Toyota Noob (TN) from Tennessee (TN)

Ahoy, All!

I'd been waiting for family life to allow time and money for some mid-life hobby development, and here lately things are starting to line up. Something that's had my interest for a long time is trail riding/off roading, so, with a budget of $2000, I found this gem on CL, took a drive to Memphis and picked it up for $800 (no title).


1990 SR5 3.0 with a 3" bodylift, 31" tires (3 match!) and a honkin' Ox Lite aluminum winch bumper. There are, as one would imagine, a few kinks to work out, and I think I may have paid a little more than I could have got by with (asking price was $1200, but he didn't hesitate when I offered $800), but I think it'll do the trick without breaking the bank.

It had a newer motor put in it by the PO, and it seems to run well enough. The front axle wasn't engaging, but I found a way to bypass the VSV mess and keep it engaged full time. I have no plans to ever use it on highway. I've replaced the rear shocks, front parking brake cable, hood release cable, EGR vacuum modulator, fan and fan shroud from the local Pick a Part yard. Also found a good spare tire (size is close) there.

I have plans for a winch and I'll likely weld the 3rd member. Got a coolant leak from the hard line under the intake plenum I need to deal with. Can't find that part listed anywhere, so if I can't get it from the one at the PaP yard, I may have to improvise with some good hose. Spark plugs and wires, radiator hoses, thermostat, plenum gasket, PCV valve and grommet, and front shocks are on the way, and I need to extend the axle, transmission and xfer breathers. Also need to get the lights on and the crappy window tint off.

Hope to find some folks in the LBL area to wheel with!

 

Congrats! Hella stoked for you! Good luck on the project, and have fun with it!

 

Damn that looks like it's gonna be a fun off road project, welcome to the site man

 

Welcome, looks like fun!

 

Welcome! Keep us posted on the progress.