Thread: 4 Liter... Dezert Beater

I bought this truck about 4 months ago after finally selling my Honda. Its a 1993 single cab short bed with the 4.0L and a 5 speed. The truck has 57K original miles.

Since the day I bought it I have been collecting parts to transform the truck into a clean functional truck I can take out to the races and cruse around in.

The plans are simple for the time being:
5" to 6" over beams utilizing D35 spindles and beam ends
engine and bed cage while retaining most if not all of the stock comedies (air conditioning, power brakes, windshield wipers and fluid, etc...)
Deavers and Blitz bhackles
re-gear and install a factory limited slip into the stock 8.8 (till I get a 9")
Glassworks bedsides and front fenders
35"s and Outlaw II

Here are some pictures of what It looked liked when I first purchased it.

First day:

Day Two:

Day Three:

next time, sell the perfect bed and buy a cheap dented one to cut up.. easy money.
looks good.

Day Four:

















Rory reppin his bedcage!!!

Thats all I got for now I made some progress last night, but I didn't take any pictures, just a simple cross member between the shackle perches to keep the frame from flexing so much.

Any constructive criticism or comments would be very helpful and appreciated.

Thanks for looking,

Mike

no cage planned?

Cage is planned, but this is my DD and funding and time will be cut short as I go back to school later this month. Next stage for the build will be bumper to bumper cage, 32 gallon fuel cell, build 9", rear and front bypasses, but for now I have to start somewhere.

o ok. looks like its comin along nice, rory knows his shit so im sure he will answer ur questions

Well, i am quite intrigued at the way you were able to utilize the stock bed and tailgate looks like a bad ass installed the bedsides. Looks like you have a very nice bed cage as well, clean welds, and nice simple spare tire mount. Cant wait to see the beams. See you at the garage 2nite.

P.S. Look at what i wrote in the dust on the windshield of the truck

Yes I saw that you are a natural born comedian.

OMG where did you find a singlecab short bed 4.0 stick with under 60k!!!!!!

BTW good luck on the build, sounds like you have a great start. Keep posting progress pics!

It was a Sport model (Base model XL with plastic floors and what not, but It comes equipped with the 4L and stick standard) The negative was it has super gay turquoise and purple pin stripes going down the sides and a big sport on the side of the door... nothing a heat gun and some rubbing compound cant fix!!!

friend of mine just got rid of a 4l 5spd reg cab that was considered "totaled" due to the rear of the frame, behind shackles. being folded from an accident.. sold it for 1 k. 110k miles.

Mike,

Build looks awesome. Good work on getting the right truck and having a plan in place. The bedsides came out super clean too. If there is anything else you need for the build, let us know. Cant wait to see it all done

Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] ]bluedragon Posted on Aug. 01 2007,1:05Mike,

Build looks awesome. Good work on getting the right truck and having a plan in place. The bedsides came out super clean too. If there is anything else you need for the build, let us know. Cant wait to see it all done

Bram I can not thank you enough everything I need you come through and its always gets here quickly. I'm sure i'm going to need more stuff and I will be contacting you soon!!!

only problem i see is that it aint got a 2.9

Yeah its got a 4.0L... That will never work

shoulda linked it if yer plannin on beating any tacomas.

Its an inside joke... My buddy Matt is gonna start building his 2000 V6 Tacoma and were always joking about who's truck is gonna beat who's, but hes so slow I might have it linked before he's done!

Watch what you say mikey, i might just have to throw down the credit cards to show you whats up!

Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] (only1mikey @ Aug. 01 2007,3:46)]Its an inside joke... My buddy Matt is gonna start building his 2000 V6 Tacoma and were always joking about who's truck is gonna beat who's, but hes so slow I might have it linked before he's done!

I was too. The truck looks good.

thread is lookin good, reminds me when i had to take out those dam coil buckets and bedsides haha my hands were so sliced up. keep us updated, truck is looking way good

looks good. please double shear your shocks on the begcage.

Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] (Go Go Gadget Arms @ Aug. 01 2007,5:58)]looks good. please double shear your shocks on the begcage.

why?

Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] (RP@CRAFT @ Aug. 02 2007,1:59)]

Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] (Go Go Gadget Arms @ Aug. 01 2007,5:58)]looks good. please double shear your shocks on the begcage.

why?

uh oh

oh well i guess when the shock hydrolocks on him i wonder what will go first, the bolt or the .250 4130 boss. better tell camburg to double shear theres.

not worried about the tube at all. 1/2" bolts bend when single sheared ive seen it several times. Just some helpful insight. take it or leave it.

Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] (Go Go Gadget Arms @ Aug. 02 2007,9:47)]not worried about the tube at all. 1/2" bolts bend when single sheared ive seen it several times. Just some helpful insight. take it or leave it.

I appreciate your concern Go Go Gadget Arms, but since the truck doesn't have a cage and is just going to be a cruiser I don't see a reason why a single sheered shock mount will not work sufficiently. With that being said I looks like we might just be caging the truck very soon, but stay tuned...

For now here is just a little update:

new rear cross member in between the shackle perches to help frame flex:



Rory's first time using my old ass Miller MIG machine:



My girl cleaning up the frame:



That is it for now!!!!

SEND UR GIRL OVER HERE...ID PUT HER ASS TO WORK

She has been a huge help and is so cool about the truck taking up most of my spare time... A definite keeper thats for sure!!!

Watch what you say Nick I know where you live!!! (actually Rory does) JK JK

HAHAHAHA...WHO MADE THAT SHOCK HOOP??


I LIKE UR U BOLTS....SIIIIIIICK

damn i have never seen how you take a bed off and now i have a clue....looks awesome

Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] (SICKNICKSFAB.COM @ Aug. 03 2007,12:22)]HAHAHAHA...WHO MADE THAT SHOCK HOOP??


I LIKE UR U BOLTS....SIIIIIIICK

The DGAFer himself Mr. Price made the shock hoop:



I think those custom HF yellow U bolts should hold up to a race to two what do you think?

might get a bit more axle wrap then u want but u should be fine for a race or two

nah I cranked them nice and tight... I used both hands..

On a more serious note we are waiting for enough things to cut out on the waterjetter to make the minimum order which includes my spring plate shock tabs

Ok so me and Rory have decided to change up the plan for this truck. Since I bought some beams from the Dezert Rangers Classified that were bent Rory is going to build some custom extended beams and an engine cage and we decided why not fully cage the truck now that its going to be down for an extended period of time.

New specs:
full cage with exterior b pillar cab cage
32 gallon fuel cell (while keeping the stock sending unit and pump "Mexi Mike style")
possible dual spares

So as of right now the bed cage is for sale for $450

Brand new never been used
all 4130 and DOM
all TIG welded
bolt-on and will retain most of the bed
Custom aluminum spare tire mount (will accept a 33" spare or 35 with bed trimming or no bed at all)

PM me for more details

Change on plans in action:

most of the sheet metal removed getting ready for a b pillar hoop:



Holes drilled in the ground for the cage to come through: