RV8guy's 1989 dually build up
#1
RV8guy's 1989 dually build up
So, here is where this project begins. For about the last 3 years of his life my step father was unable to drive due to being in a wheel chair. Despite this he would not part with his favorite vehicle. So it just sat on the side of the house. After his death it still just sat. My mother wanted it gone so she gave it to me. What he had was a 1990 Toyota motor home. Here is a picture that I stole off the interwebs of a similar unit.
My step father's unit was not that nice. He had backed in to a couple of things and messed up the coach a little. Everything else is in real nice shape.
My step father's unit was not that nice. He had backed in to a couple of things and messed up the coach a little. Everything else is in real nice shape.
#2
Now the fun begins. The Toyota is in Tucson AZ and I live in North Texas. How to get it there from to here? It would surely need a battery, the tires are mostly likely dry rotted, and I'm sure the fuel tank is full of bad gas. Driving it is out of the question so I broke out the sawzall and big,big hammer, rented a dumpster and went to town. Sorry, no pics of that as I forgot. Here is the finished project up on the trailer for trip back to Texas.
ETA - I can report that with just that load, fuel economy with my 5.4l gas F250 was in the suck zone for the trip home.
ETA - I can report that with just that load, fuel economy with my 5.4l gas F250 was in the suck zone for the trip home.
#3
The simple thing to do would just fill in the missing sections of the roof and back wall. Where's the fun in that? Besides, once you own an extended cab truck you don't want to go back. So what we need is a new cab or a cab clip. Sort of like this.
Here it is in the back of my trusty F-2 fiddy.
The price was right and the cab is in perfect shape. All the interior is there including the back seat. No damage and no rust. Time to start measuring and cutting so I can do some welding.
Here it is in the back of my trusty F-2 fiddy.
The price was right and the cab is in perfect shape. All the interior is there including the back seat. No damage and no rust. Time to start measuring and cutting so I can do some welding.
#5
New gas tank, fuel level sending unit, and fuel pump.
Put stuff together.
Need to double check the fit of the new cab then start welding. Everything is just held together with screws right now.
Put stuff together.
Need to double check the fit of the new cab then start welding. Everything is just held together with screws right now.
#6
The welding is coming along.
Pulled the bumper and grille. I'll do a little clean up and painting in here then fit a better grille and bumper that I have.
That catches up everything up to now. Next weekend I can finish welding the drivers side rocker panel then roll the truck over to my friends body shop and start getting ready for a new coat of paint. Fun.
Pulled the bumper and grille. I'll do a little clean up and painting in here then fit a better grille and bumper that I have.
That catches up everything up to now. Next weekend I can finish welding the drivers side rocker panel then roll the truck over to my friends body shop and start getting ready for a new coat of paint. Fun.
Last edited by RV8guy; 05-11-2016 at 07:30 PM.
#7
Registered User
This is awesome!! I parked next to a motorhome a couple months ago that looked very similar to the first pic you posted. Had no idea Toyota pickups served those kinda roles! Though I did catch that one custom '81 model for sale not too long ago.
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#8
No pictures to update with this week. I spent today finishing up the rear cab mounts and doing the last of the welding. Didn't quite finish because I ran out of gas for the welder. It turned out that the back-up bottle was also empty. Next week I'll get the truck over to the paint shop for sure.
#9
Forgot to take pictures again this week. Dang it!
All the welding is complete now. I spent most of the day grinding the welds smooth. As it turns out there is a fair amount of rust under the battery. Because of that I'm going to change the wheel house and the radiator core support. There was a small crack in the frame behind the left rear leaf spring. Fixed that and cut the excess frame off of the back that I don't need. My original plan was to build a flatbed but I might have a line on a 7 foot box to put out back.
All the welding is complete now. I spent most of the day grinding the welds smooth. As it turns out there is a fair amount of rust under the battery. Because of that I'm going to change the wheel house and the radiator core support. There was a small crack in the frame behind the left rear leaf spring. Fixed that and cut the excess frame off of the back that I don't need. My original plan was to build a flatbed but I might have a line on a 7 foot box to put out back.
#11
Been away from from the Toyota for a little bit due to various life things but stuff is moving forward this week. As I posted last, there was some rust on the right wheel house and the core support so they needed to go.
Core support
Wheel house
New parts welded in.
Back at it tomorrow. Should be able to get it over to the paint shop by the end of the day
Core support
Wheel house
New parts welded in.
Back at it tomorrow. Should be able to get it over to the paint shop by the end of the day
#12
#13
#14
UPDATE! It's been awhile but I'm still working on the pickup. I've only been getting a day or two per month so progress has been slow. Here is where I stand right now.
The paint is done. Doors, fenders, and hood are back on. Once I wet sand and buff the clear coat the door handles, mirrors, and bumper can go on.
The paint is done. Doors, fenders, and hood are back on. Once I wet sand and buff the clear coat the door handles, mirrors, and bumper can go on.
#15
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You have some fab skills and really like seeing what all you have gotten done. Great to see you are keeping the truck in the family. Great job on what you have gotten accomplished.
#18
Glad you like it. I kinda thought it was a dumb project but sometimes dumb projects can be fun. I'm trying to keep it low stress and not get in a hurry. My first thought was to just make it a simple flatbed work truck. Then it became "Once you go extended cab you never go back". Now I want to put an actual pickup bed on it. The tuff part is finding a 7 foot bed within driving distance. When I'm done I hope to have a neat little run around town vehicle so my F250 can sit for awhile. That thing drinks gas like it's still a dollar a gallon.
#20