tan 81 restoration (1 Viewer)

[bdyer12]

I have built several cruiser and a few years ago my daughter and i built a green 81, at the time i wanted to grow my business and sold it. It bothered her more than i thought so here is the replacement. As time goes on it will get restored but for now it is a great driver. so far i did the following
-rebuilt the knuckles
-changed the fluids
-new dash pad
-new gauges
-new door weather stripping
-new factory power steering

the goal is to keep the truck factory correct(maybe a 5 speed)

 

[eman375]

Nice specimen. It doesn't look like it needs much of a restoration.

 

[vpatsears]

Nice looking! Is that stock height? What size tires?

 

[JackA]

Great looking 40. Does not look like it needs a resto to me. They are only original once.

 

[jim land]

very nice , this one is not from the rust belt for sure , where did you find this jewel , do you think it is the stock paint , normaly rust free 40 came from dry and hot places like AZ with a sunburn patina , maybe it was garaged all the time

 

[DSB345]

Nice!

 

[curtislow]

I have built several cruiser and a few years ago my daughter and i built a green 81, at the time i wanted to grow my business and sold it. It bothered her more than i thought so here is the replacement. As time goes on it will get restored but for now it is a great driver. so far i did the following
-rebuilt the knuckles
-changed the fluids
-new dash pad
-new gauges
-new door weather stripping
-new factory power steering

the goal is to keep the truck factory correct(maybe a 5 speed)View attachment 1380975 View attachment 1380976 View attachment 1380977 View attachment 1380978

I always thought that a 79 or later was a 5 speed. Was that just an option?

 

[jim land]

i think the 5 speed is 83-84 and never in usa

 

[roma042987]

i think the 5 speed is 83-84 and never in usa

Bingo

 

[bdyer12]

So I said I was going to leave this alone, but I decided to not use the really nice hz/h55 combo in the 45. So instead of trying to sell it i thought i would just put it in the 40. Going to fix a few small rust spots while it is open.

 

[bdyer12]

Some might say things got a little out of hand today but I found someone had put a screw in the gas tank and the body had a small amount of rust that need to be repaired

 

[bdyer12]

Frame looks great

 

[bdyer12]

Pin hole in tank from screw

 

[bdyer12]

Steering upgrade complete

 

[bdyer12]

Motor set and test fit

 

[bdyer12]

Time to fix the body paint the frame and install sway bars

 

[bdyer12]

And take a leaf out of each spring pack to soften the ride

 

[bdyer12]

@cruiserjunktion lended a helping hand stem cleaned the frame and painted

 

[bdyer12]

Putting the legos back together

 

[bikersmurf]

Steering upgrade completeView attachment 1922948View attachment 1922949View attachment 1922950View attachment 1922951View attachment 1922952

I'm doing a similar steering conversion and had a couple quick questions. What dimensions of tubing and plate did you use for the spacers and scab plate? What did you source the TREs and relay rod from?

It almost looks like it would work with a stock steering stabilizer... thoughts?