A new member of the family!
#1
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A new member of the family!
Flew out to Wisconsin with my dad on Saturday and drove this little guy back:
It's a 1983 Toyota Mini 4x4 with only 128,000 on the original 22R. The ride back was bumpy. The owner said he was going to balance the tire but never did This will eventually be a trail rig. Yesterday I tore apart the carb, cleaned and rebuilt it. Today I concentrated on restoring the paint and replacing a hand full of light bulbs and fuses. There was a terrible amount of oxidation and junk on the paint. I washed it first then hit it with rubbing compound, polish, glaze, and wax. Here are a couple before and after shots:
Here's a side-by-side comparison of the hood:
I'm really happy with the way this is turning out. I was originally planning on repainting it. I like the way the red shines now so I've reconsidered.
Lot's more to do
It's a 1983 Toyota Mini 4x4 with only 128,000 on the original 22R. The ride back was bumpy. The owner said he was going to balance the tire but never did This will eventually be a trail rig. Yesterday I tore apart the carb, cleaned and rebuilt it. Today I concentrated on restoring the paint and replacing a hand full of light bulbs and fuses. There was a terrible amount of oxidation and junk on the paint. I washed it first then hit it with rubbing compound, polish, glaze, and wax. Here are a couple before and after shots:
Here's a side-by-side comparison of the hood:
I'm really happy with the way this is turning out. I was originally planning on repainting it. I like the way the red shines now so I've reconsidered.
Lot's more to do
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Alan,
That looks great. I have always liked that body style.
You will have a blast building that one for the trail.
(Hope you saved a lot of bux)
Look forward to seeing it off the road.
Ray
That looks great. I have always liked that body style.
You will have a blast building that one for the trail.
(Hope you saved a lot of bux)
Look forward to seeing it off the road.
Ray
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Alan,
Great little truck. Amazing how the paint came back after compounding & waxing. That'll be a fun project truck. Will you have it built by the time we do Slaughterhouse on Saturday?
Great little truck. Amazing how the paint came back after compounding & waxing. That'll be a fun project truck. Will you have it built by the time we do Slaughterhouse on Saturday?
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Originally posted by rwmorrisonjr
Alan,
Great little truck. Amazing how the paint came back after compounding & waxing. That'll be a fun project truck. Will you have it built by the time we do Slaughterhouse on Saturday?
Alan,
Great little truck. Amazing how the paint came back after compounding & waxing. That'll be a fun project truck. Will you have it built by the time we do Slaughterhouse on Saturday?
I'm toying with the idea of taking it up Slaughterhouse this Saturday. There still a lot of work that need to be done before I feel comfortable taking it on the trail.
#9
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I assumed since my cell sat silent this weekend that everything went off without a hitch and it appears that is the case.
Good looking truck, hard to believe something with that little rust came from out here.
First mod is the Miller 175?
Throw in a spool, an ARB, a crawler and some lift and you will be on Carnage in no time at all.
What are the short term/long term plans specifically?
Good looking truck, hard to believe something with that little rust came from out here.
First mod is the Miller 175?
Throw in a spool, an ARB, a crawler and some lift and you will be on Carnage in no time at all.
What are the short term/long term plans specifically?
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The trip went pretty smoothly. Thanks again, Adrian, for your offer!
Plans include:
3-5" of lift depending on the tires I choose
33" or 35" tires
4.88s or 5.29s (again, depending on tires)
spool rear, some sort of locker up front
dual transfer cases
hy-steer kit
custom front bumper
and a few other odds 'n ends.
My first order of business will be to de-rustify the frame and axles. Those pictures don't show anything. The truck originally came from Florida. I'll be a POR-15 preferred customer before the end of the year
Sometime after the first of the year, I'll be tearing apart the flatbed and rebuilding it to my specs. It will be the first part of an exo-cage.
Plans include:
3-5" of lift depending on the tires I choose
33" or 35" tires
4.88s or 5.29s (again, depending on tires)
spool rear, some sort of locker up front
dual transfer cases
hy-steer kit
custom front bumper
and a few other odds 'n ends.
My first order of business will be to de-rustify the frame and axles. Those pictures don't show anything. The truck originally came from Florida. I'll be a POR-15 preferred customer before the end of the year
Sometime after the first of the year, I'll be tearing apart the flatbed and rebuilding it to my specs. It will be the first part of an exo-cage.
#12
Alan,
Congrats on finally bringing it home! I know that was a long wait. But now that is behind, and you now have a lot to look forward to. Real nice work on shining it up. Good luck with the rest of the projects on it.
Go with 35's. You already have something with 33's!
Later
Congrats on finally bringing it home! I know that was a long wait. But now that is behind, and you now have a lot to look forward to. Real nice work on shining it up. Good luck with the rest of the projects on it.
Go with 35's. You already have something with 33's!
Later
#15
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Darren is right, that thing is screaming for 35's.
Then swap a wider IFS rear axle in, maybe spacers or the Front Range kit up front. Maybe just some wider wheels since you don't have fender issues.
I am still laughing about the shining paint. Trail trucks don't have to be ugly, but I am not sure about shining them.
I think you will be pleased with a rear locker, 35's and a body that you are not concerned about. Sure will look nice in Moab this October...
Then swap a wider IFS rear axle in, maybe spacers or the Front Range kit up front. Maybe just some wider wheels since you don't have fender issues.
I am still laughing about the shining paint. Trail trucks don't have to be ugly, but I am not sure about shining them.
I think you will be pleased with a rear locker, 35's and a body that you are not concerned about. Sure will look nice in Moab this October...
#19
Sweet!
Alan,
Nice lookin find! I can't wait to get my 4Runner paid off and then buy me a 2nd rig "for trail use only". I saw a sweet late 80s Toy truck this past week that had been modded to be taken out in the fields to bird hunt. It was real simple customizations but it was awesome! Good luck and have fun modding up that truck!
Nice lookin find! I can't wait to get my 4Runner paid off and then buy me a 2nd rig "for trail use only". I saw a sweet late 80s Toy truck this past week that had been modded to be taken out in the fields to bird hunt. It was real simple customizations but it was awesome! Good luck and have fun modding up that truck!