It's great having another...
It's great having another early Toyota in the stable. This one is slated for a quick and simple build. It may be difficult to stay on track with our initial game plan, which is to keep the truck a budget build by using old parts that have been lying around our shops, components scavenged from friends, old projects, and junkyards.
This tough economy has left some folks with too little, some with too much, and a lucky few with bargain 4x4s to wheel and deal on. Great finds on trail rigs can be readily found in a neighbor's driveways, behind barns, and on Craigslist or eBay, trail rigs that can be had for cheap or possibly even for trade.
Recently we picked up an '87 Toyota Extra Cab for a little scratch and some horse trading. The battered truck was laid to rest in the dirt behind Overkill Engineering's shop in Nuevo, California. It's not that the guys at Overkill were in dire straits; in fact, they're doing quite well. But they had too many project rigs lying around so we struck one heck of a deal.
We're big fans of the early '80s Toyota mini-trucks because they're rugged, make great little wheelers, and are easily modified with an abundant supply of aftermarket parts. Our new project Toyota has been wheeled hard by seasoned four-wheelers over a number of trails across the country, making it feel like a great hand-me-down! We have to give the truck a name, so we'll keep the old alias the guys had for it at the shop and continue to call it Squishy (due to the old suspension).
There's already a lot of tube work on the truck, and it sports a nice exo-cage, which will make the build go quickly. However, given what we do for a living, the rig won't remain in its original state, so the rear tubing and exo-cage will be reworked and the tired 22RE will possibly be swapped for a junkyard engine with more power. Obviously there weren't any axles under the Toy, but a Dana 60 rear and 44 front axles that have been sort of lying around might do the trick. Stay tuned for more old-school Toyota tech.
The '87 Toyota was a great...
The '87 Toyota was a great find; the truck sat idle in Overkill's vehicle graveyard for over a year and might have been given away for scrap. Squishy will make a great project and will get us out on the trail in a month or two.
The frame of the truck has...
The frame of the truck has been chopped and tubed just behind the cab. The tube work supports the suspension, links, and fuel tank. We are going to relocate the mounts for the used coilovers and add a larger fuel tank, a mount for the spare tire, and a place for trail gear and spare parts.
A well-used Dana 60 axle that's...
A well-used Dana 60 axle that's been stored for a couple years will work nicely in the rear; it's already fitted with a Detroit Locker and 35-spline shafts. A Dana 44 filled with an Ox Locker and a Solid Axle Industries 35-spline outer axle kit will do the job in the front of Squishy.
We're not sure what's gone...
We're not sure what's gone on inside the cab of the Toyota, but it's rough. The interior will get fire-hosed out, and the massive ghetto seats from a Chevy Caprice will be replaced with lighter Mastercraft seats that have been stored for the last five years.
Some of us can't open our...
Some of us can't open our garages without old parts like links and driveshafts rolling down the driveway! The old rod ends are in great shape and will help keep build costs low, and the driveshafts might get reused (wheelbase allowing).