Dwill817's 1981 Toyota Pickup 4x4

Nice! Are they just plastic?

I just swapped out my driver's side the other day and now I can't get my fat ass between the seat and steering wheel. I don't think I can get much lower on the OEM seat sliders.

DSC00065 by Jonathan K, on Flickr

 

I didn't realize you had a first gen.. Still building the Tacoma?

Yeah they're plastic. For $50 with harnesses I couldn't complain. They're molded real well to the shape of your lower back and butt so it sits nice.. Fiancé sat in them for awhile and gave the stamp of approval before I bought themso.. I'm straight lol

 

I bought it a week and a half ago as my DD. But so far 'DD' has been 'Distraction Device' (from the Tacoma) rather than 'Daily Driver'.

50 bucks? Yeah, can't argue with that. haha
If they're decent enough for long trips I may have to go that or a similar route. Or a QD steering wheel.

 

I haven't figured out when and how to mount these seats.. The interior floor needs cleaned up and bedlined or something cause it looks bad and I need to build a little stand to put these on the raise em up a few inches..

I won't run harnesses until I get a cage for safety's sake, but I haven't figured out how to run them on an exo without going through the back of the cab or building a mini inside cage..

 

Post some pics of that thing 45acp.. It looks real clean

 

It's an '81 as well. Overall great shape with the exception of small spots of rust in/on the bed and fenders.

DSC00057 by Jonathan K, on Flickr

Oh yeah, the rust that used to be the front body mounts.

DSC00062 by Jonathan K, on Flickr

DSC00060 by Jonathan K, on Flickr

I spent the weekend fabricating new sections of floor so the body mount issue is fixed now. The sound dampening material seems to hold moisture in, so I removed it and an air chisel makes quick work of it. I have plenty of roll-on bed liner and I was happy with the way it turned out in the Tacoma, so I'll be using it here too.


If you're running an exo, I'd probably just weld a long piece of 1/8" or 3/16" thick plate along or under that reinforcement just below the rear window. That should be more than adequate support for anchoring harnesses. You could go so far as to run some plate or tabs on the horizontal brace of the exo hoop and use some bolts to tie that interior bracing to the cage.

 

Man that thing looks good.. I want another 100% stock one to put around town in. I think it would compliment this one perfect!

I wanted to keep my stock and restore it and then I started riding and cared more about riding more than restoring.. I'll get another one day and keep it clean

 

The 84-88/89 models have the same body mount rust as a result of the windshield trim trapping moisture causing the pillars to rust and leak, and water soaks around the cab mount. I will have to fix my '87 eventually.

 

Do it while you can! These things seem impossible to find unless you're up in the PNW. Based on what I could find currently and old for sale ads, these things have literally doubled in value in the last ten years. I'm sure it's thanks to the off-roaders drying up the market and destroying them on the trails.

 

I haven't found any sign (so far) that I've had leaking around the windshield, but potentially the seal around the clutch MC. The insulation was a little damp around it and there is surface rust and peeling paint around the MC in the engine bay. Almost looks like they didn't fully prime the cab in its entirety before the base color.

 

Mine done the same, but the only rust in the floor is right under the gas pedal and about a 1/2" x 6" hole right on the edge by the door and inline with the front seat mount..

 

Got high steer on.. Pretty aggravating to get it all lined up perfectly, but I got it..



Booyah!

 

Looks good dude!

 

I reckon I'm gonna go to 14s in the front.. I'm getting like 7" of up travel and 5" down how the 12s are set up..

I know I can redo the shock towers and get better travel but I think I can do a lot better with 14s..

 

Just FYI I'm 28" to the frame and my 14's bottom out. And is only going to get worse when I lower it. Planning on going 12's up front and put the 14's through the bed in the back

 

Is that normal up/down travel for leaf spring setups? I'm running 4 up/10 down... but with coilovers/links.

 

FWIW I had the tall TG towers on my '85 and fit 14" shocks no problem. The fender well had to be cut open for those towers.

The solid axle frames arch higher than IFS and Tacoma frames. I can't fit 14" with the same towers on my '87

 

I think he's just measuring what the shock is capable of at his current ride height, not actual travel. I'd be surprised if he's getting 7" of suspension up travel. My 82 moved very well and I was getting 4"-4.5" or so of up and that was with the spring going very negative

 

I haven't cycled it yet.. I know I can't go up 7" for sure, but only having 5" of down travel on the shock will limit my down..

For now I may just go redo the upper mount and keep the 12s..

But at the same time, my buddy has 14s on his 1st gen and he fits them pretty good. He set his shock so that he runs out of uptravel and the springs are flat. I don't remember his uptravel though, like 4".

I am about 1.5" lower lift than him, but I don't care if I have to cut the Inner fender up.

Ideally I'd have 5" up and 9" down and bumpstop it there.

 

I don't care if my springs go negative.. I can always build another pack if they wear out..