$5000 Toyota Cross Country Adventure! 

The 22r/22re engine is legendary for it's reliability. I would rebuild the engine, throw a Holley sniper at it and nothing more. That little engine has dominated trails all across the world from Johnson Valley to Maine to Indonesia, Australia, etc and everywhere in between. The trick to a Toyota is learning to wheel with less power and more finesse. Once you get that down, you'll find the Jeepster is overpowered. Hell, most of the OG Ultra4 guys will tell you there's nothing better than an 80s Toyota for having fun in the rocks.

I’m stoked to see this on the channel. It’s cool to get to watch you go through the whole process of buying an old vehicle and learning how to make it work for you. It helps build a set of skills that all off-roaders should possess, in my opinion. It’s got a lot of potential and I think you’d be doing it and yourself a bit of a disservice by removing the existing motor. You could easily run it on propane and add a turbo for a bit of a bump. I honestly think you’re looking at an opportunity to do all kinds of different series on things like rebuilding the engine yourself in the “driveway” and adding power upgrades while you do it, invite Nate out to help you build a bumper & sliders yourself. At any rate, it’s only my .02¢. Either way, I’m subscribed for the ride! Thanks for doing what you do!

I have an 81 I've owned for 20+ years. Burned up two 22r engines, numerous clutches, seriously wore the four speed and transfer case due to rock crawling. Bought a wrecked K20 and swapped everything into the Toyota. Chevy 350, four speed trans, 205 transfer case, 14 bolt rear axle, big hub Dana 44 front (temporary) and the longer rear Chevy spring packs at all four corners (modified). I love your truck because it reminds me of how mine started out! Don't ever give up on it!

Thanks you for taking us along! Enjoy every second of it. You did a amazing job editing and putting the video together! Can’t wait for the next video on this build!

I love a little bit of Latte with my honey 😂 Good video, loving the Toyota content 👍🏻

Great job gettin’ home Marvin!! Cool episode! Told ‘ya she’d make it no problem. 😂😂❤

Do 3rz swap. It fits well and has amazing reliability and power. You won’t be disappointed

Name it Sleepy. Sleepy the sleeper

Welcome to high altitude with an R engine. We call it the 50mph club. Of my 5 toyota trucks, 3 still have 22R (E) engines in them, one with a 5.3 GM LS, and soon to be a Cummins R2.8 in the '84. There are a lot of good engine swaps for Toyotas out there. I've done many, one of my faves is the GM TBI 4.3L which is super reliable and parts are cheap if they do break. Do lots of research and pick what's right for you with this truck. Since your trip was so fast(not!), I might call it White Lightning! LOL

Can't wait to see what you do with it I think it's going to be an awesome little ride

Keep it carburated & leafs, have fun learning how to wheel all over again. I still run carb & leafs in a 77 square body. People are amazed at how it performs. COOL òld truck ,love it

That’s along way! Super long way!!! Congratulations that Toyota is going to be an awesome Wheeler go gettum!!!!!

Badass journey man 🤘

Them lil Yota's are some tough trucks ! I say name it Cheaper Sleeper ! 🤣🤣 Have fun making it your own though ! Thanks for sharing the adventures with us Sir ! ✌️😎

At least u were paying attention to the gauges! Glad ur home safe!

Welcome back to the East Coast,that was a heck of a road trip.

Another awesome episode bro

Love the adventure, next time you are in Pagosa, CO check out Two chicks and a Hippie for coffee!!

TDI engine swap, im going to love this series :)

I had a 87 toyota and I put a chevy 4.3 Vortec V6 with the toyota manual transmission and it was awesome! plenty of power and fit perfect in the engine compartment. If I remember correct you want a 2003+ with MPFI and of course dual transfercases.

The Rotella is on point…. My last Toyota ran great but would use some oil at highway speeds… just kept adding and never had a problem

Love the Toyotas I have a 04 regular cab 2.7 wish I had a solid axle the one I saw on 24hrs. Was a beast but they are getting hard to find in that good of shape

Travel, or as I call it New Places New Faces, is amazing. I normally do it on two lanes and less when I can. Its even better in an old vehicle.Trekked across Texas in an unfinished 80s style hot rodded 1940 Olds with no interior but two junkyard seats when 19. What a blast.😁 For an engine, just build a stout Toy 4 banger. And those single cab Toys weren't made for those of us over 6 foot tall but with some thought and a quality seat it can become comfortable. And make sure you keep that old school roll bar!😎

I have reservations taking my 04 TJR (that has been super reliable) on a road trip, after seeing this, and all the older overland videos I am more inclined to do it. Lol

You made me laugh, I love that 15 40

TDI swap, I’m considering one for my 81 Toyota. These are lite with lots of torque stock, tons of aftermarket parts and super reliable.

Rebuild the existing engine. Put a winch on front some bed storage system and stick a roof top tent on the bed and do another 3000 mile wheeling trip

I was in Santa Fe yesterday!

Bumpers (with winch of course), sliders, and a turbo 22R EFI

I’m loving this yota! 2JZ swap it!

Turbo 3rz for sure or maybe a small diesel . The little truck is just loaded with personality so don’t change too much on the outside..maybe some low profile bumpers and sliders.

Chevy 4.3 v6 or LS 4.8 would be a great swap. VW TDI would be very nice too. Cool little truck!

Leave the 22r in it! Super reliable and it won't break parts. Throw some EFI on it, maybe do a little engine work to bump the power.

Man I just love that truck. I used to own on just like it about 10 years ago. Hate I had to sell.

22re swap , dual cases, and bumpers and sliders. Then send it everywhere

You should do a chevy 4.3 swap to give you a little more power without over powering the yota axels

One of the best looking Toyotas ever made! In South Africa it would definitely get a Lexus V8 swapped in.

Honestly the elevation will do that to older vehicles. My 91 jeep YJ will run 80 all day on flat ground but in colorado elevation, it struggles bad. That thing has a carb and sometimes ppl change the jets for elevation

Toyota 2/3 rz can always put a turbo on . Honda k series are nice, but the rz series and 5sp that came with it maybe cheaper just have to get adapter for the rh drop t-case.

Can't go wrong with a 22r/re from LC Engineering

Dual Cases, Chromoly Shafts if it doesnt already, budbuilt dual transfercase skid, sliders, bumpers etc..

I have two thought for a motor swap. First, an older Tacoma supercharged 6 cylinder would be super cool. Thought 2, does Ian have the motor he pulled out of his Tacoma for his V8 swap?

What tire/size and wheel combo on your truck? I’m building a 2 door Montero and think that would look and fit perfect on it. I could probably search your old videos but I’m lazy lol Thanks!

If you want toyota reliability and simplicity I’d go 3rz with an R151(23 spline 22ret trans) with a 23 spline inputs/output transfercase from Marlin crawler with the 4.70 case mated to the 2.28 case. Worse case scenario if no r151 get a W56 and upgrade the input. It’d be a solid rig after that. You can always get a LCE supercharger for the 3rz too, they do well with boost. Turbo would be nice too but for instant power on tap and reliability for wheeling I’d go SC. I’d have plenty of power for a light toyota.

You ought to take the Sleeper Toyota on a carb and leaf spring only wheeling trip! I know a bunch of old school Jeep guys that would wheel with you for a weekend!

Own a1980 long box all stock with 31x1050x15 for last 14 yrs, love it for all my offroad and firewood gettin'. Amazing little trucks butay have to sell it.🥺

Sleepy is a great name and a well built 3rz turbo!! Be super badass then maybe build some axles later and keep it Toyota with tundra diffs😮

Nice toyota, do you change the diferencial gear to use that tire?

At least you need a fuel injected 22RE!!! But a Chevy 4.3 is a really good swap for a Toyota Truck also! But I drive one with a 400 Chevy Small Block, 8 inch lift, 36-12.50-15s and that was a BEAST!!! Could do donuts all day long!! 😂 and go Anywhere!!!

5vzfe swap is the best, then put double transfer, and bumpers

Seems like you're close to Clarksville TN Marvin.

the 22re has noticeably more power, efi, cant ignore small turbo diesels, ivegot a 4bt cummins in my '63 jeep j200 pickup, 450lbs of torque

Do a 1JZ. My buddies old Toyota with the 20r was a dog on hills. Some guys put Weber carbs on them too so they can get a little more power.(On the 20r)

I had a 82 shortbed 4x4 with the 20r and I think it has a 4 speed can't rember I would build a turbo 20r. I've had an 85 longbed and an 85 extra cab, now I have a sweet 93 4 runner on 38.5 boggers and all the goodies. I have a 95 Geo Tracker 2 door 4x4 also which is cool.

I love that yota💪💪 you can swap 80 series enginer with twin lokers and 37s and will have very good sleeper 🤣🤣💪💪

Vw alh tdi, maybe the cjaa. Would have nozzles and a tune would be around 170 hp,/250ftlb torque. Great mpg with big tires and 4.88 or 5.29 gears

Men you have to share whit us all the modifications you gonna do, i am building one and I will apreciated all the típs you can give me whit the videos

I have an 84. My diesel driving brother bought me a Cummins repower 2.8. It dropped in like a glove. Kit included an adapter bellhousing to a R150. Purchased an Advance Adapter for a Marlin Crawler double tcase. I did have to scrap the AC...like the truck is more vented than a screen door anyway. I removed all the badging and keep it lowkey. Airlockers, High pinion in front, on chevy 63's with 35's.

Do the GM LV3 motor that’s in the trekker that Terra crew just made a video about

call it trooper cause it's a real trooper for making it..... all be it a hybrid trooper causes it burns both gas and oil...LOL or call it bags for the bags under your eyes!!! keep it as is and let's go wheelin!!!

I drove 71/2 hours one way to Eugene Oregon in my 2nd 93 yota pickup with the 22re and drove it all the way there with a blown head gasket just took the thermostat out

love the Toyota

Do the Toyota 5vze engine. That's a 3.4l v6, plenty of power. It will work with the current trans. Or, look into DOA engines. Keep it a built 22r with maybe a turbo?

07bLz9 240hp 241ftlbs of torque will bolt the toyota w56 5spd using a ax5 jeep bellhousing and a mix of clutch parts. The dual Toyota case behind that which should be your first upgrade.

That engine has proven that you can do almost anything to it(including run it out of oil) and still be reliable. I vote keep it.

I would love to see a turbo 2rz swap. You can find crashed little tacoma 2rz pickups easy

just refresh the engine, add a turbo to it and you will enjoy that ride. if you want, upgrade the suspension. Fan of your's from Puerto Rico. US Army veteran.

Late to the party here, but I'd put a vote in for the 3rz engine swap. Keeps it in the 4cyl Toyota family, but with efi and the possibility of a turbo, you can have something with enough power to feel like those RFC trucks

She needs a 3rz or a 5vz 🫡 love the rig and looking forward to the build.

1uz swap it. Good leaf springs and shocks with 37s. Air lockers.

Name it trooper!

Supprised you didn't get a ticket for no mud flaps or tires sticking way out lol. Makes me feel better ha ha.

What about Miles or Myles for how many miles you had to drive it home?

Chevy third gen V6 out of a Camaro makes 323hp. Probably could buy an adapter kit to merge it with your transmission. It would be quiet and dependable. Definitely a sleeper.

Snow White as a Name for the YOTA!

Just rebuild the 22r and slap a turbo on it. Definitely put a crawler kit in the transfer case

make it a Back to the future build!

4.3 chevy V6 , Winch , rear locker.

Definitely do a 2tr fe 2.7l or a 3rz 2.7 you can keep all the drivetrain with those swaps or if you do a 3.4L 5vzfe you can get more power and you’ll have to switch to a v6 transmission

thats a nice toy, how much did you pay for it? Here in Mexico prices are high sky.

good trip i go with a 4.7l

Do a 2rz with dual cases and a 4.7 gear set

😀 the issue is you are driving a 20r or 22r with 35's. You have maybe 80 to 100hp at sea-level... and of you ever had 40psi oil pressure at idle the gauge was broken. Toyotas in perfect shape have very low oil pressure compared to other engines.

I say go with a k24 swap or a 3 RZ swap. You're going to have to lose your l series 4 speed in favor of an r series V6 trans, or a w56 to find a bellhousing that'll fit off the shelf or out of the junkyard.

I don't know how it's difficult to have it in USA, but diesel 1KZT is the Best engine to your sleepper project.

3rz SWAP IT!

Keep the Toyota engine and rebuild it and run propane! Axle wise go with armor, 5.29 gears, lockers, RCVs and marlin steering with 25mm bearing conversion. Dual cases with 4.7s

2.7l Tacoma motor and some duel tcases

Definitely rebuild! I do agree with a efi kit. Just my opinion, try to keep it close to original. Those were awesome trucks that getting hard to find. I see people wanting a toy, then they get it and modify them so much that there nothing like they were. Small mods are good. Like efi, gears and soft ride springs!

R2.8 cummins would be great!

3.5 Ford Ecoboost... Light, small 400hp, 425 lb/ft

Only use Marlin Crawler parts… No Trail Gear. If you want more power then 3.4 swap.

Thing would be sick with a supercharged 5vz swap

Would be super cool to see a cummins r2.8 in it

Posi gears for sure lower gear ratio to turn them meaty tires definitely newer motor toyotas are great

If you're doing a engine swap, i'd go with either a 2/3RZ and if you want a little more pep from them, stick a turbo on them.

4.0 jeep engine or 4.3 chevy if your not wanting to do a v8 swap

The Toyota looks tiny next to the Jeepster.

Toyota 3.4l or a 4.8l LS based truck engine for swap options. Mercedes OM617 diesel is also a popular option.

Eco tech turbo 4 would make a sweet little engine swap