So it started out as your typical toyota from S. Indiana... the frame was POOP. It had been patched together a few times from what I could tell. I took it out one day last winter to play and I brought it off the ground once and that was all she wrote, the frame buckled and the spring shackle came thru. After finding a donor truck I decided it was time to fix this money pit. and here are some of the shots taken periodicly thru the process.... I started on the donor truck first, had to strip it completly. the engine was blown and the body wasnt in quite as good of shape as mine... not that mine was that great but oh well.











once the orange truck was stripped it was time to prep the frame, I took about 15 flap wheels on my 4'' and went to work grinding all the surface rust, grease, and paint off the frame. I found 2 holes about the size of a nickel in the rear section on the passenger side, so I beat on the frame to find out how big the hole was and it wouldnt get any bigger so I patched it like it needed to be. Once all the grinding and cleaning was done I applied several coats of ''Rust Seal" which is a high impact resistant, corrosive resistant paint that bonds with the steel in some special way to create an almost inpenatrable barrier to protect it.





I had to switch front spindle bc the donor truck had some worn front end where most of mine where new, I had to switch the rear diff bc the donor truck had busted springs on both sides, blah, blah... and prior to doing all of this I had to strip my truck and get ready to swap parts...







If you are wondering what the white crap coming out of the cross member is, it 3x expanding ''great stuff'' foam. I compltely filled the frame after paint and this was just a test for it.... and it seems to serve its purpose of keeping the inside of the frame clean and dry.


This is a pic of the frame after paint




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almost ready to drive!



And thats basically it.. put it all back together... From start to finish working a little bit on the clock and til 11 or 12 after hours it only took 2 weeks to do and only had help for a few hours 3 nights... not bad for being 23 and this being my first toyota truck.

Test fitting 38.5s... no workee











I was impressed with the flex for being bone stock, and suprisingly it wasnt the frame... all suspesion

And the best part of this was that I paid $650 for the donor truck, and I got a new Rad. which I needed, a spare light bar, brush guard, and some spare wheels. Then I sold the leftovers of what I didnt need for $400! I think I came out Ok.

 

hit enter after each pic link.

 

Feel free to comment, complain or congradulate Thanks for taking a look!