Okay, quick update and I'll update again after this weekend! I got an engine stand and ALMOST have the transmission and engine out of my old rig. I figure that I'll keep the old L43 out of the '77 for this truck just in case Some "friends" that were going to help me ease the stuff outta the truck didn't show up. I DID however take the rear apart on the '79 and out of all the leaf springs on the passenger side only had 1 spring left that wasn't broken. I nearly killed myself wrenching off the nuts on the U-Bolts, and I'm dreading having to do it on the driver's side I managed to shear off the lockbolts on the front pin and am having a hard time extracting the pin from the hanger, seeing as I can't blast it with a hammer cause the gas tank is right in the way.... I might have to take that sucker outta there. Anyway, I'll submit a few pics of the bodywork and a pic of the completed and painted rear as soon as it's done!!!

 

those u-bolts can be a pain! pb blaster is your friend here, use it liberally! a cutting wheel works really well also!

 

From what I've heard these bolts are pretty cheap so I might just hack the other side off with the grinder. I also managed to mangle the hanger pin on the passenger side up pretty good, as well as shear the lock bolts off inside the mount. Hopefully those can be had cheap as well. It was next to impossible not to, given that the gas tank was in directly in hammer's way! I have a feeling the driver side is going to be much easier to extract.

 

Well I've been lazy, but it's been SOOO hot here that not much can get done during daylight hours outside. Okay here's what's been done:

- Took the motor out of the donor truck!!
- Removed 2WD Oil Pan and Sump, Installed 4WD Pan and Sump
- Installed 79-Newer style cable throttle body, instead of Rod type
- New Clutch, Resurfaced Flywheel
- Had to get my Hanger Pins rethreaded which cost me 22 bucks!! They don't make aftermarket ones so I'd have to go to Toyota Dealer where they were $35 each
- Installed Shifter Boots on Tranny and Transfer Case
- Installed and Painted both doors, replaced Passenger side glass and Driver Door Handle
- New Passenger Side headlight assembly
- Redid ALL of the rear suspension, new leaves, got the RS5000's on there and made it look pretty with paint.

So, yeah. That's what I can remember for now, I'm sure there is WAY more and I'll post some pics this weekend. I'm going to try and orchestrate the people to get the now completed engine into the truck, cause it's just on the engine jack in my front yard right now. I'll update again after the installation attempt this weekend!!

 

Awesome I'm looking forward to the pics! I like to see people fix these old toyotas. Maybe one of these days I'll find a good project like yours.

 

HAHA! Check the dog out! Already in the front seat!

 

Yeah, my dog likes to ride in ANY vehicle. Once she jumped into the meter readers Jeep Liberty... that was a party. Anyway, I'll throw up some pics of the engine in the truck after the FIRST install, I'm on my 2nd go around now, had some clutch clearance problems but they are fixed now and I've moved onto electrical gremlins instead. Hopefully I'll have it running well by this weekend and at least heard the old girl start up!! I think I gotta charge my battery up now after a week of trying to start it...

 

Okay, well my starter blew up about 5 mins after I got the motor back into it for the 2nd time. I rebuild the starter guts and got it firing up again on the bench so I figured nothing could stop me from turning over my motor.... WRONG!

I hooked up the appropriate wires and get it all bolted together and I just get nothing.... then I realized that I still didn't have a ground onto the frame!! I threw the ground on and the truck turned over!!! I still have to get the throttle cable hooked up and clean out the dirty gas tank before putting more fuel in there but hey!! it wants to run! I'll include a pic of the truck tonight showing PROGRESS!!

 

post some more pics on your progress

 

Alright, well I'm not posting any pics ATM, but I will put some up tonight. So much has happened!! I got the truck running shortly after the last post! I still have to wire in an electric fuel pump so I'm still stuck dumping gas into the carb if I want results I installed a header and have finished the painting on about 1/4 of the truck. Clutch has been bled and it feels like a million bucks, but it still hasn't moved because of some SERIOUS brake issues. I have since began to replace the front calipers and rotors with the IFS Calipers and a set of Land Cruiser Rotors. I got a Bush bumper and headlight guard and have a hood and all body panels installed, after the brakes the only "operational" issue will be getting a windshield into the truck. Brakes will be installed by this evening and I'll post some before and afters of that job, as well as a photo of the progress so far. It's still a bit before it's good to go but I'm soooo close now, a couple more weekends and I'll have sealed the deal!! Stay tuned!

 

Hello out there!
I just registered to this new bulletin board and I'm not sure what I've gotten myself into. I have a 1979 SR5 long-bed, 5spd that is still running (except for the last few weeks). I have 245,000 miles on it and except for the rusted bed, it's in great condition. Of course, most everything has been replaced which is one of the reasons I signed on to this board. Does anyone out there know where I might be able to find a workable distributor and ignitor? I got a distributor out of a Toyota scrap yard in Seekonk, Mass. and an ignitor from a parts place in Mobile, Alabama but they don't seem to doing the job. The mechanic I'm using says they're not working. Can pleae anyone help me? I'm having to get up even earlier to drive my wife (in our Corolla) to work until I can get the 79 back on the road.
Thanks

 

Alright, I've been a lazy dumbass, but it's not been so for the truck!! The brakes are on there and I've bled them so I have front brakes at the moment!! I have to drive the truck to the mechanics once I get it going and have them replace a rear brake line that someone cut Here are a few pics to get people through their day and I PROMISE more will be coming!! I've also got a couple of the body now shaping up! Sorry the pics are so crappy, I have to bitch slap them to get them posted through this site