1980 Daily Driver/ Mild crawler build

[OldGold3VZE]

Hello, here is a quick rundown of my latest build, a 1980 4x4 Hilux. I am building this since my last project, a 1988 4Runner was supposed to be just a mild wheeler, but soon became my main crawler and now I need a DD.  I got the truck for $200 with clear title about 6 months ago, and am getting very close to having a nice daily driver that I will still be able to wheel if my runner is down.  Nothing like having a backup crawler that you can still daily drive!

When I brought it home





Cab off



Frame all stripped down



Axles rebuilt, and mounted to frame using rear springs all around, 6 leaves make up the front pack, stock mounts and 4" shackles it should sit pretty low.



Repainted the hubs the original blue on silver



Picked this up for the clean body, and mostly complete interior



Test fitting some panels 

[OldGold3VZE]

Fixing the classic floor rust using old body panels from the 4runner.  Even used a body mount.



Yes, that's liquid nails.  This is my budget seam sealer.  It holds up nice, and looks good when painted.





And here's where I'm at today, with a pretty long list still to come.

[83 Crawler]

I'm watching this one

[80firstgem]

ill take some inspiration from this!

[mudmaster]

Pretty rough start 

[OldGold3VZE]

Little progress to report while I eat my lunch.  The 2wd front radiator support/body mounts are slightly different, so I have to swap the 4x4 front to the 2wd.  No biggie, just drill the spot welds and pry apart.





Also, got the Motor, tranny, and dual cases (Marlin Crawler adapter NOS from 2006) as clean as they need to be for this build.



Nina, the shop dog.

[OldGold3VZE]

Worked on the front crossmember/bumper mount.

[twistedtoy92]

lookin good so far!

[79coyotefrg]

why did you use the 2wd cab??

[OldGold3VZE]

I'm using the 2wd cab because the 4wd was lacking many key components, headliner, rear window, intact wiring harness, basically everything in the engine bay, fenders, and because I got such a good deal on it.  Also, I really wanted a real bed, and not a flat bed.  This truck is not getting the classic "bed bob".  I need a good utility truck for hauling yard waste, drywall, lumber, etc, all that home owner stuff.  Plus, I'll be left with a truly stripped down 1st gen cab to use for my next crawler project!

[OldGold3VZE]

Here's a few shots of the 4runner that was supposed to be a quick SAS and nice daily driver.  I just hope I don't do the same thing to this truck.





And one of my last crawler.  I used the entire drivetrain from this rig for the 4runner, except for the fresh built motor, that's in the 1980.

[OldGold3VZE]

Worked on the crossmember all day.  Basically, it's a modified version of a bud built.  I'll have the frame mounts done tomorrow.

[83 Crawler]

Looking good so far

[locked 4x4]

subscribed

[StrongTurtle]

Looks great can't wait to see more 

[OldGold3VZE]

What a day.  Spent the morning with my GF, but was able to (almost) finish the crossmember and mounts.



Frame mounts with oval cutout for rosette weld to the frame. I accidentally cut the oval in the actual crossmember, it will not be welded to the frame, oops.



I can see why these crossmembers are $300!  That was a lot of work.

[91 ex-cab]

Bumper mount is  . Clean work so far!

[OldGold3VZE]

Crossmember is done.  My driveshaft angle looks good from here, right around 85-86 degrees on mt sorta level gravel driveway.  Should be fine, my 4runner measures right at 86 deg. with the budbuilt.   You do what you can working out of a 1 car garage!



Underside pre-paint



Frame mounts, gussets for strungth!

[83yota]

lookin good. now you can build me one

[OldGold3VZE]

lookin good. now you can build me one

It took 2 full days of cutting, grinding, welding, lifting, positioning, test-fitting, and sweating to make this piece.  I can definitely appreciate BudBuilt's price now!

[OldGold3VZE]

I need a MC forum feed back.  I don't really like winch bumpers that stick out all far off the front and, but I don't want to cut up this grill to slam the winch mount back, so I'm in a dilemma.  I just put a winch on my 4runner, and have used it a few times in pretty scarry situations, but always off road.  Since this is going to be a daily driver I'm actually contemplating not building a winch mount at all and just slamming the bumper to the front and call it good.  What do you think?

[91 ex-cab]

 What about incorporating a hitch receiver into it so you can have a removable winch. Then you can keep the bumper tight, and still have an option for a winch.

[Yota87Truck]

What about incorporating a hitch receiver into it so you can have a removable winch. Then you can keep the bumper tight, and still have an option for a winch.

X2!  Im all for a tight bumper.  I planned mine tight with a winch in mind.  But I didn't measure for one so if I got a winch I might have to trim to fit.  But a hitch receiver is a good idea all around.

subscribed

X2!

[OldGold3VZE]

I had a friend with the hitch mounted winch, and it was OK, but then you have to carry it around, it always banged around in his runner, it took up cargo space (important on a dd), and if he ever flopped I'm sure it could have killed a passenger.  This just might be a no winch truck.  At least I got the mount all finished up, either way.



Doubled up the tubing material for the horizontal mount.



And burned it in hot!

[OldGold3VZE]

If anyone is wondering. that piece of rectangle is 1.5" x 2.5" 3/16th wall.  Fits the 1980 frame perfectly, and available at my local metal yard.

[91 ex-cab]

My buddy had a piece of square tube in the bed that the winch mounted to when not in use, and it doubled as a hi-lift mount. I believe he coated the inside of it with plastidip so it didn't rattle.   From what I got the 4runner is your more designated wheeler, so do you really think your gonna need a winch?

[gtoyonrocks]

I'm looking forward to seeing some more pics, it's looking good.

[Mega Baby Huey]

liquid nails, huh? i'm going to have to try that! you just lay it on or what?

[OldGold3VZE]

liquid nails, huh? i'm going to have to try that! you just lay it on or what?

Well, I was originally just gonna bead it up on the welds, but then things got a little too crazy and I ended us smearing it on all the new sheet metal I welded in.  It's just thick enough to give a little bit of a protective barrier, it is paintable, grindable, and literally tough as nails.  I sealed the rear of my 4runner with it after the chop and it's going strong almost a year later, not paint flaking or cracking.  And at $3 a tube it's hard to beat.  I coated the underside, too.  Once I get my vinyl flooring installed it will be like the floors never rusted at all.

[83yota]

winch mount in the bed is the way to go and you can drill a hole in the tube so you can put in a locking pin and it wont fall out if you flop it and it wont grow legs in the middle of the night.