Hello all, Would first like to start off by saying that this is one of the best "car guy" websites that I have found. I have spent my life being completely interested in cars & trucks (and anything else mechanical). I have only recently (1 year ago) regained my interest in Toyota Mini trucks. I grew up in Orange County CA and the biggest things were old vintage VW's and lowered "mini" trucks. I sorta swayed to the VW side of things and have spent the last 20 years being engulfed in them and only used or needed trucks to haul parts and tow the broken ones. Well, about 5 years ago my best friends grandpa died & gave him his "Old painter's truck" -which just happened to be a white 1993 Toyota extra cab 2wd. He used it for a few years and then parked it saying that it needed some work, TLC & needed to pass SMOG. -I kept bugging him to sell it to me saying that I could definitely use a pickup truck, and he would say "no -it was too sentimental." Last year it finally needed to be moved from his x-girlfriends backyard and he didn't know what to do with it any more -nor wanted to try & fix it up or pay the back due registration (3 years overdue). Soooo, I was the lucky guy he asked to "Just take it outa here". I got it to run (Just barely), filled the tires up with air, made it to the gas station and then to Pep Boys. Did a parking lot tune up on it & got on the freeway and drove it about 45 miles home -with him following me. Instantly I fell in love with it! I quickly found this website & found it very helpful with topics & repair tips. I got it running pretty good & it passed SMOG! Paid the just over $500 in back due registration and used it to commute back & forth to school (almost 100 mile a day), and as a primary fun truck for the past year. I recently got into wanting to make it just right. The truck has come a long way and looks like a completely different truck than what it was when I started. It used to have a ladder rack, 2 tool boxes (1 on each side of bed), add a leafs (to level it back out), ugly stripes on both sides and the paint was REALLY chalky and faded. My friend got rid of the rack before I picked it up and I quickly got rid of those tool boxes. Waxed the snot out of it $ used a heat gun to remove the stripes & decals followed by adhesive remover. Found a cool set of 1994 to 97 16" Mustang GT wheels for it. Removed the add a leafs and discovered that it also has the "1 ton leaf spring pack /extra leaf" -so I opted for a set of 2" lowering blocks to even things out a bit. Removed the stock "AM/FM radio" & blown speakers and added a nice JVC cd player and a set of Eclipse dash speakers (truck only ever had 2 speakers total) and also prewired for some rear speakers. I have basically just shown this truck the same kind of love that I would have to any "Old" classic car, only I seem, to have alot more fun with this one right now. I have owned over 20 pre-1979 VWs -mostly Bugs, Busses and type 3s, and mostly pre-1967. I have had several Hot Rods, a couple of 4x4s and a lot of other misc. cars... But I truly love this TOYOTA pickup. -I had promised my best friend that this truck would be in good hands and that I would fix it up, and so far I have made him proud. My Grandpa (who names everything) gave it the name of "Little T" and it just stuck. So now I am just having fun fixing up "Little T" and planning on just "Driving it 'till the wheels fall off!!!!" -and enjoying every minute of it. -Looking forward to many more years of use and also to my many newly found TOYOTA friends who share the same passion. That's my story and thanks for reading.
Welcome! I live in the French Valley/Murrieta/Temecula area. Nice to see someone local. I was into VW's myself. Had a 69 Ghia, 57 standard bug, 55 standard euro bug and a 56 double door panel bus. Sadly had to sell one by one to keep up with the bills. Even though I've been bitten by the toyota bug, I sure miss my VW's.
Thanks for the welcomes. I will get some better pics of the truck and get them up on here asap. Here is just a quick recent pic taken in the garage. This is after the fender swap. I found some original "Toyota white" 4x4 front fenders that match the truck -only they are more shiny than the rest of the truck, needs more polishing. I also got a set of corner lights from a 4 runner, but they stick out further than the grill... so the next big mod is going to be the 4 runner headlights and grill. This truck has the v6 and makes some noise from the upper valve train on the passenger's side -any ideas? I think that I have tried everything and now I need to take of the plenum and the valve cover and inspect... bummer. Let me know, and thanks again in advance.
latest version of "Little T" Hey everyone. Just wanted to give an update on the truck. Since my last post... I have completed the 4Runner front end swap, and it wasn't nearly as bad as everyone made it out to be, -looks and works awesome. I managed to do it w/out changing the core support and instead just modifying the existing one. Installed a Toyota bedliner that I got a really good deal on off of Craigslist. I also upgraded the wheels to the newer 17" Mustang Bullet wheels w/ 245/45 17 tires -which really makes the truck look great. Removed the cowl and cleaned out all the years of leaves and muck, and repainted the black grills under it, re-installed w/ new hood seal and stainless hardware. Not to mention the hours and hours of rubbing out the faded /oxidized paint. This is all after I repaired the engine, -adjusted /set the lash on the valves.... what a difference. I would always recommend what I was told -"Stick with the genuine Toyota gaskets, and you can't go wrong. This is my daily driver, and my sons favorite vehicle to go anywhere in. I absolutely LOVE this truck and plan to just keep on fixing it up till there is nothing left to do but start all over again.
Nice job man, the trucks is looking real good. So you going to drop it down some? Also we are having a cruise day this sunday the 9th. Its a good way to meet a couple TMers on here and show off the truck. Keep up the good work.
