Topic: tom's '82 build: Long Live The Minuteman Buildup...

[tom w.]

alright... i figured it's time to start the build-up thread. progress will be slow cause of money issues. the issues being that i'm young, have no job, and usually have to wait for my brother to help me out. but i should start workin' again next week .

now, before he gave it to me, my brother had put chevys in the rear and built a flat bed. but he baught a 4 runner and parked the '82. then he sold the flat bed and got about halfway done bobbin' the original bed. it was about that time i talked him into lettin' me take it for a daily driver.

just about where we started...



i took off the front end and swapped the rear end for the one out this truck


took the front end apart and got it ready to rebuild and paint it.



built some shackles and mounts for the rear springs


hangers my brother built a couple years ago


took the rears off of this and my brothers 4 runner and got them ready for the front


and then we got a nice package from Trail-Gear


now when i can get some cash together i'm gonna get whatever else i can from Marlin.

brief to do list:
weld rear shackle mounts
finish welding bed
buy/build new shock mounts front and rear
swap in spare w56 tranny(?) (don't know if we will or not)
buy IFS mount plates-shocks-brake lines-wheels- and new tires eventually.

i've already got the IFS p/s box, some 33'' tires and two v6 4.56 diffs.

[tom w. [OP]]

38 views and no replys? i hope it ain't that bad...

[6.72:1]

Heck no. 1st Gens are on the rise 'round these parts and I like to see it.

Bring it! I am liking where this is going!

[tom w. [OP]]

haha thanks. that's why i like it here so much. all the pretty first gens...

[4inchToyotas]

Just waiting to see it on the ground! There's plenty of info 'round here for many of the choices you've got. Hope all goes well with the build!

[tom w. [OP]]

Just waiting to see it on the ground! There's plenty of info 'round here for many of the choices you've got. Hope all goes well with the build!

well i'm workin on it...literally... haha but thanks. i hope everything goes well too.

[79coyotefrg]

   

[79coyotefrg]

if you want dual cases later i would stay with the L52, 

please tell me your going to put a 1st gen bed back on it

[4inchToyotas]

or are at least going to make it look like it's actually been painted one color...the splatter/bird poop/whatever else isn't all that appealing

[tom w. [OP]]

if you want dual cases later i would stay with the L52, 

please tell me your going to put a 1st gen bed back on it

dual cases, i don't know. just have to wait and see. as for a bed i've been toyin' with the idea of buildin' my own flat bed. if not then yes it'll have the original bed. cant really decide....

and as for the paint job, i've already laid down a coat of rustoleum red on the cab, gas tank, and rear end. i kinda like it.

[tom w. [OP]]

alright... i started workin again tuesday, so i'll hopefully be able to get my hands on some things like u bolts, IFS p/s box mount kit and brake lines

[Hottrod81]

Looks like it is coming along, keep us updated on the progress

[tom w. [OP]]

Looks like it is coming along

yeah... but slower than molasses in winter...

[6.72:1]

I guess it just depends on what region of the country you are in.

Molasses ain't that slow in the winter 'round my neck of the woods....

[tom w. [OP]]

I guess it just depends on what region of the country you are in.

Molasses ain't that slow in the winter 'round my neck of the woods....

that's true...that's very true...

small update: got the front springs and the front housing bolted on and tacked the hanger in place. we should be gettin the rebuild kit for the front end and a few other things and then things'll start movin ahead. my other brother says he's gonna come help me build bumpers and shock hoops and things.

i have no camera right now, but if i have to i'll get a disposable one and take some pictures for everyone that may or may not be interested.

[81tyota]

Looks like its going to be sweet, cant wait to see some pics when you get'em 

[tom w. [OP]]

Looks like its going to be sweet, cant wait to see some pics when you get'em 

thank you, and so would i... haha

[tom w. [OP]]

here's a little teaser cell phone shot...

[79coyotefrg]

[tom w. [OP]]

alright guys... i've got a question for you..

we'd like to take the parts from the front end of a second generation truck (pictured behind my truck) and use them to widen the front to match the back. the question is, will i be able to put the stuff from my truck onto the other one? so we can move it if we have to... just needs to roll is all.

[79coyotefrg]

from a 85 truck  YES  you want that front axle  cause is a tad heavier

  but the 85  and 82  should have the same width axles

86 was the wide rear axle,  now you can get wheel hubs from the front of a 86^ truck and put them on your 85 axle  making it a little wider,  or just run spacers

but 86  was the year they started the wide rear axle

[tom w. [OP]]

that gray truck is IFS. it's got the wider rear end. what i meant was, use the rotors and whatever else you're supposed to use from the IFS. if you even can... maybe i just heard that in a dream or somethin...

[AZman]

looking good. Cant wait for the pics. THis is gonna be like my build up. (I have no money and only 16)

[tom w. [OP]]

(I have no money and only 16)

that bites don't it? haha

[yotakid88]

yes you can use the roters and calpers and whate ever else from the gray truck, but I would sugest getting new roters and v6 calpers because the v6 calpers will help the truck stop better.

[79coyotefrg]

that gray truck is IFS. it's got the wider rear end. what i meant was, use the rotors and whatever else you're supposed to use from the IFS. if you even can... maybe i just heard that in a dream or somethin...

yea  pull the hubs from the ifs truck and install those with fj40 rotors on the solid axle spindles,  then use v6 brakes and you'll have the same width without spacers as the wide rear axle

[tom w. [OP]]

them v6 calipers are pretty expensive... i'm gonna have to do some thinkin on this one. thanks guys.

[tom w. [OP]]

alrighty then... update:

cause i wasn't paying enough attention a few months ago, i actually put the same type of rear end back under my truck... for some reason that blue truck had the same as my '82. only i didn't notice until just the other day. but, the good news is i've already got the right size rear end taken apart, and the housing cleaned up. i'm waiting for my brother to come down so we can see why the passenger side brake drum/deal that bolts to the housing is covered in gunk.

 we should be placing an order from marlin in the near future. hopefully we'll be able to get the brake lines for the front, the p/s box mount kit, and maybe steering stabilizer. and if my brother decides to loan me a little money, we might get the u-bolts and knuckle rebuild kit.
 
now if we get that far along, i think the next thing will be swappin in a w56, and then front and rear drivelines. front will most likely just be a homemade square job.

now, what i keep wondering about, is if i should make some slider type deals for it. i really can't see this seein all that many rocks, but it seems they could be pretty handy for anything. i'd love to have everybodys opinion on this.

i guess that's about all for now...

[DTB]

alrighty then... update:


now, what i keep wondering about, is if i should make some slider type deals for it. i really can't see this seein all that many rocks, but it seems they could be pretty handy for anything. i'd love to have everybodys opinion on this.

even if u dont have rocks sliders can be helpful.....makes a great pivot point for tight trails (in fact some of the trails around here (heavily wooded) are so tight u cant go down them without sliders), makes a secure lifting point for hi-lift, easy to walk from the cab to the bed/back of truck (especially handy when u are buried in a few feet of mud lol), its funny when a car t-bones u on the street....and most importantly....they look cool! 

[tom w. [OP]]

that's kinda how i was thinkin...