Builds The Oddball 80 - Middle East GX Renovation (2 Viewers)

[thatcabledude]

I took it to Lous and was sad they fixed old canton and north state.

Ahhh Canton must be the one I’m thinking. Holy fawk. You could total a car out driving down that.

 

[wngrog]

Axle assembly is finished. PowderKeg did an outstanding job on all the parts. The axle is set up spring under now so it’s not so tall to the 80

 

[wngrog]

Well we tried the spring under but the Yokos were too big for it. Back to SOA and good with it.

Powder quality is superb. It’s not quite right though so my painter is going to scan the OddBall80 and nail it. The powder will make a great base.

 

[RKTINC]

Fantastic. This is why they started putting decals on Toyota pickups in the 80's. The trucks came in from Japan and the beds were made in Long Beach. The paint was just a bit off they tapde stripped them up to fix it. TRUE STORY. If you can't get it just right then add the stripes back on it. That will fix it.

 

[wngrog]

I recognize that 80. I visited Saudi Arabia four times with the USAF. First was Desert Shield/Desert Storm and all the vehicles we had then were military issue. The second two times were after the cease fire in '91 and again in '95 (pre-Khobar Towers). I was deployed with the Security Police Squadron at Eskan Village outside of Riyadh. The SPS had three morale vehicles for use on days off (this was pre-Force Protection so Saudi Arabia was treated like a friendly country and we could go anywhere). All three were identical '80's and looked exactly like the one pictured. They were the only three on base. One had a trailer that was painted to match. They were all manual transmission with barn doors and troop seats in the back. I wasn't big into Toyota engines back then, but I remember them being pretty gutless and we really wound them out.

We were allowed to go off base and explore as long as we were a group of 4 and one was an NCO. I went all over Saudi in those 80's and those trips were my inspiration for buying one last year. When we were out driving around, it felt like I was on expedition. I went back to the base in '98 and they were gone. Post-Khobar Towers the off base trips were strictly controlled, but I was K9 and we were allowed off base for vet visits and to do bomb detection work at a few off-post locations.

Bringing back this awesome bit of history on the OddBall80. Thanks so much for the coin from the base and your time there. As a USAF vet myself I truly appreciate your service and taking time to be part of this story. Return seat headed your way sir.

 

[wngrog]

Went and got the paint scanned for the trailer that goes to paint next week. Took glamor shots of course

 

[wngrog]

Not mine but same vintage via @toyotasofwar on IG

 

[wngrog]

I cut out all the rust and patched it. Welded in some 40 series light brackets as well. She’s hooked up and headed for matching paint tomorrow

 

[PAToyota]

I still want to know what you did to that poor cat that has her seeking to hitch a ride out of your joint at every chance!

 

[wngrog]

The Oddball is getting its turn on the lift for some preventive maintenance and some jewelry.

Beno has been sending me parts to replace some worn components and to fix some leaks.

First up. Rebuild rear driveshaft and replace the rear output leak on the Tcase that probably started because my driveshaft has a shimmy. All this 80 stuff is new to me but so far it seems pretty straightforward

 

[wngrog]

Man this thing. Every time I think the 80 gods are appeased then all I have to do is start working on this 80.

TCase seal went well enough. Was not bad. I took my time.... hope it won’t leak.

One of the things that I think made the seal go bad is that I’ve been driving this truck with bad rear ujoints. There has been a constant vibration.

So I get new joints from Cruiser Outfitters and use my slick new Ujoint remove tool and got it all back installed with shiny new driveshaft nuts and bolts via Beno.

Took it for a drive.

It’s worse. AND I put both Ujoints in backwards so I can’t grease them.

Holy hell. I think I’m just going to buy a new driveshaft. My driveline shop here sucks and by the time I buy 2 new joints and pay them to replace and balance the shaft I’ll be mostly toward a new one.

One step forward.....two steps back.

 

[Dilspec]

I hear you!

 

[Bludozer]

Man this thing. Every time I think the 80 gods are appeased then all I have to do is start working on this 80.

TCase seal went well enough. Was not bad. I took my time.... hope it won’t leak.

One of the things that I think made the seal go bad is that I’ve been driving this truck with bad rear ujoints. There has been a constant vibration.

So I get new joints from Cruiser Outfitters and use my slick new Ujoint remove tool and got it all back installed with shiny new driveshaft nuts and bolts via Beno.

Took it for a drive.

It’s worse. AND I put both Ujoints in backwards so I can’t grease them.

Holy hell. I think I’m just going to buy a new driveshaft. My driveline shop here sucks and by the time I buy 2 new joints and pay them to replace and balance the shaft I’ll be mostly toward a new one.

One step forward.....two steps back.

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Literal karma for all the 80 hate

 

[Godwin]

Man this thing. Every time I think the 80 gods are appeased then all I have to do is start working on this 80.

TCase seal went well enough. Was not bad. I took my time.... hope it won’t leak.

One of the things that I think made the seal go bad is that I’ve been driving this truck with bad rear ujoints. There has been a constant vibration.

So I get new joints from Cruiser Outfitters and use my slick new Ujoint remove tool and got it all back installed with shiny new driveshaft nuts and bolts via Beno.

Took it for a drive.

It’s worse. AND I put both Ujoints in backwards so I can’t grease them.

Holy hell. I think I’m just going to buy a new driveshaft. My driveline shop here sucks and by the time I buy 2 new joints and pay them to replace and balance the shaft I’ll be mostly toward a new one.

One step forward.....two steps back.

View attachment 2555228

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Could you have gotten it our of phase while working on it?

 

[wngrog]

Literal karma for all the 80 hate

Absolutely.

 

[wngrog]

Could you have gotten it our of phase while working on it?

Nah. It’s been shaking since I got it. I thought it was tires. It’s got all kind of factory weights on it. More than I’ve ever seen. If I had not out the Ujoints in backwards I would just go get it balanced but I can’t live with that.

 

[Bludozer]

Absolutely.

All kidding aside, this truck deserves you. I cannot imagine the fate it would have suffered under the ownership of the majority of current 80 owners.

 

[desmocruiser]

Yeah unfortunately some 80’s are a bit more finicky than others, finally had to have mine balanced and new U Joints to get rid of the vibration.

I am betting you have already considered and are way past this point Is there another 80 nearby you can swap in a different DS to see if there are any changes?

 

[wngrog]

Yeah unfortunately some 80’s are a bit more finicky than others, finally had to have mine balanced and new U Joints to get rid of the vibration.

I am betting you have already considered and are way past this point Is there another 80 nearby you can swap in a different DS to see if there are any changes?

The differential is a new rebuilt unit with a Harrop locker. It shook before the rebuild

I rebuilt it because the pinion bearing was shot.....likely from the driveshaft.

 

[wngrog]

Went to a shiny car show this morning but came back this afternoon and started in on my next project.....I replaced all of the sway bar bushings with new Toyota rubber and bolts via Beno.

Next I measured up my rear flanges. Mine seem to be the ones circled for the Tom Woods shaft chart.

Pulled the front shaft and was greeted with this pretty painted pinion. I guess this is OEM. Never seen it.

Front end rebuild has started as well. Seems my front axle has been running the Land Rover method for some time. All the grease

One side clean. That’s enough for the afternoon.