COB's '89 Pickup 2WD

[ChildrenOfBodom]

Toyota #5 in the stable! I have wanted a nice little pickup for the utility aspect.


1989 Toyota Pickup DLX 2WD


My personal vehicles/projects:
99 4Runner - 2wd to 4wd conversion, 5-speed swap, supercharged
87 4Runner - 5-speed swap, CT-26 turbo, rebuilt 22R-TE
94 Supra Turbo - Undergoing restoration, lucky find
89 Supra Turbo - White on White on White on White






My '94 Supra turbo restoration was underway and I needed to transport the subframes to and from work.



My friend just happened to get a little red Toyota pickup that I immediately fell in love with, and decided to get one of my own.


Found this 1989 model, 22R-E, 5spd, 205k on the odo. Paid $2,100.

Seeing the truck for the first time at the seller's house.

Driving through scenic Long Beach/San Pedro on the route home.

The pickups side by side

Someone wired up an aftermarket radio back in the 1980's! Look how official this looks... serial numbers for this piece of junk! Haha.

Came complete with service records dating all the way back to day 1.

Together, the little worker Toyotas gathered parts for Queen Toyota waiting at home.

Unloaded at home via the trusty engine hoist

I love cruising around in the little pickup, which has been nicknamed the "putt putt pickup."

 

[ChildrenOfBodom]

So I have a sweet pickup bed trailer, but in all honesty, it sucks to use because it's too tall. It's really only meant as an off road trailer, for which it does well.

This pickup is so enormously useful in several ways... the most obvious is the bed!




Loaded up with a MKIV Supra rear subframe and 4 19" BMW wheels.

Smogged with flying colors.

Then came the little things. The little sail panel behind the mirror was gone. Got one from my friend who happened to have some extra parts laying around.

Shackle bushings

*Beavis Voice* FIRE

Rear shocks, Monroe's (cheap from Rockauto)

Both Toyotas here could have been purchased brand new on the same day...


Both are:


1989
Toyota

White
Blue interior
Manual 5 speed
RWD

Inline engines

 

[ChildrenOfBodom]

I spy Toyotas...

Scored a nice set of matching blue buckets and center console.

Used transmission with good bearings, $300. Came with an Aisin clutch kit that has about 70% left in it.

Also got the roof map light assembly which was a great upgrade over the little tiny DLX light.

4Runner dash pocket.

Got the bench seat out for the swap.

 

[ChildrenOfBodom]

Seats and interior out. I called in my welder, Justin, to tackle adding the necessary mounting points. The bench seat only uses 4 total mounting points, as opposed to 8 total that the buckets require.

Turns out, the locations for the bucket mounting points are present, but lack the welded nut required to actually bolt them in.

The nut for the inner most front mounts are not present. For accessibility, two cuts were made to reach these positions.

Cleaned up

Bolted in, to hold the nut in place for welding

Welded in

Bent back and welded.

A little white paint to protect the bare metal.

Also missing are the nuts for the seat belt mounts (the bench belts use the rearmost inner mount where the buckets would attach).

And going in...

 

[ChildrenOfBodom]

Scored a couple center caps, so far just for the front wheels.

Also found a Toyota bed liner from a 1994 Pickup.

In my opinion, this helps complete the look... though I still need to locate the tail gate section.

I have also replaced the blower motor switch.

While I was in there, I noticed there's a rather primitive cigarette lighter setup with no lamp, and the ashtray is devoid of a lamp as well.

I wired in a 2nd gen 4Runner cigarette lighter with lamp, plus swapped the ashtray metal support with one that has a lamp hole. Both lamps are now functioning beautifully. While I was at it, I pulled the ancient radio and installed a double-din Toyota radio from a 2002 4Runner, including the factory amp.

I found out that you can buy an interface adapter for these radios, as they feature a 5+7 pin CD changer plug.

I wired in a Milllenia MIL-BTREC bluetooth receiver and plugged it into the AUX cable with a simple RCA to 3.5mm adapter. I'm enjoying bluetooth audio straight from my phone, no wires or cables!

To make sure everything's up to par, I updated the antenna with a new unit and installed some new speakers.

Rockford Fosgate 4" speakers, only $35 online. They sound awesome!

I dig the front bumper and grille setup on the 1992-95 pickups, so I've begun converting the front end to that style. I also installed a set of Eagle Eyes corner lamps and Autopal conversion headlamps that use a bulb instead of a full sealed beam unit. Currently using NAPA Brilliant Night Vision bulbs that are tremendously better than the regular sealed beams. I've also got an OE lower valance from the 92+ style that will go on after I paint it and the bumper. More to come later on that.

 

[smallfry]

I think you need a bigger garage for your toys.

 

[bane]

You are really making me miss my '99 Tacoma 4x4. There is nothing more practical than a pickup.

 

[theizzardking]

*Beavis Voice* FIRE

how much did the semi truck full of ES bushings run you? seems like it could be handy, maybe not cost effective but who knows?

lol, the collection is really getting there man, good to see you're still kicking around here! I'm at 5 myself as well, 1st, 3rd and 4th gen 4runners, LX470 and a 2nd gen taco, feels pretty good to have a stable of yotas to choose from when you head out in the AM.....changing cars like most guys do shoes.

keep up the good work brother and hope all is well in life!

 

[ChildrenOfBodom]

Hey smallfry, bane, and jason, hope you guys are doing well after all this crazy stuff going on in the world.


Should probably get to updating this thread after 3ish years.








Bosch distributor cap and rotor

NGK plugs and wires

Spark plug boots

New high pressure PS line

Monroe shocks and Energy Suspension shock bushings

Tailgate liner found

OEM to match the bed liner

Roof rack for the 4Runner

 

[ChildrenOfBodom]

Let's think wheels. What style are we going for here? The width and offset of the steelies leaves much to be desired

KMC's and 35" BF Goodrich Mud Terrain KM3's?

Enkei RPF1 SBC and Michelin Pilot Super Sports?!

Or a set of 16" BBS wheels from a junkyard Mercury Grand Marquis?!?

Get an eyeful, the putt's going up in the world!

Let's spruce her up just a bit more with some new tail lights

She's right at home with the Supras now lol

It needed a classier horn. Of course, I can't remove the OEM horn, it's gotta be dual horns or nothing.

It's tucked next to the clutch master.

AOOGA! In the off position, the steering wheel horn button operates the OEM horn. When switched to AOOGA! - the steering wheel horn button operates the AOOGA horn. My friend came up with the idea so we installed one in his 2004 Tacoma also.



Also popped in a clutch start cancel button - these trucks are prewired and ready to go, plug and play.

 

[ChildrenOfBodom]

Got a valance from a 1992 Pickup at the junkyard, a new bumper, and a can of SEM trim black, then went to town

New turn signal lamps from TYC and new hardware for the license plate

Got rid of the leaking aftermarket plastic radiator and installed an all aluminum Koyorad. Also put in a new Interstate battery from Costco.

The little thing has been putting in work. It's a very useful tool.




Pallet of vintage Hot Wheels

Pallet of vintage GI Joe Rhino GPV's

Pallet of vintage GI Joe Grizzly SS-1 Jeeps

 

[Chuckles89]

That's one sweet little truck!!

 

[ChildrenOfBodom]

A stop by B&M exhaust center in Garden Grove, CA

Muffler cracked and gradually got worse and worse.

In the future, will be going with a complete LCE setup, but that isn't necessary at this time. I just need the truck to be functional and it was cheaper and easier just to get a new Walker OE spec muffler from RockAuto.

 

[ChildrenOfBodom]

Sunbusters Tint shop in Tustin, CA

Pulled the door panels before driving over to the shop.



20% on rear and side windows

2nd gen part out. Same truck that provided the seats and console.

A pallet

2nd gen 4x4 auto transmission/t-case

I did not have a photo session with a 1970's foam green giant... nope.

 

[ChildrenOfBodom]

Cleaned the wheels up for the first time, they have a million crevices. A drill brush attachment and some simple green did the trick.

The other white 89 Toyota peeking out from behind, and two classic red 2-doors.

Left bedside is fading quickly, but that's the cleanest these wheels have been yet.

The truck started having fuel pressure issues with a full tank, it got worse until the truck refused to start at all.



The fuel pump had given up. The 1989 trucks use a large fuel pump with two threaded terminals for positive and negative. These are still available, but don't come with any new stuff like hoses, clamps, filter sock, etc.


I opted for a 1992 style pump, which is smaller in diameter, but is still powerful enough to replace the larger pump. It uses a standardized two prong fuel pump plug.



New DENSO pump from RockAuto.

Truck up on 4 stands with enough clearance to drop the fuel tank

Look at all that space

If the truck was a 4x4... this would be about the height

Old pump

New pump does not fit in the larger pump hanger, but a hose clamp will do the job. New clamps and hose. Cut the old eye terminals off the wires and installed a new wire connector.

Time to get the tank back into its home, with the help of a Harbor Freight transmission jack

Quick oil change while we're at it

And right back to work!

 

[ChildrenOfBodom]

US built on the left (4T VIN)

 

[ChildrenOfBodom]

Imagine trying to transport an engine, or two, in a 3rd gen 4Runner. It would suck. The truck is perfect for this.

 

[ChildrenOfBodom]

The red 1990 2-door 4Runner is in the midst of a 5-speed manual swap.


The original auto transmission used a VSS with a cable to speedometer. The R150F being used for the swap came from a 1993 model with electronic VSS.

I just happened to have a newer SR5 cluster to swap into the 4Runner, and all it will take is to wire in the electronic VSS (3 wires). I also disassembled the odometer to match the mileage, so the mileage reading is still 100% accurate.

The old cable driven cluster was now available to be swapped into the pickup truck, which is an 89 and uses a cable.

New oil pressure sending unit

Tachometer adjusted with ohm meter to match 4-cyl

Installed 4Runner speaker boxes while it was apart.

Very nice to finally have an SR5 cluster.


The voltage, oil pressure, and tachometer are great, one overlooked feature is the trip meter. So strange not having one in the base cluster.

 

[JustATallDude]

Been following your Supra threads for a very long time now. Kinda forgot you had a pickup until I saw the A80s update today. I just got a little 91 pickup a couple of months ago and I have to say I love the little thing so much. Did the gauge swap myself and will be getting a Clutch Cancel switch very soon to add that. Didn't think it would be already wired for that but I'm not too surprised. These things are just big Legos lol thanks for all of the awesome pictures and updates across the board! Can't wait to see more!

 

[FinnishDog]

Reading this thread makes me want a pickup even more now.. but my '90 4runner is getting 3.4 swapped and after that I have an '86 Supra to work on next