Well, I bought the truck for $1500 about 2 1/2 years ago and it was love at first drive.

Here she is after her first day out on the trail:


First thing that the rig needed was a new clutch. $180.00 later, a new heavy duty Lucas Gold clutch was installed.

The truck drove great, but I had noticed that there was a distinct tic from the bottom end that was clearly NOT the typical 22RE tick. Sure enough, the mechanic confirmed it is a bad rod bearing zand the ITming chain cover is leaking. The Truck now (8/07) has 230k on it so this isn't relly a shocker. I have been batting around the various swap ideas, 3RZ, 5VZ, and the one I REALLY wanted ot make work, the 1KZTE diesel ( my god how I wnat a diesel) however, in the intrest of making this one really reliable Expedition rig, I belive that i have settled on a Re-Gear and a rebuild of the 22RE. It is to say the least, THE most bulletproof motor ever used in a truck, and while it may not bee a power house, it does just fine and I am currently running 4.10's with 31's. My thin king is that when I get the correct gearing to match the 33's (4.88's) I'll be perfectly happy with the little motor that could. My only complaint about the power currently is having to go into 3rd when going over mountain passes and up really steep grades. Holding 55 in third doesn't feel like it's good for the motor.

Next came a Marlin bumper to replace the bent up POS tin one it came with:

Cant say enough good things about the protection this thing offers. I love it.

The came the Basket rack and shove mount: (ty pic, but it's all I have of it.)



As with all older Yotas, my ass was sagging bad.


SO I decided to go with a nice set of OME HD rear leafs and BJ spacers with OME Nitro Charger gas shocks all around and an OME Steering stabilizer:







It rides GREAT!!!

FUTURE MODS:

-Rear Drawer System and flat sleeping platform/loadfloor to match. This will have a removable front section to allows use of both rear seats.

-4.88 Gears with Either E-locker or ARB in the rear. (It's an IFS rig, I'm not mucking around with a front locker)

-33x9.50 SXT MT's

-Rebuild the 22RE (unless I miraculously come up with the money to do a 1KZ-TE swap AHHHHHHHHH)

-Safari Snorkle

-Re Locate the Basket rack to the Fiberglass top so it's lower and farther back.

-TJM t-17 bumper that I will later add my own front hoop to

-Sliders (probably will have these custom fabbed cause I've got a few ideas and requirements I'm not really seeing in what's out there.)

And on and on and on...

Cheers

Dave King

 

Got a breand new 22RE long block(and injectors) and new radiator installed... Truck will be back tomorow... Now to Re-gear and get new tires!!!!!!

 

She's now riding on 33" BFG AT's and aside from some 4.88's and some traction aides I couldn't be happier. It's amazing to me how much difference new tires have made. The pold 31's were bald and hard, these new tires ride far smoother, partly due to the larger diam. not dropping into pot-holes as much, but good tread and new rubber definatly help too.

Cheers

Dave