See if you can get to it from the wheel well. I try to avoid taking parts off lol.

And this is the stuff i used
https://www.permatex.com/products/g...permatex-indian-head-gasket-shellac-compound/

 

hmmmm it isn't a "shellac", but it's base is rosin, very interesting.
My biggest concern is accidentally pounding the plug into the engine block, is that a valid concern, and is it easily retrievable through the side?

Thanks for all of the advice Jetas!

 

When i changed mine we just tapped them til we had enough to grab with pliers and pulled it out. One or 2 fell in but we were able to get em out. My engine was in a stand tho

 

cool deal. the plug in question is also steel, so I guess I could pull it out with a magnet too. New brass plugs are on the way.

 

No, but the 88s came with driver's crotch coolers/warmers. Yep, the driver side A/C ducts runs under the steering column and there is a vent pointed right at your nether region.

 

brilliant toyota minds: "when you want a bombproof little utility truck, we have your back..... and front"

 

Put in the passenger's side wing and new window. The tint for the wing and the tind for the window is different.... oh well

 

Is this doable for my 83? Or is there something different about the door or glass?

 

I did a lot of research, but most of it was post 84 models. I do believe I saw one discussion that mentioned that the doors on the 83s are the same shape and size with and without wing window, but there is a little mounting tab or something welded into the door that non-wing window doors don't have. That was one thread on one forum that I didn't really pay much attention to after I saw it was for an earlier truck than mine. There is a little information out there, little, but it is out there.
With all of the parts, time, and effort, I think it would be much easier to find a door on a donor truck to swap.

 

See, now you have windows that are crotch coolers, no extra ducting required.

 

A few days of work on the windows and door panels, and here is how it turned out:

I did the passenger's side first, so I made a new door panel, and started routing the wires


I then installed the door panel and a switch to test it out. Everything worked, so I continued working on it.



I made a little box out of metal with an open top, upholstered it, and bolted it to the door panel. I then used a wood cap with holes drilled in it to access the wiring and to mount the switches to.



Then the driver's side went the same way







I have some mahogany I want to use for the switch plates, so that may come down the road.

 

Dang those freeze plugs are in there tight. I was able to replace it, but getting it out was tricky. I had about four or five inches to swing a mallet in there under the intake, but after a long time with a lot of tiny hard blows, I was able to knock it loose.


The new one went in with a little effort, but not too hard to do.





While I had the coolant drained, I went ahead and pulled my rad to install my new electric fan. 16" spiral blades, set for around 185*. It barely clears the water pump.


With electric windows and fan, I am thinking of going ahead with "the big 3" upgrade.

Here is just how the bay looks these days:

 

You can always replace the studs on the fan pulley with bolts. Won't give you any extra room but will look a bit cleaner.

 

Yeah, so true, I also don't trust the balance of those washers. I'm heading out to get some bolts for it later today.

 

I'm trying to put together some more gauges, and need to buy a new coolant temperature sending unit with the right resistance for a new gauge, does anybody know what the thread pitch on the original is?

 

Found myself in an empty parking garage, and tried to take some pictures





If it stops raining, I will be filling in the rust hole on the side of the bed and the holes for mounting the trim in front of the rear wheel well.

Also, looking through all of the pics today I realized Betsy's rear is up in the air, so maybe it is time for more blocks.

 

Betsy's bed always had a rust spot on the driver's side of the bed right at the front, and I finally got around to trying to patch it. While I was at it, I got around to shaving those trim holes.

Here is the rust spot:


I cut it out with a dremel and cut off wheel, then cleaned the area with a wire brush wheel. I then washed the area, and covered the area with Corroseal. I used a piece of metal to cover the area, and put a few screws in it, I think I will paint it black and Write on it, like a plaque. For now it is painted white to blend in.



and



I was never quite happy with the rattlecan paint job I had done before, and now I'm wondering if I want to go through the effort of repainting. Rainy weather is heavily influencing not going through the effort. What I really care most about is taking care or any risk of rust

2" block for the rear are on their way here, and I've started plans for a custom center console

 

Installed the block, now there is almost no rake in her stance



Also,



well.....



Results to come?

 

Thats actually not bad lookin

 

Cheers Jetas!

I finished up, and it was late enough that the sun made photographing awful, but here is how it turned out: