1981 Packrat Project

gmrwizard · November 20, 2004, 07:48:43 PM

I am going to upgrade my '81 to an EFI engine and a W56 trany.
For now just looking for parts and FSM's.
I think I found a donor. A 1988 4x4 EFI, but it has an engine knock

. I have also heard the '88 is a "one year wonder". You know the kind, parts only fit that one year and we are left to wonder why we just had to pick that year to own.
Will update as I move forward.

BigMike · November 21, 2004, 11:31:51 AM

I've never heard about the one year wonder...

UNBREAKABLE · November 21, 2004, 06:01:15 PM

1 Yr wonder? I don't believe that a bit. Not with a Toyota!

gmrwizard · November 21, 2004, 06:02:17 PM

Might just have been a rumor started by "little Green Men"

gmrwizard · November 22, 2004, 05:40:53 AM

Anybody know where I can get a FSM for my '81?

kyle_22r · November 22, 2004, 01:20:07 PM

check ebay often...i've seen a few

gmrwizard · November 29, 2004, 06:13:53 AM

Well the research

, questions

, and talking

are all over.

Last night I bought the '88 pickup and it is now sitting in front of my garage.

Tomorrow I go pick up the '85 4-runner chasis (less engine and cab).

As soon as the software for my digicam gets here I will upload some pics.

gmrwizard · December 06, 2004, 04:04:37 PM

Well here is my baby. Bought it brand new off the show room floor in '81. Plan on doing an EFI swap, front and rear axles, w56 tranny.

gmrwizard · December 06, 2004, 04:07:24 PM

Here is the engine/electrical donor. '88 SB

gmrwizard · December 06, 2004, 04:24:24 PM

Here is the axles and tranny donor. '85 4-runner. Yea I said it was "less engine and cab" but hey I just pulled off the cab and cut it up. The garbage man is going to hate me.

Mike D · December 06, 2004, 04:40:50 PM

did that go through a fire

gmrwizard · December 06, 2004, 05:22:00 PM

Nah, it's the latest in camo

. Blends in to wrecking yards real well

Yep... Electrical fire. Didn't get the drive train at all.

gmrwizard · December 08, 2004, 10:07:16 AM

All right, what am I doing wrong?

??

The upload folder is full. Please try a smaller file and/or contact an administrator.

Why can't I post a pic?

BigMike · December 08, 2004, 10:33:03 AM

Woah, seriously? Ok I'll fix it.. So many attachments.. I might have to reduce the requirements of allowed file attach size maybe...

BigMike · December 08, 2004, 10:35:21 AM

OK I enlarged the attachments, but I reduced the requirement down to 125kb. Attach away!

gmrwizard · December 08, 2004, 10:38:41 AM

Hey, what do ya all think? Solves those pesky "backing out of a bad situation" problems

gmrwizard · December 09, 2004, 07:15:01 AM

Need body parts? The garbage man IS hating me.
Thank,s Bigmike for the wheels and tires. The ones that were on it I had to give back to who I bought it from.

gmrwizard · December 09, 2004, 07:52:06 AM

They all finally meet. Looks like a Yota Farm. One is even missing from the pic, my wife has the '04 Pre-runner.

P.S. How do I post multiple pics with text "between" pics?

BigMike · December 09, 2004, 10:40:46 AM

Quote from: gmrwizard on December 09, 2004, 07:52:06 AM
P.S. How do I post multiple pics with text "between" pics?

You can't

I might have to come up to Squaw V and take some parts off your hands

I need some 1st gen front fender side marker lamp molding, I've got the lense but I need the black part that the bulb and the lense screws onto. I also need some front turn blinkers/single lights (orange) complete lense and molding, but dirtbag has some that he will give me if I make the 3 hr drive to his house in Galt..

gmrwizard · December 09, 2004, 02:51:01 PM

Bigmike, wish I could help you out but that pile of parts is what's left of a burnt up 4-runner body. All I was able to salvage not burnt, besides the chasis down, was the battery box (which I need for my wifes '87 2WD) and 3 screws from a melted rear tail light. The rest saw the bussiness end of my sawzall last sunday.
Have dirtbag mail them It,s probably not that expensive, I wouldn't guess over 5 or 6 bucks.

kyle_22r · December 09, 2004, 04:20:47 PM

so what's with the axle swap? i don't see a whole lot of benefit to putting on a later model version of exactly the same thing

gmrwizard · December 09, 2004, 07:25:09 PM

Switching from 3.90's to 4.10's. Whole axle less mess

than doing 3rd members. Pluss will put vented rotors & IFS calipers on the front at the same time.

gmrwizard · December 21, 2004, 07:36:52 AM

Will a stearing box off of a 2WD work to do the cross over stearing conversion?

brainlessfool · December 21, 2004, 11:31:00 AM

I've read that the anwser is yes, butt that there not as strong as the 4X4 box.
Don't take that to the bank it's just what I read some where.

gmrwizard · February 20, 2005, 07:51:37 PM

Finaly got done with the wifes '87 2WD.
Installed a\c, power bucket seats and center consol out of a Camry (had to fabricate mounts for all this) new outside mirrors and oh ya........ a factory digital clock (boy that took a long time to put in. One screw and plug it in.) But now I get to work on my projects.
I pulled the engine out of the '88. Tore it down to check it out for an overhaul so I can put it into my '81.

Found #2 rod bearing in the bottom of the pan looking like tin foil and the rod and journal black as midnight.

Anybody got a short block?

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1981 Packrat Project