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sesto elemento
sesto elemento SuperDork
3/25/17 6:14 p.m.

I've been building an 89 hilux that was my first street legal vehicle. My parents bought it new in 1988, and I bought it from them in 95. It it sentimental to me as so many firsts happened in it and it was the first space in this world that was truly my own. Also, I beat the ever loving E36 M3 out of it, and it took it like I was giving it a good wash and wax not getting big air and climbing sand pits with it. I've had it for 22+ years, I learned to drive in it on the power lines near my parent's house when it was new. It took me to the motorcross track for countless races, and to local riding spots every weekend. I Love this little truck, so I thought might as well build a rediculous custom version of it that fulfills my wildest fantasies about what it could become. So here we go.....

Before it all went mad...

<img src="hilux photo IMG_3527.png" />

<img src="hilux photo IMG_2647.png" />

<img src="hilux camping photo stinkybuttmanda113.jpg" />

Lm7 used for mock up, mounted, fits nice. (Before 95 style front end swap, next/ final iteration will be 4 runner front.) <img src="lm7 swap hilux photo ryanjan08003.jpg" />

It's getting a total chaos long travel ifs/irs (yes, I said irs) suspension system, king motorsports remote reservoir coilovers, turbo Ls power, fiberwerx glass everything but cab, lots of fabrication and custom work like a shaved firewall, a cab extension to make room for storage and audio, and lots of mounting points to increase storage and utility.

<img src=" photo 9B3E7E3B-7E03-4BFA-9FBF-ECC99C7E3C12.jpg" />

<img src=" photo 6986820D-362A-4CA7-9C18-042839B5A3E3.jpg" />

The irs setup swaps the straight axle for what is basically a second front suspension (including the front frame section from a donor truck z channel welded with fish plates, crazy strong) with the factory front 4 pot fixed calipers and discs. An fzj80 master is a direct swap and works with the 4 wheel discs. I'm using brembo plain rotors for now with goodridge lines and hawk pads. Should stop pretty good

As many of you know, I have a tendency to go all racecar on my builds, this one will have some race car swagger as well but will also have some creature comforts. These trucks weren't high falootin from the factory, so a spartan interior is what we're starting with. The oem dash is getting retained but is getting flocked and has been upgraded to 4 runner spec. 4runners got little upgrades like glovebox lighting, cigarette lighter surround light, ashtray light, key illumination, knee vent for hvac, map light mirror, pillar oh E36 M3 handles, tilt column, intermittent wipers, tach guage cluster, and for now an is300 steering wheel (because my wife stole my momo ). The factory door panels are simplistic so they're a great candidate for carbon door cards and a pull strap. Currently I'm rockin recaro trophy buckets with black leather bolsters and grey valour centers. The long term plan is either a stack data cluster or a tablet based system of some sort.

<img src="hilux momo photo iphone1024.jpg" />

The body is front halved with a tube structure to support the radiator support/headlight/grill. (When all is said and done it's likely that the radiator will be rear mounted and in it's original location the intercooler will reside). The truck will also be back halved with a tube structure to provide some semblance of rollover protection as well as support the rear bedsides. The glass body (everything aside from the main cab section is replaced) is from fiberwerx and is an Ivan Stewart race truck replica. There will be mounting points for accessories like an aluminum race jack, a high lift jack, and water tight lockable pelican containers for storage. The oem bed and rear frame with ferrera leaf springs and bilseins (stuff that I installed during an earlier evolution of this build) is getting made into a matching adventure trailer with rack holding an arb roof top tent, cooking stuff, potable water containment. It will retain the factory fuel tank to add capacity to the fuel cell that will be the primary fuel source for the vehicle. It'll get matching wheels and will be painted at the same time as the rest of the truck. Basically a fully equipped camping rig as easy as hooking up a trailer hitch and it can function as a bed should the need arise. <img src=" photo C290AA22-D4C7-45E5-B13C-9ADB09461F91.jpg" />

sesto elemento
sesto elemento SuperDork
3/25/17 6:54 p.m.

Much, much more to come.

sesto elemento
sesto elemento SuperDork
3/25/17 7:16 p.m.

This is the body that I'm itching to install. <img src=" photo 839C3F79-3EE7-4EAC-A6A3-434C4B8EC0AD.jpg" />

sesto elemento
sesto elemento SuperDork
3/25/17 7:17 p.m.

Pretty busy at the shop, a lot of cool builds goin on right now. We did an ome/arb 3" lift on my buddy's 4runner, we're picking away at the camaro while we wait to hear what it's fate is. We're finishing the fj40 build. Getting ready to put a 1zz in the silver turbo spyder, and doing some detailing on the sportx. <img src=" photo 7EDE1CC3-D5C8-4D91-92FE-9D44BFF7362C.jpg" />

wheelsmithy
wheelsmithy GRM+ Memberand Dork
3/25/17 7:18 p.m.

I have waited patiently for this build thread. I had a '90 4X4. Good truck. This looks awesome.

sesto elemento
sesto elemento SuperDork
3/25/17 7:21 p.m.

This is a big part of the inspiration for the irs build. I saw this and something just clicked. <img src=" photo 929CCF96-1379-45AC-A2FA-56B309B64738.png" />

<img src=" photo C2B3784C-7FCC-4FA8-B847-783681387604.jpg" />

It's getting a mkiii turbo supra rear diff. Because lsd, stout and same gear ratio as front diff. The driveline is going to be a bit of an experiment because I'm going to try an r series transmission. There are some mkiii supras putting big power through r154s but no one seems to be abusing r151fs like this. If I can't get them to hold together, I'll do a 4l80 or something. I hope the stick will live with this power level cause I hate autos but we'll see. If I do an auto it'll be full manual with paddles.

The front axles are t100 4wd fronts. Rears will be custom.

sesto elemento
sesto elemento SuperDork
3/25/17 7:31 p.m.

I like these trucks and have had a few, this is my wife in her old one that I threw together for her one winter. I think these are cool shots. Sh Loved wheeling in that truck. <img src="manda wheelin photo IMG_1237.jpg" />

<img src="manda wheelin photo IMG_1191_1.jpg" />

wvumtnbkr
wvumtnbkr GRM+ Memberand SuperDork
3/25/17 7:59 p.m.

With all the new stuff it seems like you could have left the truck together and started from scratch!

Awesome build!

sesto elemento
sesto elemento SuperDork
3/25/17 8:09 p.m.
wvumtnbkr wrote: With all the new stuff it seems like you could have left the truck together and started from scratch! Awesome build!

Then I wouldn't have gotten my first speeding ticket in that truck.

ebonyandivory
ebonyandivory UltraDork
3/26/17 3:54 p.m.

You live in some nice country. I'm closer to the Atlantic but have 'wheeled in North Adams and Florida a couple times.

Pre-Runners (lumping a few genres together) are absolutely my favorite type of vehicle.

Had a Ranger (TIB) and F150 and Bronco (TTB) and regrettably never really got to make one out of any them. My screen name has even been "Pre Pre-Runner" owing to my trucks and my plans for them.

I'm envious of your projects (owned a mint FJ-40 myself ). Will be watching closely.

sesto elemento
sesto elemento SuperDork
3/26/17 8:23 p.m.

Yup, western and central mass have some good wheelin. We're in Northampton right now and are looking at a house in Ashefield so if all goes well, I'll be terrorizing that whole area, lots of trails up there.

The primary usage is going to be street use and fire road stuff with some expedition travel as the ultimate goal. I want to be able to hook up the trailer and go camping without having to pack much other than food and clothes. I want to be able to go fast over any surface. It always drove me nuts how the solid rear end would skitter around on bumpy corners, that will be over.

Lof8
Lof8 GRM+ Memberand HalfDork
3/26/17 8:40 p.m.

I'm in for the ride. This looks really cool!

sesto elemento
sesto elemento SuperDork
3/26/17 8:45 p.m.

In reply to ebonyandivory: Where are you living now?

Dusterbd13
Dusterbd13 PowerDork
3/26/17 8:53 p.m.

Turbo ls Street driven trophy truck? Thos is going to be berkeleying nuts.

MrChaos
MrChaos GRM+ Memberand HalfDork
3/26/17 9:06 p.m.

Saw TCF stuff then saw my wallet cry.

sesto elemento
sesto elemento SuperDork
3/26/17 9:50 p.m.
MrChaos wrote: Saw TCF stuff then saw my wallet cry.

They've been Real good to me. Top shelf people over there. Nice products too.

DaewooOfDeath
DaewooOfDeath SuperDork
3/26/17 10:53 p.m.

Wow, incredible concept.

I do wonder about the IRS, though. Wouldn't a properly sorted five link be stronger?

java230
java230 SuperDork
3/26/17 10:56 p.m.

In reply to sesto elemento:

Oh this is gonna be good! I've been eyeballing the TC LT for my truck since I got it...

Nice shop, I'm drooling. I thought you were getting rid of the turbo 1zz

ebonyandivory
ebonyandivory UltraDork
3/27/17 5:04 a.m.
sesto elemento wrote: In reply to ebonyandivory: Where are you living now?

South Eastern Ma. the Land Of Disappearing 4x4 Areas.

sesto elemento
sesto elemento SuperDork
3/27/17 9:31 a.m.

In reply to DaewooOfDeath:

I'm hoping that I can build a strong enough irs to handle whay I'm throwing at it. Straight axles suck at keeping tires in contact with the ground and are big unsprung weight so hopefully it's the right move. We'll see

Sky_Render
Sky_Render SuperDork
3/27/17 10:06 a.m.

Holy crap, this thing is going to be cool.

MOAR PICTURES!

sesto elemento
sesto elemento SuperDork
3/27/17 11:25 a.m.
java230 wrote: In reply to sesto elemento: Oh this is gonna be good! I've been eyeballing the TC LT for my truck since I got it... Nice shop, I'm drooling. I thought you were getting rid of the turbo 1zz

I'm keeping the silver spyder a 1zz turbo and 2zz turbo swapping the white one. Silver one is for sale but I'm loving the idea of a rally style midengined turbo winterbeater so there's some likelyhood that I'll keep it for a regular car and every winter lift it and put rally tires on it and pound around in the snow.

Crackers
Crackers Reader
3/27/17 11:32 a.m.
sesto elemento wrote: This is a big part of the inspiration for the irs build. I saw this and something just clicked. <img src=" photo 929CCF96-1379-45AC-A2FA-56B309B64738.png" /> <img src=" photo C2B3784C-7FCC-4FA8-B847-783681387604.jpg" />

What the hell is this insanity?!

appliance_racer
appliance_racer Reader
3/27/17 11:39 a.m.

My wife and I refer to these trucks as the McFly yotas. We both have had a love for these since Marty Mcfly got his black one all waxed up by Biff.

Sweet truck! Awesome ideas! Please continue as quickly as possible as my wife will be asking me for the updates!

java230
java230 SuperDork
3/27/17 11:44 a.m.
sesto elemento wrote:
java230 wrote: In reply to sesto elemento: Oh this is gonna be good! I've been eyeballing the TC LT for my truck since I got it... Nice shop, I'm drooling. I thought you were getting rid of the turbo 1zz
I'm keeping the silver spyder a 1zz turbo and 2zz turbo swapping the white one. Silver one is for sale but I'm loving the idea of a rally style midengined winterbeater so there's some likelyhood that I'll keep it for a regular car and every winter lift it and put rally tires on it and pound around in the snow.

Awesome, Id still love to turbo mine.... Too many other projects eating $$

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