Hey yotatech! Finally decided to do a build thread for my 1989 pickup. Im starting this build thread kinda to keep track of what I've done so far. Suggestions and comments welcome. Its a 2wd with the 22RE and has been the perfect DD. I still get it out in the hills quite a bit. Mostly in the Cleveland national forest and use it on hunting, camping, and fishing trips. Il even haul a 9ft zodiac from time to time. I bought this truck in August of 2013 cuz I was tired of fixing stuff on my vw. It was a great commuter car but time to move on. Anyways onto the pics.

 

How it looked day I bought it.

 

How it looks today.



Did radiator and timing chain kit very early on. Removed peeling stickers (THAT was a chore). New grille, yea I know it's the 4wd trim! Firestik 2 meter antenna and 2 1/4" flowmaster cat back system. Also forgot to mention bought goodyear wrangler radial A/Ts. Pretty happy with those.

 

Alpine speakers

Before:


After:

 

Rear bumper build







Should be a pretty awesome bumper for 35 bucks. Plus I got a ton of practice welding. Been a fun project. Just need to fig out mounts.

 

That rear bumper looks great!

 

Thanks man. Hopefully I can finish it this wknd

 

Well. I didn't quite get the bumper finished but 98% of the welding is done. Had to cut some notches in the sheet metal below the tailgate. Just need to get it positioned just right and drill the holes.

 

New shocks. Pro comp es3000s. Pretty happy with them so far. Much better than the old blown out ones.

 

Did a little wheelin out in Julian last Friday.

Just above devils punch bowl.


Low trees kept knocking the mag mount cb antenna off the top.


Saw some deer out in Pine Hills

 

Looking good. We need an updated side shot so we know what it looks like now. Also are you running 31s?

 

Side shot of truck or bumper? Not sure exactly what it translates into but they are 235/75/R15s.

 

Well finally got the rear bumper installed! Still have some sanding and then primer and paint but really happy with it so far.





Mounts


With hitch in place



Did almost all the work myself and learned a lot! Can't wait to start the front bumper! Or maybe swing out tire carrier instead?

 

Looks good, how is the offroad ability being a 2wd truck. Also that picture I meant a side shot. Sorry for the confusion

 

Looks really good! Any side bracing? One hard side tug on that bumper might bend those brackets.

 

For a 2wd I feel like it handles great offroad. I've only been truly stuck twice and one of those times was in beach sand when it had street tires. Really want to put a locker in the rear! I'm hoping to really get it out in the sticks this summer.

I will try to get that side shot up.

 

What would you suggest for side bracing? Like where to where would you connect? I will try to take a pic of the whole underneath.

I do plan on drilling a third hole in the middle and slightly higher than the two in the pic that shows the mount.

 

Well finally finished. Paint didn't come out quite as smooth as I would have liked but pretty decent for a rattle can. Went with a satin black rustoleum.





Now what to do with that beat up and rusting tailgate? Suggestions???

 

I'm thinking something along the lines of the tire gate series:



This one probably because of more storage:



This prerunner one isn't bad either:

 

I would add a triangle gusset horizontally in the corner where the frame brackets meet the bumper, perpendicular to the faces of the bracket and the bumper (if that makes any sense. I'm not good at explaining things). As rattlewagon said, if there is any large amount of force applied from the side, the brackets might have a tendency to bend.

Otherwise, as I said in the other thread, the bumper looks great! I like how you trimmed the bed for the brackets to go through. That's how I was planning on doing mine, whenever I get to it...