My Toyota/H1 Replica

[sabro]

I started with a sand toy... a real award winner from Tweed Designs in Escondido. It had a mazda 13b rotary engine and a VW bus transaxle. I picked it up on E-bay and had it shipped out from West Virginia.


It wouldn't pass smog. I put a VW engine. It wouldn't pass smog again... discouraged, I tried to sell it.

I picked up a rolled 85 Toyota for a lot less than I sold all the parts for...


Stripped the Toyota down to this:


Cut the hummer looking stuff off the sand rail and dropped it on...




I put wider axles on it- Dana 44 and a 12 bolt from a chevy...

Now it is just bigger tires, the steering and sheet metal...

And I have...

A pretty useless Toyota that looks like a 3/4 scale H1.

[sabro]

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=30061605&id=1267210789&l=a8e97

[JoJon]

Very cool! Wow that's alot of work, if you don't mind me asking. What did you do with the Toyota axles???

[sabro]

I sold them off a year and a half ago.

I think this is the third D44 that I have had in my driveway. One of those ended up in Panama!

I have an extra power steering box... (The pitman arm is stripped, but works)
I have an extra idler arm (stock "j") with the drag link for it... I have one tie rod with a slight bend, and a tie rod/drag link that I think came off a Ford HP D44.

Make an offer.

[sabro]

So winter has put the brakes on things for now. There is snow... originally just about 4 feet of snow is now mixed with lots of rain... and a very very tall berm. The carport canopy is in ruins so everything, including my tools, is very wet.

Here is where it sits:

The rear 12 bolt axle is fine. Drive shaft fits and I bled the brakes and got resistance.

I have the Chevy 10 bolt positioned in the forward position... on stock Toyota rear springs. I made offset spring shackles which work great.
I have to re-do the frame reinforcement for the hanger and the IFS steering box. I bought some Marlin reinforcement plates for the steering box.
I have some 2 1/4 - 1/4" square tube for reinforcement under the frame.
I have two new spring hangers for a jeep to weld to the cross bar.
I have another piece of 3 x 3" angle iron for the spring hanger. I will need a better welder... as the cheaper wire feed is not hot enough for 1/4" steel.
I also got the right pitman arm... and the tie rod end that goes with it.
I have two lengths of DOM for the tie rod and drag link... and all the ends.

But the steering isn't being logical... unless I bend the tie rod in all kinds of direction to avoid the spring on the passenger side. I do think that I will have to go with a high steer set up... which is a problem-- the knuckle on the passenger side is not a flat top.

I spoke to the Bucky down at O&R... and he has flat top knuckles. (And I would have no idea how to put them on even if I did.) The knuckle runs about $75... and then you need to machine it... studs... a high steer arm... ball joints.... and rebuild kit and installation.... we're up to $500... (But it would be right, right?)

What do you guys think- high/crossover steer or a really bent drag link?

[jeffm1964]

High crossover steering would be my choice

[sabro]

[sabro]

Jeff- I think I agree. I guess since everything is at a standstill, I can save some money.

My daily driver is in the shop having broken a center shaft in the auto trans... so once I pay for that, it will be a while before I have $500 to put into this. But it wouldn't be hard, once the rain and sleet stops to pull the axle and drive it down to O&R... then the drag link and tie rod won't be hard at all...

[jeffm1964]

You can also go this route it looks to be a stout set up

http://www.jeepin.com/features/uturn/index.asp

[sabro]

That bolt on knuckle/steering arm is awesome... i wonder if it will fit the Chevy 10 bolt knuckles....

[sabro]

http://www.offroadunlimited.com/orustore/PC/viewPrd.asp?idcategory=22&idproduct=8238

[sabro]

Today I shoveled and took down most of the carport. I dug out my sheet metal brake... my radial arm saw... the bumper and brush guard...