By the end of summer I will be driving a 1990 Daihatsu Rocky. I am trading twelve days labor doing landscaping and painting projects for a man who doesn't have the time to do them right now. He no longer needs the vehicle and he needs stuff done... It works out good for both of us.
Here's some pics:
(http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff112/drk420/May2010097.jpg)
(http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff112/drk420/May2010098.jpg)
(http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff112/drk420/May2010100.jpg)
(http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff112/drk420/May2010099.jpg)
It has a 1.6L I4 and what looks like a Toyota IFS, Toyota rear axle and Toyota Asian manual locking hubs. I could be wrong... might be Nissan, looks just like a Toyota rear end tho. Seems to be very low geared. On my test drive I was in 2wd, doing 25 mph @3000 rpm in 3rd gear. I think 4LO will be ridiculous. I probably won't lift it very much if at all because I am sure there isn't very much for lifts available for this vehicle and I'd like to keep it as road worthy as possible so I could drive it to where ever I needed to and wheel it and hopefully drive it back. I also don't have very much money, so it goes... I am considering either 235/75R15 Firestone Destination M/T's or 29"x8.5"R15 Super Swamper TSL's, I'm not sure yet. The M/T's would have better road manners but I could sacrifice some road manners to have the performance of the Swampers on the trail. Would also like to add at least a rear locker and maybe some body armor. We'll see, that stuff is big money and thats something that I don't come by very easily.
I'm open to suggestions and any usefull information you might have on this vehicle.
Thanks for checkin out my rig.
Never heard of nor saw anything like that. It would be awsome to find a way to lift that a little bit.
Cool little project.
Quote from: Plop on June 27, 2010, 02:20:36 AM
Never heard of nor saw anything like that. It would be awsome to find a way to lift that a little bit.
bad ass!
looks like a version of a tracker....
Quote from: BIG TODD on June 27, 2010, 03:15:58 PM
Quote from: Plop on June 27, 2010, 02:20:36 AM
Never heard of nor saw anything like that. It would be awsome to find a way to lift that a little bit.
looks sweet
according to wikipedia, toyota has controlled daihatsu since 1999 but was their distributer before that, so I would say you are probably correct on your assumptions so far. Daihatsu's USA division shut down in 1992, but they are still in business elsewhere. unique little rig! here's more info http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daihatsu_Rocky
COOL! Thanks man. ;D
That thing looks like fun!!
So I was talking with the original owner of the Rocky and reviewing the dealership pamphlets and paperwork and we found out some interesting stuff...
Follow me if you can.
The 1990 Daihatsu Rocky came in 3 different model designations that year, the SE, the SX, and the Off Road (might be a DE?). Each model designation had is own set of options that were exclusive to it. For example the SE and DE (for lack of better term) came with vinyl seats and the SX came with cloth, the DE came with manual locking hubs and and a limited slip rear diff and the SE and SX came with auto hubs and open diffs, the SX had a fully carpeted interior and a 4 speaker am/fm cassette deck and the others did not... so on and so fourth...
The point I'm getting to is the one I have does not fit into any of these model designations. (here I go again) Mine has cloth seats and is fully carpeted like the SX, has the radio of the SX, has the manual locking hubs of the DE, Has the tire size of the DE, (hope it has the limited slip!) and has the motor of the SE and paint scheme of the SE... Yet nowhere on it can I find a badge stating SE,SX ... and no other Rocky image I have yet seen has the diamond plate bumpers.
The original owner seems to think it was a special "Dealer Demo" model that he purchased at Lustine Oldsmobile- Buick in Hyattsville, MD. in 1990.
Does anyone know about these kinds of things, that might be able to shed some light on what it is I have here?
nice looking rig
Here is some updated pics of the Rocky...
(http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff112/drk420/009.jpg)
(http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff112/drk420/097.jpg)
(http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff112/drk420/096.jpg)
(http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff112/drk420/010.jpg)
(http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff112/drk420/131.jpg)
(http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff112/drk420/128.jpg)
(http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff112/drk420/10-15-10007.jpg)
(http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff112/drk420/10-15-10006.jpg)
(http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff112/drk420/002.jpg)
(http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff112/drk420/003.jpg)
The rims are from my old '84 F-150. They are an inch and a half wider than the stock wheels. They definitly fit the wheel wells better and give it a little better stance.
See my whole build thread here: http://fourwheelsolutions.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=43&t=1169&p=1415#p1415
those diamondplate bumpers are pretty sweet for stock bumpers. never seen one of those before, seems like a badass lil' trail rig
Wanna sell this badass ride, I've got a 99 zr2 blazer id trade for it, seriously
cooocoolcool
looks great darkman
Quote from: burl on October 26, 2010, 01:14:43 PM
Wanna sell this badass ride, I've got a 99 zr2 blazer id trade for it, seriously
I might trade ya Burl but I live in New Hampshire and don't think I'd be able to take the week off to come out there and make a deal with you...
Those of you who know me know I have been on a mission for about 2 years now to acuire a rig without spending cash on it. (cuz I ain't got any) So far I have not invested a single dollar into this vehicle, its my extremely low budget build. 4Wheel & Off Road Magizine did a thing a while back called "Cheap Truck Challenge" where they had a max $1500 budget to buy and make capible a trail rig. I am trying to follow along those same guide lines. I am trying to trade for things I need as aposed to buying them. For example I might trade my block rockin' Alpine stereo system for a set of 31x11.5R15 Super Swamper LTB's for it.
It is a rare breed of trail rig and not many people have even heard of a Daihatsu let alone have seen one, it really adds to the WTF factor of the project. Everyone wants to have a cool unique rig I just took it to the next level and by luck I got one that was only made in the USA for 4 years.
Here are some stats on it:
Vehicle:
1990 Daihatsu Rocky SX
Drivetrain:
Daihatsu America 1.6 Litre Multi-Port Fuel Injected 4 Cylinder that makes a whopping 94 horsepower!
Dahatsu America 5 speed manual transmission and 3 speed transfer case.
Axles:
Front Toyota I.F.S. with Asian hubs, disc brakes, and either 3.55 or 3.73 gears (don't know for sure yet)
Rear Toyota solid axle, drum brakes, with either 3.55 or 3.73 gears...
Suspension:
Front stock torsion bars and KYB shocks.
Rear stock leaf spring under axle with KYB shocks
Wheels and tires:
7 1/2" wide Ford F150 steel white spoke wagon wheels with 225/75R15 Bridgestone Dualer A/T's
Other Stuff:
Fully removeable rear top section with hard and soft tops, removable roof section over driver and passenger seats, and wicked cool factory diamond plate front and rear bumpers.
Since my last post in this thread I have added a Ford Escort ZX2 cold air intake and 30"x9.50" B.F. Goodrich All Terrain's. I got the intake for $20 and the set of tires used for $40...
I had her in the swamp for the first time the other night. I don't have any pictures (because it was dark) but it was awesome!
The snow around here has begun to melt and we've had some rain so the usual places are very deep right now. I just went to a small little place that is close by the road to "check it out". I was the only vehicle around and I only had one other guy with me so I wasn't out there to really go muddin'. But I drove down to the hole and nosed into the flooded area and for whatever reason I started to go for it. My Buddy was like "Don't do it dude!" but I was already committed. So I brought it up to about 4500 rpm and just held it there. As the water level reached the top of my tires and mud really started to fly I began having second thoughts. The Rocky on the other hand did not think twice and went right through it! Once I got to the other side (after some hooting and hollering) I realized there was no where to go but back through it. The trail ended just after the swamp hole. So I turned around and started back for it. This time I knew how deep it was and I also knew that I had just stirred it up a bit so it would be softer the second time. So I slid it into second gear and stuffed my foot to the floor! When I hit the deep spot it projected a WALL of water forward that was higher than my hood! So I started yelling "OH SH*T!" and just held the pedal down. I could not see a thing! Mud was flying everywhere! And that little 1.6L was screaming! I tore right out the other side like a rocket! My tires are 30 inches tall and they were definitely under water and judging by the grass I pulled out of my grill I'm guessing that it was about three feet deep. When I got to the gas station afterward I pulled so much swamp grass out from the undercarriage it looked like I could make a hay bale and the entire vehicle (except where the wipers cleaned) was caked with the stinkiest black mud. At that point I knew my little rig had proved itself as a mud capable vehicle. I was proud of it.
I was an idiot for going out alone and I was even more of an idiot for trying a swamp hole without another rig there to help me if I needed it. But I did have about 100' of good nylon rope, a come-along, a cell phone, and a good Buddy. I'm sure we'd have figured it out had I got stuck.
Id still trade ya lol, that's a sweet rig another member(got booted) had a diesel one it was turbo too! It was sweet
This vehicle is currently FOR SALE or TRADE...
Remember I live in New Hampshire.
Quote from: Plop on June 27, 2010, 02:20:36 AM
Never heard of nor saw anything like that. It would be awsome to find a way to lift that a little bit.
thats a kool little rig man and ya cant beat the price looks kinda like a dodge raider
Quote from: Darkman on March 18, 2011, 06:07:12 PM
This vehicle is currently FOR SALE or TRADE...
Remember I live in New Hampshire.
whats ur addy? ill mapquest it and maybe we could work something out!
After a through inspection of the undercarriage I have found that the frame on this vehicle is rotted out and has cracked in two places! I posted it for sale on NH craigslist and the best offer I got was $750 from someone who didn't know that it has frame damage. I brought it to the attention of a guy I know who owns a sandblasting shop and who is a great fabricator and he made me a trade offer I couldn't refuse...
I have traded this rig for a 1995 Chevy Silverado Z/71 and a set of 33x12.5R15 B.F. Goodrich mud terrains on 10"wide chrome steel wheels. The truck has a Fort Wayne Indiana Truck and Bus Division manufacturer sticker on the door jam. it is a 1500 but has the "helper springs" leaf pack in the rear for hauling heavy loads.
Since my last post in this thread I have traded the Chevy back to the guy for this Rocky back. That was like 5 months ago now. It does need a good amount of work. I will be starting some of it tonight. Pictures coming soon, stay tuned...
(http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff112/drk420/9-5-11144.jpg)
(http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff112/drk420/9-5-11147.jpg)
(http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff112/drk420/10-15-11074.jpg)
(http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff112/drk420/10-15-11076.jpg)
So I knew the frame of this rig was bad but I didn't know it was this bad...
This is the outside of the frame rail just behind the drivers front tire:
(http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff112/drk420/RockyFrame001.jpg)
This is the inside of that same spot:
(http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff112/drk420/RockyFrame002.jpg)
I can't fix this. :(
idk i had a nissan pickup just like that, I threw some big patches over it with some 1/8'' steel and a mig welder and some rustolem paint and its still together to this day and the guy runs it threw the mounds with boggers on it.