Sorry it took so long to reply terry, here's a pic of my old gas tank. My memory must not be what it used to be because the hole is def NOT the size of a baseball lol. But still plenty big enough to cause issues. The metal around the hole is pretty weak tho.
I'll try to get a pic of the truck up here from when I re-acquired it and maybe you'll get an idea of the project I have ahead of myself. Oh and here's a pic of the new crossmember and bracket I fabbed up.

 

I had to unload all the rubbish out of the back into another of the guys trucks but I was able to drive it the 12 miles home........barely haha. I wouldn't have tried but I had my wife following me and it was gravel the whole way.

 

holy cinder block batman!!

 

wow ya got rust like mine lol but sweet mary mallone concrete an brick forms thats a lot of cinder blocks
you can hear the truck moaning for mercy in that picture

 

Yup I prolly woulda walked away from it but it was mine before I sold it to this guy and I never wanted to sell it in the first place.

 

Hello cyberhorn...I would think using the sander trick would do great on nuts and bolts. I did see one guy years ago come up with a way of cleaning and polishing nuts and bolts and they looked new.. Just wish I remembered how he did it. I have to spend alot of time on the bench grinder/wire brush to get mine clean. I go thru alot of wire wheels.

Hello kornhuskerwizard.. We finally get out of the cold and we get into hail and tornado season. I drove Mistys runner to work and ran into a little hail with it. May is not a good time here in the midwest for us.

Hello 85sr5excab...I can see where if you would of tapped on the tank a little more it could of gotten the size of a baseball. On a picture on my 86 Runner build, I try to show where on a tailgate between my two fingers, that it is weak and would collapse if it got some kind pressure quite similar to your tank.

I tried to get a good picture of the tank on my truck showing how much dirt gets up on the tank and can cause it to rust. The picture didnt turn out as I used a droplight with an orange covering and it didnt take to well. I have gotten funny looks at the carwash before when I wear my rain coat and am cleaning underneath.

As long as you have a good cab and frame, you have a great start to a build that turn into a great little truck. You having an SR5 85 Extra cab is one of the harder ones to find. When I first got into Toyotas, I found an 85 SR5 Runner fully loaded with about every option there was. It need alot of work but, had I known what I was looking at then, I would of been all over it. He only wanted $500 for it. I still cant kick myself in the butt hard enough for not getting that truck.

If you look at my builds, you can see they arent expensive builds as long as you stay stock. A truck is cheaper and easier then a runner in my opinion. Mostly just for the interior for cost wise, but with a great bed, you have half of the truck done.

A new bed and fenders and your truck would make a big difference in the overall condition of your truck. The crossmember that you put in is typical of being rusted out. I have seen a certain size pipe just used to replace that. Check the frame from the spring perches on back real well.

The panels on the interior of the bed holds alot of debri and is what ate the bed up. As much as I like chrome, the chrome trim on your front fenders is what got the rust on your fenders rotted away. I have had a few trucks like yours (18 Toyotas in all) and a few of them looked bad. Took the beds off of 3 of them and they were in really solid condition.

With the exception of the bed an fenders, yours is probably in better condition then what I am working with. Yours is complete, mine was used as a parts truck. If you are patient, you will find the parts at a cheap price and these trucks are easy to work on.

If you have never done a restore before, I would suggest to keep it as a " Rolling Project" and not to tear it down as far as I am going to tear mine down to. Otherwise it ight feel like a money pit and you wont get to feel like you are getting any enjoyment out of it as you cant drive it. Keep it to where you can still use it and get some enjoyment out of it and work on it as you use it.

If you have done a restore before, then you probably can see the end picture of what it will be when you get done with it. I have been down this road before and I still get antsy and want it done yesterday, but I also know that I have to take care of the other things in life and it will get done. One reason also for this build is to show how to do a frame off restore and how it isnt as hard as some might think it is. I have taken some junkers before and got them back on the road that gets used on a daily basis for alot less then buying a good used car for. I think you will find it quite rewarding and is one of the reasons this site exist. What does get spent on some of these trucks could fund a really nice used car, I am just a cheapscape.lol

 

I am going to make this my diesel information page. I have been to 28 different countries and diesels are alot more popular in other countries then here. We are getting screwed on what is available. I remember seeing 4 door first gen trucks back in 1989 and I was thinking how handy they would be to have then. Around the year of 2000, they were the newest and greatest thing to have. I remember thinking why did it take so long to get here.

I have driven several factory diesel Toyota trucks and the fuel mileage is alot more then what the gas engine does and have alot less maintaince to do to them. A diesel has a longer engine life as well. We had an 84 factory Toyota 4x4 diesel truck in town for awhile and I tried to buy it. When I was in Afghanistan, the guy sold it for $800 and it is now in Mexico. grrr I really wanted that truck. It was in bad shape, but it was something I could of fixed.

From what I have been studying the OM617 is a great replacement from a Mercedes Benz. I would like to put on in my 86 Runner as I think the cost of fuel on a mile per mile basis would be cheaper then gas. Guess what popped up after I already spent my allowance for machine work on my block. http://fayar.craigslist.org/pts/3746505981.html

Another site for Diesel swap conversion.. http://www.tdswaps.com/

Here is a thread from a guy that lives about 3 hours north of me that has done one. https://www.yotatech.com/forums/f162...0-p-up-244419/

It is a long ways off but it something I have been on the hunt for. I am hoping this one will still be available later on, but if not, another one will come along. It is just the patient thing I was talking about earlier.

There are other diesels out there, the 4BT is to heavy for these trucks, and the VW TDI is suppsoed to be a great motor as well. I just want to stay away from electronics and turbo.

http://search.yahoo.com/search;_ylt=...8&fr=yfp-t-784

Other links of the OM617, I cant find the one where it only needs the battery to start it, but there is one out there. http://search.yahoo.com/search;_ylt=...8&fr=yfp-t-784

 

Thanks for all the advice terry, I have yet to do a frame off restore and don't intend to with this one either but I have lots of plans for it (most of the ideas came from this site). Lucky for me this is not my daily driver and is strictly my project truck for now. The wife and I have an agreement worked out that I get to work on the truck one morning a week (i work evenings) til about lunch time and occasionally I get an entire Saturday if I have a bigger project to do. I hear ya bout checking the frame over. The frame was rotted thru in the same spot as the tank so made some plates to cover up the bad spot and one to match on the drivers side just in case. The rest of the frame appears to be ok, although I replaced the rear crossmember as well. As far as the bed goes it long gone already and I have a flatbed that I've been working on for some time that I'm excited to get put on soon. Hopefully the weight from that will help out with my shackle angle since I recently put a set of ford springs on the back. Then I can figure out my upper shock mounts. I'm putting ruf and high steer in the front.....that should be a project in itself. That's all I can think of for now lol. I should prolly just start my own build thread instead of taking yours over.......haha. nice work with all your trucks btw. I always look forward to what you're up to.

 

Hello Terry,

Diesel's are historic, when my brother was stationed in Diego Garcia
back in the eighties.
I remember him telling me in a letter that the only vehicles they had were all diesel motors.

He was blown away of how bullet proof they were.
Yes, reliable, long lasting and low maintenance.
Personally, I like a turbo diesel.

I would love a diesel project, but I will just have to add it to my long bucket list.


Check out this 1986 Camry-amino with a diesel in it.
That thing is pretty cool.
I'd drive it.

 

Your Welcome 85sr5excab... I have been trying to make my 88 Runner thread as close to a manual as possible to fix the things that arent necessarily in the manual. I like alot of the fixes I have found on the net and some I found myself for some cheap fixes. As far as the wife, I bug her enough that she cant wait for me to go out in the shop,lol. There has to be a balance with trucks and projects. Luckily she supports me and I support here in her things so it works out. Dont worry about posting on my thread. I encourage it for new comers so it helps to take the nervousness out of joining and one day they can go back and look at what they started with.

Hello ksti...They are some great trucks. We are really missing out. I like the looks of a 3rd gen runner or an 01 better then the 01 pickup front end. One truck that I know was factory is an 01 extended cab with the 4Runner front end. It was really a sharp looking truck. My whole reason for the long term and it may be awhile, is I am hoping my cost per mile will be cheaper, even with the cost of diesel being higher. Lately diesel is only about 20 cents more then gasoline. If more people got to drive the ones I have, I really think people would switch over quick. I feel the early 80s that the domestics attempt at diesels put a bad taste in their mouths for diesels. The imports have it figured out along time ago.

 

Here is one reason I would eventually like to go to diesel. It will be a long ways off but it might could get moved up the list quick at these prices. This is the first time I have seen $4 gallon gas in our area. It is for Premium but it wont be long til we get there at that price. They just want to get us over the sticker shock.


I seen this truck while out and about today. First one I have seen around here in a long time. What is left of the bed says " Sport". Not sure if I had heard of one of them.

 

Misty is wanting to see what she can make of the 85. I told her if she gets involved and helps me out, I would let her determine the color of the truck. She has helped in the past and shocked me with what she remembered in helping me sand. She was excited to run the primer gun and didnt do to bad. This is on the 86 extra cab I am working on at this time.


She actually helped get alot of wet sanding done and did a great job.


Here is another truck I had done in the past. I stuck an 83 four bolt main motor with a Turbo 400 tranny in it. I have new bumpers, a rear tank (already installed), grill, dual exhaust, new windshield, and some other parts as well. When gas went thru the roof, I decided to give it to my father in law. Well my wonderful mother in law ( cough,cough) wont let him finish it up. So we are going to get it back. He would really like to have it done up, but I have alot into it already and if I have to finish it up, I will use it to fund my projects. I would like to keep it, but the 73ish to 88 model Chevys are hard on fuel. 10 miles to the gallon is about the best that you are going to get. Has plenty of power and will move a mountain. I wont be hanging on to this one. I will need to re sand everything off and paint it, but think it will look good when done and we will split the the profit between her projects and mine. Wont be starting on it for awhile yet. Has gotten a small dent in the passenger front fender since I had it.
URL=http://s1098.photobucket.com/user/Terrys87/media/64.jpg.html]

 

It almost looks like to me that someone painted "sport" on the end of the bed, kinda funky font. I do believe Toyota used the word "sport" on some of there listings, but not sure either.

If anyone would know, it would be "MudHippy"
Now I'm wondering lol

 

coulda been a dealer installed decal or bit of pinstriping
its got the same bed rust my 79 has

 

Ha ha yeah Red Green was a great show... they cancelled it several years ago... ratings were still good but it was a CBC product [our national broadcaster] and fell victim to budget cuts... that and the actors were getting tired... always liked the "Man's Prayer" at the end... "Oh Lord I am a man... but I can change... if I have to." They shot it here in town, always meant to go to a taping but never had the time.

Here's a link for you to watch episodes on line http://www.redgreen.com/

Keep your stick on the ice.

 

an if women dont find ya handsome least they'll find ya handy

 

Hello ksti..I havent seen that truck since that one day. I seen it at our high school so it still has to be floating around. I am sure Mudhippy would know all about the facts on them. He is a wealth of information.

Hello cyberhorn...That bed has more metal in it then some I have seen. It is still fixable but probably wont be for much longer. They built some great trucks back then, but was a little cheap on the metal. Should of seen the truck I seen the other day. Literally it was just the bed rails left of it. I would of been a little nervous to drive it like that. I liked the atleast find you handsome line.

Thanks aviator... I will have to look at some of the shows. We switched from one TV service to another and I thought it was just something that wasnt on the new service we had. Missing a taping is one of those things you keep saying that you will eventually go and see and then one day it is over. I know how that goes. We had Chrome Shop Mafia just up the road from where I work and always wanted to go to their shop and see what they do and they dont do that show as well. The kids and me enjoyed RedGreen.haha

 

The other day my youngest son said we would never get the big truck running ( what he calls the 85) and mom and me said yes we would. He wanted to bet the both of us $50 that we wouldnt have it street legal in 3 months. I will be gone from June 8th til the 24th and so I said I needed two more weeks. He agreed so I need to have it street legal by October 12th. The only big thing that is holding me up really is getting the motor put together and a little time and I can have it running.

I showed him some pictures of trucks I had already done and he still thinks he can win. He is going to be doing alot of mowing and side jobs in the neighbor hood. I told I would even have it painted by then. I have been having to put alot of my build funds into our 3rd Gen runner as it has been needing alot of basic maintaince such as tire, alighnment, tie rod, brakes and seems like there was something else. I also have been getting some parts for my 86 Runner and that has cut into the 85s build as well.

Been waiting for the weather to clear as I can take some of my parts to work and do them on my lunch break. After I get back from my summer camp on the 24th, I should be able to put some funds and time in on the 85. Even Misty wants to show him that we can have it done. Should be alot of fun. Him challenging her was what really got her wanting to get after it quicker as well. Just had to take care of the family truck and get some parts for the 86 while the getting was good.

I did get my fuel tank cleaned and looking great. One thing I have always done in the past was to rinse the tank with water before adding white vinegar. This time I had a quart or so of gasoline still in the tank and I think that weakend the vinegar and took longer then it should of. I will rinse it the next time.

I try to mention in all of my builds about how bad these tanks get and this one cleaned up really well. I will still use some Red Kote on it to prevent it from rusting again and to seal up some rust dust that is as fine a baking flour that is nearly impossible to get out. Probably wouldnt hurt anything, but I think it is so fine, that it could get past the fuel filter and get to the injectors.

Alot cleaner then what the picture shows. The black you may see is a stain.


Got the tank painted and the driveshaft cleaned and painted as well.


Other trucks I have done. All were in worse shape then this one except for the two extended cabs and Jason had his truck in good shape when I helped him. Hunter still wanted to make a bet after seeing these and he has seen me work on most of these trucks.

Wifes truck.

3rd truck I did. Motor, SR5 guage, seats, paint.


2nd truck. Was abused and beaten. Motor and body work


Did the body work for a friend. It was rough.


1st truck. Frame swap, motor and SR5 guage


My other project that is nearing completion.Body work, interior, paint and motor work.


Jasons Truck that I helped on. https://www.yotatech.com/forums/f199...l#post51987044


This is not my 85 but is a friends 86 that I am working on. Doing bodywork at this time.


This is the truck I was building for myself until I found my 85 extra cab. Mostly body work and interior work. My brother bought it from me and it is further along then what it is showing.


Here is my 85 that I am working on as well. Body and Frame is about all that is good on it. Everything else is in bad shape.

 

I wish I had even a 1/4 of your knowledge!!
AWESOME build(s)

 

Nice pics Terry!! Mistys runner reminds me of mine! Same paint scheme and interior