Oscar Bassi

G'day!

I am currently tearing down my 82 for a rust removal and repaint.

I've had the old girl for a few years now and up to 176,000kms (109361miles) on the clock. Actually picked it up her up in fairly good nic though due to not having a roof for cover, it has deteriorated fairly quickly...

So...time to start repairing what I should have done when I took ownership.

I have done quite a few to it over the past few years of owning it. The previous owner had purchased it off an older fellow who owned it since new and never used 4x4!...silly bugger. When the previous owner bought it there was brinelled bearings in the transfer case and he had to source those bearing and fix that problem. He also put a set of black steal rims with 33's offset -22 on it which currently still have a heap of tread, SCORE! *It also had a cb radio, though everything else was stock as a rock.

When I purchased her she had leaky front axle hubs (which I fixed with eco seals) and what I believe is an ugly bull bar as can bee seen below.

* whilst having the front axles out I popped down to the local Arb Store where I used to work once upon a time and had a mate instal a front air locker in the differential for me. This was such an awesome mod.





I proceeded to cut the scrub bars off and build my own winch bar. For my previously bought 9500lb warn.

Bar Building,

* Though not having a front drop bracket I decided to fabricate a front winch bar. I wanted something that I could bolt on and bolt off (which I am a big fan fan of). So utilising the original mounting holes and the recovery hook holes I proceeded to create the bar. Took long enough!







That is how she stayed for the next year whilst at college / part time work for goodies.

Here are some having fun shots at the local parks.





*Previously the side steps on the pickup were just simply that (no protection), and the need for rockslides is always on your mind. So this is what I came up with. A little bit different, which is what I like and it also protects the rear quarter of the cab.

Building the rock sliders.




*Since building the sliders, I have done little jobs like make an attachment for the rear tyre on the tray. I also sourced some small door mirrors and the originals kept running into walls and embankments, and because of that I dove tailed the trays head board too!

The next year mod I completed myself was installing the rear spartan locker directly from lowrangeoffroad in the US because you guys sell it so much cheaper there. I installed this myself as I had never done it before, with the guidance of a diff build thread on here I installed a rear manual locker. What an awesome modification! Especially now that it is dual locked it goes everywhere even with its stocko suspension. It lifts wheels like an IFS but suspension is not a priority at the moment and the Australian vehicle modification laws are quite harsh on any suspension mods, plus I want to keep it road able. So suspension mods are on the back burner at the moment.


Currently as she sits with her original 18r and 4 speed, how this model was sent to Australia.

83 trail rig

There are plenty of days to tell us the complete story

Sounds like you picked up a good pickup hope the build or rebuild goes smooth

Sent from my iPhone using YotaTech

kawazx636

iTrader: (3)

Nice score! And right hand drive as well! Are you located down in Oz?

Oscar Bassi

thanks 83 trail rig and Dave, Yes I'm located in Oz but have been following the forum here for a while and there are great build threads of people doing what I want to do. I thought why not share me and my Utes story and ask around for ideas and help!

kawazx636

iTrader: (3)

My father-in-law lives in Gilston QLD

Terrys87

iTrader: (1)

Wow!!! That truck is in excellent shape and great to look at. Welcome to Yotatech.

Oscar Bassi

Thanks Terry! Gilston is about an hours drive from where I live in Brisbane, does he drive old toyotas too?

kawazx636

iTrader: (3)

I know he has some sort of ute, but I'm not too sure what he has. He has a gorgeous 1956 MGA convertible that he putts around in, but doesn't get to drive it much since he has been traveling out of the country with contracts for work. He manages large scale landscaping nurseries during start up and has ended up in the UAE, China, Mongolia and is currently in Thailand. I know when he was in the UAE his company hooked him up with one of the newer Landcruiser diesel pickups like the one below. He sent me an actual picture of the truck to make me jealous, but I can't find it. I was begging him to ship it over to me!

Oscar Bassi

Those 79 Series Landcruiser's are a bullet proof ute. Too bad though that none of them have that style side tray here in Australia. they look mean as.


Some updates on the metal cancer and how the ute currently is.















The cab is straight as which was a massive bonus when I picked it up a few years ago and have kept it that way since.

Oscar Bassi

Finally have the cab just as it is and ready to be removed! Some parts are bad and some parts are fairly good!







Next step is removing the cab and to start the rust repairs.

I'm now better educated on which metals to source thanks to the members on here. I do appreciate the help!

Oscar Bassi

How do you remove this nut? I have used lubricant, a rattle gun, and even managed to get I vice grip on the bottom of it though still no luck. Any ideas? or am I the only one who this nut has given grief?

Oscar Bassi

Okay... So bit of an update. I have been busy cutting and welding for the last week and I need to get my ute back together! So keen to go out wheeling now.

I blacked the chassis a few weeks ago with POR - 15, its like a marine grade chip and bend resistant rust coating.



Now this is the work I have done in this last week and for the next week too!













I'm going to tidy up this weld when I get home this afternoon

slacker

iTrader: (1)

looking good there Oscar


.

Oscar Bassi

Okay, so an update of what I completed last night.

So this is the left hand side completed


And the right hand side






Just a few more boring patches left to do, then on to the sanding and painting. Can't wait to get this thing back together.

dropzone

iTrader: (6)

interesting slider design, i like how the top hoop overlaps the bottom one like that..

admire your work on the cab..a lot of detail to that. I got lucky when a friend practically gave me a rust free cab. i have it stashed in a barn..

keep up the great work..

Terrys87

iTrader: (1)

That is a rust free cab compared to what we find in my area. That one actually has floor boards. Great job on the patch panels you are doing. Looking forward to seeing the truck completed.

Oscar Bassi

Thanks for the positive comments guys, it takes ages to get through this restoration process, such a boost is appreciated.

Just an update. under body coated.


roof long blocked and now for the bonnet.

dreadnought

what did you use for the under coating??

Oscar Bassi

For the undercoating I used this product ->> http://www.u-pol.co.uk/product-cat/8...-protector.htm

Came up really good!

Oscar Bassi

Okay so.... I got around to painting it and assembling it and upgrading its suspension over the last 6 months