I bought a 1984 Pickup this week. I didn't mean to. My 16-yr-old daughter forwarded me a link... and well, what could it hurt to go look right?

The truck looked like the goal was to hide its inherent value: Find the rustiest wheels, beat on the fenders and doors, hang some dumptruck bumpers, build a flatbed - but let it rot a bit...

Why I bought it:
- The rest of the truck is solid - cab, floors, frame, suspension (new), etc - no rust. Even the seats are good. There's some rust around the windshield on the A-pillars. The truck came with two good doors and two good fenders.
- 22r sounds like the day it left the factory
- No drips, no smoke...the trans, t-case and hubs are butter smooth
- 58,000 miles
- 58,000 miles (yeah, that was worth repeating)

The plan:
- Repair the A-pillars, hang the new fenders and doors - respray in the same color (my favorite color on these trucks!)
- Winch bumper
- Freshly powder coated steel wheels and 33x10.50 BFG KO2s.
- Rebuild the flatbed... and keep my eyes open for a bed

I know very (!) little about these trucks - I'm here to learn! I'll post questions (lots) and some progress pics along the way.


"Patty"

 

If that is rust free for the most part I think you did well. Its funny how we buy the tings we want when we had no intention on buying anything.

 

Yesterday, I pulled the seats and the sponge... or insulated-backed vinyl flooring. Then spent 30 min. cleaning the floors. Pulling carpet/flooring is always scary - ya think the floors are solid... or mostly solid. You can only dig into a seller's vehicle but so much. I was pleasantly surprised with what I found. There's one 3" spot on one rib that'll need a bit of welding. The rest...

 

Nice floor boards. Is the original color white or is the picture over exposed? If you are seeking a bed http://toyotafiberglass.com/Truck.htmmakes them but there's a long lead time while he makes it. May as well order it before you need it. Great project.

 

I was surprised to see white floors - the truck is Creme everywhere else. I just assumed Toyota painted all the floors white... which would be unusual.

 

Great find and should respond very well to a little elbow grease. Will your daughter get to drive it?

 

Thanks. I'm really looking forward to digging into this project.

My daughter learned to drive stick in this truck the day I brought it home. 20 minutes in a parking lot... and she drove it home! She's driven it a few time since and keeps nagging me to go drive "Patty." Once it's been on the lift - new pads/shoes, and end to end inspection - she'll definitely get to drive it around - locally, e.g. like a 5-mile range, 25 and 35 mph zones.

 

Good dad. Brave dad but good dad.

My oldest is 4 and I am terrified of when he will want to drive mine. No way. Lets go find you one to put the elbow grease into...

 

My son is 14 and has had a couple lessons on my truck in large open parking lots. Driving a stick is in the blood.

 

Any updates on your restoration? I saw in another thread you were thinking about getting a custom bumper built.

 

Slow progress - the body shop is dragging its feet. The shop owner said he hoped to have the bodywork (dent in rocker and rust in A-pillar) knocked out by tomorrow and in paint next week. Fingers crossed. Lots of parts ready to go - new sliding back glass, 5 O.E. steel wheels with hub caps, 5 BFG 33/10.50/15 KO3s, carpet, etc. 8 weeks in the body shop is killing me.

I am going to have a bumper built. The fabricator said, if there were interest - like 5 or more - he'd make a bunch. I didn't get any interest... the bumper will likely be a one-off.

 

Body shop prison sucks! We'll need pictures once it's out of the shop and you have the new rubber on.

 

Ha - Body shop prison... that's what it feels like. We'd planned on driving it to Alabama (2 hours away) for a Toyota event... in three weeks. Probably won't be ready ;-)

 

For not knowing much about these you nailed it with the solid front axle! Nice truck. I only learned about that stuff only about 10 years back and I've been a huge fan of Toyota since the 80s. It's a good time learning as you go.

 

Thanks. I suspected the truck was "in the right range" and checked with my friends at ACC Garage to confirm is was worth looking at.

Coincidentally, that friend at ACC was at the bodyshop (for a different project) and texted me with some good news "Patty has moved (from the bodywork side of the shop) to the paint booth" The bodyshop owner said "this week." So, if all goes well, Patty will be back home in a couple weeks. Pretty stoked.

 

Make sure they get the drip rails and the front window water tight or that pillar rust will come back.

 

The bodyshop prison term is just about up. The truck has seen some serious work in the past week. As of yesterday, the bodywork is done, and there may actually (maybe) be some shiny paint on her. This was taken midday yesterday and the guys said their goal was to be in the paint booth before they go home. I'll be happy with end of this week.

 

Good to see the body shop making some progress on the Toyota. What color are you going with?

 

Man, that thing looks so mean just like that!

 

Painting it the original "Creme." I know... not the expected route. I actually love that color. It's got an cool vintage vibe. I'm going "lean in" to that vintage thing - using FJ40 steel wheels (painted Antique White) with the O.E. hubcaps. That's about where stock ends though...
- 2" OME springs
- 33/10.50/15 BFG KO2s
- 4.56 gears
- R: Harrop e-Locker
- F: Aussie locker