Junkers88

Looks to be a fun project. I'd like to recommend 1.5" ball joint spacers instead of the t-bar crank, others might disagree. I did 1.5's up front and a Zuk mod out back on my 86 pickup and ran 31 inch tires the entire time I owned it and loved every second of it. You might want to do lift springs in the rear instead of a Zuk but that is up to you. The springs will be easier to do with the bed off anyway. You might need longer shocks, I never got any because I had just installed new Monroe Syns-a-tracs (spelling??) and didn't want to just toss them. I never had an issue with the shocks after the lift.

Keep us posted on the progress!

DCorvin

Good luck with that! I always wanted to do a father son project but my dad just dont like workin on em no more and gets pissed off helpin me change plugs.

Kinda sucks, this is why I dont know anything bout workin on vehicles, which means the cycle will continue with my boy unfortunatly.

mattk

Thats funny that you ask if it was owned by a mexican. Actually the guy he bought it from was mexican but those are not the rims that came on it. Those rims that are on it now I had on a '95 Tacoma 4x4 of mine then they went on an '83 Yota pickup 4x4 that is my dad's. They have been around for a while. Now they are on this truck, of course they are going to get some nice mud tires on them. Still not sure what we are going to do with the lift. Made more progress today and got all the bad rust spots out of the bed and going to weld in some new metal. I will keep this post up to date as we go.

Junkers88

Man a father-son project is just cool. If you're on a budget for tires take a look at treadwright tires. They are retreads but don't let that dissuade you from buying them. I've had a few sets and love them.

mattk

Just checked the Treadwright website and they are out of stock on 31x10.5x15. Pretty decent price at $105/E. I will keep my eye out. Also if we go with a bj spacer lift, where is the best place to look for them?

Junkers88

Keep an eye on the web site or maybe look for some 16" wheels and go that route. I've gotten both sets of spacers from 4crawler http://www.4crawler.com/4x4/ForSale/...ntSpacer.shtml

92 TOY

and a vote from me for the TREADWRIGHTS....

allend51

wab fab makes some bj spacers that are decent priced but also try just looking on craigslist i found a guy in portland or. who cut them out on a plasma cutter and shiped them to me and they were only like 5 bucks each

mattk

I will look around on the spacers. Made some more progress today. Got the frame all cleaned up and painted with Rustoleum Rust Reformer. Actually the previous owner had just put a coat of paint on the frame and it was all flaking off. This made the frame look a lot worse than it actually is. After doing some clean up, the frame is in great condition and has no rot through. Going to brush on some Rustoleum High Performance Enamel paint for protection. Next will be working on the bed and getting it ready to paint.

92 TOY

looks A LOT better!!!

I still say ditch that bumper....cuz it's always easier spending someone else's money.

keep up the good work.

did you ever decide on tires?

mattk

I have done a lot of research on those TreadWrights and I am really thinking this is the way to go, especially for the price. My son really like's them. I have an email into them to notify me when they get the size he needs back in stock. Going to stick with those rim's since they were free. Going to be sanding them down and getting some black paint on them.

Junkers88

Want to throw you some cudos for proper PPE. Teach them early and properly and it'll stick.

aviator

Looks great... as pp said good to see your son using mask etc.... when I was a kid no one used that stuff... I've got more drywall dust in me...

mattk

Got the first coat of paint on the frame. I never used that PPE stuff either when I was a kid. I remember watching my dad paint cars in the garage as a kid with no mask or anything. Got a little wiser the older I got!

mattk

Slowly making some more progress. Getting the body ready for some paint and got one of the rims sanded down and painted to see how they were going to come out.

92 TOY

rim looks great.

making some good forward progress.

mattk

My son picked himself up a roll bar from Craigslist tonight......

sc87yota

Great project!... I wish my Dad had done that with me

mattk

Ok so a little more progress today. My son decided he wants to flat black the entire truck. So I rattle canned the one side of the bed to see how it would turn out. Lots of sanding, primer and 2 coats of paint. Doesn't look too bad. The front fender is not painted yet, that is just the factory primer.

TOY89

Cool little build you got going on! My buddy has a flat black truck and I noticed the inside temps noticeably went up after the paint job. FYI. Keep up the great work.