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Hello Everyone,
This is my first post here so introductions are in order. I grew up in that glorious time known as "THE 80's", when Mini-Trucks, as we called them back then, were really hitting their stride. About 1983 my dad found a deal on a pretty sweet pickup that had all the required custom touches of the day, 3"inch(body) lift, 31x10.50 tires, American Racing Wheels, custom pinstripes, bug shield, Roll bar and KC Highlights.(That's a 13 year old me in the pic too)
This thing was ,as far as I was concerned, the absolute definition of what a custom truck should look like. Dad drove it until about 86, then, with rust starting to show through, he turned my 16 year old brother loose with it. By 1990 when I turned 16, it had had a run in with at least one deer and more than a couple of ditches. When Dad gave me the keys it was a bit worse for wear, but still cool enough to take cruising and down under the bridge muddin. I finally finished it off one evening when I found out that Wet Roads, Wide Tires and a Light Truck, combined with an inexperienced driver spells, upside down in the ditch.
Fast Forward 25 years and I've got a 13 year old son and just happened upon this on beauty.
It actually belonged to a friend from work and is nearly Rust Free, which is something I didn't believe existed here in the Midwest. it's got a small spot on the drivers side fender, and a spot up on the passenger side of the cab, her than that, nothing that a little sandpaper can't fix. It's a 1980 and has a 20R, with around 135k on it, tach, gauges, power steering, and A/C. Does that make it a DLX?
The dash is complete and still has the factory AM radio. I have, what I believe is the factory bench seat but, its pretty rough. The previous owner put some junkyard buckets in it. I've actually had it for about a year now and I've driven it to work on a pretty regular basis (60 miles round trip). After a tune up it gets between 16-18 MPG if the speedo is right.
My plan for it is basically a recreation of the truck in the first pic. I've already found a set of American racing wheels, and I've got a big fat 4" rollbar, although I went with the double tube main bar, because there just that much cooler. I'll probably leave the engine alone, except for fixing a few leaks, and desmogging with the help of this forum. I did find 5-speed and transfer case that will go in it though. Hopefully I can track down a double tube rear bumper. It'll get a spring lift, probably around 4", and, if the boy can keep his nose clean, then maybe I'll even let him drive it a bit.
More pictures to follow if I can find them.
Great story! I recently picked a rust free 83 which was the coolest truck in the world when I was a teen and I wanted one in the worst way. Fast forward 30 something years and I finally got it. Engine is toast, paint is gone but the body is straight and no rust. It is an un-molested base model (never even had a stereo put in). I picked up a 1987 dolphin motor home with a 22re that has 32k miles on it and am just starting to do the engine swap. Looking forward to hearing more about the recreation of your youth.... dont forget the photos with the roll bar and KCs!
Thanks for the kind words all.
it's going to be a few months before I am going to be able to get to, it due to work obligations but I'm in no hurry.
I noticed a few folks from around the Ozarks on here farrier. It's hard to believe there are that many of these left around here that are road worthy all things considered. I think mine spent some time out west. I'm awful jealous of all the clean rigs I see on here form the Pacific Northwest.
You can see a little bit of a wrinkle on the leading edge of the fender lip. I think I can work it out The bed seams are really clean along with the frame underneath, The small rust spots are form were something dented it form the inside(single wall beds) and knocked the paint off. I cleaned up some surface rust on the bumpers and painted it and the grill. Are the white wheels factory? I've got three of four, the other is chrome but kinda matches.
I appreciate all the kind words, Here a re few more pictures I had on my phone. Sorry no interior pics but there's not much to see there anyway. At least with the carpet gone I could see there wasn't any rust in there when I bought it.
Overall I don't think it'll be a ton of work. I don't have the talent(or patience) to do body work for a living but I think I can get things smoothed out enough so that I can spray a new coat of paint on it, I liked the Hockey Stripes my old one had but, these are starting to grow on me, especially the hood stripe.
Sourcing replacement parts seems to be the hardest part on these. I 'm going to need new rubber for the windshield and side windows. Has anyone tried to rebuild the wing windows on these things? I've seen it done on older Chevy trucks. mine whistles so much I just keep it cracked open all the time.
Big Little bear that truck in your Avatar is Awesome. I'm shooting for 33"s max, 31"s if I plan on driving it a lot.
I have a set of the chrome ones and they came off a 84 sr5 4runner but they are the ones I'm going to run on my build......If you want to sell that one some day give me a holler I will need one for the spare.
The last time I was at B&B Salvage in Nixa, Mo. , he had several chrome rims for the solid axles. I did not look for any white rims. He is about the best in our area for older Toyotas. Nice looking truck you found. Welcome to Yotatech.
I'm from So Cal but here my cousin represents during mount Shasta climb in 2010 ...
Oh, what a feeling! (First long drive since I got the truck 11 hours from Los Angeles)
Last edited by RAD4Runner; 07-04-2017 at 09:30 AM.
Mount Shasta, my wifes grand parents live 25 miles as a crow flies from Shasta I spent a couple of weeks up there last year it was great good fishing up that way. sorry mizzou don't want to highjack
Last edited by dirtdobberoffroad; 07-05-2017 at 06:16 AM.
06-29-2017, 05:53 AM
