1984 Pickup "NEKBONE" Rebuild (4 Viewers)

[Wyatt Pine]

I have been trying to sell my cab and frame for months now. I got contacted JUST now for the cab but the frame might end up being cut up and scrapped. Too bad you're not closer. I can probably cut chunks off of what you need and ship?? It's an 88 standard cab 4x4.

I think Ospho inside the frame rails is a good idea. Just make sure it's completely flushed out and compatible with whatever you coat the inside with.

I appreciate it, I now have chunks of frame sitting at my dads place from a donor chassis, next time I have another reason to remove the bed, I'll swap out the crossmember. The rest of the repairs went well and are hopefully permanent.

 

[Wyatt Pine]

After fixing up the frame and floors I moved on to the windshield frame. I found a cab and chassis pickup at my local pick n pull, so I sawzalled the windshield and frame out of it to cut apart for my truck.

I ended up needing to cut out most of the windshield frame. I was able to do the repair without removing the dash. Which probably wasn't worth it, since it needs a heater core anyway.

 

[projectTonka]

The determination, must be a lot of sentimental value, looking forward to seeing the progress continue.

 

[Wyatt Pine]

After wrapping up the majority of the rust repair I started stripping the green paint, and multiple rattle can paint jobs, off of the truck. I ended up using Aircraft stripper, none of the "environmentally Friendly" paint strippers would touch that green paint. I have no clue what kind of paint it was, but it was thick and really tough.

I really like the original 3B2 Red Wine paint. I believe it was a 1984 only color.

I also had 20 or so cans of tan spray paint I bought a few years ago. I bought them to paint the Isuzu Trooper I had. I never got around to it, so Tan it is! (for now)

 

[Wyatt Pine]

After painting the frame and most of the cab (at least primer) I placed the now rust free cab back on the mostly rust free frame. With some beautiful help.

We ended up using an engine lift with a block of wood secured through the shifter hole in the floor. Worked out GREAT would highly recommend. Just be careful of the dash.

I used the Enegergy Suspension poy bushing kit that came with all suspension bushings and all cab mount bushing. I had no issues with them.

 

[Wyatt Pine]

After putting the cab back on the chasis, I started finishing up the body work and getting this thing driveable. I still haven't really driven the truck at this point, so I am itching to get it driving.

I still had the windshield from the junkyard truck that donated its windshield frame so I was able to reuse that glass since I could not find one locally. I don't have any pics of install, I can say, I wish I had one of the big suction cups the professional glass installers use.

I also grabbed a cheap used set of 33's from Facebook market place. One of the old tires had some serious wear.

 

[Wyatt Pine]

At this point, September 2024, I had worked on getting the 'Nekbone' to operating condition, mainly afternoons and weekends, for 5 months. I had only driven it a mile. I was really itching to get out and use it. I planned a trip with my Father and Sister to go to Frisco, Outer Banks NC and drive on the beach. I buckled down and spent all of my spare time prepping the truck. Once I had the body back on I focused on any mechanical issues I came across. I started with replacing the distributor with a new unit with working vacuum advance.

 

[Wyatt Pine]

I also spent a lot of time removing wire nuts and extra wiring from the engine harness. A chevy 1-wire alternator was swapped in at some point. The dash light was never connected, causing constant Brake and Charge lights on the dash. I also bought a trail-gear chevy alt bracket. Someone had used the factory toyota alternator mount and a home made adjuster.

 

[Wyatt Pine]

I had replaced the front leaf spring bushings when I had the front axle removed for resealing. When I attempted to install the front drive shaft I was unable to move the splines on the drive shaft. At ALL. I am assuming the front add-a-leafs were so stiff that the suspension never really articulated and allowed the driveshaft to rust.

After a lot of heating and beating, and cutting the dust shield off. I was able to get the halves apart, clean and grease the splines and reinstall. I used a dust boot for a JK wrangler to seal off the splines, since I cut the dust shield off.