Builds "WY-REE-KA" A Ground Up 45LPB Restoration (1 Viewer)

[wngrog]

@edsfj45 on Instagram is that blue 45 Proffit did. He trailers it around to Moab and stuff. I’ve enjoyed his pics.

 

[ClemsonCruiser]

I stopped by the paint shop last week to check the progress and my 45 was in the queue....hope to have it back this week!

 

[ClemsonCruiser]

While I’ve been waiting for the body to come back from the painters and my hardware from my platter I decide to break out the Caswell plating kit a while back to do small items.

So far I’ve found it easy to use and rather handy. First project was some of the internals from the rear parking brake.

Fresh zinc plating

Then a little dip in the yellow chromate bath

And voila...

I think the plating really helps the parking brake “pop”

 

[ClemsonCruiser]

After the parking brake success I started to nerd out on plating bits from the trans and tcase...

Fresh zinc coat

After the yellow chromate bath

It’s all about the details

 

[ClemsonCruiser]

And I was having so much fun I just kept going!

Cleaned inspected and plated the wiper motors...

Good as new!

Next up wiper, light, and high/ low switches...

Before

After...

That’s it for now.

 

[cult45]

It looks so good! It's not brand new, it's like worn new. Which is wayyy better than perfect. Keep it up mate!

 

[daniel.watters]

This is going to be a special truck.

 

[ClemsonCruiser]

I had hoped to pick-up the body from paint this week but the shop is running a little behind. I did stop by to check the progress and was happy to see some paint had been laid down. Should be finished next week!

 

[ClemsonCruiser]

Had some free time today so I decided to restore and replate the dizzy.... came out nice. When I met up with Trollhole early this month to pick up my engine I had him test the dizzy on his old school Sun distributor machine and after 53 years the dizzy was still working as it should. Only thing I need is to source a new plastic cover for the octane adjuster the one I have is cracked and faded.

 

[ClemsonCruiser]

It’s not often I get to work on Cruiser stuff in the house but the better half allowed me to bring this little project inside.....

When this project first started I ordered SOR’s 45 body mount kit for the build but I just wasn’t happy with how generic it really was and I felt it was just too far from OEM for use on this restoration. Instead I sourced some 32OZ canvas online line to replicate the OEM body mounts, battery tray cushions, and radiator shims. All of which on my 1965 were made from multiple layers of beige canvas and I tried my best to repilcate them to keep this build as close to stock as possible.


Bed mount, bed cushion, and radiator/ battery shim respectively

Turns out a tervis tumbler cup is just about the perfect diameter to match the bed mounts.

 

[ClemsonCruiser]

Add a little glue.... and tomorrow I’ll use the drill press to add the appropriate holes.

The aftermath

 

[wngrog]

Off the chain

 

[JackA]

Only thing I need is to source a new plastic cover for the octane adjuster the one I have is cracked and faded.

I got one with your name on it.

 

[whitey45]

Off the hook..... waiting for the vacuum sealed temp controled garage to house this fine 45 specimen . Seriously, JP, what are you going to do with it? Besides sell it for 150k!!! Really nice attention to detail, you are sticking to mr T’s book ,and I’m watching!!! Love this build...

 

[middlecalf]

Are you reusing the metal part of the body mounts?

 

[ClemsonCruiser]

Off the hook..... waiting for the vacuum sealed temp controled garage to house this fine 45 specimen . Seriously, JP, what are you going to do with it? Besides sell it for 150k!!! Really nice attention to detail, you are sticking to mr T’s book ,and I’m watching!!! Love this build...

Thanks Whitey... I'm trying hard to make this old girl like a time warp back to 1965. My goal is for it to appear as it just rolled off Mr Toyota's assembly line I've always wanted to do a true stock restoration and right now I finally have the time to do so. As for what I am going to do with it? In my dream scenario it ends up preserved somewhere like the LCHM for all Cruiser enthusiasts to see and enjoy, but I know that is dreaming pretty big

I'm hoping to wrap this resto up by August so there should be lots of pictures inbound over the next few weeks

 

[ClemsonCruiser]

I got one with your name on it.
View attachment 1719888

You are the man Jack! PM inbound

 

[ClemsonCruiser]

Are you reusing the metal part of the body mounts?

Hey Paul. The body mounts above for the bed never had any metal parts to them, they were just canvas. The main body does mount to the frame with 4 rubber/metal body mounts but I was able to source so NOS ones for them.

 

[ClemsonCruiser]

Still working on anchillary items while I wait on the body to be finished. I disassembled,inspected, replated, and painted the original starter, alternator, and heater fan. All looking factory fresh now. It’s amazing to me that all these components are original to the truck and still work!

 

[ClemsonCruiser]