Operose 83 Toyota

From NNYOffroad

1 1983 Toyota Pickup SR5

1983 Toyota Pickup SR5

A Toyota with a factory solid front axle is what I was looking for when I bought my '89, but I just couldn't find one close enough for a decent price.

Finally I found this one sitting in the yard of a bodyshop in Chateaugay, New York, on my way back from Vermont. It looked like (this)

It also had this (stupid bumper) when I got it.

Off went the shitty tires, and on went the 34"x10.5"x15" Super Swamper LTB's. I also put in a Genuine Gear "Quick-Lok" lunchbox style locker in the rear(pic)

Then came the first offroading trip, where Travis got stuck a few times like (this) which made my crappy stupid bumper look like (this) and also destroyed the crappy locker. Lesson learned (hopefully.)

Here is a better shot of the (bent bumper) and the (Swampers)

Broken Lunchbox Locker

The locker was a Genuine Gear Quick-Lok, and I broke it in less than 5 miles of driving to the trail we were going to run. I should say, I could tell it was starting to grenade when we got to the trailhead. Halfway through the trail I was cringing hoping it would hold together.

(This) is what I found when I drained the rear diff. This awesome (flake) was in the crud on the drain plug.. Then I pulled the 3rd member and found the carnage. (pic1) (pic2) (pic3) (pic4) (pic5)

Needless to say, I was pissed. I also couldn't get my money back because I had the locker for a year before I got the truck I wanted to put it in, and the place I got it no longer carried them (probably due to failures like this...)*

Update Sept 20 2008 Confirmed that they are no longer carried due to suckage. Pretty much nowhere else carries them anymore either. On the upside Davez Offroad is trying to warranty it for a lockright for me

Crossmember

I wheeled the truck for a bit, here are some pics.

The truck's rear shock crossmember was rotten, though.

My mom and stepdad left for a long weekend, and asked me to stop by and feed their cats. I took this more as a "our garage will be empty for 5 days" so I pulled the 83 in and decided to get down to business. I replaced the rotten crossmember with a chunk of 3"x2"x.25" wall rectangular tubing.

First thing first, I had to get the bed off. I took the wheels off and then took out the bolts with a 1/2" air impact wrench and an angle grinder for one of the more screwed nuts.

Then came time to lift the bed off.

Unfortunately I was by myself, and really had to stop and have a beer to figure this one out, as I had limited tools available.

Come-A-Longs, a chain, and a tow strap did (the trick) The hooks on the side of the bed (work great for lifting)

Once the bed was up, I rolled the truck (out of the way) and got to work. Here is the (new crossmember) and another shot from (a different angle)

Then came (primer) and (paint). When I take the bed back off to fix it, I'll flap disk the frame down good and paint it all again, I was just in kind of a rush to get this back together so I could drive to work, unfortunately.

I put some (bilstein 5125's) in the back the other day.

Timing Chain

The truck started rattling. I chased down every loose part I could find, and still couldn't find it. Eventually I traced it to the engine bay, and putting a bar on my crank and watching the distributor showed that my timing chain and associated stuff was pretty much beat. I could rotate the engine clockwise, and have the distributor turn. When I went to turn the engine counter-clockwise, there would be about 20 degrees of "backlash" before the distributor would start to turn.

Andrew and I started (tearing it apart) and (tearing it apart some more) Here is an (uncluttered pic)

(torn apart)

The sloppy chain wore some (awesome grooves in the timing chain cover)

My driver's side chain guide was (missing about half of its original mass)

I bought some (new stuff) and started putting it in.

Here is a (comparison shot) and (another) of the old driver's side guide, and the new guide (damnit I accidentally ordered the plastic ones, not the metal-backed. no time now gotta drive to work guess we'll throw it in)

My timing chain cover was pretty dirty. Here is (one side clean and one side dirty)

(kitty wants to help)

Here is the (clean t-chain cover) and the (front before it was totally clean)

Now you might be wondering "where did all the pieces of the old driver's side chain guide go?"

Good question. The answer is ("In the oil pan")

Probably not a good idea to leave (this stuff floating around in your engine)

Here is a shot of (my work space) I would really recommend something better..

Trunk of my car serves as a (work bench)

Shiny parts (ready to go on!)

Sprockets, chain, guides, and tensioner are (on)

Timing chain cover (back on) (excuse the broken water pump stud) also (new oil pump on)

Then I started (cleaning the) (valve) (cover)