So I've finally settled on a plan for the tortoise. After much internal deliberation I've ditched the idea of a bagged mini in hopes for something a little more unique IMO. I purchased the truck a while back as a work and future project and after retiring it from work and getting settled into a new place which actually has a large enough garage to do some real work in so the sh!t is about to hit the fan. Gone is the old and much under powered (for my liking) 22r and in the it's place will soon be sitting a 1UZ-FE VVT-i. To transfer the power to the rear wheels I am in search of a R154 out of a turbo supra and connected to the engine via Quantum Auto Bellhousing adapter. For the rear end I haven't decided but hopefully it'll be an IRS setup out of a lexus or supra. But as for now, I must work with what I've got so most of the work has been going into body: Shaving everything possible and fixing the hidden gems buried under many year old body filler. The previous owner had painted the truck with what seems to be some sort of impenetrable implement paint that has made the stripping process excruciating even with the loads of volatile chemicals I've thrown at it. And even though I can't believe I'm saying this but thankfully I live in Oklahoma where there are no annual inspections for smog or safety or anything else for that matter so there will be no issues on taking this thing out of the garage and onto the street. I'm going to upload as many pics as possible but being computer illiterate someone might have to tell me how to post large pictures and not just thumbnails ha. Oh,,, and as of right now I have Belltech drop spindles up front, flipped bj's, turned the torsions slightly, Belltech drop leafs and blocks in the rear and Monomaxs all around.

 

Some more pics of the work being done.

 

nice work bra...

 

Hot damn....I like your plans for this project!!!

 

Thanks guys! I know they're kinda lofty plans but what the heck else am I going to do lol. I'll post a few more pics tomorrow. It's going to be a slow process cause not onlydo i have to save for the engine but also I'm trying to get all thet tools to do it with.

 

] Got a few more pics to post up. Scored a decent deal on a R154 yesterday so that's one more piece down.

 

Lookin forward to this it seems the 1uz swaps are the hot topic

 

Attempting to shave the engine bay some and clear up a little room. I cut out the big hump where the blower motor went. This is my first time cutting on a firewall so we'll see how it turns out...

 

Nice project. I'm starting to like the longbeds.

Have you done your research on the 1UZ VVti engines? Since the ignition system uses theft deterent keys (chipped) you will HAVE to have the key, column switch, immobilzer and other important parts to get the engine to run. Only other option is standalone. The 89-94 1uz's are the easiest options. 50-40 hp less but they have thicker rods and are non-interference motors. The 5 speed swap gets most people 20-25 more hp to the wheels anyway. 225 whp is more than a handful in these little trucks.

Goodluck with the swap.

 

Yotarip, i haven't heard about that... Thanks for bumming me out lol. I'll definitely look into that before i purchase the engine. Thank you for letting me know man

 

IRS setup in these little trucks with twice as much power would be a riot. I'm picking up an '86 Xtra Cab in a week or 2 here and your current stance is what I'm after. What size blocks are you using and how big of a notch do you have under there? Good luck with the project.

 

That's what i was thinking Quicker! I'm running a 3" block and we only had to notch the frame about 1/2 way through and it clears fine without hitting. I just ordered the notch kit from streetacos and welded it in.

 

here's a pic of the firewall after getting rid of the hump for the blower motor. Cleared up about 2" or so

 

pics of firewall