Addicted Offroad's Project: "Always Smooth". Toyota based U4 buggy

AddictedOffroad

The Yota Specialists
Location
Windsor, CO
So, I ended up scoring some parts off a guy moving out of his shop up the street.

I picked up two FJ-80 front axles, Two rear FJ-80 axles, a pair of FJ-60 F&R axles, and a 1UZ motor.

He told me that the 1UZ motor had been in his possession for the last ten years and he got it off of a wrecked 92' SC400 that his friend had bought at auction. The kicker is that the car supposedly had less than 30K on it.

Obviously, with no "real" way to verify it, I got the motor for $300. Its relatively complete minus the ECU, AFM, and Throttle body. But everything else is there.

So, I pulled the VIN# off the motor today and plugged it into the Lexus Drivers system and pulled the maintenance history. This motor was serviced every 3000mi at Sterling Lexus in Sterling, CO. It was consistent too. Every 3K. Then in 12/1992 it stopped with 23,404 miles on it. So, the story checks out. This motor likely has 26K on it.

So, I pulled the valve cover off the driver's side to see what it looked like. Pics don't lie.

This is going into the buggy. Just need to source some minor parts for it.

1250178d1395077854-addicted-offroads-project-always-smooth-toyota-based-u4-buggy-img_0575.jpg


1250186d1395077854-addicted-offroads-project-always-smooth-toyota-based-u4-buggy-img_0573.jpg


1250194d1395077854-addicted-offroads-project-always-smooth-toyota-based-u4-buggy-img_0574.jpg
 

AddictedOffroad

The Yota Specialists
Location
Windsor, CO
Ordered up a few more little things for the new motor this week. Needed an ECU and AFM for it. I also ironed out the alternator location. I will be working on the full hydro pump brackets this weekend too.

I also bought the wifey a Sequoia last week to DD. It had some exhaust flutter under load, so I installed some of the same 2UZ headers on it today. Let me tell you what a joy that is to install. I figured with all the room in that engine bay, that I would have it done in an hour or so. Nope, took six hours. Breaking loose those nuts after 204K isn't fun.

I plan to do some R&D and get a plate bumper designed on it. So, hopefully we will have a new bumper for the 1st gen Sequoias and 1st gen Tundras.

This is what I scored from the guy on Saturday.
1x Motor
2x FJ-80 front axles
1x FJ-80 rear full floater
1x FJ-80 rear semi float
1x FJ60 front axle
1x FJ60 rear axle

1254618d1395354529-addicted-offroads-project-always-smooth-toyota-based-u4-buggy-axles.jpg
 

AddictedOffroad

The Yota Specialists
Location
Windsor, CO
Little bit of tech for you guys. Some may know it, some may not.

When doing custom motor swaps and messing with new and different brackets for your accessories. You will need a custom serpentine belt. In my case, I am running a full hydro pump, a different alternator, and eliminated the A/C compressor from the belt length. So, I needed a new custom length belt. Here is how you do it.

Previous belt part # is 6PK2245(4060885).

The easiest way to break down the part # is to ignore the 1st Part # (metric) and go to the 2nd #(inches). So, concentrate on the 4060885.
You can break down the belt part # like so:

40: this is just the manufacture's ID. In this case the 40 is a Goodyear Gatorback belt.

6: being the # of ribs in it

0885: being the length of the belt in inches: 88.5 inches

Then, you take a piece of string, and wrap it around the new setup. Lay it out, and take a measurement.

My new belt length needs to be 81.5 inches.
So, the part # I need is 4060815

Pretty simple.


Now, the 6PK2245 is the metric part # of the belt.
The 6 being # of ribs.
The PK being the width designation(20.828mm)
The 2245 being the length of the belt in mm.
 

AddictedOffroad

The Yota Specialists
Location
Windsor, CO
My harness for the new 92' motor was shipped to Tweak'd Performance last week. I should have it back sometime next week. I also took my Lexus and AW4 torque converters down to Zack's Transmissions in Longmont, CO. They cut them up to build me a new custom torque converter. They used the flex plate side of the Lexus one, and the input/spline side of the AW4 one. Stall was set at 2500 as I am hoping that with the 4.3:1 Atlas, it will help with braking. Not to mention I should still be able to launch well with it.

The Full hydro pump is now mounted to the motor as is the alternator, so I ordered up the correct length belt for the motor. I plan to pull the motor that is in the buggy out and start swapping everything over to the new one next week. Then the harness will go on when it comes in. I am getting to the point where I can start to finish weld everything up once the motor is out.

I did lay out the push bar/bumper for the front end today. Just trying to do a little each day on it when I can.

1298698d1398540507-addicted-offroads-project-always-smooth-toyota-based-u4-buggy-torqueconverter.jpg


1298706d1398540507-addicted-offroads-project-always-smooth-toyota-based-u4-buggy-photo-2-1-.jpg


1298714d1398540507-addicted-offroads-project-always-smooth-toyota-based-u4-buggy-photo-5-.jpg


1298722d1398540507-addicted-offroads-project-always-smooth-toyota-based-u4-buggy-photo-3-1-.jpg
 
Last edited:

LT.

Well-Known Member

I was checking this thread out and thought this was funny. In regards to the "little bit of tech for you guys". Here is some tech for you sir. I think those seats are supposed to be mounted on the inside of the cage. Sorry, just a little humor for y'all. I am honestly geeking out on this build. Keep the updates coming.

LT.
 

toyota rockhead

Active Member
Where are you mounting your ps pump and your alternator? In the stock locations or did you move them around? Also what alternatorare you running? I took the ac compressor off of mine and I'm planning to mount a high flow ps pump just not sure where I want it yet. Did you end up getting one if those oil pan flanges?
 

AddictedOffroad

The Yota Specialists
Location
Windsor, CO
Where are you mounting your ps pump and your alternator? In the stock locations or did you move them around? Also what alternatorare you running? I took the ac compressor off of mine and I'm planning to mount a high flow ps pump just not sure where I want it yet. Did you end up getting one if those oil pan flanges?

I'll get some pics up after the harness and stuff is in.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

AddictedOffroad

The Yota Specialists
Location
Windsor, CO
Ugh, all the little small parts are starting to kill my wallet. I've ordered all of the fuel hose, fittings, brakelines, braided lines, filters, AN fittings, etc. Nothing like a $500 bill worth of tiny little crap.
shaking.gif


Yet, still no real "progress" on it. My goal is to have it done a few weeks before the Jambo in August. Likely first trail will be Carnage.
 

LT.

Well-Known Member
Ugh, all the little small parts are starting to kill my wallet. I've ordered all of the fuel hose, fittings, brakelines, braided lines, filters, AN fittings, etc. Nothing like a $500 bill worth of tiny little crap.
shaking.gif


Yet, still no real "progress" on it. My goal is to have it done a few weeks before the Jambo in August. Likely first trail will be Carnage.

Sounds like you are getting down to the wire. It is always the small handfuls of things that take up so much time, money, and effort. Keep at it.

LT.
 

Bart

Registered User
Location
Arm Utah
I hated those last nickle and dime, well more like $50 and $100, all over the place. Its this time of the build that really soaks up the unforeseen costs and time. Good luck.
 

AddictedOffroad

The Yota Specialists
Location
Windsor, CO
First day I have worked on it in a while. Gonna try to get two solid days on it. Weekends are the only time I have for it. And most of those are filled with family stuff anyway.

Anyway:

Old motor is out. New torque converter is on the tranny.

Tweak'd Harness is on the new motor, and the bracket system is laid out. New serp belt is on. I also yanked the hydraulic fan off the SC400 motor and put the LS400 one on it.

I plan to moving the orbital for the full hydro down to the frame. Its interfering with my feet. Hope to have it laid out tomorrow.

Front axle is welded up and I threw a couple coats of paint on it. I'll need to figure out air bump pads later, but I will eventually get there.

1359817d1403385852-addicted-offroads-project-always-smooth-toyota-based-u4-buggy-img_0785.jpg


1359825d1403385852-addicted-offroads-project-always-smooth-toyota-based-u4-buggy-img_0784.jpg


1359833d1403385852-addicted-offroads-project-always-smooth-toyota-based-u4-buggy-img_0774.jpg


1359841d1403385852-addicted-offroads-project-always-smooth-toyota-based-u4-buggy-img_0776.jpg


1359849d1403385852-addicted-offroads-project-always-smooth-toyota-based-u4-buggy-img_0782.jpg
 

AddictedOffroad

The Yota Specialists
Location
Windsor, CO
Getting down to crunch time on this. I want it done for Thanksgiving at the Hammers. At this point, the motor, tranny, tcase are all ready for final assembly into the rig. we reworked the front coilover mounts a little, and the front axle is fully assembled.

I am moving the orbital down to the frame instead of running it up high as well. Teddy and I plan to spend a couple hours everyday working on it after hours.

1449537d1410316780-addicted-offroads-project-always-smooth-toyota-based-u4-buggy-img_0786.jpg


1449545d1410316780-addicted-offroads-project-always-smooth-toyota-based-u4-buggy-img_0788.jpg
 
Top