All right. I'll try my best to start this new build-up thread. Found this rust-free AZ truck in CG and jumped on it right away. The 22R engine was reportedly bad and the owner gave up in the middle of the repair. It sat in the desert for a couple of years and was rescued by a 20R-22R fan (me). Here are some images from its "resting" state, loaded in the trailer, and after a good cleanup at a Phoenix car wash (I hope I'm doing the attachment thing right.....)

 

Cool man, congrats on the find, looks like a great project, what are your plans?

 

Whoo for another az truck!!! Cool save man!

 

Congrats!

Man thats awesome.........please keep us posted on the goings-on with it!

 

Cool! Even with a Japanese bed. Let me know if you need ideas.

 

Good find, looking forward to updates

 

Thanks team. The short term plans are to finish rebuilding a 20R I found from a '77 Celica (and 5-speed W50'sh tranny) and put it in the truck after I clean the engine bay. The original 22R was in bad shape (corroded cylinder head, very gunky block internals, and way to much wear on the cylinders). When I took apart the 20R, originally intended to use it for a "hybrid", everything was looking so good that I decided just to rebuild the old '77.
I will hopefully end with an old-school hot rod look. Will drop the back with 3" blocks and the front with a ball joint relocation and some torsion bars adjustments (have been reading a lot of these threads here). I have a set of 1980 SR5 steelies with beauty rings and Toyota center caps, but also have some baby moons that perfectly fit the factory black steelies. I'll place some more pictures soon, I know these threads are way more interesting with them. Regards, Naz

 

Some pictures showing as it sits in my garage, the arrival of the 20R, interior, the finding of a loose center camshaft cap that required repair (fixed with Dura-Bond bearing), and the parted/cleaned engine. I just got everything checked and I'm good to go (pressure tested, head/block straightness, etc). Flex-hone the block will follow.

 

Super cool! Looking forward to seeing how it turns out.

 

It's been a long time since I updated this thread. The truck project was halted for a while but now I'm moving and need to finish it ASAP. I installed the rebuilt 20R engine, 32/36 Weber, Carter electric fuel pump, rebuilt W50 5-speed, all new: brakes, rebuilt calipers, rear cylinders, master cylinder, clutch master & slave, radiator, hoses, belts, accelerator cable, and maybe more that I can't remember right now. Installed 4 new tires on SR5 rims I found on craigslist (bought them only for the beauty rims but ended up installing the wheels..). Removed the bed to unclog a fuel line and gave the chassis a good wash. I'll spray paint the surface rust (this thing sat in the desert for years...) and will clean the bottom of the bed before placing it back. New shocks all around are in order. Need to weld the floor piece I cut to fit the 5-speed, which made the shifter about 3 inches further back (which I really like). Truck runs straight and very strong, engine revs and idles like new. Maybe, just maybe, I'll drop it a few inches. I'll wait and see how it looks and handles after putting the bed back.

 

Good looking truck

 

Spray-can painted the rear chassis, installed new KYBs, and revived the cab's red paint with HD polishing compound plus wax (by hand). Also cleaned bed undercarriage. Bed is due next for the same paint revival treatment. I'm on the look for all sidemarker lights since all of them fell apart during removal (thanks AZ heat).

 

Where did you order your kybs from? front and rear or just rear?

 

KYBs are from eBay. I looked up the part numbers at RockAuto.com, compared the prices to eBay, and got a much better deal with free shipping. The front ones where difficult to find. Bought the same P/N but from a Chevy model. Same size but without the top cap. I'll install a rubber dust cover and will be good to go.

 

Almost done. Need to straighten and install the front bumper, paint the wiper arms, tune the weber (with factory air cleaner assy on top), connect the heater hoses, and find all those side markers..

 

Purdy! I'm exited to see the stock filter assembly on your Weber! I'll be puttin one on my '86 and hope to pass the visual AZ inspection. I'm down here in Tucson, looks like you might be too, yes? That's a beautiful truck!

 

Thanks rabbit.arrow Yes, I'm down in beautiful Tucson. I "rescued" the truck from Glendale AZ. It was parked for several years after a head gasket failure. After tuning the carb I'll install the air filter assy and post a few more pictures. Needed to leave all those emission little hoses in place to get it to the DEQ this upcoming weekend.

 

This will probably be the only time I will say this lol...but, you should leave it stock!

You have a beautiful truck man

 

It will be left stock jdbragg, as it will endure a 1,628-mile drive to our new place down in Huntsville Alabama on December (~ 3 hours from you jdbragg ). I'm looking for a camper shell in Craigslist, there are several in Phoenix so maybe next weekend I'll install one. Today I tuned the Weber 32/36, put a timing light, and test drove it in the highway. It runs strong, straight like an arrow, and that rebuilt 20R sounds just awesome. The W50 5-speed is smooth and is a must for the highway... I'll be installing the factory air cleaner next, and figuring out how to connect the heater hoses (this used to be a 22R, 20R is a bit different).

 

Awesome man! We should try and get us a little southeast Toyota group going.