southernZ

Ok, this is my first post and my first Toyota so bear with me..I have been wanting to find a SFA truck to use for hunting for a while now and narrowed it down to either a Toyota or a mid 80's GMC/Chevy. I found a 1983 longbed Toyota 4x4 for sale locally for $500. It has ALOT of rust on the bed. The frame has some surface rust on it but it is not that bad. I plan pulling off the bed, and sanding/painting the frame, then build a flatbed for it. There is no rust inside the cab corners. The only bad rust on the cab is a 1" cancer on the passenger top back corner of the cab and the "drip ledge" along the passenger side of the cab (Dont know if you can buy these pieces and weld it back in place?) The inside is in fair shape, the dash is cracked and the door panals need to be replaced. The previous owner told me that a radiaor hose busted while he was at his hunting lease and the engine overheated. He said he brought it home replaced the hose and it was "knocking". I have tried to crank it but have been unsuccessfull. I poured a little gas in the carb and made sure it was getting spark but it has yet to act like it wants to run. The only carbs i have ever messed with have been on ATV's so this is a little different. I wound up talking the guy down to $350 for the truck. I have not decided if i should just keep it for parts and try to find another Toyota, or try and get this one running. Thoughts? Comments?

Thaks,
Stephen

WhiteKnight

good find man. im in the same boat, i found an 82 with a spun rod bearing not to long ago. now after a rebuild, a weber and many new parts it runs great and i love it. i just pulled my bed and will be starting my flatbed soon.

southernZ

Not to be nosy but about how much is it to rebuild a 22R? If I were to just fix up this truck The plans would be to make it reliable, fix the rust cancers on the cab, Clean up frame, get new front springs (the ones on the truck now are arched up, not down..lol), and build my flatbed.

WhiteKnight

it cost me around $400 to rebuild mine. but i done all the work myself as well as the machine work.

WhiteKnight

this is a pic of how mine looks now

southernZ

Gonna look sweet. I would post a pic of mine but the camera is out of commission. Have you looked at how you are going to mount your Flatbed? I am thinking of putting some skirts on the bottom to hide where the frame drops down right before the back of the cab..

WhiteKnight

i havent thought to much about it. and i like the idea of the skirts. that would give it a clean look.

waskillywabbit

iTrader: (-1)

Welcome to Yotatech

Here's the shop Mascot, 82 pickup


:wabbit2:

southernZ

Nice truck....You gonna put a FB on it? You can clearly see where the frame goes up behind the cab..I guess you would have to build a tall brace for the front of the FB, then hide it with some skirting.

southernZ

Found out the camera is workin...Here is some pics of the $350 special

Sleepr71

First of all..that truck looks GREAT for $350 & I would just treat the rust on the bed,then fiberglass/bondo/paint over it(it's only going to be a hunting truck,right?). Since the P.O. admitted that it was "overheated" and "knocking" when he last ran it...I think you're only going to do more damage by cranking/running it again. Cheapest way out is to find another 22R that's already running/re-built & replace the current motor(also gives you a chance to re-surface the flywheel + install new clutch,etc.). Sleepr71

southernZ

Thamks man....Im gonna look around locally for a 22r or try and rebuild this one.... And that is the good side of the bed...lol.. the drivers side is much worse. The only rust spot i am worried about is the one on top of the cab corner. Im gonna build a flat bed for it..