Builds Trash truck .... a diary and build thread
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Fyi, if I could, I'd love to have a pig.
- Thread starter
- #103
@ntdb Really good eye. It's an 82. I feel like the 81s and 82s are pretty rare to begin with, and this color combo is rare as well, making this truck, well ... rare. @Spike Strip and I were discussing that the other day. I don't know that I could live with a different interior in a 60 because I'm just so in love with the brown/tan. That's what's in the tomato truck. Dig the fuse panel Toyota put in the 81/82 trucks:
@MoaByte That RC truck is a WPL C24. Cheap Chinese stuff, but a a good sub-$100 entry into the hobby. I got it about two weeks ago so I'm brand new at this, and I've already done a bunch of upgrades haha. As if I need ANOTHER truck to work on - and it's the same kind of rabbit hole as on a cruiser. I added metal suspension linkages which made it heavier. That helps tire traction, but now my poor little motor is struggling - time to upgrade that. And if I upgrade that, I'll need tires with better grip. I added internal weights on the wheels for traction but now the steering servo makes angry sounds so that's on the list too. Etc, etc. It's never gonna end.
Regarding the Pig, I'm happy to chat if it's within the realm of possibility for you. I would like it out of the shop so I have room for the blue truck, so I'm "open to offers" if ya know what I mean. I suspect the Pig would be a good get-around-town, dirt-road rambler, or farm truck with not really too much work. Put in some time beyond that to get it trail ready. Leave the rust and run the damn thing! Whomever ends up with it can use my tomato truck as inspiration for embracing the body rust! Frame is solid for what it's worth.
And yes, the blue truck is a better starting point than this damn red one. No more frame rot to worry about, because that is definitely starting for me now. I don't even want to talk about my c-channels. I will try to keep it as a trail truck if I can, maybe welding in some quit and dirty frame patches. Or sell it to somebody else with full disclosures and good pictures of all the bad stuff. It would be pretty hard to get rid of though as I got a lot of blood, sweat, and tears in it. It's become part of me.
@MoaByte That RC truck is a WPL C24. Cheap Chinese stuff, but a a good sub-$100 entry into the hobby. I got it about two weeks ago so I'm brand new at this, and I've already done a bunch of upgrades haha. As if I need ANOTHER truck to work on - and it's the same kind of rabbit hole as on a cruiser. I added metal suspension linkages which made it heavier. That helps tire traction, but now my poor little motor is struggling - time to upgrade that. And if I upgrade that, I'll need tires with better grip. I added internal weights on the wheels for traction but now the steering servo makes angry sounds so that's on the list too. Etc, etc. It's never gonna end.
Regarding the Pig, I'm happy to chat if it's within the realm of possibility for you. I would like it out of the shop so I have room for the blue truck, so I'm "open to offers" if ya know what I mean. I suspect the Pig would be a good get-around-town, dirt-road rambler, or farm truck with not really too much work. Put in some time beyond that to get it trail ready. Leave the rust and run the damn thing! Whomever ends up with it can use my tomato truck as inspiration for embracing the body rust! Frame is solid for what it's worth.
And yes, the blue truck is a better starting point than this damn red one. No more frame rot to worry about, because that is definitely starting for me now. I don't even want to talk about my c-channels. I will try to keep it as a trail truck if I can, maybe welding in some quit and dirty frame patches. Or sell it to somebody else with full disclosures and good pictures of all the bad stuff. It would be pretty hard to get rid of though as I got a lot of blood, sweat, and tears in it. It's become part of me.
Sending good Cruiser Karma your way man. 
- Thread starter
- #106
That's totally right isn't it? The stock motor perfectly replicates the 20R/22R weak motor. You are able to "re-gear" these little trucks, but not at the diffs. It happens at the "transfer case" on the back of the motor. That's really always been the lynchpin in getting a 20R/22R motor to be a crawler I think - turn that weak power into something useful, then start building everything else from there.
FYI, I have a 20R in the 1979 Corona that sits dead in my garage. I bought it cheap with a milkshaked motor and hope to get it running "one day". But in that case the motor is only pushing 2100lbs.
- Thread starter
- #107
I just saw @OSS write this on another thread and it perfectly summarizes the Land Cruiser experience for people that live in smog-test-required areas. He's speaking to California specifically, but it applies to me here in Denver too.
"It’s one thing to buy a 37 year old carbureted FJ60 in CA that somehow got a passing smog test certificate prior to the sale (bribes or a long time relationship with the smog tech can make it magically appear) but it’s an entirely different ballgame to own that said vehicle and have it pass a smog test every two years while you own it. Even the “experts” on this forum who know the smog equipment top to bottom and can recite specifications out of the emissions manual, experience low grade (or mid grade) anxiety every two years on smog test day."
The only part of this I take umbrage with, however, is that I would consider my personal anxiety level about next month's smog test "high grade". Anyway, well said OSS. What us smog-area folks are doing, is insane, nearly futile, and takes years off our lives - and we (at least I do) love every minute of it.
"It’s one thing to buy a 37 year old carbureted FJ60 in CA that somehow got a passing smog test certificate prior to the sale (bribes or a long time relationship with the smog tech can make it magically appear) but it’s an entirely different ballgame to own that said vehicle and have it pass a smog test every two years while you own it. Even the “experts” on this forum who know the smog equipment top to bottom and can recite specifications out of the emissions manual, experience low grade (or mid grade) anxiety every two years on smog test day."
The only part of this I take umbrage with, however, is that I would consider my personal anxiety level about next month's smog test "high grade". Anyway, well said OSS. What us smog-area folks are doing, is insane, nearly futile, and takes years off our lives - and we (at least I do) love every minute of it.
- Thread starter
- #108
Regarding my head project ....
I put together a spreadsheet of every single part I'm going to need, from obscure OEM nuts and bolts, to thermostat gasket, to blue towels. It has columns for checking off if you've ordered a part and if you've received the part or have it on hand - and they cells automatically color code to alert you of the status. I also have some parts listed twice, from different manufacturers in order to compare prices and options.
If anybody is interested I can share that. Currently it's on Google Drive, but I'd love to host it somewhere other than my personal email Drive.
I put together a spreadsheet of every single part I'm going to need, from obscure OEM nuts and bolts, to thermostat gasket, to blue towels. It has columns for checking off if you've ordered a part and if you've received the part or have it on hand - and they cells automatically color code to alert you of the status. I also have some parts listed twice, from different manufacturers in order to compare prices and options.
If anybody is interested I can share that. Currently it's on Google Drive, but I'd love to host it somewhere other than my personal email Drive.
You’re on another level. Keep it up.
Don't do this!! Denial is how old 'cruisers survive! I started down this route too. You really don't want to know.
. I suggest blaming it on alcoholism or side wenches. If she finds out, you are done for unless you get her a horse. A horse will make a Cruiser look cheap.
- Thread starter
- #111
hey! Let me buy $400 of OEM nuts and bolts if I want to!!Don't do this!! Denial is how old 'cruisers survive! I started down this route too. You really don't want to know.
First shipment (1 of 3) arrived today, this one from Partsouq.
Manifold springs & rings, coolant hoses & clamps, bolts, washers, and nuts. More goodies en route.
You should get a Morgan.
- Thread starter
- #113
I’d stick a Morgan body on a 60 frameYou should get a Morgan.
- Thread starter
- #114
Well folks, I’d like you all to meet Matilda. She came home with me today. She’s got some fading clear coat, some panels that might be resprayed, very little rust, a front shackle reversal, a weird bull bar, apparently a cracked block according to Robbie the Cruiser mechanic … and 124000 miles on the clock. He undercarriage, body, and interior mostly look like only 124k miles.
@batthewmrown came to help me today. We borrowed a trailer and Ford from a @Colorado84 and got Matilda back to my shop. There’s a slope going up into the garage so we had to have the tomato truck push her. She’s all safe for tonight and I’ll be proceeding with tests in the morning to figure out if the block is actually cracked.
***
@Colorado84 ‘s truck. He let us borrow the Ford and trailer.
Loading up. Just cleared the garage header.
At the shop:
We had to do kissin’ cousins to get her pushed up the small slope into the shop:
***
More to come later. Perhaps a build thread. Maybe that stays here. Anyway, welcome home Matilda …. Your rust will be much less of a battle than ol’ Tomato.
@batthewmrown came to help me today. We borrowed a trailer and Ford from a @Colorado84 and got Matilda back to my shop. There’s a slope going up into the garage so we had to have the tomato truck push her. She’s all safe for tonight and I’ll be proceeding with tests in the morning to figure out if the block is actually cracked.
***
@Colorado84 ‘s truck. He let us borrow the Ford and trailer.
Loading up. Just cleared the garage header.
At the shop:
We had to do kissin’ cousins to get her pushed up the small slope into the shop:
***
More to come later. Perhaps a build thread. Maybe that stays here. Anyway, welcome home Matilda …. Your rust will be much less of a battle than ol’ Tomato.
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Oh hell yeah
Yassssssss!!! So stoked on Matilda and to see the build/revival!!
NeverGiveUpYota
Dare me.
You sir, are a new talented linguistics man here on mud. Thank you for jumping into the pool of many men I adore. I am an extremely lucky female in a vast sea of wonderful men.
I’ll keep reading.
Oh and I’m gonna vote cracked intake too. Mine was and I fought it for a long maybe 6 months, possibly more before I finally looked. @CaptClose can vouch. It’s been repaired since. But man my truck ran like s&&t before I finally dealt w/ it. I began a thread… show me your crack… and you’ll see a great many.
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NeverGiveUpYota
Dare me.
Is Robbie in CO?Oh hell yeah
I dunno. I'm balls deep in my first knuckle rebuild. Easy, but messy.
NeverGiveUpYota
Dare me.
No biggie. Just curious if he’s a guy a friend refers to… Knuckles easy. Rite of passage… next, cracked manifold.
