My 1993 Ex cab. Got it on trade for a boat. It was already bagged when i got it, but I have to redo it. Had a two link on back, and didn't clearance anything in front. Bags are rubbing on spindles. Has 4Runner headlights and grille, 4wd fenders and corners. Headlights and grille are in ex cab. This is her when I brought her home.


Within a few days I had this waiting on me one night after work, compliments of www.lowriderdepot.com

 

She sat in the driveway for about 6 weeks until I got the motivation to start stripping it down. Bed was trash. Only thing for a floor was the four corner mounts. Everything else was cut out. It went to scrap yard. Took out 10 switch lowrider switch box. Removed gas tank. Removed all air management. Will be re using air line, bags, valves and compressor, along with adding a York in place of AC compressor.
This is what the rear suspension looked like.


Two saturdays ago, I finally got to working on it. Stripped everything. Last saturday, I built a forward fourlink crossmember.


Welded that in place and ready for lower four link bars.

 

Up to this point I had about 8 hours in the project total. Friday night, I located the upper four link bars after setting my pinion angle. Had everything tacked in really good. Yesterday, (Sat), I blow it all apart, and fully welded everything, and got rid of all the useless stuff from the axle and the frame. Put it all back together after about 6 hours of fooling weith it yesterday, this where I am at.

 

I had to cut out the forward bridge bar to make room for the upper bars to move upward. Now the axle has about 3 inches of clearance with the frame when fully laid out and has room to lay on a 22, depending on how I set up my bag mounts and shock mounts. I won't be putting any time into it this weekend, as I'll be at the ///RA All Star Event in Millington, TN.

Future plans are as follows.

Finish back
Tranny Mount raised
Z-Notch
Re-bag front
Exhaust
Find bed and raise floor, so I still have a fully useable bed. Will be raising fenders up to bottom of lip on bedrail.
Body work and 4Runner front end
Primer and drive the hell out of it for 2012 show season
Fall of 2012 will consist of complete tear down for bodydrop, engine rebuild and paint!

Working on getting a rendering done, so I can get some sponsorships for stereo, wheels and paint. I already have the hook up on suspension stuff, I just need the rest.. HAHA.

Will be running these wheels in 18/20 Combo

 

So far I have about 12 hours into this truck and about $400 bucks. I would say I'm doing good so far. I have built a few trucks in my past, but sold them before they were done, due to one reason or another. This will not be the case with this truck, unless someone offers me money or a better deal on a trade. I don't think either will happen, as I will not be listing this thing onmautofied or craigslist. I plan to keep this one and drive the piss out of it.

 

I have all intentions of having this thing drivable by Slamfest in Gainesville. ONly problem when I set that goal, I wasn't thinking about what time of year it is. Football is going to be getting in the way of my truck time. If I can't make it to Slamfest with it, maybe I can catch a local run or two by the end of the year, if not, I will have it out at the first availble show in the 2012 show season.

 

saving another Toyota xcab good luck!

 

I like how you set up the tabs for the front ends of your upper bars thats pretty neat. Not a fan of the Iron Cross bag plates but its clean. Good job for being a low ball budget.

 

Wow nice truck and nice trade. Cant wait to see more pics of this getting done.

 

Them bag plates were already there. I hate them. They are structural for the bridge and won't be seen, so I'll leave em. I had them on a Mazda back 10 years ago before everyone and their grandma jumped on board with the maltese cross. My bags will actually be on the lower bars. As far as the tabs, that's about the only way I could do them with the parts I had. So, I welded them up and added some good gussets to make sure they were strong.

I had an epiphany this morning looking around in here and thought about next winter when I body drop it, throw in a TDI from a VW instead of rebuilding the 22RE. Plenty if knowledge out there to help pull it off, and could get great amounts of power with bigger turbo and great fuel economy!

 

Hey I dig those rims. Should be a good project.

As for the engine swap, it could work! I'm running a VW Van exhaust hah hah

 

Xtra cabs all the way!

Lookin foward to seeing your progress. Just cleaning those ugly welds on the notches and painting it did you wonders.

 

Thanks guys. Hope to scoop up my bag mounts for the front and some bag mounts for the back this weekend. If so, while at the ///RA show, I will be finishing up the rear end area Monday. Then its all in for the front.

 

looks nice, i'd love to have an extra cab or 4runner!


what are those wheels you posted?

 

what brand are those rims? link?

 

I look forward to seeing the progress on this build. Nice to see someone take the time to fix someone elses mess. Sometimes it's easier just to start from scratch yourself. Looking good!

 

Yeah. I've never gotten a bagged truck before. I've always started from scratch. I will say this though. This route sucks! I will always start from scratch in the future unless I know the truck. Hopefully I can save this truck and have my //NC\\ logo on it by next summer!

 

Well, I haven't even touched the truck in almost two weeks. I feel like I'm neglecting her. Anyhow, I hope to be back on it soon. Need to drill up my bag mounts. They are cut and marked, just got to drill them up.

I think I have finally decided on an engine. I am still looking for a WOW factor in that area, and I think I'm set on what I'm gonna do. I was dead set on a VW turbo diesel, mainly for the sound, but I think I have changed gears toward an LS based truck motor swap. I will have close to 300 horses, and there's no replacement for displacement. I will have to use a Camaro or Corvette intake manifold. The Corvette will look great with the Vette engine covers.. This engine is only a total of 25 inches from bottom of oil pan to top of intake manifold. I do believe this will be the easiest option to help keep it under the stock hood, and will easily help push the 20s out back. I will probably have to upgrade my rear end, which will get the treatment of an Explorer 8.8 which will give me and LSD, 4.10 gears, disc brakes, and will definitely hold the power of the v8 with no problems. Only problem with this rear end, it's too wide. I have found out a "cheap" way to narrow it. Apparently the pumpkin is offset, so I would need two of the shorter axle shafts and cut down the longer tube. This will I've the rear end a total width of 56 inches as opposed to the stock Yota rear's 57 inches. So I will have an extra half inch of clearance on either side for the 20s on the back, not to mention the cool looking discs through my wide open wheels! YAY!! Now I have almost 300k on my engine in my truck, so once I get her bagged, I will not change the oil in it, and start collecting parts for my swap. Biggest decision is whether to use a 5 speed or auto? Oh well, enough rambling, I will let you guys stop reading. I am just excited about the thought.

 

Sounds awesome. I'm putting a 350 small block with 4 bolt main in my Yota. I'll be going with a t350 trans because I'm also running 20's and I don't want to deal with relocating the clutch. Otherwise I would love a stick shift but I figure auto will make the swap less complicated. I look forward to seeing where your truck goes.

 

Actually, if you really wanted to go with a 5 speed, get a T5. They were in Camaros and Mustangs. I know the Mustang version is a cable driven clutch, so you still wouldn't have a master cylinder. Good luck with your swap. I just checked in over at Chevy | Camaro | Firebird Reviews, Performance Parts, Modifications - LS1Tech.com, and really helpful information is over there as far as the motor swap itself goes, just not alot of info on swapping it into what I want it in!