Builds Good Times - 1992 HZJ73 (8 Viewers)

[LDRF]

The smaller piece I had to make was next

I was a lot faster this time, only about an hour of hammering and fitting.

And welded in

Note the perfect welds! LOL! NOT!

Three things I’m not good at, metal forming, welding sheet metal, and grinding welds.

The welding was HARD! Finding the right temp and wire feed was difficult as the original metal I was welding to was thin as the underside was coated in a layer of flaky rust. It made blow outs frequent and hard to fix. I wedged in a small piece of aluminum sheet from underneath to help fill in the blowouts.

Grinding with both a flap disk and the 1/2” finger belt sander was difficult as it was pretty easy to remove too much, make some pin holes, and have to weld them up. LOTS of rinse and repeat.

I spent about 4 hours grinding, filling pin holes and grinding and filling pin holes, to get it to where I had done enough (for me).

It’s no going to win any concourse events, but the dirt and rain won’t be coming in either.

 

[JDM Journeys]

That looks amazing.

I feel your pain dude. I spent three weeks on and off making my first rear quarter. Then threw it out and did it's replacement in an afternoon.

Yours matches very nicely!

If you ever have to drop the tank it's not the worst thing in the world. Maybe the 2nd worst? I had to replace my fuel pickup so no choice there...

 

[LDRF]

I wire brushed with the angle grinder and taped it off and sprayed a good coat of primer.

A huge milestone for me. All the interior rust repair is done. Now all I have to do is the right side inner and outer rockers, left side rocker, and both rear quarter panels and taillight buckets. Onwards and upwards!

 

[LDRF]

If you ever have to drop the tank it's not the worst thing in the world.

The last thing I want, in addition to rust repair, is to chase down air in the fuel lines! I’ve read yours posts, and lots of others. I feel that even thinking of dropping the tank is to invite that type of pain!!!!

 

[John Young]

I just went back and started re-reading your thread, and I have to say I'm gob-struck.

And you say this was a JDM truck? I didn't think they let things get that bad in Japan!

I would have given up on that body. In fact, I kinda did. A few months back I bought an LC70 that had been in a roll over. Lots of twists and turns and lots of rust through. Fortunately I was able to find a replacement body. A JDM as it happens. Here's the old body:

The garage owner has the idea of turning this into an open top 'falconry' vehicle. That floor pan is swiss cheese under the driver and passenger seat. Not sure how that happened in the UAE. Usually the rust is not that bad.

 

[LDRF]

John,

And you say this was a JDM truck? I didn't think they let things get that bad in Japan!

Imported in 2007 to Canada. 15 years of salty winter roads over here in the Canadian north.
If I could drive over to the local yard and pick out a new body for a swap, I’d be living in your neck of the woods (desert). No such luck for me

 

[Blue1]

Those patches look great ! Lots of really good progress. I ended up dropping the tank on mine so I could chassis coat the underside of all my floor patches in the back. I agree, first time around it's not a lot of fun but after the third time it you get into a rhythm and its pretty quick ( but thats a story for my build thread) . Are you seam sealing everything as well ? When I got underneath that back area I found a lot of overlapping joints where there was little to no seam sealer from the factory to keep moisture out.

 

[John Young]

Just to share with you guys because I am so far behind on my own thread, here are the front fenders for my project LC70:

Raptor lining on the lower on the inside

Paint code 6X3 Lunar Rock on the outside.

 

[LDRF]

Are you seam sealing everything as well ? When I got underneath that back area I found a lot of overlapping joints where there was little to no seam sealer from the factory

I’m planning on seam sealing as much as possible. Also, seam sealer and/or coating the underside areas to keep out the elements.

the front fenders for my project LC70

Looks good!!!! I’ve got factory replacement fenders, still in electrocoat primer black, that I need to paint. I’m going to try to get a coat of spray bomb primer on them this weekend to prep for my custom Good Times blue. No Toyota paint code

 

[LDRF]

Before I get into the rusty stuff I figured I will get my fenders painted and ready to go back on. This is my first time doing any serious painting on a vehicle. My plan is to prep, prime, prep, base coat, prep and clear coat. I had my paint guy mix me a test spray bomb, that I think will be ok. I’ll hopefully do a better test and get more mixed up.

My factory fenders in e-coat black:

I went over it with acetone to get the factory gunk off, then scuffed all the surfaces with 320 grit. Then a blow down with compressed air, another acetone wipe down and blow down. My TINY 2 gal air compressor makes it tedious. It takes two tanks to blow down one side. Teee deeee us!

Ready to go:

Done:

Only one real mistake so far. One fender slipped out of my grasp, landed badly against my stand and put a little crease right over the centre of the wheel well on the left hand side . I’m not going to worry about it, but I did almost cry!

I’m using ProXL 1K epoxy primer in grey. I don’t know if it’s good or bad, but it’s what’s at the paint shop, and they say it’s good

I really don’t know what I’m doing, but gave the inside and out a good coat, using one can for each fender. . I don’t know if that good or bad or if I’m putting on too much paint.

That was enough for today. I’ll give it a good once over with 320 or 500 grit tomorrow and see if I need another coat of primer. Step one, of two or three or four! It’s all that I’ll be able to do, as I’m out of primer, and I don’t have any base coat mixed up yet.

 

[Broski]

Fix the dent/crease while it easy !!

You don’t want to have to look at and remember the mistake.

 

[LDRF]

Fix the dent/crease while it easy !!

You don’t want to have to look at and remember the mistake.

I’m planning to do it. Most of It will hammer/dolly out. Maybe a little body filler may be required. Just a pain in the butt!

 

[John Young]

Or maybe have some fun with it and dress it up so it looks like it is dripping oil from the gash?

I've been playing with the idea

 

[LDRF]

I spent a few hours sanding, sanding some more, doing more sanding, and, a little sanding.
All the surfaces are nice and smooth and only a little e-coat showing through on some of the edges. I hammered out the dent to my satisfaction, and found a few areas of sharp metal that I want to file down, to eliminate any spots to catch water and gunk and rust, so I’ll need to touch them up. How much is enough? One coat of primer over the e-coat?

Three hours of fun completed:

And put away in a safe place until next time:

 

[barrett1]

Or maybe have some fun with it and dress it up so it looks like it is dripping oil from the gash?
View attachment 3991416
I've been playing with the idea

What is the story there?

 

[Tennessee Jed]

"I'll just sit this open can of black paint right here for safe keeping..."