fletcher0780

So I sold my 2000 Jeep TJ and 97 Ford ranger 2wd to combine the two vehicles in one. I need a pickup for regular homeowner type stuff and need something fairly small and 4x4 to plow with. I've always liked the older Toyota 4x4's but in New England it's hard to find one that's not completely rotted. I scoured craigslist and looked at several trucks, many were V6's and I wanted a 4 cyl. I also wanted a 5 speed, but upon further research, I found the auto trans is actually quite robust. I stumbled upon a one owner 92 4x4 4 cyl auto pickup. The bumpers were new, as were the front fenders. there was some lower door rust, bedside rust, and the rear 6 inches of frame rail on both sides were a bit thin. Even with these problems, it was the cleanest pickup I found, so I spent $3,000 on it.

Here is what the truck looked like when I picked it up:




I Pulled of the bed, and did a lot of power washing, chasis was filthy. I welded on some patches to the rear frame rail:





Then I started to repair the body rust and prep for paint:










I power washed the chasis again, applied some rust-mort converter, and sprayed 1/2 gallon of SEM on the frame, suspension, and under carriage:









I also did some mechanical work. I replaced the valve cover gasket, adjusted valves, replaced rear U-joint, installed an sr5 cluster, and a basic tune up. I need to replace the trans cooler lines, and add an external trans cooler.

I also need to make some brackets to mount my snoway 22 series 7.5ft plow:



Once I get the cab painted, repair and paint the bed, and mount the plow, I'll install some bucket seats, console, and a new radio and speakers.

fletcher0780

I hope to paint the truck this week, get the body work started on the bed, and start playing with the plow mount. I'm leaving on a trip next wednesday, so while I'm gone, the truck will be at a local transmission shop for a service, line replacement, and cooler install. I've got a lead on a truck cap that came off a red 93 toyota, and a set of buckets out of an 87. Seems like this project is moving along pretty well. The frame looks awesome and the paint is now rock hard. Hopefully with regular cleaning and oiling, I can hold off the rust for a while. I only plow my driveway plus a couple others for friends.

fletcher0780

I didn't get a chance to paint the cab, but I did start getting the bed ready for bodywork and prep to paint the underside with sem. I dropped the truck off to the transmission shop for the service, new lines, and cooler. I'll take some pictures of the bed progress when I get a chance.

RMP8080

Nice truck, did you check rust the inside frame between the frame and fuel tank?

Good luck......Bill

fletcher0780

Yup, it looks good. The frame is amazingly solid, except for the last foot on either side that I repaired.

BigSwole

Looks good, i replied to your? In my build up thread. Pm me with any ? 'S u may have.

fletcher0780

So I began working on my bed today. It's not too bad, but there are some crappy rust repairs the PO made, and the fuel filler recess is junk. I started by setting the bed upside-down on a lift and degreased/ pressure washed the bottom of the bed. After drying the bed a bit, I removed the old filler recess and ground off the big pieces of loose rust on the bed cross members. Finally I sprayed all remaining rust with some acid converter, tomorrow I'll bury the bottom of the bed with more sem.

toyota4x4907

Look good, man! Dont see many single cab autos around...

fletcher0780

Thanks, it's getting there. Also forgot to mention that the transmission shop serviced my transmission, replaced my cooler lines, and added a 20,000lb auxiliary transmission cooler.

fletcher0780

More progress today, got the bed masked off and put down a few coats of sem:









I got a better picture of my rotten fuel filler recess panel too:





And I'm slowly working on fixing the po's crappy body work:





Also fixed a big dent in rear quarter, looks like the last bumper got pushed into the bed:



I'll continue to do the bodywork on the bed throughout the week (cab is ready for paint). The guy who will spray it for me is on a cruise this week, so I won't have any shiny pictures for a bit. After I get it painted and back together, I need to start working on getting my plow mounted, Winter is just around the corner!

fletcher0780

No real progress today, just placed the bed on the truck to make room in the garage and be able to drive it in and out as I work on it:

fletcher0780

Ordered fiberglass fuel filler pot http://www.showcars-bodyparts.com/toypup.html hopefully it works well on steel bedsides, $50 after S+H, etc.

fletcher0780

Did a little body work on the bed today, cleaning up the po's repair panels and spray paint. Just a rough first coat of mar-glass, need to finish sand and coat with polyester, then sealer primer.





I bought a few cans of eastwood rustproofing to spray in the tail light pockets, rocker panels, bottoms of doors, and inside frame rails:
I also ordered a head unit, 4" speakers for the front, and a harness adapter:
I've got an old set of pickup speaker boxes to stick behind the seat too.

fletcher0780

So, I need new hardware to remount my bed once the cab is painted. I need bolts, nuts, and the rubber spacers. I haven't had any luck searching online, is this a dealer only item? I considered doing a 1" body lift just as a simple way to get all the hardware, but only found it on the 4crawler site, but it mentions several weeks to wait for orders and the site seems very outdated. Anyone have any suggestions? I don't plan to wheel this truck and will never have more than 31" rubber on it.

fletcher0780

I made a bit more progress, all the body work on bed is done, and I painted the inside of bed with IH red sem mixed with just a bit of black to get close to the toyota red. I also painted the front side of the bed head board and the bottoms of the bedsides. got the exterior in 3-part primer and will be sanding that today. should have the truck all painted this weekend, then I need to mount plow, and find some bucket seats.

I bought a used bed cap off of a 94 extended cab truck. the line where the cap meets the rear of the cab is a bit off, but it will work fine. I'll be sanding and painting the cap when I'm done with the plow and interior. I replaced the dash speakers and wired up the truck to head unit harness, the radio install will take place sometime after I finish the paint.

Here are a few pics of the bed:

westjohns yota

wow man that loks great! im currently looking for a 3rd gen xtra cab with a 22re and a 5 speed but theres not many around, how do you like the auto so far? any plans on a 5 speed swap?

fletcher0780

I love the auto, no plans to convert. If the trans does go, there are lot's available from the guys who do convert.

fletcher0780

Snapped a couple quick pictures of the cap I picked up. Will be painting cab today, still waiting on fuel filler pot, so I can't paint the bed yet, maybe I'll start prepping the cap for paint after cab is done. Would like to find some tall skinny snow tires for to stock rims, and pick up a set of summer wheel/tire package in the 31" range, maybe some newer take-offs if they'll clear the hubs.

Notice the sharp angle on the front of the cap where it mates to the rear truck window. This angle is made to match the extended cab. On a reg cab the gab gets really tight up top, beggars can't be choosers, right?

fletcher0780

blakefogt

lookin good!