Builds Let's build a 79 Series from parts...

[c2dfj45]

We had a little time to mess around with building a step/tag bracket/tag light holder for the truck....I'll maybe put some anti skid tape on the top of it...maybe Raptor the next time we spray some black.

Complex piece...

Tabs apparently had to be cut off for some reason...I think they will be inset a little bit as I recall.

Fits really nice...tight to the bumper. Not much of a step but I think it will work pretty good. I'll miss having my crappy OEM step bumper on this truck for some reason.

 

[TonyP]

I believe the 100 has about a 1 inch wider track than an 80 (so would be 1/2in per side).
Going off of memory so I could be wrong.

I briefly considered a 70 on a 200 series frame. The 200 chassis is phenomenal. Many hurdles in that swap though.

 

[c2dfj45]

I believe the 100 has about a 1 inch wider track than an 80 (so would be 1/2in per side).
Going off of memory so I could be wrong.

I briefly considered a 70 on a 200 series frame. The 200 chassis is phenomenal. Many hurdles in that swap though.

1/2" per side would be no biggie....100 series chassis would be really cool. Almost easier to find than an 80 too

 

[TonyP]

1/2" per side would be no biggie....100 series chassis would be really cool. Almost easier to find than an 80 too

For sure. Torsion bar suspension is weird though.
The 200 has a nice straight section of frame for lengthening or shortening. Built like a tank too. Plus, KDSS is pretty rad.
Maybe if the Troopy ever gets frame damage...

 

[c2dfj45]

For sure. Torsion bar suspension is weird though.
The 200 has a nice straight section of frame for lengthening or shortening. Built like a tank too. Plus, KDSS is pretty rad.
Maybe if the Troopy ever gets frame damage...

How much wider is the 200? What a great truck that would be!

 

[TonyP]

How much wider is the 200? What a great truck that would be!

Almost the same dimensions as a 100, under 10mm overall wider track, so under 5mm per side. Wheelbase is the same at 112.2". If you find a wrecked 200, good chance the frame is ok considering how well it's built. I got rear-ended by a Rav4 going 40mph in my 200, it pushed the Rav4s engine back a solid foot. Had the frame checked on the 200, well within spec. Granted he mostly hit my hitch.

 

[c2dfj45]

Almost the same dimensions as a 100, under 10mm overall wider track, so under 5mm per side. Wheelbase is the same at 112.2". If you find a wrecked 200, good chance the frame is ok considering how well it's built. I got rear-ended by a Rav4 going 40mph in my 200, it pushed the Rav4s engine back a solid foot. Had the frame checked on the 200, well within spec. Granted he mostly hit my hitch.

I would have never thought that a 200 is nearly the same as a 100. I have a 570 and it feels huge.

Would be tough build....you'd probably have to section off a big chunk of the bed to house the electrical stuff if you kept any of the systems. Yikes.

Speaking of electrics.....we ran out of room behind the Rav4 dash on the 79....which I didn't think would happen when we were building. I thought we'd have piles of room for more stuff.....not the case. There is a lot packed in there and everything has a place.

It's weird sitting in that truck compared to the steel dash(I'm driving my camper truck this week)....that interior seems really spacious which it really isn't. The new truck seems really tight in the inside. The new dash is BIG.

 

[c2dfj45]

Off of Troopy....back on 79. We have very little left to do....so it's time to knock it out. Rear view camera went in. We had pre-wired all of it so it was just a matter of plugging it in. Learned something interesting....again, not a real stereo guy.....but the Pioneer doesn't allow for reversing the image in the headhunt. If you've ever reversed a car WITH the image flipped, it gets your attention really quick. Maybe that's normal. Sony's allow reversing the image in the menu. Handy.

 

[c2dfj45]

Passenger seat is in....brand spanking new mine truck takeout.

 

[c2dfj45]

Fired up our little smoker oven and baked some parts. The guys finished the super cool license plate/step bracket...should be able to mount it tomorrow since we're not waiting for powder coated pieces like we usually do. Ran a batch of satin black.....still experimenting on how much powder to spray on the part, cooking times, etc. These were all run thru our blast cabinet first so they had a pretty aggressive finish on them. Needed to go a little heavier on the powder....2 coats...to get them to be smooth.

 

[c2dfj45]

I've been thinking about how to incorporate an additional brake light into the back of the 79....the tail lights are low on these trucks and with so many people distracted, I kind of thought something a little more centered and higher would be a good idea. This truck sits a lot taller than the #1 so the lights are probably a bit more visible but more can't hurt.

This is our first version....just a simple LED light strip attached up under the lip of the tailgate's top channel. It's super bright and orange in the pics but much more subtle in person and plenty visible during the day. Wiring is simple and this truck will have load bay skins on all surfaces of the bed and tail gate so hiding the wiring is easy.

 

[coldtaco]

Might have to think about doing something like that too.

 

[Gun Runner 5]

I've been thinking about how to incorporate an additional brake light into the back of the 79....the tail lights are low on these trucks and with so many people distracted, I kind of thought something a little more centered and higher would be a good idea. This truck sits a lot taller than the #1 so the lights are probably a bit more visible but more can't hurt.

This is our first version....just a simple LED light strip attached up under the lip of the tailgate's top channel. It's super bright and orange in the pics but much more subtle in person and plenty visible during the day. Wiring is simple and this truck will have load bay skins on all surfaces of the bed and tail gate so hiding the wiring is easy.

View attachment 2281225

I'm more concerned with someone running into me while I shift from 1st to 2nd.

 

[FJBen]

I'm more concerned with someone running into me while I shift from 1st to 2nd.

You mean the 6 1/2 foot distance it takes to shift from 1 to 2?

 

[Gun Runner 5]

You mean the 6 1/2 foot distance it takes to shift from 1 to 2?

You can go 6-1/2'? I need to regear?

 

[2fpower]

You use first gear? Novice....

 

[Gun Runner 5]

You use first gear? Novice....

Only when I want to smoke the tires.
On second thought, it may be be diesel smoke I'm seeing but either way it's impressive.,

 

[Andrew S]

Chris,
I have a Natika brand camera, similar to yours. There was a wire loop in the camera harness that when cut would reverse the image. Yours might have that option?
Andrew

 

[c2dfj45]

Chris,
I have a Natika brand camera, similar to yours. There was a wire loop in the camera harness that when cut would reverse the image. Yours might have that option?
Andrew

Read the instructions and guess what....they tell you to clip the wire. It's clipped and working normally now.

 

[c2dfj45]

Mounted our step/tag light deal.....turned out pretty cool. Going to do the top of it in black Raptor I think since we are spraying tomorrow on some other parts.