Builds My mini-truck buildup thread...'86, 38's, FJ80 front axle, etc...

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Well Friday night we went up to the shop and got to work.

The first order of business was to straigten up the shop because it was a wreck. After that we pulled the cage out for some prep work and to finish weld(this will be completed later). Then we called it a night.

First thing Saturday morning we got the power steering reinstalled, the steering box plates welded up, and the box mounted.

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Then we set to work trying to get the leaky fuel pump bracket sealed up via JB Weld. We decided to let it setup overnight before trying to fire up the truck.

After that we cut out the old boogerwelded floor patch and tried again.

Before:

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After:

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What a difference a MIG welder makes when doing sheetmetal work :D

Sunday morning we got up and fired up the truck to see if the JB weld trick had fixed the fuel line. Unfortunately it didn't work :frown: The fuel blew right through the JB weld with no problem. We managed to clamp a piece of hose around it to all but eliminate the leak, and backed the truck out of the shop under its own power for the first time in almost 2 years!!! :cool:

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The truck has quite a few issues to be resolved, but I am SO STOKED to get it running and driving again. I still need to install brakes :eek: I had my buddy Cody following me around with a big block of wood in case it started to get away from me :lol:

I also need to install the seats, as they tend to move around a bit when they're not bolted down ;p

So basically, I have to "finish" it now.

Here's the short to-do list:

Buy/make front driveshaft
Rebuild steering box
Tap steering box for hydro assist
Install ram for hydro assist
Rebuild front calipers and install
Bleed brakes
Mount seats
Replace fuel pump bracket with one that doesn't leak
Reinstall fully welded cage
Fix gauges(swapped clusters, but some of the gauges don't work)
Figure out why motor is heating up so bad and producing so much condensation(have a feeling a rebuild is in my future)

DRIVE!

Maybe I'll get this stuff done over spring break. Sure would be nice to actually drive this truck somewhere, lol.
 
Arya,
Looks sweet dude! I can't wait until my Mini is no longer needed for DD duties.
 
Cheers dude,

I did something very similar to the frame on my '86 4x4. It turned out well, spaced out beautifully, now all I have to do is get it road legal!


Did it in extreme timeframe constraints, threw it together in under 30 straight hours or so. Needed it for a daily driver, didn't help when I blew a fuel line on the highway in the dead of winter! :flipoff2:


Anyways, congrats on the sweet build up, definitely given me some inspiration if I can ever find the right tool. That bender looks useful, I'm jealous!


-Alex
 
I drove it again!!!! This time for real. I drove it around the house, out on the road, and back into the driveway :D

After not really touching the truck for more than 4 months, it was time to work on it again.

I made a list this morning of all the things that needed to be done in order to drive the truck, and got myself motivated.

I installed the entire front brake system, replaced the fuel pump hanger, replaced the fuel pump hanger again, bled the brakes, reinstalled the seats, charged the battery and bled the brakes some more.

That may not sound all that impressive, but those of you who know how I wrench know how I like to get distracted and take naps. I didn't take ANY naps today(god bless redbull).

Tomorrow I'm gonna drive it some more and figure out why I can left a lot more than I can turn right. I don't think it's the draglink length, and I'm almost 100% sure I put the pitman arm correctly.

I'll post pics tomorrow of it out and about

Now all I have to do is:

Build front DS
Rebuild PS Box
Route exhaust and install muffler
Install hydro assist
Shocks
Finish cage
Sliders
Finish flat bed
Front bumper

Woohoo, hopefully this will all be done by August 20th when classes start again.
 
Route exhaust and install muffler

naaa not yet .. let it as is until the end of the proyect and at time you wanna take a nap turn on your engine ! :D = no nap !
 
CreeperSleeper, yes I have been slacking on keeping this post updated. I will update in a min.

ATLRoach, I do have an FToy project, but it has not been started and won't be until this project is complete :D
 
So for those of you that don't read Pirate, I blew the headgasket in the truck. I wasn't sure exactly when it happened, but I was running in the red after the maiden voyage to the nearest gas station(3 miles) and when I got back and checked the oil I had about 2 gallons of "oil" that was milkshake brown. I pulled the head and did the headgasket along with a few other things. The details of all of that are here: Head gasket thread

While I was waiting on stuff for the head gasket I got started on the sliders. I clearanced the rocker panels so that the sliders would sit up higher giving more clearance. I've only done one side so far, but I think they're turning out really well. That thread is here: Slider install

I was looking at the tube bed and trying to figure out how to do the wheel wells and got frustrated and tore it off. The perimeter tube was the first piece of tubing I ever bent, and with 10 bends in it, it wasn't exactly the truest thing around. I also decided I didn't want wheel wells projecting up into the bed and taking up useable space. So, I bent up a new piece for the perimeter and called it a night. I finished up the frame of the bed, dropped the tool box in.

That's pretty much how she sits right now. I'm going up to the shop this weekend to hopefully knock out a long list of things and then either bring it back to Blacksburg Monday or next Sunday. My goal is to finish the majority of the fab work and leave the minor tweaking for my apartment parking lot.

On to the pics!
Clearencing rockers 022 (Medium).webp
Clearencing rockers 023 (Medium).webp
flat bed 013 (Medium).webp
 
Thanks Chad,

Slow but steady seems to be my motto.

The damn engine still seems to be running hot after the head gasket job, so I've got to get that figured out and I'm really getting frustrated with it. Next step is to install an aftermarket gauge and make sure it's not just the factory gauge that's f-ed up and there is indeed a problem.

Ary
 
Flush the radiator/cooling system, I have had trucks run hot after a HG beacuse of all the junk at the botom not alowing for good flow. Invest in a hand held infared temp tool, makes life MUCH easier. Did you put in a new thermostat too?
 

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