Ok I won't lie this site has helped a hell of a lot thanks for the advice I have another question I know it's vary broad and might sound dumb but the truck when diving down the road has this high pitch rattle or squeaking sound it sounds like its somewhere in the dash area I have been trying to find this noise for almost a year does anyone know what it could be ?

 

Sometimes a good hard wack with your hand, strategicly placed to the dash, has done the trick for me in the past.....

 

recent 82 pic

 

^^^nice

 

I just got this truck tonight. I have been looking at it sit in my neighbors side yard, and after a couple years of talking with him about it, he finally decided to let her go. It's a 1976 longbed, with 78,000 original miles, and has factory air. I am stoked!

 

Maybe this pic will post.

 

I don't think it did... ^^^

 

unless its not really real...hehe.

 

Is this you and your yota? Sick pic!

 

The 82 is looking great Toyo.

 

I just wanted to share what I am working on. It's a 1983 Toyota long box 4x4. It has a 22r and 5spd. The bed is rusted out, but I should have a used 2wd bed tomorrow to modify to fit. It runs perfect, and the interior is in great condition. I'm planning to paint it back Tan, or maybe a Gold color. The wheels on it had gold paint underneath for some reason. Does anyone know if this truck may have come stock Tan with gold wheels?

I have an '85 complete Toyota long box 4x4 with a bad engine, I am thinking of using it for parts. I am seriously considering swapping the '83 body onto the '85 frame. The '85 has a VERY nice frame, and limited slip rear end, and I prefer the w56 transmission.

 

THANKS!! Yours is too.
BTW the salmon season up here is great! 2 miles off shore thick as thieves!

 

I am not the most computer literate...obviously! Here ya go.

 

Score

 

Unsung,
you should go for stock tan! The wheels were white on these and you can get replacement stock decals here:
http://www.toyotafiberglass.com/truck_12.html (bottom of page)
or here:
http://www.jamesdeancreations.com/1981-83.htm

I might transfer the engine/trans out of the 85 but keep the 83 on it's frame unless there's some frame rot issues. Just my opinion though. Way to save a first gen from rusting away!

 

I just figured it easier to swap the cab and engine into the '85, than swapping the entire drivetrain minus engine into the '83. Also it lets me coat under the cab good and get everything clean and nice.

This has got to be the cheapest restoration I've ever been through. The cab is super solid, but the fenders need replacing. I found new fenders for $30 each on one site. I'll have a nice bed on it soon. Interior is already nice, motor runs perfect. Just need paint and polish. As for the wheels, I may have them powder coated black instead of white, since white would make them the only white on the entire truck. I have a set of chrome wheels as well, but they're starting to rust. I don't care so much about chrome anyway. I thought a out ordering a chrome grille and headlight bezels, but it really wouldn't stand out that much against the tan. The interior is tan and dark brown. I will probably put the original tan / brown triple stripe graphics on it as well. My frame has a lot of surface rust, but I crawled under it everywhere for 10 mins before I bought it, and found no holes anywhere. I just figured it would be equally as labor intensive swapping the newer drivetrain as the cab and engine.

 

Love this stuff... keep us posted!

 

Wow it feels good to be able to rant about something that's on my mind a lot, and that I am passionate about, and it not be ignored or shot down.

 

So my latest updates since the engine rebuild... no issues with that so far, about 700 miles in, valve adjustment and oil change at 500... she's running strong. In the mean time the stereo that was originally installed (80's Clarion tape deck and Sanyo 7 Band EQ) hasn't been working on account of the original owner having a lot of nonsense wiring, amp and blown speakers. So when I redid the carpeting I just cut all the wires that were running all over the place and installed the pad/carpet. Since then I've been without music... about 9 months now. So I finally got up under the dash, re-figured out the wiring diag, bought new speakers doors and rears... viola! We have music.... all playing out of the retro in-dash stereo shown here. I never had any intensions on replacing it with a modern stereo. I like not only seeing the ol'skool stereo and EQ, but it working now is even better.

 

What models came with that equalizer? And how do I know if mine did originally? Someone stuck a cassette player in that spot on mine.