73' for me (1 Viewer)

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GatorPlater

Professional Electroplating for Vintage Toyotas
SILVER Star
Joined
May 16, 2010
Threads
16
Messages
352
Location
Fl.
Back in the day, maybe 84'-85' time frame picked up a 71', hard top, 3 on the tree. drove it to Gainesville from N. Va, back and forth when I was at school. I was a big Mustang fan at the time, spent highschool buying and rebuilding them. Picked up that 40 as a cool beach truck, could take to top off and do the mobile tanning platform thing. Sold it at some point late 88 I think, to someone down in hogtown. Regretted it ever since, actually saw the truck at a lowes by my house in Jax Fl. Killed me seeing it, but I knew it was mine from the headliner my mom had made me for the hardtop way back was still in the truck.

Fast forward to 2010, picked up my 94' triple locked 80 for the crazy price of 2500$, still have that truck, 430k on her now, also have my 2006 100series, another awesome truck. I was cruising Craigslist and came across a 40 that needed a new home. Met up with the PO and we started talking racing, autox, SCCA racing, etc and hit it off. he gave me a great price on the truck and the project has begun. Here are a few pics, 1971, Sept build. solid frame, Tub is toast, engine is very solid. Have compression and leakdown to do, but runs nice and smooth, idles well. PO did all new brake lines, various PM. I am compiling a list now on what to do, but initial is this:

Clutch MC and Slave not so good, ordered new today, will swap this coming week.
Leak in Radiator, ordered.
Converting to Electronic Ign, already shipped.
Needs Tires, old wagon wheels are pretty rusted.
Front and jump seats were recovered, just need a cleaning.
Bestop was installed at some point in last 3 years. hardware good, top shrunk in a few places. Ordered new skin only. will be 4 weeks for them to make.
As I said, PO did a full brake refresh, I plan on a rear disk retro.
All removable body panels going to Blaster next week.
All Glass is original, needs new seals everywhere as well as doors.
Both front doors look pretty good, some rust by window frames, but no major holes.
Diffs need to be serviced as well as full fluid changes in Transaxle and diffs.
floorpans, most of tub hasextensive rust. Truck sat outside at a beach house for 3 or 4 years. Salt air killed much of the panels. I have done the math on all new Real Steel panels and labor, looking at 4k and a rediculous amount of time, or an Aqualu tub for 4k shipped and far less labor. Rear doors are actually new. PO never painted them, but just surface rust in pics.

I have read many threads on this, but feel free to give me thoughts on what you see

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Some more:
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I have done the math on all new Real Steel panels and labor, looking at 4k and a rediculous amount of time, or an Aqualu tub for 4k shipped and far less labor.

Depends on how much of a purist you are, and you plan to store/use it in the same climate. The doors, frame and other parts will still corrode, however, even with an aluminum tub. Be sure your frame is solid before you go much further - if it's toast, that causes other issues.
 
I have done the math on all new Real Steel panels and labor, looking at 4k and a rediculous amount of time, or an Aqualu tub for 4k shipped and far less labor.

Depends on how much of a purist you are, and you plan to store/use it in the same climate. The doors, frame and other parts will still corrode, however, even with an aluminum tub. Be sure your frame is solid before you go much further - if it's toast, that causes other issues.
I think this is a good point of view. From the sounds of it you’re not staying stock(rear discs and wheels). If you’re going to continue on the modding path, the Aqualu tub is a real time saver.
I’ll say that I really like my Aqualu tub and the couple of missing details don’t bother me. I fall into the moderately/heavily modified crowd tho. The basic look is there and I change out things that make sense to me. I also appreciate that I have my seats and cage mounted to a solid tub. It also eliminated a lot of rattles. The old roll bar, mounted to a rusty tub, used shake going down the road.

Just think about what you’re going to use it for- coffee on the weekend, trail runner or somewhere in between? The coffee crowd wants to show off the little details that Aqualu is missing like ribs in the floor. The trail runners know they’re gonna mess up the body, so why worry about it. Mine sees more highway (60mph) than trail, but I feel safer on both with the newer tub and cage.
 
Update as this is becoming a Resto/Build thread.

Parts have been coming in. Clearing out room in my warehouse to get the truck inside for a tear down.

Parts porn pics:
 
Love it!
Drove my 74 all around N.Va at the same time as you did!
Black, 350 with 38 hawks.
Hung out a lot at Land Cruiser connection in Sterling.
Parked in garage here in Apex NC.
Keep posting pictures!
 
Brings back fond memories for me from the last year. I look forward to watching the progress.
 
Got the Harbor freight Blast cabinet up and operational. dont get me started on the 'upgrades' to make that thing work correctly. Needless to say, it is working just fine. I have accumulated a few boxes of OEM parts and have committed to doing at least 1 thing a day on this truck to move it along. here are a few pics of the progress..


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Again worked on the blast cabinet. Installed my Eastwood gun and pedal kit, of course after modifying them both with high flow fittings and 3/8" hose. Also picked up a new Craftsman 30Gal Compressor with 3HP motor and 2 piston charger on a big ass pulley. I can not even describe the difference. it is unreal. Running the gun at 40PSI and it RIPS the paint off.
again, at least 1 task completed a day.

Todays work:

Tailgate doors epoxy primed
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Rear door hinged blasted and metal prep washed

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