Newbie just picked up 82 4x4 (2 Viewers)

[mytrucksbroke]

Tied up a loose end that was really bothering me...

 

[mytrucksbroke]

I put up a want to buy ad in the classifieds, but thought I would also mention it here.
Im looking for a smittybilt roll bar, preferable the "double double" model as seen in attached photos.
I can pick up if within 600 miles of So Cal...otherwise I can have it shipped.
If you know of one, please let me know...if it's not an exact fit I can modify it to make it work... thanks

 

[aztoyman]

Hey that looks a lot like my 88. I had Smittybilt tube bumpers on it at one time. I still have the roll bar but it's a single. It's for sale but I'm in Tucson area.

 

[mytrucksbroke]

Hey that looks a lot like my 88. I had Smittybilt tube bumpers on it at one time. I still have the roll bar but it's a single. It's for sale but I'm in Tucson area.

Tucson is an easy road trip from my place, if it were the double tube version I would be on the road already heading your way...

 

[aztoyman]

Yeah I see why you like the double tube. I actually HAD two of the single tube. I sold one and the other is still on my 88. I haven't really tried selling anything off it yet. Once I get everything I need for the 86 build, what's left of the 88 is being sold or parted out. Sad but, I can't keep everything.

 

[ferg]

That double/double is pretty heavy. You sure you want that much top weight? Considered an in-cab cage?

 

[mytrucksbroke]

That double/double is pretty heavy. You sure you want that much top weight? Considered an in-cab cage?

I am trying to make it look like the truck I drove in high school...an 87 short bed...my wife and I started dating in school, I think my truck had something to do with it

This weekend I installed the intake plugs, changed the oil and filter, cleaned out the coolant overflow and windshield wash tanks, replaced the rubber pcv grommet in valve cover, back flushed the heater core (got lots of crap out), flushed the radiator and put in new coolant and distilled water.

Had to drive around for awhile with the radiator flush in, so the wife and I headed for a trail she found on the alltrails app. It was about 25 miles away, played around on the trails for awhile, then took the long way home. Came home and drained flush, then completed with new coolant. The truck ran fantastic, handled the trails well and the wife had a great time. She looked at it when we got home and said "youre going to lift it and put on bigger tires, right?"

 

[mytrucksbroke]

I removed the grill, it (along with turn signals and headlights) are covered in white overspray...

Came off the "chrome" pretty easily..

I found that even the cross hatch pattern is indeed chrome, not black as it appears...

Cleaned that off...

Removing the overspray from the black plastic headlight housing is proving to be much more difficult without damaging the plastic from harsh chemicals, I am going to pick up some citrus cleaner to try again.

 

[mytrucksbroke]

Well, two and a half months after limping her home its time to put her to the test. All loaded up to head up the local mountains for a few days of camping. Going to do a bit of wheeling as well.
I have confidence in her, I think it will go well

 

[mytrucksbroke]

ROCK SOLID!

On Friday it hauled my wife and I with all our gear up the hill with no issues, except being a bit slow on the steeper portions (as expected). Had a little more pep in her step on the flatter areas, which suprised me.
Went driving on Saturday, took a few forestry roads through the mountain (about 15 miles in total) to check out some other campsites nearby...nothing too trecherous, just a few rocky parts and some areas of ruts. Spoke to a camper up there who shared a tip to take a little side trip up a different trail, it went about 1/2 mile up to a nearby summit for a great view.
This trail was much more challenging, the truck did fantastic...we got to the top and it was well worth it! We spent a little time up there enjoying a rest from being shaken around in the cab for a few hours before we began to creep back down, finding a few "less travelled" routes...this made for a fun finish to our drive.
We made our way back to our campsite and enjoyed a few cocktails as we discovered a few aches and pains that we didnt seem to get when we did this in the late 80's..
This morning we packed up and on the way home went to take a look at another canyon that had a legal shooting area, it turned out to be no more than a dirt road so after looking over the shooting area for a future visit we headed out and headed home.
Pulled into the driveway, not one single issue, not even a minor one. I am very pleased with how the truck performed and now have full confidence in her. Even my wife was impressed, shes looking forward to the next trip.
Looked everything over once I got her unloaded, not a drop of oil anywhere, coolant level was perfect....could not have gone better

 

[mytrucksbroke]

 

[mytrucksbroke]

Found the correct roll bar up north...hoping to work out a deal with the guy and take a road trip...
Fingers crossed

 

[mytrucksbroke]

865 miles round trip
16 hours of driving.

A beautiful drive from So Cal. to Carson City Nevada through the eastern sierras. Left at noon yesterday, loaded up and back on road by 8:15pm...drove til midnight, grabbed 4 hours sleep in a rest area and got home by 9am.

Ladies and gentlemen, the elusive smittybilt double double...

I probably spent more in fuel than I did for the roll bar. Time to shop for some retro looking lights to put on top

 

[mtrdud]

Nice find.

 

[mytrucksbroke]

Looking for shifter knob insert...I ordered this one but the diameter is larger than original and it does not fit properly...

Anybody know where to get this, or a part number?

 

[SteveH]

Go old school on the knob. Channel your inner FJ40....

5 Speed Shift Knob for Land Cruiser FJ60 or FJ40

Have a 5 speed Land Cruiser or did a 5 speed conversion and want to retain the vintage style shift knob? Here is your solution. These are OEM shift knobs fitted with an aftermarket 5 speed cap. Your choice of FJ40 style (round knob) or FJ60 style (oval knob). Already have the knob but need the...

www.cityracerllc.com

 

[mytrucksbroke]

Go old school on the knob. Channel your inner FJ40....

5 Speed Shift Knob for Land Cruiser FJ60 or FJ40

Have a 5 speed Land Cruiser or did a 5 speed conversion and want to retain the vintage style shift knob? Here is your solution. These are OEM shift knobs fitted with an aftermarket 5 speed cap. Your choice of FJ40 style (round knob) or FJ60 style (oval knob). Already have the knob but need the...

www.cityracerllc.com

I was hoping to just replace the metal insert with the gear pattern and keep the factory knob....

Good news!
My truck passed smog while I was driving to Nevada...

 

[mytrucksbroke]

I mentioned when I cleaned the white overspray off the grill that there was a lot on the headlight trim as well. The harsher chemicals that I was able to use on the grill were to toxic for the plastic trim and caused surface breakdown of the plastic. I think the fake chrome was enough to protect the grill but I needed something different for the headlight trim. I tried a few milder cleaners with no success, but a google search came up with this...

Heres the trim with overspray...

A quick spray, wait 30 seconds and wipe away..

Very good results, a pleasant orange smell and easy clean up.

 

[mytrucksbroke]

Back at the DMV yesterday...out if state sale so I had to have a VIN verification done and get the truck weighed on a certified scale (3,180 lbs), I had to bring both of those documents with me, smog was already uploaded to the DMV system.
Got everything done and received a new set of California plates and registration, with pink slip on its way.

 

[mytrucksbroke]

Added some vintage looking KC Daylighters to the roll bar for that classic 80's look...