1998 Prado rescue mission!

[John Young]

Last video that guy looking under the suspended load would give our safety guy a heart attack.

Yes. You see that here.

Today the new/old brake booster and the brand new master cylinder went in:

Note all the disconnected vacuum lines:

If someone could take some photos of their engine showing the connections for the missing vacuum lines I would be very grateful.

And I will tell you it is like night and day with the brakes now. Really stops nicely now. When the car makes it back to the US I am going to ask my friend Travis to re-do the brake lines. They have been twisted around a bit much for my taste.

 

[John Young]

Still waiting on the garage to put in the new/old fuel level sensor. The one I put in has the wrong electrical characteristics, but I got a Prado-specific one from the salvage yard.

In the meantime I am sorting out how to do away with the cladding on the outside of the truck, which I dislike quite a bit. To do it, I have to find the special bit of plastic trim for Prado's without the plastic cladding all down the side.

The parts are for sale for 120 and 150 USD on ebay but that is just highway robbery for some simple moulded plastic. I'm hunting for some used bits. Or I might just try to roll my own rear bumper. Not sure exactly what I am going to do.

Another thing I am doing is refurbishing the runningboards. The ones that were on it were very rough and the hangers were bent all to hell. The salvage yard had a set that were a lot better, but the hangers still had some rust issues, which I am addressing by electrolytic rust removal:

This is absolutely the best way to remove rust but no steel at all. I used to use this to restore antique woodworking tools. The bath is just water with a couple of tablespoons of 'washing soda' which is kind of a 19th century thing but still available. Sodium carbonate, Na₂CO₃. What is happening is Fe3O2 to Fe3O4 which is red rust to black magnetite, which you can just brush off with scotchbrite.

Likely I will powdercoat the hangers. There is a good powdercoating place nearby and it is economical. And I like powdercoating. Some don't because you cannot really repair it.

 

[John Young]

This is how the hanger started (I had wire-brushed it already)

It is the thick rust that I could not get off.

Here is the same part after an hour of electrolytic rust conversion:

Already substantial progress.

 

[D21FJ60]

Still waiting on the garage to put in the new/old fuel level sensor. The one I put in has the wrong electrical characteristics, but I got a Prado-specific one from the salvage yard.

In the meantime I am sorting out how to do away with the cladding on the outside of the truck, which I dislike quite a bit. To do it, I have to find the special bit of plastic trim for Prado's without the plastic cladding all down the side.

View attachment 3151189
The parts are for sale for 120 and 150 USD on ebay but that is just highway robbery for some simple moulded plastic. I'm hunting for some used bits. Or I might just try to roll my own rear bumper. Not sure exactly what I am going to do.
View attachment 3151196

Another thing I am doing is refurbishing the runningboards. The ones that were on it were very rough and the hangers were bent all to hell. The salvage yard had a set that were a lot better, but the hangers still had some rust issues, which I am addressing by electrolytic rust removal:
View attachment 3151197
View attachment 3151198
View attachment 3151199
This is absolutely the best way to remove rust but no steel at all. I used to use this to restore antique woodworking tools. The bath is just water with a couple of tablespoons of 'washing soda' which is kind of a 19th century thing but still available. Sodium carbonate, Na₂CO₃. What is happening is Fe3O2 to Fe3O4 which is red rust to black magnetite, which you can just brush off with scotchbrite.

Likely I will powdercoat the hangers. There is a good powdercoating place nearby and it is economical. And I like powdercoating. Some don't because you cannot really repair it.

I should have tried this with dear Crusty.

Regarding the Prado, just get an aftermarket swing out bumper, problem solved

 

[John Young]

I picked up the Little Prado today after the guys had put the salvage fuel level sensor in it. Filled the tank with 42.8 liters; I understand the tank has 90 liters and the gauge was showing less than half a tank before I filled it, so something is still wonky. And tonight I discovered that the odometer is not working. The speedometer and tach are working. Lots to do.

Here is the end state of one of the running board hangers after de-rusting:

One down; 5 to go. It is time consuming.

In the meantime I attempted to change out the window control switch for the drivers door. A surprise awaited me:

I've always wanted one of these:

I did not attempt to try it on before laundering.

 

[John Young]

(washed with bleach)

I don't think I quite have it...

 

[TheMU]

I picked up the Little Prado today after the guys had put the salvage fuel level sensor in it. Filled the tank with 42.8 liters; I understand the tank has 90 liters and the gauge was showing less than half a tank before I filled it, so something is still wonky. And tonight I discovered that the odometer is not working. The speedometer and tach are working. Lots to do.

Here is the end state of one of the running board hangers after de-rusting:
View attachment 3152960
View attachment 3152961
One down; 5 to go. It is time consuming.

In the meantime I attempted to change out the window control switch for the drivers door. A surprise awaited me:
View attachment 3152963

View attachment 3152966
I've always wanted one of these:
View attachment 3152973
I did not attempt to try it on before laundering.

Middle eastern version of sound deadening?

 

[John Young]

I suspect I will find other 'repairs' as I get more into the Little Prado. In the meantime I started working on the spotlight that must have been an accessory when the car was new because my Prado and the salvage Prado both had the same bracket in the same place.

It lives!

 

[D21FJ60]

Any updates or are the 80s and 100s keeping you busy?

 

[John Young]

Any updates or are the 80s and 100s keeping you busy?

The little Prado is registered and sitting in my work garage until I can really get started with it. And it rained in Dubai. An unusual event.

 

[John Young]

Well we are finally getting started on the little Prado. The guys have started on the body work.

I am going for a look in person tomorrow. I already told the guys that I would like the holes welded up, not filled with bondo. It will be a pretty complete strip down.
And I've picked the new color to match our 100:

Kind of a little brother to the 100. And cousin to our 77:

For those curious, it is Toyota 4E9 Beige / Sandy Taupe.

I'm debating about pulling the windshield and replacing the windshield surround. I will look closely tomorrow.

 

[John Young]

I went and visited the garage on Saturday and progress has begun.

 

[John Young]

The more we get into it the more we find really appalling body repairs and loads and loads of plastic filler.

 

[D21FJ60]

The more we get into it the more we find really appalling body repairs and loads and loads of plastic filler.

arrrr ye be experiencing Crusty's curse....since ye owned Crusty, it's scaly, mineral rich curse will affect all ye future Cruisers through the ages

 

[John Young]

arrrr ye be experiencing Crusty's curse....since ye owned Crusty, it's scaly, mineral rich curse will affect all ye future Cruisers through the ages

That is a chilling thought my friend

 

[John Young]

Incremental progress photos:

 

[John Young]

Teaser photo:

 

[Broski]

Wow, you have put a lot of love into that little Prado !!

LOOKING GOOD !

 

[John Young]

 

[John Young]

Well we are moving ahead... slowly. The AC condenser is bad and although I had bought an complete dash with all the interior parts that condenser also was bad. As were the control push-pull cables.

And in parallel I am working on the interior trim. On another project I found an upholsterer who gets the idea of preservation and restoration. I took the old driver and passenger seat to them and they took a look.

Note the Lambo and the Rolls in the background.

The original fabric actually was in ok shape.

The foam, however was completely toast. Just deteriorated and flat. The question that comes to my mind is whether they used something different in a regular Land Cruiser than what they used in the Prado.