Project is a 1982 4x4
Best part about this deal is that since I'm in the military I can basically get my truck painted for about 50 bucks....plus the cost of paint. I've never done body work before and definitely haven't done any painting before. I can do basic work with tools and I learn quick. So here are the many questions. The auto hobby shop also has just about every tool that you can think of plus lifts, welders etc.

I'm going to be taking the body off the frame and replacing all the electrical as well while I've got it all apart at least for the chassis. Cab electrical looks pretty good. I've also got the idea of how to kill and fix rust on the frame.

1)How do you remove dents?

2)If you were going to be having someone else do all of the painting and all the accessories were removed to bare metal how the $%@$% do you catalog all the parts and keep them straight lol.

3)Also what is needed for paint prep besides sandblasting (the painter does primer and top coat) What kind of paints should I look at for durability?

4)Is there a special clear coat that is more durable? (I am planning on doing bedliner on the body up to about 6" on the body) Are there any parts that I should look at replacing while everything is torn apart (everything is functional and I don't think there are any leaks on the engine but if everything is apart are there certain things I should look for)

5)Also at this hobby shop I do have access to a parts cleaner. Is there anything I shouldn't put in there besides the obvious ones with a lot of rubber or bearings (some pieces just don't look like they have rubber or bearings but I'm doing my first restoration)

6)For parts like brake boosters and stuff like that is there any kind of special paint I should use on them to keep them from rusting again? Should I reuse brake lines or fuel lines?

I know this is a lot of questions and I did find a few answers by searching but some of the answers I was searching for were either edged around or the thread was about an already busted part. Thanks to the body parts list here on yotatech I was able to source 99% of the parts I will need to replace however I need to find some stuff like a new dash panel where the radio goes. I have searched everywhere for that panel and have found jack and squat...but perhaps a junkyard or ebay might be my gold mine. I'm pretty handy at making my own stuff and I will probably add some stuff like a/c (it's going to be my dd too) and I'd really like to clean up the engine and either paint it or get all of the rust gone so that it looks clean.

I'm sure that there are a few questions that I'm missing just because I don't know all of the questions yet but this will help me budget for this massive undertaking. I've got a couple guys to help me out that are great mechanics but they don't know squat about toyotas or paint so I'm turning to the gurus here. I figure asking stupid questions now will keep me from hating myself later for not asking and just assuming that everything will still be good when I take it all apart and put it back together. Thanks in advance!

This is what she looks like now

 

Im not even going to bother reading that untill its put into paragraphs...i might have a seizure.

 

Yeah I had that impression too....sorry bout that. My fingers started typing and I had to go fast otherwise I'd forget everything I was thinking about. Editing is done.

 

Well, i don't recommend sandblasting body panels, as the heat from the frictioon will warp your panels and you'll get waves..
Soda-blasting is what you meant perhaps?

Dents:
Depending on size...
If its a small one 0"-1/4" deep (like a rock hit your hood), then some bondo..
If it's a big one, not a dimple, etc etc. A hammer and dolly.

2) Tape and markers are your friend.
3) Cant tell you about paint, as idk. But for prep, fresh primer (not primer you applied a week ago), body-filler to smooth out imperfections.. Body-work, straightening panels, setting gaps, etc etc. Taping off parts you dont want painted.
4) (i'll split 4 into two questions, it has two subjects) Don't know about the clearcoat.
4b) Painting and mechanical are totally different. If you want your engine to look nice, and run nice, do a rebuild and paint the block and head and valve covers. Otherwise, don't worry.
If it leaks, fix the leaks, If not, don't worry.
If it squeeks, fix the squeek. I think you get the picture.
5) Bearings can go into parts cleaners. Anything you don't want clean, don't put in the parts cleaner. A parts cleaner won't remove chrome. It will break down oil based sludge, paint, other dirt, etc etc.
6) Brake boosters don't get hot.. so the key is to prep them like anything else you'd paint. The main reason they get ugly is because they're right underneath where the hood meets the cab, and if your hood seal is busted, water will drop down and start to rust it.


A lot of the parts you need you'll have to find either used, or refurbished.
Good luck.

 

Honestly I've heard of soda blasting but without asking questions I wouldn't have known to not sand blast....and might have screwed up some body pieces that aren't easy to find. The engine was rebuilt about 20k ago according to the previous owner....and she runs like a dream....but the block is ugly as sin lol. I'm going to do some looking around for a book about bodywork to guide me through taking a hammer to dents lol. Thanks for the info especially about the soda blasting! Looks like my hood seal is actually...ummmm...nonexistant lol...I'll find something to make it work. I bet a door seal will work just as well.

 

epoxy primer is the best kind of primer, most durable.

 

man that interior is sweet! have you pulled the flooring yet to see if there is any damage? good luck with the build.
parts cata-wha?

 

ROFLMAO!!!! oh man....dude I love the pile. People might call me a perfectionist. It's a nervous twitch that you get from being in the Marine Corps for a bit lol. I have not pulled the flooring but I'm sure that I'm going to find something.....it seems sturdy when people sit in there with me but there's always room for FUBAR to go on. I think I might need the luck. I looked at a couple of the build threads and I am going to have to learn a few new tricks to get everything the way I want it.

 

If you can find some straight door seal it should work.
Most people don't know about the seal because it usually falls off. I've been lucky to have mine on my truck so far.

I'm not 100% certain your truck has one, but I don't see why it wouldn't.

 

Well even if it doesn't I think I could manage making one.

 

Yeah. mine just looks like a piece of door seal, with some clips or something holding it on.
except the end clips broke on either side so it hangs down on the ends.

 

you buy that first gen in Oklahoma?

 

Nope. Picked it up in Washington....but before that you got me lol