Hello Mark..When I orginally bought the truck, I was going to fix and sell it to help fund my other projects. Once the bed was off and seeing how well the frame was and it wasnt all hacked up, I decided to keep it. Most of the frame has the factory paint on it. I spend about as much time cleaning on the underside as I do the top side. Just something I have always done since I was a teenager. Just dont care for working on one and getting dirt in my eyes all of the time as guess is where that comes from.

Had a great time and it is never long enough. That is the dog that came in the shop while I was working and I decided that I would keep him. He has turned out to be a great dog. Only two things we have found that he wont eat. Onions and Squash. He eats nut, lettuce and everything else that most dogs wont. I really like him. He is a keeper.

Thanks Cyberhorn..I have been abe to come up with some ways of keeping cost down. I use new parts where it is adviseable, but have found there are ways of getting some more life out of parts with some effort. I just remember when people always said working on cars was expensive and believed them. There is some expense involved but just how much can be controlled.

When I get done with one, I want to be able to run it across country and expect not to break down. Every project I have done has been on atleast one major trip where I was way beyond my comfort range of breaking down and could of been in a pickle if I broke down.

 

I did get the sway bar end link on and spent alot of time looking for a socket for the locking and adjusting nut for the front hubs. Got tired of using my dads socket and finally bought one for my self. Not cheap and not easy to find.

I got the service to my laptop turned back on yesterday and willbe able tokeep up and update alot better now. Thought I would save a buck or two and have the service disconnected. I use it alot for looking up information and think I could of saved more money just by leaving it on.

I had plans of getting paint for the truck today but the paint store I was going to get it at was closed today,grrr. Hoping to have paint on the cab by Wednesday or Thursday and will paint the bed the following week. That way here will be plenty of room in he shop to move around do some prep work on the bed.

I am working on the bull bar for Mistys Runner and it has a lot of surface rust on it. I alternate back forth between Never Dull and a wire tooth brush and it is starting to clean up real well. This is what I did on my hubs as they were nearly as bad. Works well on rusty chrome parts.

This is me starting on it. I will post an "AFTER" pic when done. It was really rusted in several places.

 

Terry... just wanted to share.... As far as I know... ONIONS are HIGHLY toxic to dogs... Just like Chocolate is, but in a different way. People 'meh' that when they're told, but I'd at least check into it, ya know? I think what I heard is they attack red cells?? Like I said, not sure... but I WILL finally verify/rule it out, now, since I'm thinking about it! hahaha.

Ahhh, here ya go, ..........

http://www.jlhweb.net/Boxermap/onions.html

 

Thanks Mark..I knew Chocolate is bad for doggies, but didnt know onions were. We been giving him a sample of everything just trying to find out what he doesnt like. I really think he would eat enough to kill him if we let him. He is a little pig. Just 2 things so far that he doesnt like. I was eating a bag of Almond nuts the otherday and was bugging me the whole time for more.

 

Terry you've been making some great progress man. Hubs look great I really need to do mine to.
Boy your pup has grown since I seen him last but I guess thats what they do.

 

Hello Jason, pup is growing quick. He keeps getting better everyday. Getting the cone washers off is a slow process but I used your suggestion of getting the nuts flush with the studs and tapping alot. PB Blaster is a must.

I am hoping to get things moving here soon on the truck. Really thought I would of been further along then what I am, but my two week trip and now my dental problem has been effecting my progress. Hope the dental thing gets taken care of this week.

The 3rd gen runner is harder on fuel then I would like and Misty would like to have her truck back as well. As much as I enjoy driving it, I am so ready to have my own truck again. Having to move my things out when she needs it is getting to be a pain. I carry my work stuff in my truck and always know where things are. Having to readjust seats,stereo and mirror, may not sound like much, but once I get everything the way I like it I want it to stay that way. She is about the same way also. Guess we are getting difficult in our old age.lol

 

Still trying to get my dental surgery set up and done with as it is really affecting what I can do. Insurance is being a pain in the rear but hopefully it will get taken care of soon.

I did get to feeling well enough to start trying to get the truck ready for paint. I am giving it a quick sanding and cleaning as I have had my greasy grubbies all over it and want to put on a fresh coat of primer. Then getting the shop cleaned up is something that I spend alot of time on getting it ready for paint. I am hoping somewhere between Friday and next week to get the cab painted if all goes well.

I will only be painting the cab as I havent had a chance to get the bed ready, but I can rig up some tail lights on the frame and it will be legal enough for Missouri til I can get the bed done. After I paint it, I will have a new windshield in it and then should have it on the road.

I am planning on starting to paint on it around 3 am when I do it. This will be in time for the bugs to be in bed and before it gets to hot. In 10 minutes out in the shop, I have my shirt completely soaked in sweat.

It will be a metallic green which I think will look nice. I tried to get a picture of the sample and just couldnt get a good pic of it. I still need to get more paint for the bed and another can of sealer. I have painted using only primer in the past, but when I painted the 83, a friend convinced me to use sealer. I have always heard both sides saying to use or sealer and others say not to. I am convinced it makes a big difference. Especially when changing colors.

Here is the paint just waiting on me. Always my biggest fear of getting it mixed right and the gun spraying right. After that it just ready to go and see the results. Prepping and getting everything else is where the work is.



Somehow I just cant keep my sexyless feet out of the pic.

 

lol i am so looking forward to seeing the type of green on it ooh FEET!

 

Metallic green rig? YEAHHHHHHHH! I just was looking at one, on a thread called, ...hmmm, I think it was "My new 1980" or something.... BEAUTIFUL 1st Gen!(or 2nd or 3rd gen if you're REALLY anal Yota BUFF types! hahaha).... NOt sure if it's factory.... it really looks like that Blazer I posted... the Dark Olive Metallic... But WOW, is it NICE!

 

PS> You've been in my thoughts and prayers, Terry.... I TOTALLY feel for ya on the teeth thing... IT'S SUCKY! Very painful infirmity to have and have to live with. Sorry you've been having to wait!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Thanks Mark..Still not sure if I want a gray interior or a tan interior when done. I seen one along time ago and just thought it looked sharp. I have done 3 red trucks in the past,so wanted something different, but really think it will be a great looking truck when done. Between the heat and tooth issues, if I can just get some time to work on it, it should come together quick. Being without a truck is for the birds. Dont need it for big things, just things that you dont want to put in a car. I want to freshen up the interior, tune the motor and that will be it for awhile as I want to get back on my runner. Thats the one I want to spend my time and ideas on.

Thanks for the prayers, it has gotten into my system and kept me in bed at times, sounds like it is going to get taken care of in the next few days. This is some nasty stuff.

 

Yes, it's nasty stuff and if put off can become FATAL! I have seen it twice, including with my Stepfather's ex(didn't witness that, but know the whole story.... Work done left stuff inside and she put off getting back there... by the time she had the infection had spread so far they couldn't stop it.... and subsequently... SHE PASSED IN 2 WEEKS PERIOD!) NEVER put off dental work.... it's too close to the brain/nerve center, etc., and infection up there can lead to catastrophic crises!

I TOTALLY understand having really no choice but to wait for approval.. just sharing it as an urging to anyone who has this problem(teeth/mouth).... like I MYSELF can relate to!(Very young, I developed a bone loss issue that led to TONS of issues, then and now/still occurring. So it's a full periodontal open up and stuff with bone grafts for me... along with several dental implants... Crazy, cuz I know people who don't take care of them NEARLY as well as I've tried to.. but they have NOT HAD ONE ISSUE! haha... Due to my issues/problems growing up... I have to be on top of it or it WILL cause me some serious issues down the road.

I've had tons of work done, and I don't envy you right now.. but I also am VERY GRATEFUL for the relief you're very close to receiving!!!!

Be well, best wishes and my prayers continue unceasingly for relief and successful surgery with no drama/glitches, even down to Anesthesiology!

PS> I LOVED my tan interior.... And for a while, it hid things pretty well... But eventually, they showed up(just body sweat/stains from drinks, whatever,... no matter how careful, it happens. AND, for some reason on that color... I had trouble removing those permanent 'type' stains/spots. The carpet especially didn't bode well with foot traffic, etc., etc. ,.........etc.! hahaha. BUT YES, it DOES look good!

 

I missed this post mark. Sorry about that, I hear you on the dental. I have known of a few that passed away from it as well. It was bad here. I had infecton all thru out my body but I got it taken care of. It was something else to deal with. Now just waiting for the stiches to come out.

 

Just an update on this build. I sold it to my brother but will be building it up for him. He has lot of plans for it and will be nicer then what it would of been when I got done with. It will look like a new stock truck in a few months as I need to finish working on the bed that it will be getting. He is not getting my Downey bed. I have the paint materials for it and a gallon of green that I was going to put on it. Now it will be white as that is what it was orginally and I dont want to do a color change. Will update it more later.


Will pass insection after I get the tail lights working. All other lights are working so will need to look into why just the tail lights arent working. Getting power to fuse and changed tail light relay.

New Exhaust system


Fixed some wiring issues. Po just twisted an taped wires. You can see the corrosion on one of the wires. I soldered , shrink wrapped and taped the harness back up.


Got the horn to working. I used a .22 shell to make the contact to the steering wheel. I found this on Yotatech and like it better then how I used to fix my horns. I have it listed on my 88 4Runners build thread for more details about getting the horn to work on the first page. Will add this info at a later time.


Combo switch is around $40 at the boneyard here if you can find one. I just cleaned the contacts with some 1500 grit sand paper. Have it listed on the 88 runner build thread as well.

 

Looking good Terry, nice trick with the .22 shell! Your brother is going to have one nice truck when your through!

 

Exhaust looks great, ... nice .22 Trick, I AGREE! And great wiring redo... HATE to see that kind of HACK JOB done on an old toy. I mean,... they will go FOREVER, and honestly? Half the ones in the yards that I see either had been mickey moused to death and never TRULY fixed... Or just TOTALLY neglected... This one's looking great already... can't imagine what it'll look like when done.

Posted up a couple videos a while back of the horn hunt! hahaha... Ended up Grabbing 2 newer looking ones out of a 93 or something PU... Slapped the best sounding one in and called it Banshee! hahaha. Think I paid 8$, MAX, at Pick-Your-Part..... I really feel bad that you guys back east have to grab so many parts that are rusted out and 3 TIMES THE PRICE! I get it... supply and demand. But MAN!

Hey, you ALWAYS keep sending me things you're looking for, and when I go, I'll double check witcha to see if you still need it when I do, ok?

Your constant PRESSING ON AND IN keeps me motivated, buddy! I now HAVE TO replace the heater control valve, AT LEAST, then reach up and take some video of that 2'way cable and see if I can spot where it's FUBAR! But at least the HCvalve replacement will keep it from TOTALLY snapping, ya know? It seems to still pull on the HCV and Heat/Cool Box Gate a lil bit... But I've heard once they snap... 'FUGGETABOUTIT!'

Posted up some video on the hubs if you're interested... I'ma do more, the whole process and then tie them all together, the needed snippets for a full on tutorial(however weak it will be compared to some... it might help ONE GUY, right? hahaha).

Take care, Terry... WATCHING!

 

PS> You ever gonna meet up with Hab? MightyMouse? I think you're just too busy, right? haha..

PSS> Was VERY curious if you ever plan on grabbing a 3rd Gen 4Runner or 2... see how you like the 3.4 and SICK options???? hahaha.

 

a 22 shell? O..O ok i know (i hope) its been unloaded or previously fired

i can just see someone getting mad getting cut off hitting the horn an BANG the other driver rolls off the road with a flat or some other non life threatening issue...

 

Thanks Ed. He has some big plans for it, it is nice not having to worry about the funds for a project. Trying to get everythign legal for the road. I still got to workon is bed, change a ball joint, and fix the tail light issue. It is getting there. It will be nice. I really like the truck but with the Extracab, one had to go.

Hello Mark.. The hack jobs just keep coming. I found some more butchered up wiring, and I am afraid I am going to wind up under the dash before this is all over. I removed a bunch of wiring that wasn factory and now I am finding what they bypassed. Even had to re wire the horn.

When I strip a truck, there isnt one unusable part left. Going as deep as I do in these trucks I use what most would ever consider keeping. Has paid off several times over.

I am hoping to get some video of the entire dash and controls this week. I will let you know when I get done and posted. I might have to do it in 3 or 4 segments, but have been thinking on how to best present it so it turn out descent and maybe some one could follow it in stages.

I will look at the videos of the hubs. Thanks Should get caught up on the threads tonite and will go thru them then. I really appreciate you finding the vids for me. Thanks a million.

Hello Cyberhorn The Dragon.. Good call on the .22 shell. I will go back and edit it tonite. I forget how many now a days have never even fired a gun and some think they are evil. My wifes family has never had a gun and her mother is anti gun. When we got togther she was scared of them. Now she wants her own pistol. Got her 2 rifles. She enjoys hunting and missed a big buck. Buck fever got to her and she was so nervous she never got her sights on it. She never had deer meat until getting with me and now loves deer meat. I was raised on a farm and have been around guns all my life. My youngest loves target practicing.

My step stepson can out shoot me and I really think he has a natural talent on a bow and arrow. I couldnt hit the broad side of a barn (bow and arrow) if I was 10 feet way. He is nearly as good as my brother who would rather bow hunt as a hunting with a rifle is to easy for him.

I will be inheriting some land in Arkansas and it is out in the toolies. Wild pigs are all over the place there and some of the people there are telling me they are getting dangerous so when we camp there, we always have something with us.

 

Need to change a few ball joints, get the tail lights working, I am sure I will be in the dash soon as I did remove some hack wiring from there.

He is wanting the interior done up nice. Told him that he should be able to get some seats for about $50 apiece, new carpet for $125, and I can repaint the panels for $25. So for less the $250, it should look nice in there.

Trying to find out why all other lights work except the tail lights. Found some more issues.


Pulled it from the frame and some one used stereo wire to splice the wiring. Hmmm???