New Guy checking in from Riverside, CA with an '81 Mini Truck

[Redcheetah]

Although I have had this truck nearly a year now I have not posted any pics of it on the forum or introduced myself.  After I sold my 80 (FZJ80), I made the mistake of perusing Craigslist for Toyota 4x4s to see what was out there.  Well, I found this rig and made another mistake of going to look at the rig.  I expected to find an old cobbled together rat trap of a rig that was probably going to strand me with a complete stranger during the test drive (that has actually happened before).  Instead I found the truck to be owned for 27 years of its life by one meticulous owner who took the truck to Marlin Crawler to have it built.  Marlin installed 4.88s front and rear, a dual T-Case setup (4.7s), front and rear lockers, lift, etc.   I even found the original receipt, hand written, from Marlin.  The undercarriage was devoid of any leaks and the engine bay was completely stock and unmolested.  On top of this, the rig appeared to have never seen rocks as there was no evidence of it under the rig.  I paid the guy the $2800 he was asking, put it on the trailer and drove it home.  When I got it home I realized it needed a tune so I took it over to Jay at Yotamasters in Corona, CA.  Jay had it running great in less than a day.  With the addition of catalytic converter, it passed smog which was a big concern/ongoing issue for me.   I have taken it to Truckhaven a few times and as of last weekend, Big Bear.  I realized after the first couple trips that it will need some tweaks to maximize its off road potential.  For example, the front DS contacts the cross member due to the dual case setup which stunts the articulation and is ruining the DS.  Anyway, I just wanted to check in and when I have enough posts I will post some pics of my rig.   

[86bobbedtoy]

sounds like you gat a steal

[Gixxer Jon]

hurry up and get your posts or better yet just upload your photos to a photobucket account (free) and add the image code.

[EarlKann]

Awesome find!  Can't wait to see some pics, though it'll probably just make me mad that I didn't see it first.

Anyway, welcome from a fellow Inland Empire'er

[Rocksurfer]

  to Marland

[mtm]

how do there welcome

[motormouth559]

welcome bud x2 on them pics !

[toe]

 

[79coyotefrg]

from Arkansas

your going to need to move that cross member back and bolt it to the rear tcase with some Ubolts over the frame rail or get a dual case crossmember from Budbuilt

[Redcheetah]

Thanks for all of the greetings - i am working on the pics....

[Redcheetah]

pics

[Redcheetah]

a few more

[Rocksurfer]

Let me guess, The Notches in Truckhaven and the Bull in Big Bear.

[gtoyonrocks]

Welcome from San Diego....

[Redcheetah]

from Arkansas
your going to need to move that cross member back and bolt it to the rear tcase with some Ubolts over the frame rail or get a dual case crossmember from Budbuilt

You are right, I just had somebody refer me to that company yesterday to eliminate my issue.  Is the "Budlite" Budbuilt crossmember on the Marlin site well thought of?

Let me guess, The Notches in Truckhaven and the Bull in Big Bear.

That would be correct. Except I don't think those pics were at the notches.  They were taken at a sort of mini-notches area that is a good distance away from the real notches.  Im not real familiar with the Truchaven area otherwise I could be a bit more specific on the location.

[ajordan1975]

 
sweet score! 

[bigarms23]

welcome

[HDcruiser]

Welcome from Hesperia.. congrats on the 81, sounds like you got a good deal  If you want to join me and a couple of friends, we are heading up to Big Bear on sunday august 1st for the day .

[Coastie]

welcome

[84krawler]

nice truck  from visalia

[axled89]