I've always thought the same about the earth tones too. There's a guy with a gorgeous 82 painted a really rich forest green that I always run into at one of my local surf spots. He used to poke fun of me when I pulled up on the beach with my fugly blue truck until last summer when I started borrowing my friend's H1 Hummer to go surfing while I worked on my restoration. I told him that I would run over his truck if he didn't stop making fun of me! LOL

 

Is there surf in MD?

 

LOL We have a little bit of bump from time to time so we mostly pray for hurricanes. We primarily have to travel south for waves, but my best friend bought a house on the beach on the North Shore a couple years ago. His house is about 500 yards from Pipeline so I get my fill of waves when I visit him. He goes balls out on the second reef, but I have a wife and kid so I stick to the first reef.

 

Grey or Toyota off-white both look good on these trucks. The black, chrome, and red trim and lights make a good contrast on those colors. The white is harder to keep clean though. It shows the dust and splashes right away. Some shade of metallic grey is probably going on mine eventually. Something similar to what's there now.

My bed is in pretty good condition, but the tailgate has typical lip weakness, and there's a straightened wrinkle in it. I might reinforce it and just stick with it out of stubbornness. It is a one touch, and it works.

 

Got a couple parts in today. New old stock headliner trim pieces and a grille clips! The trim pieces will probably be painted but they perfect new quality, gotta love it! I'm still a good bit away from needing these parts, but I've got to buy them when I find them or they'll be gone when I do need them.

 

Where did you get them from?

 

Well to each there own, that Camry dark grey dose look good.

 

I bought a new 1994 Toyota extracab 4x4 that was Forest Green. I can't believe it was 20 years ago. It was a beauty when it was clean, but just like most other dark colors, it showed the slightest amount of dust or splashed road water. When it rained, it would pick up dust from the air before the rain dried, and it was obvious. My first Toy 4x4 was a '90 extra cab, dark blue. That was also great looking when it was clean.

Of course, the same dirt and grime is on every car, but off white, silvers, and lighter greys seem to hide it better.

 

The color pallet will probably be a game time decision in the paint shop, but I'm still a good ways from that now.

So last week I went to a gun auction and accidentally bought two guns - wife wasn't too happy with me since I told her that I was just going to "look" but oh well! I got a Ruger 77/22 (I bought for my son when he is old enough but that didn't ease the evil glare from my wife) and a Sig P238 (that drastically increased the evil glare from my wife because she knew that I already owned a .380 pistol). Since the Sig was the first regulated firearm that I have purchased since The Communist Republic of Maryland passed the new gun laws back in October, I have to go through all the new HQL application and licensing BS which is essentially a "license" that you need in order to APPLY (yes, I said APPLY) to purchase a regulated firearm. Then when you apply you still have to go through the same background checks and scrutiny that you had to prior to this legislation. It is simply a mechanism to A) create revenue through licensing and B) Slow or hinder the purchases of regulated firearms in Maryland. It's complete BS, but luckily the auction company understands this and is holding guns that people purchased as long as they have purchase guns at previous auctions that they have held.

OK, rant over. So I had to head home during lunch to get some information for said application above and I was slightly cheered up by a brown package on my front steps! Earlier this week I rolled the dice on a set of replacement headlight doors (Not factory Toyota) since they were only $70 for the pair. I figured it would be worth the gamble. Opened them up when I got home and they weren't too bad. They are pretty much just like the factory headlight doors, in fact they seem a little more sturdy and less brittle. The only downsides that I saw was that the corner lenses were kind of cheap, but I'll probably just replace those with some new old stock lenses and the corner light wiring plug does not match the factory plug, but I'll be able to splice the factory plug on to it with no problem. For right now, it looks like I will be going with these (probably painted black) unless I can find a set of really nice chrome headlight doors. Here's what they look like:

 

I have been following your build, looks great! I am in the process of a full restoration on an 86. It's great to see someone who is doing it right and so meticulous. I am new to posting (1st one) but have been following for awhile. I have been so impressed that I just had to say looks great love the pictures!

 

love the attention to detail you put into your truck. you have inspired me to finally start a thread on my truck. keep up the great work. looks great so far!

 

Thanks guys! I would love to get some warmer weather so I can actually work on finishing up the cab. This winter has really pissed me off

 

Sweet find on the 238. Sig makes a fantastic gun. I have the 239 and absolutely love it. Idk if you do any concealed carrying but look into the crossbreed super tuck. It's hands down the best holster out. I don't think the 238 would fit into a 239 holster but if it does I have an extra one they sent me by accident I could let go real cheap.

Oh and try living in the communist state of California.

 

Taco98, no concealed carry in Maryland... Well, actually there is, but it is damn near impossible to get a permit. I'm working on getting my Utah CC permit now (it's recognized in 36 states) and I'll hopefully be moving to Delaware in the future so that should revitalize my second amendment rights. I just got my MD HQL permit so I put in my papers earlier this week to transfer the Sig P238 that I bought at the auction. While I was there, I kind of sort of bought another gun. There was a guy there looking to get rid of his stainless Kimber 1911 Ultra Carry with Crimson Trace grips. At the price he told me, he was basically giving it away and it was barely used... Sooooo, I bought it. I have no clue how I'm going to break this news to the wife; she is going to be so disappointed in me, but the damn things are like crack to me!

Anyhow, still no progress on the truck. The weather has broke a little, but as soon as it did everything else piled on... I had to finish up some framing on my brother's building because I had a contractor back out on me, since I got new guns I had to catch up on my reloading so that I have plenty of spare rounds to sling at paper when the transfers come through (I typically keep at least 1,000-1,500 rnds of each handgun caliber, 300-400 rnds of each rifle caliber and an obscene amount of 223 so when SHTF I will be well prepared. So needless to say, I have an ammo cache that rivals small Middle Eastern villages) and now this weekend is supposed to be gorgeous, but we are doing our annual hog slaughter at my friend's house. His family raises hogs, cattle and chickens and I hunt deer and birds so I seldom ever have to buy meat from the store. It's a great way to live and I recommend it to everybody who has the opportunity to do it.

Good news is that my wife and son are going to visit my in-laws next weekend so that should give me plenty of time to wrap some things up and get ready for epoxy sealer. There's really not much to do, but it's just a matter of getting the time to do it.

By the way, I think I found the seats that I'm going to go with. Corbeau makes a reclining seat called the Moab here:
http://www.corbeau.com/products/reclining_seats/moab/
They are fairly economical and a friend of mine has them and he loves them. They even "fit" me nicely, are very close to the same dimensions of the factory seats and Corbeau makes seat rail adapters for my truck too. I'll probably go with the grey vinyl or the black/grey seats so I don't torch my ass during the summer. Corbeau also makes a pretty good and economical 3-point shoulder belt that will bolt right into my truck so I may go for that too. There's nothing wrong with my belts, but why not just get nice new ones?! If anybody is interested in my seats or seat belts, let me know. I'll be selling at least the seats. The seats are in fairly good condition for being 30 years old with the typical wear along the sides from climbing in and out, but nothing too crazy. The seat belts are in excellent shape, and get this, THEY ACTUALLY RETRACT! I know, right? That's wild! I bet most people didn't even know that old Toyota seat belts actually retracted and weren't intended to flop outside the door! But like I said, let me know, but I probably won't part with them until I get my new seats in.

 

Sucks they dont have CC there. Because of my job Im allowed to CC anywhere in the USA. Joy of being Federal Law Enforcement. Some areas try to say they dont recognize it but because of the LEOSA act/law I can carry and I do. I carry a S&W 40. My buddy said it was to big for CC, but he is like barely 6ft and like 170lbs, Im 6'3 270, so it works for me lol.

 

The wife and kid are out of town and the weather was rather mild today so I was able to get some work done. I got a lot of the welds dressed up today but I still have about half left to do - should be able to wrap them up tomorrow. I'll get some pictures up once I have them all done. I also decided to tackle the battery tray "shelf" today. It was rusted out pretty badly and the PO decided that slapping some bondo over it would cure the problem (he was wrong). There was also a peice of steel welded and bondo'd over on the under side of the inner fender below the battery tray. It looks as though there was a donor truck at some point in time that the steel was cut out of to do the repair. I'm going to leave it there, fix the welds around it and smooth it over since it isn't going to be easily seen, but at least it will be addressed.

So here's the battery "shelf" as I was cutting it out:


After I cleaned up the metal and removed the globs of old bondo I began mocking up and fabricating the new battery shelf:




A quick test fit (I was quite impressed with myself in getting the curves right so it contoured the inner fender and sat flat. Three of the four sides had curves incorporated in them in order for it to sit right and I nailed it!):




Welded up the seams and ground down the welds:


And finally burned it into place:


I forgot to make a hook or some way to tie down the battery, but I'll figure something out.

I should be able to finish dressing all the welds tomorrow. Then it's time for a quick over all sandblasting and final prep for epoxy primer. I also talked to Corey earlier this week and my bed should be done by the end of March so that should be perfect timing for the color shoot... weather permitting - they are calling for snow again this week. I'm so sick of this winter!

 

Nice work on the battery shelf, it turned out really good! Can't wait to see your new bed when its done, I bet your excited to get that! I hear you on wanting winter to get over, every time its my days off work the weather takes a turn and gets colder or snows, I'm ready for summer weather so I can finish up some projects!

 

great work looks awesome

 

Alas, all the metal work is complete! I never want to see a welder or die grinder again! I went back and finished some welds that I forgot to burn in and finished dressing all the welds today. Woot woot!

Underside of the cab:


Rockers:




Rear of cab:


And interior:






Now a quick sandblasting and it's FINALLy ready for sealer... Which apparently will happen no time soon since we're about to get slammed with another 8-10 inches of snow over night. And then I'm going to have to spend a couple weekends doing the finishing work on my brother's building so we can get a tenant in by the first of April. This truck seems soooo close to being done, yet not close at all

 

Awesome thread!! You have a great attention to detail!!
The cab floor turned out great!!