1979 pickup

[fj40z]

Posted up a couple picks in 40’s tech and was asked to share here as well. Had the truck for several years now and it has become one of my all time faves. I kept up a build thread for a while over in the ONSC clubhouse section but haven’t updated it in quite some time. Here’s a link and a few current pics @Mike Shull

Thread 'Asian Orange- ‘79 pickup'

Sep 2, 2019

First things first @jfz80 gets credit for the name.

I found this truck tucked away in the backyard of a vacant house in town about 6 years ago. Every time I’d drive by I would look to see if it was still there, then one day it was gone. A few days later Jason spots it at the Toyota shop in town that I’ve used many times over the years so I called about it. I was told it wasn’t running and needed an ignition control module (igniter box) and they were having trouble finding one. I know the shop owner well and told him to tell the owner I’d be interested in buying it and 2 days later...

• fj40z
• Replies: 149
• Forum: NC- Olde North State Cruisers

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When I picked this truck up almost 8years ago, the idea was to get it up mechanically solid but to leave it basically as is aesthetically. I had in mind more of a “dirt bag” type build where the goal would be a great runner on a ridiculously tight budget.

 

[fj40z]

One more of the rear

 

[mesa man]

Nice vintage plate!

 

[fj40z]

Nice vintage plate!

Thanks!! I actually found another one and swapped it out a while back. The one on it now is also 1979 but labeled for a farm truck.

 

[onemanarmy]

what a fantastic machine!

 

[fj40z]

what a fantastic machine!

Thanks much! It’s grown to possibly by my all time personal favorite that I’ve owned. I watched sit behind an abondoned house for six years before I was finally able to get it. One day it was gone from where it had always been, and I was heartbroken. Someone else had stopped by to inquire about buying it and the person they talked to sold it to them for $100 even though it wasn’t theirs to sell.

The rightful owner found out and had the sheriffs office reclaim it. It made its way from there to a shop a friend of mine owns to possibly get fixed but the owner didn’t really want to spend any money on fixing it. I ended up buying it for next to nothing and getting it running again doing the GM igniter swap. Such a good running rig that almost met its demise at the scrap yard I believe.

 

[Toast]

Very cool. Any plans for it?

 

[fj40z]

Very cool. Any plans for it?

Honestly just run it. Went though it fairly thorough mechanically speaking already, still a few things left but nothing that keeps us from driving it. It’s a great runner, my wife actually loves driving it also and drives it to work often. I initially planned on doing a 5 speed conversion but after driving it a while I’ve fallen in love with the way it drives now, the 4 speed and rubber overdrive from the larger tires is actually really good. I have a ‘84 also that has the 5 speed and I actually prefer driving the ‘79.