I did get it legal today. Still have front axle, interior, tires, wheels, ac, stereo and sure some other things to go that I cant think of right off but it is legal to drive now.

 

A friend of mine use to own this 85. It is sweet.

 

Took it for a drive last night and a few issues I got to look into.

I put a new parts store Clutch Master Cylinder in and it is leaking.
Speedometer isnt working and found I have a broken cable.
Oil Pressure Guage isnt working.

Solid axle trucks do ride a little different and sure new tires will help out in the future. Still enjoyed driving it and seems to have quite a bit of power for a 4 banger.

 

Got my new to me Fuel Float. I checked it at various levels to make sure it is operating correctly. The Stop for the float is at the top.


Corresponded to the guage.


Same with less then mid tank.


Mid tank.


When working on the tank, I loosen the drivers side of the bed bolts and remove passenger side for two reasons. This will keep the bed from sliding into the cab and damaging paint. The other reason is there is not enough slack in the hoses to let the tank drop and get to the hoses on the Fuel Pump Bracket. Also when the hoses are rusted to the bracket, it really get difficult and the Fuel Pump Bracket is expensive and can be hard to find. On a pickup, during the summer, I take a water hose with light pressure and clean the top of the tank and rails to keep thr tank from rotting and keep the frame from rotting out. Runners are not so bad as the pickup.


I replaced my Speedometer cable. I had several different ones and each seem to have some kind of a variance. Mine orginally had a plastic connector to the speedometer. I did a test fit with my new one and it was metal. It was a bit shorter then the orginal cable but works great. Will test the mile per hour at a later time with my Garmin. Not a bad job to do but getting to the clip just above the transmission that holds the speedometer cable and parking brake cable can be a tight fit.

Different connectors and varing lengths.


Grrr.... Frustration, I took the Clutch Master Cylinder back as it was under lifetime warranty. I cant even get it to pump up now. I bench bled it like you are supposed to do and then installed it and tried to bleed it out. Not a hard job to do but you get fluid everywhere and crawling under the dash to make the connection can be a little back bending.

Oh well, I have made other progress today. Got the camper fixed. I put the pink antifreeze in for the winter for RVs and still some how the toilet flush assembly froze and had a water leak. Was going to go camping and crappie fishing this weekend but we are getting rain we are getting canceled that out. Had to work on the mower and Briggs and Stratton motors just are not as good as they were in the old days. I would love to get ahold of a good '70-80s model mower. I used to beat the daylights out of them and they kept running.

Got the garden tiller going and it has a Kohler motor on it and it is a pain to start the first time of the year but not bad after that. Went and got Toms Runner back from the body shop and hope to get a big jump on it next week. Seems like I got several other things done, just dont remember what all they were.

Will be ordering http://www.partsgeek.com/sqwpbjh-toy...aster+Cylinder

 

killin it all around terry sorry to hear bout the master cyl always a pain when a new bought part is a fail before it gets outa the box

 

Hello Cyberhorn... I hope this one is good that I got. It has the lifetime replacement on it and I am eventually going to order Aisin for it. Should of done it way back when but forgot about it. I was hoping to take it for a Sunday drive but the wife and kids are with mom so I dont have any help bleeding the clutch. Grr..

 

I got my bed bolted down and went to put on the bumper. The bumper brackets wont clear the roll pan unless I remove them from the bumper or lift the bed. I will be lifting the bed. I seen I did not install my spare tire carrier and when I bolted the bed down it is half an inch to far toward the drivers side. Probably fix those 3 issues tomorrow.

I did get some more of my wall art finished. Had a bad hood and a front valance so added them.


I sold Mistys van years ago and bought my third Toyota, an 87 flat bed with the sale. Misty was ticked off at the time I brought the flat bed home as it did look ugly. She misses that truck as she used it for a lot of her activities and was handy to have. I have had cars for years, my 3rd gen runner for 13 years now and not much worse then when I got it, mostly a faded hood that I will fix somedayyyy.

I am not much into vans but it was in far better shape when I had it. Got to looking at it to see if it was my old one and a few things I did remember about it. Looks like it has been in a demo derby. I have seen new cars that look terrible. Just dont understand how they can trash cars out so quick. Front mashed in and windshield is cracked all over the place. I installed a new windshield when I had it. It was handy when the brats were in diapers.

 

chevy astro van the AWD versions had so many issues with the all wheel drive system door handles breaking inside the doors

i dont know terry ive seen some an wonder how could they not take care of it

 

Hello Cyberhorn.. When I had that van it was in great condition. Other then the paint being a little faded and like you mentioned the door handles it was a solid truck. Makes you wonder. Luckily it wasnt the AWD one. The 4.3 motors in those are some great motors.

 

Well rats rear end. I did get to take it and give it the first fill up. 11.1 gallons. I guess I may have over filled it and have a leak at the top of the tank somewhere. Probably do not have a hose on well. I got it up to 40 mph and was testing the brakes. I have a hub out of round. I checked to see what it would cost to get the hubs turned. It is $20 a piece to have turned and I can get new hubs for $25 each.

I did get a replacement clutch master cylinder on and I have to pump it up to operate the clutch. I will eventually replace it with and Aisian. I have in the past on Toyotas let them sit a few days and then bleed them again and that solves several problems. Will get the few things I know fixed and drive it some more on small drives to get rid of some more bugs I am sure that will pop up.

Seems no matter how slow and attention I pay to one still just cant jump in it and go. Here is its first fill up. I need to replace the front bumper and the drivers headlight has moisture in it. That will happens soon.

 

thats such a nice color terry it fits the truck
rotor out of round at that price might as well replace it

 

Thanks Cyberhorn.. With the right stripping, tinted windows, and some other small details, I think it will look good. I do have a bull bar for a solid axle truck and not sure if I will install it or not. Want to get the bumper done first.

I did try to install a rear bumper and it wont work. Good news is I got the fuel leak fixed. I didnt tighten the Fuel Pump Bracket Assembly down, Doh!!! At least it was an easy fix. I electrolisis cleaned a tire carrier and cannot find it now. It will show up eventually. I think I can install it with the bed bolted down. Some slow progress but still progress. Once I seen the bumper would not worked, decided to call it a day. Just need to bolt the bed down squarely this time. I think learned a lesson today.

 

looks GREAT Terry


.

 

Thanks slacker...It is the last 10% that seems to take the longest. I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. Getting some of the bugs worked out a little at a time.

 

Been sitting on this project for a while and on the down hill side of it. It was yellow and owner wants it red. I dont paint in the winter with wood heat. Taken longer these past few days then I thought it would but should be wrapped up in the next couple of days. Getting some work done on Toms as well. Trying to get the painting done here soon as I have a few more projects coming up.

 

Glad to see that your fuel leak was no big deal.

 

Thanks cabot.. Wish all fixes were that easy. Hope I am done lifting the bed for quite sometime now.

 

To pass inspection you dont need a passenger side mirror. Mine was broken and I have been driving it around without the passenger mirror. I miss not having one and the windshield shop got a mirror for me. Glad to get it on.

One thing I was glad to see when I got this truck was it had new leaf springs from Rancho (3000 I think). A friend of mine told me it gives it some lift. I actually would like mine to sit a little lower so as not to have to jump up into it. I am hoping these springs settle some and ride a little bit smoother after I get it driven for a while. It does not ride bad but I know these trucks can ride a bit smoother.

I am going to start checking into more of a factory spring for it. I know solid axles are all the rave, but I am more into the rarity of the 85 but a nice ride takes precedence over the rarity. One thing I do like about some of the junk trucks I have built or saved from scrap is that I would not feel bad about sliding an IFS frame under this truck. I had my wheeling days and dont miss the bouncing around at all. This truck does ride great on highway but I think there is room for more improvement.

A minor fix but a huge relief to have it back on is the mirror.

 

Man... I can't function without that mirror. I constantly watch the lane to the right of me in the mirror.

 

Hello cabot.. It should almost be mandatory to have a passenger mirror. I will install them if they dont have one.