My First "First"--The New Adventure

[BucknutBob]

Getting underway...

Taking those first baby steps--it's amazing what you can do with a big hammer, a crow bar, and some low-funds willpower! The driver side fender went from basically flat and curved into the engine bay (under the hood-line) to curved back outward and the hood lining back up (sort of--LOL), and the thoroughly mangled passenger side is at least somewhat straight and curved outward, although the fender liner and core support are still keeping the whole unit too far downward. I see some come-along work in the future, pulling the core support back up and getting the kink out of the fender liner. Oh, and here's a shot of the "four squirrels of fury" under the hood. The last owner was pretty sloppy with his wiring and mods--I'll need to clean up that engine bay a bit.

 

[KidVermicious]

That looks 245% better, nicely done!

 

[Quatre Coureur]

Looks great Bob! The fender pounded out pretty good. I couldn't help but notice the 'custom' driveshaft safety loop...:first:

 

[BucknutBob]

Looks great Bob! The fender pounded out pretty good. I couldn't help but notice the 'custom' driveshaft safety loop...:first:

Yeah, I thought it was rather "interesting" myself (LOL). The previous owner definitely didn't mind half-arsing things here and there, as I'm finding out. The wiring on this thing is quite ugly, for one.

 

[BucknutBob]

Truck gets some new clothes

More small steps--finally got some doors for the beast. After not finding anything of note around Atlanta, I took a drive over to South Carolina for some fine "new" doors, door panels, and mirrors from a fellow 4Runner enthusiast (who I'm trying to get on this site--he has a killer 1st Gen in the works) for less than just a pair of doors with no interior panels from another place I found. They took a bit of tweaking to fit--the driver side was about an inch low from all the beating without any doors attached. A little friendly persuasion with a crowbar got it to line up. The passenger side was actually just a tad high, so I hung my 200 lbs from it to help it cooperate (LOL). It looks like a truck now! Nice match on the paint too, huh!!

 

[SV_Dude]

Looking good bob!

What's with all the wires under the hood? That thing has more wires than my 3.4 and that engine isn't even efi. Was there some other stuff that was pulled out or did the 22r's just come factory with that much copper under the hood?

 

[BucknutBob]

Looking good bob!

What's with all the wires under the hood? That thing has more wires than my 3.4 and that engine isn't even efi. Was there some other stuff that was pulled out or did the 22r's just come factory with that much copper under the hood?

I think it was just a slob doing mods. Some of that is his pitiful compressor wiring--when he demonstrated how the lockers worked, he had to go jiggle some wires around the battery (LOL). I know the stuff works, so I just need to dig around and tidy up the guy's mess a bit. It'll look a lot better once I get some decent time on it (single days off suck!).

 

[95MillenniumFalcon]

Lookin really good! Mines in the shop for the week so I'll be on here quite a bit this weeks as I'm stranded with a bike and rainstorms

 

[BucknutBob]

The excruciatingly slow build continues...

Well, I finally got the interior out of the weather. Found a nearby owner that was parting out his 1st Gen, and picked up the cap for $300. It's not perfect by any stretch, but it's intact, with all windows, headliner, handles, etc.. It was probably pretty comical for anyone watching as I put it on by myself! I stood it on end at the back, siliconed the weatherstripping, and slid it on. Took a while to get the bolt holes to line up, what with the tweaked body and all, but it's attached now. Then I decided to start on the interior now that I can keep it dry, so of course the seat bolts are fighting me at every turn--oh well, maybe another day.

 

[SV_Dude]

picked up the cap for $300..

Is this a typo or did you really pay $300 for the top? I don't know what tops go for in your area but that seems a bit steep.

Either way, keep going! I have to live through everyone's build threads here till I can have one of my own.

 

[nevada]

Is this a typo or did you really pay $300 for the top? I don't know what tops go for in your area but that seems a bit steep.

Either way, keep going! I have to live through everyone's build threads here till I can have one of my own.

serious?

I haven't priced any, but I wouldn't sell mine for a penny less than $500, and even that seems low to me. I don't know that ive ever even seen any for sale.




also...I know its old, but in the OP you mentioned the aluminum wheels, don't be so quick to discount them for wheeling. they will hold the bead on the wheel MUCH better than a steel wheel. so you can air down much lower, with less risk of popping the bead off.
also, when aired down, steel wheels can/will spin inside the tire, ive experienced this many times prior to getting beadlocks. the aluminum wheels aren't nearly as prone to doing this.

 

[SV_Dude]

I have seen numerous 1st gen tops for sale for $50 to free. That was both in Tennessee and here in Colorado.

I agree with the aluminum wheels though. [MENTION=75090]Footofgod[/MENTION] uses aluminum wheels, I have used aluminum wheels for a while and I haven't ever had or seen an issue with them. Not to mention that they are much lighter so you have less rotating mass.

 

[KidVermicious]

$300? That would have almost bought you enough gas to drive here, take my extra one for free, and have a beer before you went home. Good moses, man.

I use aluminum wheels too. They've gotten a little scarred up due to the skinny tires failing to protect them against rocks, but they're a lot lighter than steelies. With your little 22 you want to spare every pound you can, and I think they make a huge difference.

 

[BucknutBob]

Is this a typo or did you really pay $300 for the top? I don't know what tops go for in your area but that seems a bit steep.

Frankly, I don't know what they typically go for around here--this is the first one I found available within 200 miles. Seemed okay to me, without having a point of reference.

 

[BucknutBob]

Looking good bob!

What's with all the wires under the hood? That thing has more wires than my 3.4 and that engine isn't even efi. Was there some other stuff that was pulled out or did the 22r's just come factory with that much copper under the hood?

I'm thinking this truck may have begun life with the 22RE, and someone cheaped out along the way and slapped the stupid carb'd engine in when the other died. Today when I was digging out all the weathered crud from inside, I noticed the ECU says 22RE on it, not 22R. Odd.

 

[Cartzo]

I picked my top up for $40. I think they are pretty common around here though. I know of at least 5 first gens driving around in my smallish town

 

[Chuckles89]

:bump: Any updates? :bump:

 

[RiFF RaFF]

:bump: Any updates? :bump:

Good question. How about it [MENTION=78031]BucknutBob[/MENTION] - don't keep us in the dark!

:nono:

 

[BucknutBob]

Nothing new lately--too many other irons in the fire right now. I've gotta admit, though, I still find myself wishing I had waited and picked up a 2nd Gen instead (LOL). Yep, for all you 1st Gen devotees, I haven't turned the corner yet in favor of the removeable-top tin can with lousy rear seat access, even though there's one in the driveway. I'll let you know when anything changes, fellas!

 

[RiFF RaFF]

Nothing new lately--too many other irons in the fire right now. I've gotta admit, though, I still find myself wishing I had waited and picked up a 2nd Gen instead (LOL). Yep, for all you 1st Gen devotees, I haven't turned the corner yet in favor of the removeable-top tin can with lousy rear seat access, even though there's one in the driveway. I'll let you know when anything changes, fellas!

Bob I know when you get started that your 1st Gen is going to rock!

Can't wait to see the progress. Who knows? Maybe it will be ready for Moab in 2014!

Merry Christmas to you, and your family.

Doug