gtrobb
Member
- Joined
- Jul 6, 2005
- Location
- Lenoir, NC
For the last 2 years or so, I've been lurking around the NC4x4 classifieds - keeping an eye out for First Gen Toyota items with the usual result being me or friends of mine driving several hours to bring back what I believe to be enough parts and pieces to finally call a project.
It started off three years ago with a frame I picked up near Farmington to repair an 81 PU I had at the time. I had it sand blasted, then some quality hand-sanding time and a lot of rattle-can Rustoleum Primer, a few days to cure, and then a nice coat of Gloss Black:
Then I sold the truck and sold the frame. Now, fast-forward 2 years, and I see an ad on the NC4x4 board for a "First Gen frame"...yes, it was the same one - two years and (at least) two owners later. So, of course it found its way home. Who am I to question how the planets aligned to offer me this second-chance project?
A couple of months go by and I pick up the donor cab...an 82 SR5. It must have been a pretty good looking truck in its day - still had the complete "uncut" tach cluster/woodgrain dash and one of the best fenders and front valance combinations I've seen on a "project" level cab around here.
Then, a few weeks ago, donor #2 - an 81 chassis with 84 Cab:
Shawn (MetalMangler) called and asked if I was still planning that first gen project I had been talking about for a while...he knew of a recently rebuilt 22R and thought it would be a quality addition to the project. I went to have a look/listen and ended up bringing the whole thing home. So, add a 22R, 5 spd, top shift case, fr/rr axles, IFS steering box and a nice set of chrome SR5 wheels to the mix. AND the recently-functioning fuel and brake lines as well as the parking brake and power steering assemblies were welcome additions.
And then today - A VERY productive day. Jeff (1stgenxxx) spoke to ToyotaDad at the ECORS race. David had a friend with a nice first gen shortbed for sale...I called earlier this week, he sent pics, we set the pick-up, and I started off around 8 for a road trip to Winston Salem to see steveo. Here's a shot off 421 on the way home:
And here are a few driveway pics:
I had spoken to David and Steve and had seen pics, but I was still very surprised at just how good this bed is...the tailgate has one small quarter-sized rust spot at bottom left, but is otherwise in great shape - opens perfectly and take a look at the condition of the hinges:
Just one problem area (pass front corner) thanks to a factory rollbar, but I can patch this with pieces from the other bed:
Steve also included a NICE pair of taillights - AND a pair of 79-80 Round Eyes bezels and lens...I soaked them for a couple of hours and they really came out great:
I really got lucky on this one...thanks to Jeff and David - and Steve. This was an awesome find and things should hopefully pick up from here.
So, the major pieces are here and now the real work begins. Plans are for White w/silver/gray/charcoal decals, gray interior. Some upgrades - crossover steering, FJ rotors and later model IFS calipers, longfields, single case with 4.7s, and probably a 10.5-33 BFG KM2 or similar...something a little taller than stock (to take up some of the fenderwell space from the lift req'd for the crossover steering), but not too large for the 22r to handle on the street. I want to maintain the appearance of the stock truck, but upgrade a few mechanical items for dependability, safety & performance. More pics and updates will come as things progress, and I hope it will be something interesting to follow.
It started off three years ago with a frame I picked up near Farmington to repair an 81 PU I had at the time. I had it sand blasted, then some quality hand-sanding time and a lot of rattle-can Rustoleum Primer, a few days to cure, and then a nice coat of Gloss Black:
Then I sold the truck and sold the frame. Now, fast-forward 2 years, and I see an ad on the NC4x4 board for a "First Gen frame"...yes, it was the same one - two years and (at least) two owners later. So, of course it found its way home. Who am I to question how the planets aligned to offer me this second-chance project?
A couple of months go by and I pick up the donor cab...an 82 SR5. It must have been a pretty good looking truck in its day - still had the complete "uncut" tach cluster/woodgrain dash and one of the best fenders and front valance combinations I've seen on a "project" level cab around here.
Then, a few weeks ago, donor #2 - an 81 chassis with 84 Cab:
Shawn (MetalMangler) called and asked if I was still planning that first gen project I had been talking about for a while...he knew of a recently rebuilt 22R and thought it would be a quality addition to the project. I went to have a look/listen and ended up bringing the whole thing home. So, add a 22R, 5 spd, top shift case, fr/rr axles, IFS steering box and a nice set of chrome SR5 wheels to the mix. AND the recently-functioning fuel and brake lines as well as the parking brake and power steering assemblies were welcome additions.
And then today - A VERY productive day. Jeff (1stgenxxx) spoke to ToyotaDad at the ECORS race. David had a friend with a nice first gen shortbed for sale...I called earlier this week, he sent pics, we set the pick-up, and I started off around 8 for a road trip to Winston Salem to see steveo. Here's a shot off 421 on the way home:
And here are a few driveway pics:
I had spoken to David and Steve and had seen pics, but I was still very surprised at just how good this bed is...the tailgate has one small quarter-sized rust spot at bottom left, but is otherwise in great shape - opens perfectly and take a look at the condition of the hinges:
Just one problem area (pass front corner) thanks to a factory rollbar, but I can patch this with pieces from the other bed:
Steve also included a NICE pair of taillights - AND a pair of 79-80 Round Eyes bezels and lens...I soaked them for a couple of hours and they really came out great:
I really got lucky on this one...thanks to Jeff and David - and Steve. This was an awesome find and things should hopefully pick up from here.
So, the major pieces are here and now the real work begins. Plans are for White w/silver/gray/charcoal decals, gray interior. Some upgrades - crossover steering, FJ rotors and later model IFS calipers, longfields, single case with 4.7s, and probably a 10.5-33 BFG KM2 or similar...something a little taller than stock (to take up some of the fenderwell space from the lift req'd for the crossover steering), but not too large for the 22r to handle on the street. I want to maintain the appearance of the stock truck, but upgrade a few mechanical items for dependability, safety & performance. More pics and updates will come as things progress, and I hope it will be something interesting to follow.
