Snow Wheeling
This view shows Ed's truck with the
new FROR bumper.  This is an '85
4Runner with many modifcations.
The axle is a transplanted
wider unit from a later model
Toyota.  Shock mounts were
custom made by Ed.
The All Pro high steer system.   
Note the oil pan is actually a
22R and 2LT oil pan welded
together to clear the high steer
rods.
IFS steering box, OTT pitman
arm, slightly bent for
clearance and Ford F350
shock mounts.
The front factory Toyota
electric locker locker with
4.56 gears.  A rear electric
locker is installed also.
Snow Run to Goat Mountain Lookout
It took us about 4 hours to climb to near the top of Goat Mountain in the snow.   It wasn't the worst snow conditions by any
means,  but the consistency of the snow and the steepness of the road, made it somewhat difficult at times.  Most of the
pictures that show ruts in the road, are a bit misleading.   We were breaking a new trail in fresh deep snow most of the way to
the top.   Those ruts were actually ours, some caused by us repeatedly going up and backing down steeper sections until we
could get over them.    The front and rear lockers came in real handy. There's no way we could have made it to the top without
both of them.   At the top we ran into a gate.   Even though Goat Mountain lookout was only a short hike away, by the time we
made it too the top, it was already getting dark and the low clouds shrouded any possible view anyway, so we turned for
home.   We had climbed to over 4200 feet today.
Goat Mountain, Oregon Cascades
On January 24, 2004, my friends Ed Billeci, John Notis and myself decided to take Ed's diesel '85 4Runner
and my '89 Toyota truck up to the Goat Mountain Lookout, in the Oregon Cascades.   Elevation at the
lookout would be well over 4200 feet and we knew that a major snowstorm from just a few weeks ago
dumped a bunch of snow at sea level, so the roads leading up to 4200+ feet, were likely to be
challenging.   


About Ed's 1985 Toyota turbo diesel 4Runner

Ed's truck is probably the most unique 4Runner in America.  While diesels are a time a dozen overseas, they are extremely rare
here and diesel 4Runners are so rare, Ed's may be the only diesel 4Runner in existence in the U.S.   It started out as a 1985 4Runner
with a 22RE and 5 speed.   Today it has a 2.5 liter 2LT-II turbo diesel from a mid 1990s Japanese Land Cruiser Prado.   But that isn't
all.   The 2LT-II is mated to a R151F transmission and transfer case.    Front and rear diffs are 4.56 geared factory Toyota electric
lockers.   The gearing might seem high for the BFG 35x12.5-15s, but with the diesel low rpm torque output and low rpm red line, the
gearing is just about optimal and allows for a maximum speed of up to about 75 mph on the highway.    Recently, an IFS steering
box, and high steering system was added.   Ed runs the engine on biodiesel.    Many more modifications are planned for the future.
For more information you can visit Ed's website:  www.clean4x4.com    Ed can also be found on the pirate message board
(www.pirate4x4.com) under the name "DieselToy".   Stay tuned for a future complete write up on this truck and it's features on my
site in the near future.
Although it started life with a 22RE it now has a Toyota 2LT-II turbo diesel from a mid
1990s Toyota Land Cruiser Prado in Japan.    This motor was orginally electronically
controlled, but to simplify things, no electronics are used here.  Power output is more
than 100 h.p. and 160 ft/lbs of torque.   Basicly as much power as a healthy 22RE, but
with more torque and at much lower rpms and using much less fuel.