1980 Oahu,Hawaii build

***Post Circa November 2011 (edited today 6/15/12)***


My mom bought a 1980 Long Bed 3/4 ton truck from the original owner's son for my younger brother's sixteenth birthday. My brother moved to California a few months ago and couldn't take the truck with him, so I got it as a hand-me-up. Yay! The original owner and his son took really good care of it, however, my brother did not. He didn't do any maintenance on the truck and pretty much just ran it into the ground over the last three years. When the keys were handed over, I drove it home and checked the oil... 3.5 quarts low...

Anyway, I've been putting in a lot of work trying to get her to her former glory.

I put in a new Fan Clutch, Distributor Cap and Rotor, Spark Plugs and Wires, Battery and Battery Cables, Fuel Filters, Shock Absorbers, Various Light Bulbs and Fuses that had burned out or blown, Vacuum Hoses, Clutch Slave Cylinder, and a new PCV Valve.

I flushed the Cooling System (rusty water), the Brake Fluid (black and nasty), and the Clutch Fluid (black and nasty)

I Changed the Oil, the Transmission Fluid, and the Differential Fluid.

The Carburetor and Throttle Linkage was extremely filthy, went through two cans of carb cleaner.

I Seafoamed her too. 1/3 in the tank, 1/3 in the carb throat, 1/3 in the brake booster vacuum hose. The extremely rough/shaky idle calmed down.

The Throttle Cable was fraying because the Cable Housing was broken where it met the firewall. The cable was getting stuck in the housing. Replaced both with an aftermarket universal kit that was way cheaper than toyota replacement parts.

The Steering had almost 180 degrees of play, Tightened down the adjusting screw on the gearbox - fixed it. The Gearbox was bone dry inside, added gear oil.

I took out the vinyl floor mat and the seat and power washed the interior. No rust on the cab except for a couple small spots on the roof. The bed is a different story. Holes everywhere.

The engine was burning really rich. Lots of carbon deposits on the plugs and it was getting about 13 mpg. I attempted to adjust the carb, but I don't really know what I'm doing.

I ended up rebuilding the carb and I de-smogged it at the same time.


Pictures from when I first got her (after I cleaned her up a bit):

 

Some Japanese tourists saw my little photo shoot and wanted pictures with me:




Bed Rust:

 

Loving your truck bro I have an 83 do you have plans on dropping it?

 

I'm still uploading the pics and writing out the post, give me a few minutes.

 

***Post from December 2011***

Progress!

Since my initial post, I went to the local dealership and bought a few parts. I got a new shifter socket bushing and a few various boots for the shift linkage. The shifter had some slop in it but it wasn't too bad, the new socket was only $4 so I swapped it out and it is shifting so much nicer. All the boots in the shift linkage were either torn or missing and there was a ton of muck in the linkage. I got that all cleaned out, regreased the linkage and put the new boots on. I actually enjoy shifting now. Smooth and crisp compared to before.

I did some desmogging but had to hold off on a few things. I got my EGR block plates in the mail today. I cant wait to put them on. I still need to plug the air injection on the exhaust manifold.

I was all about trying to repair the rust holes in the bed and trying to save it but it seems like too much work. I'm thinking of using the bed for a while and save up to buy a flat bed for it. I think that that will be the most economical way of dealing with that problem. If I could afford it, I would buy a fiberglass bed from toyotafiberglass. ToyotaFiberglass' products look so amazing, it is too bad I don't have that kinda money.

I was driving her the other day and took her up to 85 mph. No shakes or shimmies. If the transmission had a fifth gear I probably could have hit 100+



TO DO/BUY:
Fix leaky intake manifold
buy weber
Install EGR block plates
Plug air injection on exhaust manifold
Replace leaky exhaust gaskets
Paint valve cover
Regrease front wheel bearings
Buy new air cleaner
Patch rust holes in bed/buy flat bed/buy fiberglass bed from toyotafiberglass
__________________

 

Update - Today (6/15/12)

finished the desmogging/carb rebuild
fixed the exhaust leak at the manifold
replaced the leaky exhaust gaskets
regreased the front wheel bearings
installed a new air cleaner assembly


...and lowered her!

Pics up soon

 

Cant wait till the pics

 

BEFORE:

AFTER:

 

Dragging Mud Flaps!

 

Putting the old girl to work!

 

To drop her I rekeyed the torsions giving me a ~3.5 inch drop in the front. I removed two of the four leaf springs on each side and put in three inch blocks from O'reilly Auto Parts. They were $30. That gave me a ~5.5 inch drop in the back.

 

A couple of weeks ago I picked up some 4x4 fenders for $10 a piece off craigslist. Also got some new wheels (had to roll the rear fenders to fit the 15x10s):

 

Yesterday I pulled the front suspension off of a '87. The guy also sold me a set of 2" Belltech drop spindles. When I do the suspension swap/drop spindle install I will document it and write a How-To and post it up. That will probably happen in the next few weeks.

 

WOHOO!

 

Damn looking good and Im looking for 4x4 fender but there expensive were I be looking and can you to a write up on rekeying the torsion bars been wanting to do it but I dont understand how to do it?

 

Because when I drop the front one key goes lower than the other one and on both sides its even height Im jilust having that lower key issue

 

Sure, when I am taking pictures for my spindle write up I will put something together.

 

Thanx bro I appreciate it very much

 

I'm glad to see this 1980 3/4 ton getting some needed attention. I've had my '82 SR5 since it was brand new and paying attention to its needs will give a long lasting truck.

Keep up the good work!

Rick