Oh ya my friend who owned the truck before me had someone back into it. I will probably want metal bedsides one day.

 

We saw a bobcat in the yard today. I didn't have time for a pic. But it is really an animal junction around here lol
The neighbors have sheep goats birds there are bobcats elk deer dogs

 

so is the FG dented and cracked. Or just cracked to hell

 

It has stress cracks here and there on it. It had a small dent from a kick it recieved but I was able to push that out. It is probably cracked in that area but it is kinda hard to tell under the paint.
I want to build a body dropped bed with sqaure tubing. And then shim it up until the cab gets bd'd.

 

Well I can't make up my mind on how far to go with this truck. I do have a Tacoma completely stripped down and ready to go sfbd. But I did decide to use my bolt on reverse 4 link with this truck.
I want to leave the front how it is (static drop) and add the 4link with bags. But I want to do a traditional body drop in this procedure too. I figured since I am having to z the front frame for the 98 Taco front swap (rad&support) and adding tubs, I may as well bd now. Only I don't want to z near the firewall. So it would be a 3 1/2"? body drop.
But ya just coming up with a game plan and this is what I have:
-3 1/2 inch traditional bd
-bolt on reverse 4 link
-notches
-re plate inside frame rails 3/4 frame
-Leave front suspension alone
-Well, I think I'll triangulate the DJM arms
-tubs

Pretty much once all that is done I can put it back together. I am concerned about upper arm clearance on the steering. Not concerned about only laying body when it's fully bagged (no Z).

 

Got materials

Now that I have a new grinder, discs and 1/8" 4x8foot sheet steel I can get something done. I don't think I'll have time for a body drop so I'll save that for another time. I have been dressing up the engine bay and measuring and fitting tubs. A friend left his exhaust tip so I may make it my intake.

I frenched in a license plate box. I want to do a smoothed tailgate ie weld it in.

With the 1/8inch I will have to fix this. There are holes in the frame on the passenger side. It's the inside frame wall.

 

workin on it

Decided to make my Cando bolt on reverse 4 link work. It was for my Tacoma but I'll alter it to work on this truck. The Tacoma gets a forward setup.

I unbolted the hangers/springs and rolled the whole rearend out. Now I can work so much easier. It's nice.

And I cut out the rusty parts of the inside wall of the frame. I also got a lot of crud out from inside the frame.

 

I have a spline/double cardan driveshaft. Does anyone think I should section and raise the carrier bearing? Should I just do a flip of it?
I am going to have big notches and the 4-link is designed to lay 20`s.

 

More pics more work

Under dashboard clutch master cylinder. I made it up a while ago.

I cut the other wall on the opposite side of the frame. And found it half full of crud.


Some of what I scraped out:

 

I went to the Toyota dealer today to order 4x4 caliper bolts.

 

man i'm so glad we don't have rust like that here!

looks like your makin good progress!

 

caliper bracket mock up

I have been cleaning the frame. I cut some metal of the same shape to weld in. But first I want to finish cleaning for the welds and put POR15 inside the frame. I was thinking of pouring it into a hole in the side of the frame after I weld it up in order to get the spots I missed (I can't weld with POR15 on!).
I found out the 8inch notches from Cando will be showing up soon. I'll be able to use those. I guess I won't buy any 3/16 steel this time around.
I now have new 4x4 caliper bolts and new 2wd stock caliper bolts. So I can mock up some brackets and go to the machine shop to get some solid ones made.
To do:
-Inner frame walls
-Notches
-Weld in 4 link crossmember
-Weld in notch crossmembers
-Straighten up under cab crossmember
-Weld on lower link brackets
-POR15 coating
-Rocker panels
-Tubs
-Front end
-Brakes
-More

 

Today

I think I am on the right track. I am learning as I go. And I am getting to know all the little problems this truck has. Still working on the back half.

rear view:

Passenger inner frame with smooth welds:

Cando notches:

Spare parts:

 

working today

The other side:

 

looking good man keep it up.

 

love to weld

I then welded in the other side fully. So new inside frame rails installed:

 

still need practice

Here is my weld on the driver's side. I am definetly getting better

Looking at other parts of the truck, the rockers need to be replaced. I was thinking some 3x3 or something:

My brakes are ready to get mocked up. Firewall is cut out:

 

rear section boxed

I got into boxing the rest of the rear section today. And I welded in the rear crossmember, which is supposed to be a Tacoma bolt in 4 link c member

My welds:

I cut the frame here because the frame was lower on this side. It's kinda hard to measure on a cracked up floor. The gas tank was on this side and the crossmember and tank area seemed pretty bad. I think I got it lined up a lot better. So I can weld in the notches next.

 

I see you are proud of your welding skills, its funny when someone thinks its really easy to do, but when they try. You know the result "chicken scratch" LOL looks good

 

he kicked your truck.



did you kick his ass?