Been driving this for over six months now and I'm really enjoying it. There are lots of little things I'd like to eventually get done on this to make it more bush worthy, but for now (summer) I'm concentrating on the rust. After my previous body swap and restoration of the BJ60, what I've found on this 74 seems trivial, but nonetheless, as a novice in the autobody trade, I figured I'd post a thread so people can provide helpful pointers so I can do the best job with what I have available to me.
The 74 is already lifted about 2.5" SUA, has pretty long shackles, 265/75/16 Grabber AT2's, LSD rear, and is factory turbo'd with the 13BT and auto trans.
Here's what I'm hoping to eventually get around to doing with this truck...eventually.
1. PTO Winch. Because of the 24v system I figure this route will give me the best bang for the buck.
2. Custom front and rear bumpers. Might try building these myself...we'll see.
3. On-board Air. Always useful. Also...lockers.
4. Lockers. Probably start with the rear. Probably air lockers.
5. Rocker step/protection. I have a set of thin aluminum ones (for free) that I'll probably put on just to protect the rockers from normal everyday chipping and such, and maybe one day I'll buy/build something more substantial.
Starting with rust elimination (can that ever fully be achieved???), I've got a local sheet metal company to bend up some new rockers for me and I will cut and patch the other holes with sheet metal as necessary. It seems the right side is more affected than the left. For example, the rear tail light pockets; right has huge hole, and left is virtually perfect. Also, the lower windshield frame will need some attention as it seems to be quite religious as well. I'll get to that after the rockers are dealt with.
But for your viewing pleasure today, I give you rust exposure.
PS: Whoever the guy in the 80's was who convinced every Landcruiser owner to fill every lower inner panel with expanding sprayfoam...I dislike you. Also probably the guy who invented Rust Converter...well played sprayfoam guy, well played.
The 74 is already lifted about 2.5" SUA, has pretty long shackles, 265/75/16 Grabber AT2's, LSD rear, and is factory turbo'd with the 13BT and auto trans.
Here's what I'm hoping to eventually get around to doing with this truck...eventually.
1. PTO Winch. Because of the 24v system I figure this route will give me the best bang for the buck.
2. Custom front and rear bumpers. Might try building these myself...we'll see.
3. On-board Air. Always useful. Also...lockers.
4. Lockers. Probably start with the rear. Probably air lockers.
5. Rocker step/protection. I have a set of thin aluminum ones (for free) that I'll probably put on just to protect the rockers from normal everyday chipping and such, and maybe one day I'll buy/build something more substantial.
Starting with rust elimination (can that ever fully be achieved???), I've got a local sheet metal company to bend up some new rockers for me and I will cut and patch the other holes with sheet metal as necessary. It seems the right side is more affected than the left. For example, the rear tail light pockets; right has huge hole, and left is virtually perfect. Also, the lower windshield frame will need some attention as it seems to be quite religious as well. I'll get to that after the rockers are dealt with.
But for your viewing pleasure today, I give you rust exposure.
PS: Whoever the guy in the 80's was who convinced every Landcruiser owner to fill every lower inner panel with expanding sprayfoam...I dislike you. Also probably the guy who invented Rust Converter...well played sprayfoam guy, well played.