New "to me" 1st Gen

helo-mech

helo-mech

Member
New "to me" Project

Well after going back and forth between jeeps, 4Runners and a classic bronco, I finally have my first 1st Gen. I have had 2 other 4th Gens and 3 Tacomas in the past and have always loved Toyotas. My delimia around here was most people wheel jeeps and the CBs. I figured for what I was gonna do, light wheeling, camping and teaching the boys how to "wrench", I would stick with what I really wanted.

I picked up an '89, 3.0 5-speed. I really wanted an auto, but for what I picked this one up for, I could not pass. First thing on the list will be getting rid of the auto hubs. The driver side is completely shot and heated up so bad on the PO's last day of driving it, that the center cap on the wheel melted. I'm gonna go ahead with the "manual conversion" and replace the wheel bearings while I'm in there. At the same time, interior will be coming out, so I can get a good look at what I am dealing with, a complete evaluation of the underside to narrow down the leaks and some plans to cut out some of the fender areas for "cancer" mitigation.

She has got some issues, some I know of and others I am sure to find, but the hope is she will provide some great off road/camping fun for the family.
 

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I'm down in Houston. The PO had only had it for a month or so, so who knows, it might have been over that way a short time ago. Heck, I had to wait 2 weeks for him to get the title in his name so I could buy it.

fourwd1 said:
Nice truck.
The fender rust really doesn't look bad at all.
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The rust on the other side is a lot worse. I just didn't want to post a picture of the pass side cause the PO put a "Hello Kitty" sticker on the top.
 
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SV_Dude said:
I think that one is from addicted offroad.
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I was gonna guess the same, but to be honest I have not had time to look at it much. I drove it off the trailer, put it in the drive and I have been at work ever since. I've got some really good off time this week though.

I know they offer one that looks extremly like it though. They also have the front bumper that I want to go with.



1984-1989 : Addicted Offroad is a full service Parts, Sales, and Fabrication company offering offroad parts for all makes and models, Addicted Offroad
 
Got home tonight and was able to start taking a look. Earlier I had noticed a rust hole in the driver side floor and I really wanted to see how bad the rest of the interior was going to be. Got all the interior out and found that the floor rust was limited to the driver area but it is a little worse that I was expecting. Not too bad though. The rust around the body mount has me a little concerned but the other holes should be simple.

Not sure why the pictures flipped.
 

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Also found some interesting wiring. Most of it is for speakers and an amp that I haven't found yet (I think).

I asked my oldest, 7, to come up with a name and he spit out "Dirt Digger" in like 3 seconds. I guess "Dirt Digger" is it unless something comes up soon that is better.
 
Nice find. If you plan to put bigger tires on it, I would look into trimming the rust off. Just make sure that you do a clean cut or do the cut and tab method.

I had an 89 SR5 for several years, loved it.
 
I do plan on cutting the fenders. One for the wheels and two to get the rust out. I saw the cut and tab method somewhere on here but I will have to look around some more for it.
 
Check that area in front of the rear wheel wells that is covered by that plastic trim. Mine had a rust hole that I didn't even know existed until we removed it. You can cut and patch it up however you want and then recover it with the trim.
 
austintaco said:
Check that area in front of the rear wheel wells that is covered by that plastic trim. Mine had a rust hole that I didn't even know existed until we removed it. You can cut and patch it up however you want and then recover it with the trim.
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Will do. Thanks for the heads up.
 
Regardless what other names some may come up with, Dirt Digger is great for nothing more than the fact that your son named it.
 
Call around and ask your local scrap yards. Check other toyota forums for people parting out their runners. Also, do a quick online search and you can find a few suppliers who re-furbish used hubs and make them like new for a couple hundres bucks.
 
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