Well, this is Beatrice, my pickup. She's got a stock 22rte engine with auto transmission.
So I guess to start it all off, here is what she was when I first got her:

Put some new mirrors and wheels on:

2" blocks in the back:

before lowering the front, I decided to get some 4wd fenders:

and with a little paint:

A while back I did a head gasket replacement, put in a dual row timing chain kit from LCE, and some ARP head studs. Also put in LCE's CNC turbo manifold stock replacement.:

I'll be posting more pics of things I have done, and hope to keep adding pics of what I am doing, so stay tuned.

 

Belltech front sway bar and sway-a-way torsion bars, can't really see it, but theres nitro drop shock for the front
Belltech rear sway bar, Gabriel load bearing shocks with coilovers, and 2" exhaust going to a thrush glasspack
Got the steering wheel of an old fiat, covered my cracked dash bumper with some flannel. I need to get around to carpeting
Some nice new vinyl seats

 

Very nice man, keep it comming!

 

got a couple gauges, not sure where I'm going to mount em
Tested the boost gauge, and it was showing a max out around 9psi.

 

took a ride out to the river for labor day, the new AU corner lights look nice

 

What size guages? Have you looked into,the A pillar guage mounts? Comes with either 2 or 3. I have a 3 in mine..

 

Yeah, they are made for a 2 1/16" hole, I looked into the pillar mount, but am thinking of making a custom box for now. My plan down the road is to replace the instrument cluster, mounting the gauges in a plank of teak or something.

 

So I'm looking for some opinions and advice. I'm thinking of putting on a 4wd grille, maybe in black? Also thinking of going with a 4wd valance, anyone know if they mount up the same as the 2wd one?
I'm also looking to put a camper shell on, looking a some new ones and maybe hitting some yards. I've got the US bed style, so mounting isn't a problem, anyone know of what models or anything will fit my bed? If someone knows of a good place in the bay area to find stuff for these trucks that would be a help as well.
cheers!

 

pulled the after market cruise control and put in an oil catch can, so here is a picture. The can is in the bottom left corner.

 

Installed my turbo/vacuum gauge as well. It's hose is connected to the funny little thing with 3 outlets on the back on my plenum. Looks like I'm getting a max of about 9psi. The gauge is just taped to my steering column for now, which actually helps hold the cowl over the column steady, which is nice because it only has 2 screws holding it in.

 

The flat spot on the face of the glove box is a cool place to put gauges.


If you're lucky, you may find the inclimeter assembly from a first gen 4runner to gut and mount gauges in.

 

That is pretty cool, and I dig the ones under the stereo too!

So last night I got my 4wd valance, installed it this morning with quite a bit of elbow grease, and it looks funky. Basically the 2wd bumper is too narrow for it. I'd hate to get rid of the one piece bumper and it looks like there is no 1 piece 4wd or 4runner bumper, so I guess for now I will just have to go with the 2wd valance considering it looks a lot better than the mash and cram I did to the the 4wd valance to get it in there.

 

So maybe the valance is growing on me:




It doesn't really show, but I changed the muffler to one with better flow and 2 outputs, and sent those down through 2 1/4" pipes to a couple thrush glasspacks. Seems like the turbo is breathing a little easier

 

Well earlier this week I took out my middle leafs, and did the manual steering conversion, So it was a pretty good week. With the middle leafs out, she sits nearly dead level, instead of but up in the air.


And here are some shots of the Engine bay without all the power steering gizmos:



For some reason I was surfing the Ebays and came across a hurst quarter stick shifter that I somehow ended up with buying for 50$, so now it looks like I get to try to figure some way to get it hooked up to my transmission. got any tips?

 

I may have missed it, but why remove the PS? Truck is coming along nice.

 

Thanks! sure is a lot of fun. I guess there wete a couple reasons for the swap first of whitch was for a more responsive/ tactile driving experience, and secondly to clear up clutter under the hood.

 

also figured losing the weight pump, and drag from the extra pulley wouldn't hurt.

 

Got the new shifter in, wasn't too bad.





With a different mount I think I can get it to come out the slot in the stock console. I also want to figure out how to wire up my ECT switch to the button on the knob.
Does anyone know how those ECT switches work? there are 5 wire coming out of it!

 

Well the shifter is working out great! well, it is an automatic so I guess mostly it just feels badass. Also found out that with the overdrive switch unplugged the default is on, so no problems highway driving.

Replaced all the steering linkages, tie rods, ball joints, and idler arm today. That new Idler arm is STIFF, and with the manual steering box it is TIGHT to turn the wheel.

 

PAINTING DAY!


Well, painting day was yesterday. I didn't like the off white that I had painted the new fenders, so I went with a more true white (no pics yet), and I kinda hate it. The pure white it too cold and sterile, so I'm thinking of more of an antique white, kind of yellowish.
Until I find the right color, I will be driving around with fenders, valance, hood, and cowl in pure white, doors that are a very pinkish beige, and the rest of the cab and bed in toyota 1986 white.