Builds Reviving "the wife's" 80 (1 Viewer)

[PDoyle]

Really coming along well, nice work.
Where are you relocating the a/c dryer too?
Did you buy the radiator support as one unit or in pieces?
I only had a couple issues with rust and one was right in front of the slot in the bumper where the front cross member is. I want to install a new one sometime. Makes me want to cover up those 2 holes in the oem bumper too. Salt is BRUTAL!

 

[69LC]

Thanks @PDoyle, I got the radiator support whole and shipped it from a buddy in Utah.

I haven’t decided where to relocate the dryer to yet, but it won’t be the stock location due to my bumper design.

 

[69LC]

Post rotator cuff rework and now I’m one-handing it.

So just out of curiosity, I decided to start pulling the headliner to see if it’s a gross mess.

It’s definitely a gross mess! I had pigs that were cleaner than this!

 

[69LC]

Vacuumed and ready to come out.

Has anyone ever tried deep cleaning one of these?

 

[Bezelgear]

View attachment 1160472 Cleaning pans for new form a gasket.

Always good to see that someone else has such excellent taste in vehicles- and beer!

 

[PDoyle]

Didn't know there was that much room. Wow.

 

[1973Guppie]

wonder if you can clean it carefully and then lay some felt down with adhesive over it? should work and look decent. The problem is when you clean it is the felt that is on there now will come apart.

 

[69LC]

I’m calling around right now to see if there is anyone locally who might be able to salvage it.

 

[69LC]

I texted a local 80 parts/truck flipper to see if he has any colors of liners. In the meantime depending on local weather I’m going to try cleaning the liner with a high concentration of cleaning vinegar to see if it helps before playing with bleach and possibly discoloring the inside fabric.

 

[samc2447]

Has anyone ever tried deep cleaning one of these?

I used carpet cleaner spot remover on mine. Worked great. I think it was called spot shot or something similar. I only did areas that were dirty.

 

[69LC]

We're pretty certain this is a lost cause, but why not try right?

 

[69LC]

After two rounds of vinegar and the garden hose.

 

[69LC]

So this isn’t a proud mod to share, but a quick fix I learned about from one of the guys in my Air Guard shop with an XJ.

I’m using Flex Seal, window screen as a mesh and a bit of leftover rabbit hutch fence to build a temporary rust hole floor seal until I can cut out a proper 80 floor chunk to weld in next summer.

I’m a few coats into it now letting it cure with an old chicken heat lamp. The wire mesh is nearly covered. My hope is that it will be a decent enough patch for limited use.

 

[baldilocks]

My hat is off to you for even attempting to revive a cruiser with a hole in the floor larger enough for a small child to fall through. Having grown up in Michigan I remember such car cancer but wouldn’t want to deal with rust now that I have been on the west coast for so many years.

 

[PDoyle]

Ya but after all it is the wife's car

 

[69LC]

I hate rust. So the drivers floor topside is pretty much done. Three layers of screen gooed in place.

I have one stuck rear seatbelt anchor bolt. Trying not to cut it if at all possible.

I haven’t decided about how to patch up the holes near that and the one behind the right rear wheel.

I looked at a mostly clean carcass truck yesterday and now I’m seriously contemplating getting it to store until a later date and have it painted and prepped for a fresh frame.

 

[69LC]

So I’ve posted updates outside the thread, but the rear fender flare holes and bad rust holes are patched up.

Now I can get back to finishing cleaning the back side of the dash and reassemble it.

I pulled and painted a white (92) drivers door handle too. I hope I have a replacement Right tail lense stored away somewhere...

 

[69LC]

After a couple weeks of intense head and chest junk, going back to full time work and trying to work on the house I finally finished cleaning the dash and some headliner trim bits.

I also ordered another 95 headliner from a guy in Arkansas along with a 71 frame for our rusty 72 fj40.

 

[69LC]

Haven’t done much with the 80 in a while due to the weather.

I did make a great discovery yesterday though-I found some center dash components I had put into a “safe” location.

My son and his buddy made some 3D labels for the hazard/CDL switch.

So I need to run a power cable/wire to the USB port. Any suggestions of what type and size to run? I’ll figure out an auxiliary power block for it.