Picked this up a few months back. Going through it little by little. Will sell it at some point, but it's growing on me. First step is to take care of neglected maintenance and obvious problems. Second step is to completely clean/renew the interior. Third step unknown. No plan/intent to attack the rust, too much of an uphill battle here on the coast, though I am making every effort to clean/inspect the frame and body during each maintenance/repair step. No frame holes, yet, though the bed is clearly shot, as is the firewall. Have NOT inspected the floor panels yet.

First sold Auburn, CA October 1984
Lived most of it's life in Ukiah, CA
Moved to Coastal Humboldt in 2012

Since obtaining it I have done the following:

- Updated rubber to some basic used Les Schwab A/T rubber
- Oil/Filter/Air filter replace
- New plugs/cap/rotor
- Valve adjust
- Driveline fluids swapped
- Driveshaft support bearing replaced
- Xfer case output seal replaced
- New Battery hold down bolt
- Replaced a few busted lenses and lights
- New glass latch
- Replaced tailgate handle

Have parts and will do soon:
- New muffler and tailpipe (OE is rusted through in multiple spots)
- A/C kit install (Thanks to a buddy who sent me most of the parts)
-Climate Control panel replace
- Grille replace
- Various weatherstripping
- Straighten out drivers door and front left fender

Pictures below.

 

Wow! That looks just like my 87 pickup. Except for the rust. And the toys.
I despise the wasp nests. Every time I find one, it gets a squirt of poison, and then I dig it out. I HATE wasps. Being allergic to them might have something to do with my attitude towords them, though

I do keep a lot more behind the seats in mine, too. Tools, spare parts, like belts, hoses, plugs and their wires, distributor cap and rotor, and so forth, the jack and little tool bag that goes with it, etc, etc, etc. I'm a pack-rat, I guess...

Looks like a good truck to make a project out of, though. Clean up, tune up, the whole nine. Looks like the rust is going to be the worst part of it. That stuff is sneaky, and persistent. I'd make sure the engine, and drive train, is in really good shape first, but that's me. I'm really glad the Highway department around here uses crushed lava rock instead of salt on the roads!

I wish you all the very best
Pat☺

 

Thanks Pat!

Adding to my to do list faster than my to done list....

My Rusty '84Picked this up a few months back. Going through it little by little. Will sell it at some point, but it's growing on me. First step is to take care of neglected maintenance and obvious problems. Second step is to completely clean/renew the interior. Third step unknown. No plan/intent to attack the rust, too much of an uphill battle here on the coast, though I am making every effort to clean/inspect the frame and body during each maintenance/repair step. No frame holes, yet, though the bed is clearly shot, as is the firewall. Have NOT inspected the floor panels yet.

First sold Auburn, CA October 1984
Lived most of it's life in Ukiah, CA
Moved to Coastal Humboldt in 2012

Since obtaining it I have done the following:

- Updated rubber to some basic used Les Schwab A/T rubber
- Oil/Filter/Air filter replace
- New plugs/cap/rotor
- Valve adjust
- Driveline fluids swapped
- Driveshaft support bearing replaced
- Xfer case output seal replaced
- New Battery hold down bolt
- Replaced a few busted lenses and lights
- New glass latch
- Replaced tailgate handle

Have parts and will do soon:
- New muffler and tailpipe (OE is rusted through in multiple spots)
- A/C kit install (Thanks to a buddy who sent me most of the parts)
-Climate Control panel replace
- Grille replace
- Various weatherstripping
- Straighten out drivers door and front left fender

Plan to get parts and do:
- Brake system upgrade (v6 IFS calipers+FJ60 rotrors/ master cylinder/ wheel cylinders, fresh brake lines, parking brake cable)
- Marlin Crawler front axle rebuild kit to get rid of grease/oil leak source(s) in the front end
- Body/bed/suspension mount rubber replace
- bed off rear frame inspection/light sanding
- Xfer case support remove/clean/inspect/reinstall
- motor mount replace
- SR-5 Instrument panel upgrade
- Identify and remidy "whirring" noise from driveline/tranny
- Replace clutch slave cylinder boot (or entire cylinder as needed)
- Install Soft Toppoer (tan)
- Get Lost somewhere fun

 

Trusty Rusty got a thorough front axle/brake area de-gunking. Will post before/after soon. Found the brake bleeders under 2" of muck. Noted, front axle re-build is higher on the list. Decided to do a brake bleed while I was there to try to get a bit more out of the brakes for the time being. Managed to forget I had the left rear drum off when I started my bleed procedure at the right rear wheel. Hit the pedal to the floor and then had to re-build the wheel cylinder which turned into a severe detour. Would've gone to parts store for a new cylinder but its dumping rain and the van is in the shop. So, rebuilt it then got myself all twisted around with brake shoe spring placement. Anyhow, gotta move it out of my garage for a bit, so I'll likely be wrenching in the rain.