I like how the guys reused the old tubs gas filler area and scrubbed it back to metal.
I want to see some GREEN code 681 paint soon! they all paint the chassis.
Then very soon put it all back together.
Once it is done at this shop I take it for a new exhaust, some interior work, and I think a new AC unit install along with the 2 hidden speakers and a new head unit.
I am skipping the roll bar to speed up the process. A future owner can get an OEM used one in the USA and I decided to keep the 4 man benches in the back to allow for 6 passengers (we modified the front bench into 2 OEM bucket seats with headrests).
I am sourcing an OEM used heater in the US right now from metrictlc.com MUD member if he can get it for me. Can't even find the parts for heaters down here (eternally 70 to 85 degrees here!).
Ok she is painted! She needs the final clearcoat and she is painted. I am extremely pleased with the photos (I am back in Florida). Let me gloat a bit. We started this process only one month ago to emphasize that Colombians can achieve a high quality body and paint restoration. Not just a quick respray. I challenged by body shop owner to show me his best and i am doing my part by paying him accordingly. Thanks so much to the input from you all for seeing my mistakes. I will let you all judge the results but I am very glad to move past the body repair and paint phase it has been somewhat stressful! We have a long way to go but I feel like we have gotten past the hardest part. I have made my decisions on the interior and accessories and (probably haha) can't change them!
More. We are using PPG brand paints. One anti rust primer, one grey primer, one rubberized/textured undercoating, 2 coats of Toyota 681 green and a final clear coat. The green looks to be near dead on original he pulled it from inside the glove box. Looks pretty close!
The infamous tub! I think it turned out great. Need more rear shots for the rear detail. Overall I am very pleased.
Mistakes learned... we burned up time fooling with the old tub realizing later that it had the rear wheel wells cut (thanks to MUD members) and a little more rust than we thought then the body shop ordered a pre 1979 or one size fits all tub that required the 2 body guys to add back the post 79 details! Plus Chamba here caught a rear detail that was not perfect and I had them add it back!
I have a new contact down there who makes both era tubs so I hope to go with him next time around. We burned up a few weeks and many hours of labor but I can see that these guys can really do anything with metal anyhow.
need to get some more photos of the rear door section but i saw it before it was painted and it looked like the old tub it replaced.
that looks awesome! I'm only saying this because it seems like you are trying to go "stock" but those seam lines in the rear quarter panels shouldn't be there.
Hey antFJ I think you saved me bec it is not the final coat of paint yet. Going to change it. I did not catch it in the grey primer. I guess this is the benefit of being an open book on here and showing all my mistakes. Hopefully after all this the end product will all the better for it. Thanks much to MUD members.
They hold their value well those RTs. what a great driving car! but i tried to use it as a daily driver and with 380hp on 20 inch tires I found it let's say squirrely in Florida on a rainy highway!
You may want to keep an eye on how the amby door hinges get attached to the tub. I believe that most 40 series came to Colombia as soft tops. Many of the hard tops there are aftermarket. So the aftermarket tubs may not have the captive nuts for the amby doors. Also something to consider if you decide to bring back more tubs.
Hey yeah that was my second mistake. Despite having the original tub 30 feet away the guys were on a path with a squared off tub/rear doors (even after prefitting the amby doors). We fixed it. I later than day saw an 1982 softtop/fiberglass top with a slightly different tub (meaning post 1979 you are right there are TWO different tub details). I think we got that part fixed and have the curved bottom door detail.
This tub was our main issue and set us back a few weeks for sure. Now we caught this line which I did not see in the primer grey. We will address it tommorrow hopefully before the final coats of paint and the clear coat.
Frustrating but we will see how the truck ends up. I feel like I have pushed as hard as I can and we will see how close I get on my first one.
This truck has an original metal top which is the reason I went for it.
Not a big fan of the bulky Colombian fiberglass tops. Outside not so sure I like the looks. Inside they are super nice with vents and speakers and raised roof.
Next truck I want to do a soft top but the metal bars are just as hard to find down there as in the USA.
This has been a learning experience and I hope to have the truck all put together in the next few weeks to show the end result.
Interesting. The original tub has that vertical line. All the other Colombian trucks have it. This one had that line originally just hard to notice it. I wonder if the USA ones got rid of the line when they put in the rear side reflector/lamp?
Leaving the line in because 1. original truck had it and Colombian models have it and 2. I am afraid if we fool with it we make lose what we have right now and mess up the color match etc and 3. I confess I am ready to move forward!
We will see how she turns out I am pleased that we have done our best to this point.
Keep up the comments and constructive criticism this is my first project but I want to make it the best that I can.
Chassis is painted. Cleaned, sanded, then into the paint booth for 4 coats of PPG paint. One anti-corrosion primer, one primer then 2 coats of black color. The braking system was inspected and we replaced some parts including new pads up front and new shoes in the rear. All the bushings, the steering stablizer and the shackles get changed for new.
