We've seen a lot of cool Toy trucks. Many are cookie-cutter rigs. They work well and get you down the trail. However, every once in a while we run across a clean build with some unique style built in. Witness here the '82 Toyota truck owned by Tanner Lamb.
Tanner bought the '82 SR5 in bone-stock condition over a decade ago while in college. His original intent was for the truck to serve as a daily driver and work truck, but what followed was an evolving process of engine changes, numerous tire combinations and suspension setups, dented body panels, and broken parts. It was both an experimental process and a chance to do a lot 'wheeling.
Over the years Tanner developed a goal for the truck. He wanted to find a combination of parts and fabrication that would lead to assembling a reliable trail rig that he could use to explore the backcountry, but also be capable of highway travel to his favorite Arizona trails. Upgrading to a fuel-injected Tacoma V-6 and adding low gears and a beefy drivetrain go a long way to vastly increasing the capabilities of this Toyota.
About four years ago, Tanner turned his hobby and passion into a small fabrication and vehicle restoration shop, LambFab. Tanner spends nights and weekends working on his own truck, and gets out 'wheeling when he can. Tanner has done almost all the work on the truck himself, but thanks friends, Kenny and Kerry, for their help on the build, along with his fiancée, Jenni, for her support and understanding during those long build nights.
| Specifications |
| Vehicle: |
1982 Toyota SR5 Truck |
| Owner/Hometown: |
Tanner Lamb / Gilbert, Arizona |
| Engine: |
Toyota Tacoma 3.4L V-6 |
| Induction: |
Fuel injection, custom intake, throttle body spacer |
| Transmission: |
Aisin R150F V-6 five-speed manual |
| Transfer case: |
Toyota Marlin Crawler dual cases, 2.28:1 front, 4.7:1 rear |
| Front end: |
Dodge Dana 60 |
| Rear end: |
Ford Dana 70U |
| Ring and Pinion: |
6.17:1 |
| Front Differential: |
ARB Air Locker |
| Rear Differential: |
Eaton Detroit locker |
| Suspension: |
Deaver-built leaf springs on custom mounts at all four corners, Fox 2.0 remote reservoir shocks, Fox 2.0 air bumps |
| Tires: |
41x14.5-17 Super Swamper IROK Radials |
| Wheels: |
17x9 TrailReady beadlocks |
| Extras: |
Mastercraft seats, custom bumpers/tire carrier, 30-gallon fuel tank, Warn M8000 winch, PIAA driving lights |
|
The front of this Toyota boasts...
The front of this Toyota boasts a healthy approach angle and is complemented with a custom front bumper housing a Warn M8000 winch and a pair of PIAA driving lights.
The truck came from Japan...
The truck came from Japan with a 2.4L I-4 engine, but Tanner swapped in a 3.4L V-6 from a ’96 Tacoma to gain fuel injection and a significant boost in power. He dropped it between the frame rails to sit in custom motor mounts he fabricated. In addition, the engine got a custom intake, throttle body spacer, and expels hot gases through a three-inch Flowmaster exhaust.
Tanner stuck with a reliable...
Tanner stuck with a reliable leaf spring setup but put some effort into building a suspension that performed a cut above a typical leaf suspension. Custom 47-inch long, 10-leaf Deaver packs were used up front and orbit eyes are used in the rear spring eye to aid in articulation. Custom hangers and shackles were outboarded and relocated to push the front axle forward about three inches to gain fender clearance for the tires. The 12-inch-travel remote reservoir shocks on custom hoops and 2.5-inch travel Fox air bumps are used to cushion hard suspension hits.
Long gone is the 8-inch Toyota...
Long gone is the 8-inch Toyota solid axle and in its place sits a beefy king pin version Dana 60 from a military truck. Once the decades-of-grime was stripped from the housing, it was disassembled and given to Dynatrac to have the knuckles cut and turned and custom spring perches installed. Following that, Tanner stuffed the Dana 60 with 6.17 gears, an ARB Air Locker, and Ten Factory chromoly shafts. The outer ends were completed with Chevy outer hubs and brakes, plus Warn locking hubs.
For a steering box, a PSC...
For a steering box, a PSC Toyota IFS box plumbed for hydro assist was called upon. It routes fluid to a 1.5- x 8-inch PSC assist ram and to a Derale finned cooler.
Out back, 14-inch-travel Fox...
Out back, 14-inch-travel Fox 2.0 remote reservoir shocks were chosen to dampen the axle movement and are backed up with 2.5-inch-travel Fox 2.0 air bumps to control the action of the leaf springs. The rear axle was moved rearward about 2 inches from stock.
Disc brakes on Ruff Stuff...
Disc brakes on Ruff Stuff adapter plates sit at the ends of the Dana 70U and are plumbed with braided stainless lines.
The rear axle is a Dana 70U...
The rear axle is a Dana 70U from a Ford truck. Inside are more 6.17 gears and an Eaton Detroit locker. It’s clamped to 57-inch-long Deaver 10-leaf spring packs with reverse eye orbit eyes on both ends attached to custom hangers.
To push fluid to the bigger...
To push fluid to the bigger brakes on the Dana 60/70U combo, Tanner adapted a one-ton Chevy master cylinder to the Toyota brake booster. He plumbed the bigger bore master to the stock hardlines and added an adjustable proportioning valve to dial in the rear brake action.
Behind the swapped-in Tacoma...
Behind the swapped-in Tacoma V-6 is an R150F five-speed tranny coupled to a Marlin Crawler Ultimate dual case. Upgraded 23-spline T-cases spin 2.28:1 low range gears up front and 4.7:1 low range cogs in the rear for a huge range of 20 forward gears.
The truck has a relatively-long...
The truck has a relatively-long 115-inch wheelbase, but the 41-inch Super Swamper IROK Radials lift the rig high enough to offer good clearance and breakover angle under the belly. The length also makes the truck an excellent climber on steep faces. The Swampers are slipped around 17x9 TrailReady beadlocks so they’ll stay in place at low air pressures. Exhaust exits through the bedside just ahead of this rear tire.
The rear wheel wells were...
The rear wheel wells were too short to accommodate the large tires, so Tanner sourced another first generation truck bed and extended the wheel wells to the rear. The sheetmetal was smoothed and the interior bed-lined for appearance and protection. Tanner sprayed on industrial flat black paint to finish the body panels.
Tanner used 1.75-inch tubing...
Tanner used 1.75-inch tubing to construct the exterior rollcage that protects the cab and extends into the bed. In addition to holding the spare tire and fuel tank, the bed area contains a storage box, cooler, CO2 Powertank, and Hi-Lift jack. Camping gear is strapped on top when needed for overnight travel.
A peek inside the cab finds...
A peek inside the cab finds much of the original interior is intact and in nice shape. Occupant safety and comfort has been improved with Mastercraft seats. Dual transfer case shifters jut up between the seats.
The bed holds a custom-fabricated...
The bed holds a custom-fabricated 30-gallon fuel tank that reuses the donor Tacoma baffling, sending unit, pump, and filter. The whole unit was designed to remain emissions compliant, while pushing travel range upward. A trap door in the bed of the truck allows the fuel pump to be serviced at home or on the trail. The tank fills through the factory door in the side of the bed. Both the spare tire and gas tank are positioned to the rear of the axle to improve weight distribution.