“Medium Blues” 1982 SR5 shorty

[athensrep]

In the hopes that this helps save someone a few minutes in cleaning their vinyl dash, seats, etc.… after years of trial and error and money spent on lotions and potions, I’ve found the quickest and best way to clear vinyl is a mix of Castile soap/water and magic erasers. I got this SR5 seat, that matches my existing ones, from a truck that sat in the SC woods for 15 years. It wasn’t perfect to start with, but better than my drivers seat currently.

It doesn’t take long for it to come back to life with the erasers and Castile. Hit it with some 303 after I was done and you have something that you can sit in.

Finished and progress glamour shots.

 

[thetoyotaman]

Nice project. Back in the day the white OEM wheels had a red pinstripe on them that seemed to have worn off quickly.

 

[athensrep]

Thanks - we’ll see how it turns out.

My spare has the red pin stripe on it. I’m blasting and spraying the chrome ones I got white. I was planning on putting the red on there.

 

[athensrep]

It’s been a long time since I’ve posted on the truck because, well, the paint guy is just now getting close to shooting it. Been literally a year since he’s had it. I stopped by there Saturday and he has it really and truly ready to paint. Miracles happen.

In the time I’ve had, I’ve amassed vent windows, a nice sliding window, decals, redyed the carpet, got new SR5 door panels and much more.

He claims it will be done this week. I wouldn’t take that bet, but I’m happy we’re rounding the corner.

 

[thetoyotaman]

Can you post about converting the chrome wheels to white?

 

[athensrep]

Yeah, I’ll be by there later this week but essentially the shop next to my body shop is a media blaster. He’s just blasting the chrome off and we’re painting the wheels white. No powdering or anything.

I don’t know how easy it’ll be to get that little red pin stripe back on the wheels…

 

[thetoyotaman]

I don't remember where I saw it, but years ago I ran across a tool for this. It was a wheel pinstriper that helped you stay in the right spot.

 

[athensrep]

11 months later and it’s finally done today. I’m honestly impressed with the color match and finish. I told the guys to leave the spot weld deformation/waviness on the bed above the rear wheel wells. Pleased on what I’m getting back. This weekend, I’m putting the vinyl back on and starting to get the interior back in.

Miracles do happen….

 

[gnob]

looks really nice. probably my favorite toyota color.

 

[athensrep]

Yeah, I’m with you. I don’t remember seeing many in medium blue when they used to be everywhere.

 

[clx16]

Man that looks great. How long do we have to wait for pictures of the vinyl on it? Maybe later this evening???

 

[athensrep]

You’re kinda reading my mind. Im trying to put them on tonight.

 

[thetoyotaman]

That's great! I'm so happy for you.

 

[aztoyman]

Man that looks good! It's hard to beat the look of a 1st gen Toyota pickup.

 

[athensrep]

It’s getting there. Forgot how much patience you are required to have putting vinyl on.

 

[clx16]

Nice. even got your cab vents installed too! Looks great man.

 

[athensrep]

I have most of the exterior ready to go; new marker lights, decals, mud flaps, grill, front valence, etc. I need to redo the passenger side front graphics as it’s not 100% level to body lines and it drives me up the wall that it’s a little off.

Now I start on the inside. Going to put some sound deadener, the dyed carpet and put it all back in where it was. The drivers door card looks like someone punched it, but I had new ones made that look pretty original but they’re not two-tone.

 

[athensrep]

You may not believe it, but one of the hardest things to track down was the gas pedal. I’ve only had a couple of these trucks that actually still had it. Buddy of mine “inna woods” had one but was missing the hinge. Fabbed one up and now have to get it in.

Tip: some of you may do this, but if you’ve ever found chalky Toyota plastic like on the door handles, Pentrol works well to prevent it from flaking off more. It gives it a little more color but bonds to the plastic and keeps it from looking pale and chalky. May not look like much in the pics, but it does look better. When I was more into VWs, I used to rag it on the paint to keep it from rusting. It’s great for that and spraying on frames. You have to get the oil based though.

I have the oil changed and now need to put some gear oil in the tranny, T case and diffs. Should be ready to go from there.

 

[athensrep]

I got two new door cards and carpet bottoms for the truck. Ordered them from a guy that makes them in Thailand - they look nearly perfect. However, I order the 2wd full-blue ones on accident instead of the two tones. You need to cut out the speaker hole on the passenger door as I already did the drivers.

If someone want these for a nominal fee, let me know. They really are amazing quality.

 

[gnob]

You may not believe it, but one of the hardest things to track down was the gas pedal. I’ve only had a couple of these trucks that actually still had it. Buddy of mine “inna woods” had one but was missing the hinge. Fabbed one up and now have to get it in.

Tip: some of you may do this, but if you’ve ever found chalky Toyota plastic like on the door handles, Pentrol works well to prevent it from flaking off more. It gives it a little more color but bonds to the plastic and keeps it from looking pale and chalky. May not look like much in the pics, but it does look better. When I was more into VWs, I used to rag it on the paint to keep it from rusting. It’s great for that and spraying on frames. You have to get the oil based though.

I have the oil changed and now need to put some gear oil in the tranny, T case and diffs. Should be ready to go from there.

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i guess you're doing more of a resto thing, but i deleted the floor pedal piece and just welded a plate to the pedal rod that acted like the later pedal. the floor style was always sticky and annoying.

you're doing a killer job and it's turning out really nice.