NMTOY"S 98 Imperial Jade Street truck

I've owned a lot of 80's and early 90's Toyota trucks and 4Runners over the last 25 years.

I sold my last truck in September of 2019. It was a really nice 88 Excab 4wd, V6, 5spd. It was awesome in the dirt but really slow on the highway.

I owned it for 11 years and rebuilt pretty much everything on it.

 

I decided I wanted another 2wd truck. I also own a 97 Cobra and have had the factory wheels sitting in the garage for years. I needed a truck to fit the wheels...

 

I started looking for a 2wd tacoma before I sold my 88 but wanted an Extra cab with a 3.4 and an auto trans. 5 speed would have been ok too.

Turns out that combination is fairly rare. I was looking at trucks all over the western US and was prepared to do a Fly and drive for the right truck. Then Covid happened and put that plan on hold.

Fast forward to December 2020 and I found this truck on Facebook Marketplace. It was 60 miles away but looked good in the pics. I went and drove it and bought it on the spot.




It had a shell that didn't really fit ( I think it'ts for a regular cab) but it drove really well and has good power. Green was not my first choice but the paint and body are really clean.

The interior was good but not great. The seats were kind of beat...




The first upgrade was to get rid of the shell, no use for it...



Then I got some Depo clear corner light and turn signals.



The dirt on the hood is footprints from my cat Persephone.

 

Next mod was KYB Gas adjust shocks. Then I found a set of used Michelin Pilot sport AS3 tires in 245/45/17 for a good price.



I also got some Husky liners for the front floor and some energy suspension Poly bushings and endlinks for the front swaybar. Now the truck is starting to be fun to drive.

I have had aftermarket front and rear swaybars on a couple of 2wd trucks over the years so I ordered some Addco bars the other day 7/8" rear and 1 1/8" front should make the truck handle alot better.

Originally I wasn't planning to lower this truck but as usual I can't help myself. I am looking at some Belltech front springs and getting the rear leafs de-arched.

 

I have been looking for some better seats and found some last weekend from one of the guys on this forum, Thanks "pairodice"








The truck developed a bit of a shudder while braking so I ordered new pads/ rotors and wheel bearings.



I installed the brakes and wheel bearings today. Turns out the inner wheel bearing on the right wheel was broken...

I went for a ride and bedded in the pads and rotors and I'm pretty impressed with the brake kit.

 

Looking good, nice clean ride.

It’s great when you get the time to find a gem like that. Props on the 88’ I really like that body style, I am in the middle of my project on my 85’, I doubt if I will ever get it as nice as yours, but I do hope to get Roland set up for some good trips eventually.

Roland on the way to work:

 

Thanks! I really loved the 88. I originally planned to swap a 3.4 into it but never got around to it... Roland looks like a great truck for Alaska. Warren Zevon FTW.