.

[Brian83]

It stoppped snowinh here after about an hour and cleared up so I got a pic of my new truck. I think it''s an SR5 because it has bucket seats and a sunroof? Can you guys tell me for sure? Thanks

[WHITE_TRASH]

Does it have a tach?  Thats a sure sign usually.  It would also have a sr5 sticker in the lower right side of the tailgate but those get changed too often to guarantee anything.

[83yota]

white is right his $300 project will most likely give you all the ideas that you could use and abuse.

[Brian83]

yup, it's got a tach. Cool. Dug up an old battery out of the garage, put some new gas in the tank, changed the oil and the thing fired right up. I love this truck. I aslo looked in the center console and the previous owner left me about $28 in change! I'll keep you guys posted, Next week when I have some time I'll visit some junk yards and look for some chevy springs, a rollbar, and an IFS box. Because of the change I found I only have $172 into the truck now!!! I plan on never putting in more than $1000. Maybe even $800 if I keep scoring deals.

[yotaboy79]

good find keep us posted

[WHITE_TRASH]

Because of the change I found I only have $172 into the truck now!!! I plan on never putting in more than $1000. Maybe even $800 if I keep scoring deals.

Oh its ON now!!!  Lets see who can do it the cheapest!  Im at $954 so far including a Mco7!  My 94 parts truck is going away saturday morning, that puts $150 back in my pocket.  Sunday Im selling the windshield out of the 81 for $50 to Kyota so after this weekind Ill be at $804!!!  WooHoo this could be fun!
WT

[Brian83]

Ok WT,you're on, let's see who can pinch a tighter penny,  . I bought new spark plugs for it today for $5. Ok, I'm at $177. And so it begins!

[WHITE_TRASH]

I should also mention Im building a 90 x-cab 2 wheel drive now too!  Might have to go over budget and actually charge the a/c though   lol

[Brian83]

I was really suprised today going ovewr the truck, my A/C blew ice cold, all the interior lights and doodads worked, no cracked windows, seats are in great shape. Feels like it might need a new clutch pretty soon though. Any suggestions WT for a good clutch...CHEAP of course!

[WHITE_TRASH]

How about the clutch that is going in my truck.  Its gonna cost me bout $5 total when its done.  I replaced this clutch a few years ago at about 1000 miles, the hack shop that replace it in the first place was too lazy or too stupid to put the pilot bearing in correctly.  I pulled it out and showed it to the customer, told him it looked brand new.  But he told me to replace it anyway.  So I kept it.   Anyway Id put a marlin clutch in it.  For the $$$ you cant beat it!!  Hell even for more $$$ you still cant beat it!

[84runner]

Boy you guys are gonna start to squeek when you walk 

[yotaboy79]

and the mayhame begins this will be great, no fair i have a/c my air conditioning is taking the doors off

[WHITE_TRASH]

Dont feel too bad about having no a/c, this is the first 4x rig Ive ever owned that will have a/c.  Its not mandatory but I think it'd be nice to leave the windows up with the air cranked in the dust bowls in the mountains!

[yotaboy79]

ive kinda gotten used to eating dirt and mud when my wendsheald gets coated with about 2 inches of mud i just put on some motor cycle gogles and hang my head out the window life just wouldent be the same with the windows up

[yotaboy79]

oh and my toy is the first and only rig ive ever owned

[Brian83]

Put the new fuel filter in and my sputtering is gone. But the truck idles a bit high now, around 1100 rpms. What should the idle be set at? How should I do this? Where is the gas tank drain plug? I can't find the damn thing anywhere. This week I'll be kinda busy with school so I am only going to try and clean up the interior and make a new dash out of aluminum cause mine is broken( Previous owner had a visit from some radio thieves).

[WHITE_TRASH]

I always set mine a bit higher than factory, I think its around 800 or so.  Just set it to what sounds the best, if it chugs at idle then rais it if it races then you know what to do.  The drain plug is hidden by the skidplate.  It takes a 12mm, I use at least 6" of extension on a ratchet, makes it a bit easier.  There are 3 bolts on each end of the skidplate.  The drainplug is a 17mm if I remember right. 

[shawnb]

AC is for women, use the compressor for an air pump.

Hysteer is a must with rears in the front. Power stearing is sweet if you can find the newer steering box. Remember if you install the manual box and plan on going to power box later give yourself some extra room. I still need to pull the box and hack some more off the radiator support. :.order:

[Brian83]

Does anyone know how to adjust the idle on my carb? (83 22r stock carb) I was playing a bit today and I couldn't find the adjuster, shouldn't it just be a screw? Few other questions, Will I have to lengthen my rear driveshaft with the chevy springs? Where do I mount the hangers for the shackles and front hanger for the chevy springs? Do I use chevy shackles that are on the truck they come off? I can't afford a welder decent enough to do the hangers right now, how much would I expect to pay a shop to weld on the hangers for the springs? thanks guys

[84runner]

Yes your adjuster is just a screw, but some people get it mixed up with the adjuster screw for your A/C idle. And to know where to mount you springs just measure from the center pin to the center of the spring eye and compinsate the difference from the toyota springs and make your adjustments accordingly to keep your axle in the same place.

[Brian83]

Hey guys, Could you all tell me what I could expect to get out of my truck if I were to sell it. I have to make a $1,000 tution payment in a month and if I don't pull something out of my  then I have to sell it. I'm going to try and do everything I can to not sell it but I can't quit going to school. For anyone who doesn't know it's an 83 short bed, 22R, 5 spd., 200,000 miles, runs great, paint is iffy, frame is great, and interior is ok. also if anyone is interested in it let me know. I'm in CO. Sure hope I don't have to sell it, if I do though I'll get another yota as fast as I can.

[Brian83]

Ok, rears are going up front, chevies or mazda in back(whatever is at the boneyard), bed is coming off(Anyone want my 83 shortbed> barely any rust), scout axles, and cutting living crap outta the front fenders to clear 35's. and when I gather some funds, a marlin 4.7 gearset. I'm thinking of rebuilding the 22r cause it has 200,000 miles and has never been rebuilt but not sure yet. I'll do everything else first then see what I feel like doing, maybe a swap to a 22re or a V6? I'll keep you guys posted. Oh I also have a topper for sale if anyone wants it for the same truck and the tailgate.