Passenger Side...

Even with that crinkle of a dent, it still looks better than my bed. There is lots of rust with at least one hole. The skirt that is in front of the tire is only being held on by the front and the support that attaches to the bottom. I'm hoping that I can straighten that tie down hook on the new bed. I'll take a bunch of comparison pictures and hopefully have them up no later than the upcoming weekend.

I may have to convince a local guy or two to help me remove and install the beds after I get the new one setup (at the VERY least I want to sand, primer, and undercoat the bottom; anything else I can probably do without having to remove the bed). I'll trade labor for labor or labor for !

 

oh i see. i have some rust to take care of on my hilux as well. i actually found a parts truck that they wanted the cost of the scrap, but i was too late .

 

That's Rough!

That sucks!

I actually would not mind finding myself a truck and make this a parts truck. The bed has a bunch of incurable rust in it. The cab is not too bad. There are two minor rust holes that I'll patch inside the cab. The engine bay is okay except for under the battery is shot. If I could get time and lifting tackle, I would have bugged this guy for that cab that is sitting atop the bed, but I'll work with what I have for now.

So, now that I am here. I am thinking battery relocation. I was thinking behind one of the front skirts under the bed, but I cannot decide if I want to access it by making the skirt removable (my first idea) or through a panel in the top (Standardbyker88's idea [hope I got that right]). I do not have any experience in fabrication. I thought that it might be a slighty easier method to make the skirt removable/openable and mount some kind of box behind it.

Thoughts?

 

Top mount could actually be done without any welding if done right. Basically make an angle iron cage for it that is rivoted together. Then cutting very carefully and clean, make the lid up top. Rivot the cage to the edges of the hold from the bottom. Maybe a support or two from the cage to the bed if it isn't secure and solid. Then for the door, just have a piano hinge at one edge, I'd do the front, and a small latch at the other end. I would probably do a couple stereo cabinet magnet push latches. Could even make it a large enough area inside to have it leave room for some small parts and tools.

 

Some pics of the new bed before I get started...

So, I finally got a moment to post some pics of the $20 bed that I'll be prepping to put onto my truck.

 

Gratuitous Rust Post

Here is some better pics of my current bed and a couple other rust spots I need to fix...





The good side:


The not so good side:



A bit of cab rust I found after removing the camper shell:

 

what are you planning on doing with the old bed??

 

Not sure what I want to do with the old bed just yet. Still thinking about it. I would like to get it out of my possession as quickly as I can once they are swapped, but I don't know if there is anything I want to keep from it just yet.

 

i would suggest you keep the sections of the bed up front below the seam. use them to extend the bed to match the cab. it really helps the looks of these trucks.

 

if you do cut it up, i'd be interested in the left rear corner. the whole assembly that the taillight bolts to. mine is rusted out bad.

 

I might be interested in the lower section in front of the driver side tire

 

woops, meant the part right behind the tire

 

Dern another thread that has not been posted on since October.

Hey I'm interested in the floor of the bed.

 

BLAH... I just haven't had the time nor the resources to work on the truck lately. I am in the middle of trying to kick my mother-in-law, two of my nephews, and a niece out of my house, and I have three demanding daughters (one a newborn) taking time, and don't get me started on the wife.

I am hoping to start this back up in the spring. Part of my problem is my extended family has my work shop filled to the brim with junk!

 

hey it's all good Bro Life does happen... Trust me I know...Yeah and it's stuper Cold with out a shop or heated garage. Cool Bro see you this Spring..

 

This is going to look real nice, glad to see someone saving the old tin box.

On a semi-unrelated note...

Whatchu plannin on doin with one of them there tailgates?

I don't have one lol

 

If they are the same, you can have mine, it is from a 79

 

Wow man, thanks! That's a way cool offer!

But unfortunety they are just slightly different, mine use the side latches... but again man, thanks.

 

I don't have plans for my extra tail gate, yet. I might be willing to part with one of them, however, I will probably break the one I keep and wish I had a spare. I'll think it over.

 

Right on man, just lemme know!