NaeSLaS

Hey Guys, well I finally found a rig to get me started. It was in Salt Lake City, UT, and i'm in ABQ, NM so I took a little road trip. The truck is a 1988 4x4 Shortbed. The guy that was selling it was a dealer, and he let it go for cheap on the fact that it was ugly as sin. Dealers can't sell ugly cars. Anyway, It had bondo work done to it, and it was a disaster. It looks like a 3 year old did the bondo work, and even then they did it poorly. So here's the first pics i snapped of it, when I was at the hotel in Utah...next to it is my mom's WRX, which my dad and i drove up in. (all pics are clickable thumbnails) and since we were in Utah, and heading right through Moab, my dad and I decided to take it on an easy 4x4 trail, so as not to break anything, so we can get it home, but also have a little fun. We ran the easiest trail, Chicken Corners...and needless to say, i'm a big 4x4 n00b, so it was a little scary. Anyway, we enjoyed the ride and didn't take any pics until we got to Hurrah Pass: Then, finally, after a slow drive home (33" tires and no gearing), i got it into the garage, and started working on it. It nearly hit my garage door opener! Also, here's the 22RE powerplant, all dusty. Anyway, back to work. First, remove the bondo and see what we're dealing with (probably rust) so, now i have two options. I can either 1) replace the bed, or 2) repair the bed. seeing as how i'm a poor college student, repairing the bed seemed like fun. At first i was going to weld in new sheetmetal wherever there was problems, but instead i saw an opportunity. I already know the rust problem spots on this truck, so i might as well fix it so it'd never rust again. Seeing as how i'm decently good at fiberglass (thank you, motorcycle crashes), I decided to put in fiberglass where the truck was rusting. after much sanding, cutting, and grinding, the truck is ready for fiberglass: then, the fiberglass goes in: more close-ups of the rust on the passenger side prepped and ready and how it sits, before i started working on it tonight (haven't downloaded those pics yet) i'm not planning anything serious, just stopping the rust, and getting it ready for paint. I'm thinking a darker blue, but once i get it all one color, then i will bust out some photoshop skills and turn out something that looks good. whatcha think?

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__________________
Current Rides:
1988 Toyota Short Bed, 4X4, 33" tires, 4" Trailmaster IFS Lift, 2" Body Lift, MC Front/Rear Bumpers, rusted bed (in the process of fixing)
1991 Yamaha FZR600 (sucks off-road)
-----------------------
Avoid Davez Offroad Performance at all costs! Read the story here.

Elton

wow great post looks like a good project i would build a flat bed

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My Truck 98 4runner SR5 3.4L 5spd 4x4 E-Locker Mods
Mom 07 Tundra d-cab limited 5.7L 4x4 auto
sister 92 pickup SR5 X-cab 3.0L 5spd 4x4
Papa 89 Pickup SR5 X-cab 4x4 3.0L 5spd/98 4runner SR5 4x4 auto 3.4L
R.I.P 91 4runner SR5 4x4 3.0L 5spd Totaled 5/13/06 My Wreck

NaeSLaS

i was thinking that, but i occasionally have to haul junk to the dump, so a standard bed seemed to fit my needs better. I might still consider building something that can hold 3 motorcycles, with tire clamps and what not...but that'll be later, if i'm inspired.

__________________
Current Rides:
1988 Toyota Short Bed, 4X4, 33" tires, 4" Trailmaster IFS Lift, 2" Body Lift, MC Front/Rear Bumpers, rusted bed (in the process of fixing)
1991 Yamaha FZR600 (sucks off-road)
-----------------------
Avoid Davez Offroad Performance at all costs! Read the story here.

thegreydog

I am with Elton on this one, I immediately thought flatbed. Other than the bed, the truck looks great. Good job and good luck!

rdlsz24

Hey I am dealing with the same thing on my '88 bed now. Can you give me any pointers as to fixing the holes with fiberglass? I have some experience (also fixing motorcyle plastic, lol), but haven't dealt with using it on metal. What did you use to bond the glass to the metal? Also, how do you make the fiberglass resistant to water?

Rob

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1988 Xtra Cab Pickup ('94 22RE; 4x4; 5spd)
Rancho lift w/ 33x12.5x15 tires & 5.29s

jagger_snitt

Cool man good luck! I like the way you thinking with the whole three motorcycle thing!!

__________________
"The Black Death" (DD)1988 4Runner 22RE 5Spd,StreetRvHead,261c Crawler cam,hi-output alt,35" BFG MTs,Optima Red Top. SAW 25mm T Bars,4Crawler BJ spacers,Tuff country 3" add-a-leaves,4.88 gears.Need 7.5 4.88 gears/thirdmember! PM ME!!!
"The Silver Death"1987 4Runner SR5,22RE 5spd,4Crawler Short Throw Shifters T-cases and 5Spd,SAS,MC Dual cases,4.88s and detroits front and rear,Allpro Tripple-X transfer case mt w/drivetrain E-brake,TG rock sliders,3"susp,3"body.35" Maxxis Big Horn MTs

Yota Tony

Looks good.
I know what fixing the rusties is like.

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Anthony

93 ZJ - Stockish (HP D60 Front, 14 Bolt Rear, 231/D300 Crawl Box...awaiting 40" tires)

Ballistic Crap Missile
ILikeMud.net
Mallcrawlin.com
SOTRA

amgraham

If you wanted to keep the bed and make really sure it won't rust you can get replacement fiberglass bedsides. Looks like you wouldn't have any problem installing them yourself. Still, the truck looks to be in really good shape otherwise. You might want to go over the frame really good around the spring mounts to make sure it's solid.

__________________
1987 Toyota 4Runner
Specs Here: 4Runner Page

Member VAXC, RVA-OR

NaeSLaS

thanks for the tips guys. I'll be posting more progress pics as i take them.

As far as tips for the glass, i've just removed all the rust (sanded/grinded to pure shiny metal), clean with acetone, applied some resin to it, and put the cloth on top of it, then saturate. I haven't had any problems with it, and i've tried ripping it off...it's pretty strong. Usually it cracks and fractures before it lets go of the metal.

__________________
Current Rides:
1988 Toyota Short Bed, 4X4, 33" tires, 4" Trailmaster IFS Lift, 2" Body Lift, MC Front/Rear Bumpers, rusted bed (in the process of fixing)
1991 Yamaha FZR600 (sucks off-road)
-----------------------
Avoid Davez Offroad Performance at all costs! Read the story here.

MAIDEN

how much was it?

pepsibluefloat

kinda off topic, but where about do you live? Neighborhood looks familiar...

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1988 4runner::SAS|3.4L swap|Swap to 5speed manual| RF1A |5.29's|Aussie Front|LockRight Rear|Longfield axles/Hub Gear|4"Rear/3"Front springs|Marlin High Steer|Custom CV rear driveshaft from High Angle Driveline|Rear D/S shortened and made into front D/S |35" Goodyear MT/R | Addicted Offroad front bumper | Marlin rear bumper

My 4runner n stuff

NaeSLaS

i paid $1600 for it...not bad, eh?

I'm up in the NE heights, near like Juan Tabo and Montgomery.

__________________
Current Rides:
1988 Toyota Short Bed, 4X4, 33" tires, 4" Trailmaster IFS Lift, 2" Body Lift, MC Front/Rear Bumpers, rusted bed (in the process of fixing)
1991 Yamaha FZR600 (sucks off-road)
-----------------------
Avoid Davez Offroad Performance at all costs! Read the story here.

rdlsz24

What kind of resin did you use and where did you get it?

Rob

__________________
1988 Xtra Cab Pickup ('94 22RE; 4x4; 5spd)
Rancho lift w/ 33x12.5x15 tires & 5.29s

NaeSLaS

Bondo brand Fiberglass resin...and it came from autozone. I've also seen it at wally world.

__________________
Current Rides:
1988 Toyota Short Bed, 4X4, 33" tires, 4" Trailmaster IFS Lift, 2" Body Lift, MC Front/Rear Bumpers, rusted bed (in the process of fixing)
1991 Yamaha FZR600 (sucks off-road)
-----------------------
Avoid Davez Offroad Performance at all costs! Read the story here.

pepsibluefloat

hah me too. manitoba (between spain and mongomery) and juan tabo to be more exact...

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1988 4runner::SAS|3.4L swap|Swap to 5speed manual| RF1A |5.29's|Aussie Front|LockRight Rear|Longfield axles/Hub Gear|4"Rear/3"Front springs|Marlin High Steer|Custom CV rear driveshaft from High Angle Driveline|Rear D/S shortened and made into front D/S |35" Goodyear MT/R | Addicted Offroad front bumper | Marlin rear bumper

My 4runner n stuff

NaeSLaS

haha, i drove up Manitoba from Juan Tabo to Tramway the other day, to see where it lead. Whatdoyaknow, the light called "Manitoba".

So yeah you're just around the corner too.

__________________
Current Rides:
1988 Toyota Short Bed, 4X4, 33" tires, 4" Trailmaster IFS Lift, 2" Body Lift, MC Front/Rear Bumpers, rusted bed (in the process of fixing)
1991 Yamaha FZR600 (sucks off-road)
-----------------------
Avoid Davez Offroad Performance at all costs! Read the story here.

Figit090

haha, cool truck. rust looked pretty nasty, but i guess if you're down with fixing it and know what to do, cool! you could go with a custom flatbed but apparently your sticking to what you have.

if you did build a bed, and wanted sides....i would make some that can be attached and/or folded down. kinda like a garden kart. then you get the best of both worlds. but that would take a lot of work.

best of luck, you have a great start!

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<<Figit090>>I'm looking for a MR2 near my location, if you have one to sell PM me! For now i'm driving my 1986.5 Supra which is pretty nice as well

NaeSLaS

Long overdue update!

I've done a bit of work to her since i first bought her.

Marlin Crawler Rear Bumper
Marlin Crawler Front Bumper
A little progress on the rust

For those that are interested, this is what the MC front and rear bumpers look like with a 2" body lift, and no compensation. The gaps are apparent, but I don't mind them as much. Not enough to work on fabbing something to correct it, at least. Maybe i'll just remove the body lift.

Pics!! (clickable thumbnails)





And of course, what is a front bumper install without a little yard-wheeling action?







ATB NaeSLaS

__________________
Current Rides:
1988 Toyota Short Bed, 4X4, 33" tires, 4" Trailmaster IFS Lift, 2" Body Lift, MC Front/Rear Bumpers, rusted bed (in the process of fixing)
1991 Yamaha FZR600 (sucks off-road)
-----------------------
Avoid Davez Offroad Performance at all costs! Read the story here.

gatorblue92

those bumpers look just fine with the BL... nice truck by the way

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94 Yota 22RE 5 speed 3" BL 32's
02 Nissan Sentra SE-R
09 Honda Accord
77 Mercedes-Benz 240D

Cwaters1184

id just try and find someone who's parting out an PU in your area and steal the bed..

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97' Tacoma 4x4, 5-speed, 2.7, 265x75 Dunlop MTs, 16x9 Axis Regulators.

xzyragon

tow hitch looks really low

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1994 Pickup 22re 5spd M/T 2WD, 188,888 miles
-rebuilt front end (totaled to driving in 2 months)
-custom spectre intake

Toyota Pickup Repair Manual :)

My Crash Repair re-Build thread

Shawn6string

Nice truck, but the rust will be back. You can deal with that later though....

__________________
88 4runner 3. don't know--- project
88 4runner 4 cyl auto - Bone stock Plus BFG 31/10/50

JACK'EM HIGH CAUSE
FAT CHICKS CAN'T CLIMB



Shawn

wheatus

x2 on the rust coming back. you really need to treat the bare metal befor you apply filler it will help it last a little longer. you can get fiberglass mat or chop with the body filler at most auto parts stores, i would check with local marinas in the area they have the good stuff. you can get resin and with a little practice make some really cool stuff.

Junkers88

I'm over between Constitution and Indian School on Morris. We need to get together for truck day or wheeling or something.

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RB4R Life Member.
1989 SR5 4runner. Tread Wright 31/10.50/15's. 4.56 thirds, an Aussie in the @$$, Budbuilt plate, Marlin Crawler front, modified MC rear, Supra MAF conversion, ZUK coils in the rear and 4crawler BJ's in the front, LCE header.

slacker

X3 on the rust comming back ..
seriously .. you wont stop it on these beds once it starts ... before you paint it .. wait a few months

that "wally world" resin is just a GP (general purpose) resin .. and shrinkage is iminant . metal and fiberglass also heat and cool at different rates , so delamination is also iminant . and will ruen a brand new paint job .

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86 4x4 , fiberglass bed , 1/2 doors , hood ... more to come .
84 2WD "hotrod" Intercooled 7MGTE
83 Trekker SR5 CURRENT BUILD

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