I haven't been on here in years. This place needs some caffeine.

I'm just going to post some pictures of doing some overdue maintenance and some modifications to my '88 Raider. Maybe it will entertain or motivate some of you guys lol. But don't expect anything fast, this thing has been sitting in the yard for a year already.


The truck was at my Dad's place in the mountains and the headgasket finally blew last year, so it got dragged home for some work.

Before picture in it's natural habitat


I put a new head on it. I can't remember where from now. I think it was a complete head off ebay for $350.

old head coming out


a not very good picture of the cracks around the jet valves. IIRC 3 of the 4 were cracked. The valve seals were toast too. Smoked like a train.



I thought I head a picture of the new head installed, maybe I'll post it later. It's running again. Still need to set the timing and recheck the valves, but I shifted to some other work.

The 31" BFGs worked good but I wanted something bigger and more aggresive, so I bought an old set of 33x12.50 TSL swampers for it. I mounted them and used 10oz of airsoft BBs in each tire.

Then I thought it needed a brush guard so I bent up some rebar and made one.

I also need to order some amber LEDs and get the lighted grille working again.



A/C got torn out. Tint removed from the rear windows. Faulty trailer wiring repaired.


Current project is the brakes.

I've already done the front with new pads, rotors, and hoses. I will add a picture later. I want to get rid of the automatic hubs and I thought about getting manual hubs, but this truck is in 4wd almost as much as 2wd. Montero sports use a solid drive flange which is even better, so Rxinhed is sending me a pair that he has.

Here is a photo of the rear brakes, the oil seals have been leaking for some time...


Modifications to come; welded rear diff (maybe weld the front too), new exhaust, fix the broken fuel filler neck, build a radiator fan shroud that fits

Picture of the new head installed.




New front brakes.




Hub flanges off a montero sport installed.




Working on a new exhaust. The converter and muffler were rusted out. I tried a 2" glasspack but it sounded like ass. I found that a '78 Firebird uses two small mufflers (2" inlet) and replacements are cheap so I'm putting one where the old converter was with a turndown in front of the rear axle.



Still working on the rear brakes, everything is so greasy and some of the new drum parts aren't fitting...

Have you upgraded from the tiny 4-cyl front brake rotors?

No, I didn't bother. I just want the brakes working good again. They have been too soft for too long.

Well this thread didn't even motivate me! lol. I'm still working on this project, but it's about done. Taking it to North Carolina this thanksgiving.

I'm almost sad it's leaving because I love driving it here, but it is a ton of fun to have in the mountains too. I kinda want to find another one to putt around in...

New Monroe shocks, changed diff fluid front and rear, new roof rack.




Decided to remove the used 33" TSLs for a new set of Maxxis Buckshot II 33x12.50. The swampers were old and leaking around the bead. For a truck that will get used maybe 2-3 times a year on vacation, I didn't want to mess with tires.




I mounted a LED light bar in the skidplate, fixed the LEDs in the grille, and mounted flush mount LED lights in the rear bumper. New wiring and switches for the lights.





I will post pictures later when I finally get the new tires muddy.

Wow! That is a lot of pinch on those tires. Anything pop off, yet? With just 32x11.5s on Roxy in the day, was too squirmy on mountain roads and I did end up in a ditch.

No, not yet. I probably won't run too low of tire pressure so I don't pop a bead. It is more squirmy though. I will definitely have to be careful in the mountains with it.

I got a new plate for it last week and I've been driving around to the store and school with it. No problems yet.

I bough wider wheels for HAGAR from 4WD when they were on sale for $69 each. I only have 30" Swampers on them but they are really nice to drive on. Will be transferring them to LUCKY EDDIE when I put 33" on HAGAR next spring.

Did you trim the fenders yourself? I have quite a bit of rust around the wheel wells on mine and have been contemplating taking a mini recipro-saw or small pneumatic sheet metal cutter and trimming it away.