Builds 1980 Agent Orange (4x4 Short Bed) (1 Viewer)

[SMG]

Well it’s been almost a year to the day since I bought this and I’ve procrastinated long enough. I have been wanting another project and have done too much to this truck not to write a thread. Hopefully I can help someone else going down this rabbit hole.

I found this little pickup from another mud member. It’s been well taken care of and spent most of its life in LA. The body and frame are in impeccable condition with no cancer anywhere.
The maintenance records have been kept on an Excel sheet dating back to January 1980, in which I have continued from here on out.

Since the body and the frame are in such nice condition, my plans were to make it run and drive like a new truck but keep it as original looking as possible. No rock crawler here.

Here are some pictures of it being loaded onto the trailer prior to arrival.

 

[msahr]

Wow very cool truck. I love the period correct brush guard, the steelies and hubcaps. How's the interior and engine look? BTW here's my 1980 4x4...

 

[SMG]

Here are some more pics of what the interior and engine bay looked like when I took ownership.

The interior definitely needed some love and unfortunately the dash had been cut.

 

[SMG]

Here is a picture of how the maintenance records have been kept. Down to every oil change, light bulb and air filter. I wish more people did this with their rigs.

Old school pictures from one of the previous owners somewhere in Southern California. In one picture, you can see the truck pulling out a Datsun. Pretty Cool!

 

[SMG]

At this time, I’d had it for about a month. I had driven it around figuring out what it needed mechanically and what changes I wanted to make.
First, off with the bed and rear bumper.
Then pressure washed the frame and underneath the bed.

 

[SMG]

For some reason I started at the rear and worked my forward.

Removed the rear axle and fuel tank.

Even though the frame was in near perfect condition I needed to remove the 40 year old surface rust.
I decided to use the KBS coating rust prevention paint system.
At this point, everything from the cab back was treated with KBS rust blaster, KBS Rust preventer paint and then top coated with KBS chassis black.

 

[SMG]

New Old man EMU suspension arrived.

I had order an extra set of these greasable pins. For some reason the kit only came with one set.

 

[SMG]

All rear axle seals and bearings where replaced. And backing plates painted with the KBS system. Some day I will switch over to rear brake disc.

 

[SMG]

Pictures of the rear axle back together and back on the truck.

 

[SMG]

Underside of the bed was given the KBS treatment and an Rubberized top coat.

Aside from the Excel sheet, I put together a binder of all receipts. Some dating back as far as 1980.

 

[msahr]

Wow. I mean dang. Love it. Can you expand on the KBS treatment? Never heard of it before.

 

[ferg]

Pick of trans on floor, looks to be a later trans than the stock L43.

 

[SMG]

I knew from the beginning that I wanted to go with a Holley Sniper EFI. Because of this, I wanted to run an internal fuel pump for cooling purposes and noise reduction.

The original tank was in good shape, but doesn’t have the ability for an fuel pump hanger. After doing some research, I picked a a new fuel tank for a 1986 standard cab, which is the same size as the original (13.7 gals) with the provisions for a fuel tank hanger bracket. Rockauto PN# 576-214
I also ordered a OEM fuel pump bracket PN# 23206-35240
The new fuel tank and skid plate was powder coated and reinstalled.
Old Tank

New Tank

Fuel Tank pump bracket with Holley fuel pump.

 

[SMG]

Wow. I mean dang. Love it. Can you expand on the KBS treatment? Never heard of it before.

Just like POR 15 but KBS is local to me.
Check them out on the web. They make great products.

 

[SMG]

Pick of trans on floor, looks to be a later trans than the stock L43.

Yes, that’s a spare L52. The truck came with the original 4speed.

 

[SMG]

While waiting on parts, I came up with the idea of welding a receiver hitch through the tube of the rear bumper. After welding it was sent out to the powder coater along with the brackets that bolt to the frame.

 

[EWheeler]

@SMG This is such a rad truck. Are those the factory FJ40 wheels and hub caps? Or were those the factory minitruck offerings? Not much of a mini truck follower. Those wheels look terrific on the truck! Staying with same size tires with the new lift kit? Thanks for sharing!

 

[SMG]

@SMG This is such a rad truck. Are those the factory FJ40 wheels and hub caps? Or were those the factory minitruck offerings? Not much of a mini truck follower. Those wheels look terrific on the truck! Staying with same size tires with the new lift kit? Thanks for sharing!

Thanks man! Yes, Factory FJ40 wheels. I do believe you could get them on a pickup as well.
Maybe it was an option, not 100% percent sure.
Currently it sits on 31’s I would like to move up to 33’s at some point.

 

[Manhattan]

LOVE this truck - and what you're doing with it! You can NOT post enough pics.

Pretty sure the trucks got similar wheels but never with tabs for hubcaps. I sourced the NOS FJ40 wheels for my '84 from Toyota.

 

[ferg]

You going to run stringers from the receiver to the the frame? If nit, that tube won't hold hardly ant load. VOE here.