So I managed to get the 1979 frame that I was humming and hawing about, so the build begins!! This truck is a weird bird though. It was built Nov. '79 according to the info plates but there must have been a few add-ons from a later time. The truck has a 5 speed transmission, but it's an L43. It's also got what appears to be a SR5 or equivalent for 1979 Trim level, not that it's anything crazy, but it's a nice addition. I could get the trim and colour codes for it off of the info plate but I'm lazy and if anyone wants them lemme know and I'll post them. I'll get some pics going soon too, the truck is just in seriously rough shape ATM. The good news is that it's almost completely there, except for the engine, which I am providing...more later.

 

looking foreword to following the build-up

 

if it was built in november '79, it should be an '80. sure way to tell is check the engine. does it have a mechanical fuel pump on the passenger side, next to the water neck? if not, it's a '79, if it does, it's an '80.

5 speed was definitely a swap in, L43 was the factory tranny that year. check the tranny -- if it's got a cast iron case, it's nothing special, just an L50 or L52. if it's got an aluminum case, be happy, your transmission has gotten a major upgrade.

"SR5" trim for '79 and '80 was called "sport" trim -- there was no SR5 in the 4x4s those years. reason being that it still meant "sport rally 5 speed" and there was NO 5 speed available in the 4x4s until 1981. it got you carpeting around the bottom of the doors, a woodgrain dash, 3 spoke steering wheel, ammeter(or voltmeter) and oil pressure gauge down by the shifters, tinted glass, tach and trip meter and an AM/FM radio.

 

Oohhh ohhh that's my interior!! I figured it wasn't the run of the mill, that's why I said SR5 equivalent! (Still has the Toyota white Steel Rims!)The info off of the fender plate is as follows, maybe someone can make something of it:
TOYOTA
Model: RN 37L-KDX
Engine: 20R
Color/Trim: 336 KF21
Trans/Axle L43 G102
Plant A51

The truck is a strange Reddish Orange colour and it's original. I'll get a photo of the transmission and post it for people to get an opinion on.

 

This is the truck when it was dropped off this past Saturday

 

Dude, this is exciting! Can't wait to see what you do with it. Can you imagine how cool it would be if someone had squirreled away an original back in '80, and it was now sitting in a garage with a few original miles on it, showroom quality! Friend of mine has a 72 Ford pickup like that, looks like it just rolled out of the dealership yesterday. Think about it...somewhere out there is a brand new 26 year old Toyota pickup...

 

there was a '79 like that on ebay a year or so ago on ebay, but it was a boring, white, DLX model.

she's a diamond in the rough! finding body parts for it should be easy enough, you can buy most everything in the aftermarket..

 

Dichpig
I think we have similar rigs...gotta love the flared 79-83 rigs. Bought for 1250 us dollas$. Found most parts used on ebay (turn signals, sr5 dash etc). Trying to attach pics of the original color! Sounds similar to yours. BTW Kyle_22r is a good source for info. I Lived in Lanai, HI for 1.5 years and fell in love with the early flared federed yota's...paid too much for mine, but now I have one and could care less

later
Ryan in GA

 

Well as you can see from the photo, I have the original doors and fenders in the back bed. The bed needs to be amputated badly, it's been smashed AND is rusted. I would have saved the bed and done the bodywork if it wasn't rear ended. The fenders need a bit of work but it's all drivers side. And yeah 80 Mini, that's pretty much the same paint. The only things that I'm really missing (prior to me getting the engine in there, LOL!) are a Passenger side window, Windshield, Hood, Passenger door hinges, and front clip. Not a huge list..... I'll be updating my progress after the weekend and post some photos of completed work.

 

Okay, so I've done what I could over the weekend without having to take a run into town, but next week I promise that even more will get done!! I'm going to post a few photos, none of them are "before" pics though...kinda got into it and didn't think about taking a pic until after I put the tools down The first photo is of the metal that I cut off of the back bed. At first I thought that I would just pull it and make a bed but then I got thinking that I really want a Toyota hook bed on the back and I'd save it. I had to lose the tailgate, the panels under the bed just behind the wheels and the bed had to be cut back past the mounting hinges for the tailgate. It had been rear ended pretty good, but I managed to save a lot of it. The next photo is of the bed after it has been trimmed up and cleaned a lil. It's going to need some MAJOR bodywork, but I can do it, and it's cheaper than buying something else to replace it. And finally I'll just put another pic in of the "sides" of the bed where I had to get rid of the panel between the tire and the tailgate. Both sides had been smashed when the truck got smacked and not only that, but the rust had eaten them up.
So there everyone has it!! Next week I'll be taking on replacing some shocks and maybe a rear leaf spring or two so I'll remember to take a few pics BEFORE I do the work, so I actually feel like I've accomplished something!

 

have you still got the hinges off of the tailgate ?



I'll buy em ! $25.00 if you'll package and ship to me (if there not wrecked) ... I'm in BC too
http://www.toyotafiberglass.com


buy the way cool rig ... I love them units .. I've owned a few , (I miss my old girl) .... even done a few frame up's .

 

i saw that '82 you restored, if i ever have the money someday i'll give you a call

 

Thanks ... I fell in love with it too ... I told the owner , that it'll always be apart of MY family now.. .... he totally understood . It reminded me of my old girl .

(thats a fiberglass box) The first one I built .

he was passing threw town earlier this year ... and she looked great .. I wish I had my camera .

 

I'll see if they are salvageable and if they are I'll let you know. I have no clue to be honest, I know that one of them is in good shape, cause I had to take that one off but the other one I dunno about. I bought some Rancho RS5000's today but I got 4 fronts I'll have to take back 2 of them and trade them for a couple rears. In case anyone is fixing up a 79-83 Toyota the RS5000 #'s are
Front: RS5115
Rear RS5112
I mistakenly got 4 5115's.... I wouldn't have had the time to put all 4 corners on this weekend anyway, so the front set will be first!

 

Okay, so this last weekend I got the 2 front shocks on!! I didn't bother with the rears because of 2 things:
1: Time
2: Broken Passenger Spring.
I noticed that the truck was a lot lower on the passenger side and checked it out. The rear shackle was laying flat on the frame and the leaf was resting against the "knuckle" on the frame. I jacked up the frame and popped the shackle back into position and the truck sat up as it should except for the fact that it's missing a leaf from that sides set. I have a friend that I'm going to try and get a spring from and try and put it on this weekend, as well as the 2 rear shocks.
As for getting the front shocks on there it was a trial! The bottom bolts and pins came off just fine, good thing too cause Rancho doesn't include those!! The top bolt was another story... Seeing as Toyota likes to put 2 nuts on everything, they sieze together and make an impossible hurdle. So I got out the grinder and cut the bolts and stud on the shock clean off, just above the washer holding the rubber on there. If anyone else out there is planning on doing this make sure to blow the stink of burning rubber bumpers away from you...it's gross. That's my progress so far, i'll put up some photos of the work this weekend! Thanks for staying tuned.

 

please dont throw it out ... recycle and at least send the one to me ..

I love nothing more then to see these trucks out there , and this is my small way of contributing . help save a toyota ... send me the hinge

 

Okay, so I didn't get a darn thing done this last weekend except source out a few parts for the truck and I took a good look at the hinges for Slacker and they both appear to be in fine condition. Send me a PM with the "deal" and we'll work something out Other than that I've got a couple photos of one of the shocks in there and the old super junky shock that came out!

 

did you get the pm? ... I sent it a while back ...


hows the project comming?

 

I certainly did get the PM, I just have been so super busy that I haven't even had the time to post here, let alone take hinges apart. Prior to me sending the hinges to you I'll take a few pics of them to make sure they will suit your needs... I don't wanna be wasteful. A quick update too: Repaired one whole side of the truck's body and am now awaiting an engine stand in order to get the engine into the truck. I got a new rear set of leaf springs and am putting those in this weekend along with my rear RS5000's. Already got my poly bushings and truck is apart in the rear, I just have to buy a couple bolts for mounting the springs now. Pics soon, thanks for following!!

 

sounds good to me ...

reads like the build is going ok as well !!