Builds 82 first Gen Project (RECON) (2 Viewers)

[BlueCruiser84]

This truck is so freaking cool. I want a first gen so bad!

 

[yotadude520]

I quickly spray canned them. I have had mixed results in the plastic with spray painting interior plastic parts in the past.
The best results I have ever had is when I used Bulldog spray adhesive prior to painting.
I didn’t use any this particular time because I didn’t have any but I’m not to worried about it since it only takes me a few minutes to get the parts off and respray them at a later time if I need to.

I've had really good luck using the SEM adhesion promoter and SEM interior pant when I re-did the panels in my old Ford. They've held up pretty good so far!

 

[SFROMAN]

Today’s progress
Dashpad was reinforced with liquid nails then grinded down then wrapped in grey material

Middle dash piece was cleaned fixed up broken pieces with jb weld

Measured out a fill piece out of abs board. With 2 12volt outlets and three switches for my arb lockers front and rear and air compressor.

 

[SFROMAN]

It is not finished yet. Still needs to be sanded down and then sprayed with flat bulldog adhesion promoter and then some flat black paint and then the dash can be put back together.

 

[SFROMAN]

Cleaning the garage I found these brand new fender flares my buddy gave me for my f250. I tried them on the mini and surprisingly they fit the fender wells almost exactly. I am thinking I am going to cut them and section them to size and bolt them on the truck.
With the new axle housings I have, my tires stick out quite a bit. Nobody makes anything for this truck anymore so this will be a cheap solution. To top it off. I think they look great and will make the truck look a little different and in my opinion better

 

[G-Cat]

I’d attempt to mount them with double-sided foam (3m) tape and tension before drilling holes in the fenders.

 

[SFROMAN]

After wheeling the truck last summer I quickly realized that I need a way to bolt down and secure anything I want to carry in the bed.
my solution is to build a 4 foot bed slide bolted to the bed floor in between the fenders. The bed slide will be on 500 pound lockable sliders. This will make it easier to get to any equipment I am carrying, mostly camping equipment.
Additionally, at the head of the bed near the cab I will bolt down a metal lockable tool box.
This will carry my tools, recovery equipment, spare parts, extra fluids and my 3 day pack. Mostly everything that will stay in the truck at all times that can be lockable so it doesn’t walk away.

here is a quick lay out of what I want to carry to make sure it all fits in the bed slide.
the yeti cooler, the two tan containers are my kitchen stove in one and kitchen crap in the second one, and then my camping chairs, sleeping cot or any longer items I want to carry. Also the tool box and still have room for a gas can and a water can.

Here is a quick reference of how the bed slide will look. I’m using 3x2 inch 3/16 thick angle iron and will use 3 inch 3/16 flat thick stock for cross members for the frame and the slide portion will be made with the same material. Hopefully I can get most of it done this weekend.

 

[SFROMAN]

I’d attempt to mount them with double-sided foam (3m) tape and tension before drilling holes in the fenders.

good idea. Thanks

 

[SFROMAN]

Finally got a chance to spend some time in the garage. Got a few things done to the truck to get it ready for wheeling season. Chased down a bad ground and a blown fuse to fix the tail lights. POR 15ed the rear half of the frame. Fixed the passenger bracket to the rear disc brakes. Finally figured out the adjustment on the parking brake and it finally works. Cleaned the muddy engine compartment from the last wheeling trip.

 

[SFROMAN]

Did some much needed upgrades today before it heads to the body shop.
LED H4 bulbs in the headlights. This was a very nice upgrade to the s***ty light bulbs that came with the housings I bought over a year ago.
also, finally found the Toyota wheel adaptor to be able to install a smaller thicker wheel. This should make it more comfortable to drive since the off-road seats are a little on the high side.

 

[SFROMAN]

Time for very little update.
decided to do the body work and paint myself.
This is some of my progress on the bed. Stripped the bed liner stripped all the paint and body filler. Cutting major rust out first then moving on to hammer and dolly to straighten out the panels to minimize the amount of body filler after. The bottom and top of the bed floor will be painted with POR 15 to prevent more rust. The inside of the bed will be raptor lined and color matched to the body.

 

[joseywales]

I know you’ve had a couple of colors going, do you have a color chosen now?

 

[SFROMAN]

yeah I am going to paint it Toyota cavalry blue

 

[SFROMAN]

Did some more metal work on the bed. Removed any areas that were showing signs of rust. Mostly in the bed floor and along the body line on both passenger and driver side.

 

[SFROMAN]

This is the driver side of the bed. I didn’t have to take that much off but I figured I rather take off a little more and replace with new metal.

 

[SFROMAN]

Pulled the fenders, they are mostly good. Going to add a small lip where I cut them in the front just because I think it would stiffen it up and make it look a little nicer.
going tocover the antenna hole since I don’t need the antenna.
Going to POR 15 the inside of the fenders and the part of the body behind the fenders tomorrow

 

[SFROMAN]

More rust repair on the bottom half of the bed.
also added 1 inch 3/16 flat stock to the bottom lip to stiffen the bed sides. I also added kickers to help support the bed sides. Now the bed sides don’t move at all.

 

[SFROMAN]

Also began stripping the bottom of the bed. Still needs a little more but it’s mostly done. Once completely stripped I am going to POR 15 the whole bottom of the floor board. Then I will do the same to the top side. Hopefully this encapsulates the bed floor and prevents any more rust.
I am hoping to have all the metal work done by Sunday so I can spray the epoxy primer. Then I can begin doing body work with body filler.

 

[SFROMAN]

More rust repair. Cutting out rusty parts of the bed as well as shaving the quarter lights. I’m going to go with smaller aftermarket ones.

 

[SFROMAN]

I had to bend the replacement pieces to match the contour of the bed corners. It was a lot easier than expected.

I will continue with the bed during the week after work. My plan had been to be done with metal work this weekend and spray it with epoxy but the bed still needs quite a bit more work. On Sunday I helped my buddy out and we epoxied his 60. Now I have to worry and catch up to him but I have a feeling I will catch him during body work siince the 60 has double the surface area as my little truck.