Mystery Mojave

[kennyg]

So I have lurked around here for a while and decided to (finally) sign up. I feel bad that I am posting about Mojaves and not Trekkers, although I have wanted one for a long time but one has vener even graced me by it's presence.

Anyway, moving on. Here's the story. I bought this truck and from the onset realized that it was not a typical Yota 2WD.
I think it may be a Mojave, but i'm not sure. Here are some pics:





Here is why I think it is:
Correct wheels, looks to be the right color under the black (it's rubberized under coating that some chuggle-head sprayed on the whole vehicle) the door windows are correct in that they delete the quarter wings, correct stero, has all the correct SR5 equipment+ A/C ,P/S, Tilt, sunroof. Headrests are correct. No badges on the quarter panels.

And here is what I think is wrong:
Te bed and tailgate are incorrect. Missing chrome bumper. THe truck has a rebuilt title so i assume it was hit from behind. The glass does not seem to be tinted. There is no pin-stripe. No cruise or sliding rear window. e shifter seems to be real far forward. There may be a few other thingd as well, but I can;t think of them now.

Unfortunatley the VIN tag in the engine bay is gone. It makes me wonder if someone was making a clone or if this legit.

Any help would be great. Thanks

[Slacker]

welcome aboard ..

2WD Mojave also had stiched seat cloth and a dash plaque , I see the dash is covered , you might be able to "feel" the plaque under the cover if it is legit , or maybe where it was "glued" on if the cover is removed .
the mirrors are also correct , ONLY the Mojave had the chrome mirrors .Tal lamps should also be chrome

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[kennyg]

It does have chrome tail lights. THe VIN is the same in the different locations, unfortunaltely the tag on the firewall is gone. That dash cover is a super custom Levi's 501 denim
I bounced the VIN off some places on the net and the only info it would give me is Long bed SR5 2wd manual made in Japan etc. Nothing specific about particullar options.
I really wish it had the correct bed as this truck is 99% rust free.

[kennyg]

Oh, and the seats, under the covers, are incorrect, however, the headrests under the cover are correct color and stitching.

THe truck is actually in awesome shape under the black. Im hoping I come accross another so I can get the correct bumper, seats, a centercap, tailgate etc.

[Slacker]

ohh I didnt know the USA 2WD's didnt have the dash plaque .. we (Canada) not only had the 4WD's here , we also had the 2WD's (as you know) .. BOTH had the dash plaques , but TOTAL #'S on them we're only 500 .. so I can see the #'rd plaques only being in Canada


.

[Slacker]

so .. what are your plans with this rare unit ?


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[kennyg]

^^ Well, not sure at this point.
I gave myself a budget of $2000 to find a 3rd gen 4x4. I looked for about two months and coudn't find anything really. I found this particular truck at a local mechanic. I guess some kid brought the truck from Arizona to Utah. He had about $2100 worht of work done to the engine and he could not pay so he just turned the title over to the shop. They listed for a steal IMO. I'm guessing someone was trying to make some sort of mini-truck out of it.

It has a full-length tube header.


Not sure if this is supposed to be home -made air dam made from an old door mat. It was the first thing to be taken off.


I took off the zombie-apocalypse rear bumper for a cleaner look, however, i'll prob put it back on once it starts to snow.


When i bought the truck I thought it was just painted flat black, but it is ubberized undercoating. I borrowed a gas power pressure sprayer and it removed most of the black goo
Here is how it looked when I got it.


I have already scoured all the local wrecking yard for interior parts since all the plastic parts are just crumbling to dust. I'd like to find all the parts I need to make as original as possible, an i'd like to paint it the correct color as well. All that will have to wait since the holidays are coming. I'd still like to find a 3rd gen 4wd or a Trekker as well so that cuts into the budget. Someone in my neighborhood has a '83 SR5 4WD that has been sitting in thier driveway for years. It has the white with orange and yellow stripes on red paint job. Its a rust monster but I hope I can convince thm to part with it.

[kennyg]

So the Mojave is the only 3rd gen to come with chrome taillights? And the mirrors also?

[Slacker]

yep .. in the USA anyway, well as far as I know? .. the Mirage also had them , but it was a Canada only truck

If ya ever want to sell them ..
I would be interested

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[kennyg]

It may just come to that.Lately. Unfortunately I need to use this truck and I am stuck between the idea of returning it to it's oreiginal glory or selling off the Mojave parts and replacing thiem with stadard parts.

[kennyg]

Its happened...the mighty Mojave has died. t has fallen to the greatest of 22R foes. The timming chain broke, which is strange since it was put on only about 3000 miles ago. I figure it was one of those cheap ones w/ the plastic guides. So as soon as I get it home I will start parting it out. Que the Price is Right fail music.

[Slacker]

got your email ..

sounds good

[kennyg]

I thought i'd post these here since I have had trouble emailing pics lately

[kennyg]

I was trying to sell it and earlier this week the timing chain snapped. I unfortunately will not be able to fix it so the parts are coming off.

[kennyg]

Unortunatley al of te corner lights are damaged. The grill is cracked, but the chrome is coming off. in a spot. One of headlight buckets is cracked. The radio is missing a knob and only works intermittenly. All of the gauges work as do the lights, however the needles are sun faded. The door cards are okay.