Build Live in Texas, drive a pickup: HDJ79 single cab build

[RevISK]

Ian I’m not sure have a choice here unless I make my own with some expanded metal mesh…. wanna come over this afternoon and help me bleed brakes? We could probably drive this thing today!

I can probably swing that, let me check with the wife and I'll hit you up.

 

[SNLC]

Ian I’m not sure have a choice here unless I make my own with some expanded metal mesh….

No

There are multiple aftermarket grills available out of Australia.

You can also cut the guts out of that stock grill and fit your own mesh, using the perimeter of the plastic grill as your frame. There is even a guy here in the US who may make you a custom grill.

Cheers

 

[davegonz]

@davegonz , modify ain’t the word. It’s such a thick intercooler core… The instructions from Australia say to thin the grill down until only 2 to 3 mm are left. I want to use the Satoshi grill with TOYOTA script… but that grill is so far recessed, I’m not sure it’ll be possible. I started to cut it out last night at 2:30am and stopped.

@ceylonfj40nut if this was an OR… It’d be more like Frankenstein‘s lab.

@Gun Runner 5 yes! They are turn signals on my truck, not clearance lamps. I’ll detail more in a minute.

An oscillating tool with a new blade worked well on the FJ60 grill.

 

[davegonz]

Kelly Saad. I don't think I've seen a 70 series one on his site yet.

 

[JuanJ]

@bottombracket …. “Weird. Yours are JUST running lights? Are they hazard flashers? Mine function as turn signals and hazard flashers.”
———————————————————————————
They are physically not there.

Hello,

Some markets require side indicator lights, some do not. The thousand 70 Series variations Onur mentions every now and then.

Australia does require them. General Markets and the Middle East usually do not.

There is a connector in the harness for side indicators. However, you have to either replace the fender or cut a hole in your existing one.





Juan

 

[cruiserdan]

It seems strange that the 79 Series had those lights while the 76 Series did not.
Thanks

It's not model specific It's market specific. The museum has two 76s with the side turn signals.

 

[Gun Runner 5]

It's not model specific It's market specific. The museum has two 76s with the side turn signals.

Darn, now I just feel left out.

 

[DrRock]

Kelly Saad. I don't think I've seen a 70 series one on his site yet.

@kelly saad has made a grille for a 70 series, just not sure which one. I can ask him in person in a few weeks and help with the reverse engineering if needed. I’d just need the dims for the pickup points, then I can design whatever you want.

 

[kelly saad]

Kelly Saad. I don't think I've seen a 70 series one on his site yet.

I made a prototype and have the file to cut more but I haven't spent time trying to sell them. The prototype is on @ofer bruhis HJ75. He modified it and is using it. I will probably cut another one and work out the final bugs, then sell them. Mine incudes the headlight bezels too.

 

[kelly saad]

 

[bottombracket]

 

[bottombracket]

Well, today was an awesome day. It ended with an empty shop.

The day started by @fl4031003 stopping by to just drop off a single harness part that he had borrowed… But then he got sucked into the insanity and stayed all damn day. Monroy was a major reason the truck is no longer sitting in the garage by the end of the day.

We started bleeding the brakes and had leaks from a couple of lines. With some judicious tightening everything settled down, and we bled the brakes rapidly.

Then we went to the clutch. No matter what we did, we could not get fluid through the clutch master, which sits inboard I the firewall. I have four new takeoff clutch pedal set ups from cruiser parts… And I had used the absolute cleanest one that I had. In the end, we disassembled it and found out that there was a huge clot of debris sitting at the end of the rubber hose going into the clutch master. We popped the entire assembly out, cleaned and rebuilt the master, and then were able to successfully bleed the clutch.

THANK YOU @fl4031003

 

[cruiserdan]

The elephant is getting smaller.

 

[bottombracket]

@cruiserdan THINGS ARE HAPPENING.

We bolted in the rear driveshaft…and after only 6 1/2 years, the truck moved on its own.

I’m surprised that everything went as smoothly as it did. I backed it out of the shop with immediate and easy clutch, great brakes, and totally normal steering. I drove it two laps around the ranch and then just sat in it in the middle of the driveway. That felt pretty darn good.

Thanks to every single person here who has helped me get this far over the past six years.

 

[bottombracket]

I’ve got video, but for some reason, I can’t figure out how to upload a regular YouTube video right now. My kids would tell me that I have have become old and complacent.

Even my phone was getting hot and bothered seeing the truck actually running and driving.

 

[bottombracket]

This is Nate. He’s almost 12. Pretty much all he wants to do in this world is 1) be wherever I am and 2) to go for rides in the car.

He hates bucket seats. For over half his life I’ve been promising him that I would build him a truck with a front bench seat.

Today Nate got to go on his first truck ride with a 60/40 bench. He loved it.

 

[davegonz]

Awesome.

 

[DrRock]

Outstanding!!! So happy for ya’. Enjoy the final phases of getting it finished up.

 

[bottombracket]

 

[svsisu]

I strongly prefer the black grill just wish it didn't have the flaccid T logo.

Super low hanging fruit, but @bhicks (BH3D) makes a nice TEQ badge to replace the flaccid sombrero. I can't remember which one fits the older 70 series grill (I think it was for a 3rd gen 4runner), so you would have to measure and get with him on which one would fit. It's a nice way to dress up the plastic grill until a metal one is sorted.

80/100/LX450/LX470 TEQ grill badge – BH3D Printing

www.bh3dprinting.com