The beauty and the beast

[Colt]

Hi everyone

"the beauty and the beast" was the first i thought when i trailered my new project to my shop...


I located it only 100 miles away when i picked up a new trans for a friend. At a dark edge in the backyard. I slowly counted 21 - 22 - 23 an then bought it. The 1980 pickups are realy rare here cause they weren`t sold officially...

the pre-owner painted it in a strange colour mixture.


The longbed has lots of rust

but i want to go for a flatbed



The frame is hot-galvanized


The new 22R and some other parts...





after some cleaning

first it looked much more worse than it is

This was the original engine and transmission. I got it for free from a friend! 


This is what I got...

[Colt]

ripping the bed of




lots of body filler


fixed by hammering and welding






nice seat, isn`t it?


lots of welding and grinding


took the body of


my dad dropped over


first layer of rust converter




the new engine with the old trans

the colour sucks... 

painting the front axle


got new rear leaf springs (ultimate australia)


engine and trans are in


and the first steps of the exhaust


so this was my last months work

[Yota87Truck]

Looks Like a lot of work, so how much did you say this cost?  And the origional look is seriously the most ugly truck I have ever seen.   What color are you planning on painting it when its done?

[Colt]

I paid 500€ for the truck and 800€ for the engine (that was only for the tuning parts;) ) These things are very expensive here 

And yes, its ugly like hell! The body will be painted black and the frame won`t be panited. Axles and the red things also will getting black...

[skipnrocks]

WOW  is all I can say about the origional colors!!!  But looks like you have a good start and it looks good with the new paint goin on!

[REG535]

Looks like a sweet project cant wait to see that done! 

[Colt]

Somethimes I think I should add a bit of brown and I defininately have the most ugly paintjob on earth... 


just jokin...



here is the beginning:

[Yota87Truck]

I paid 500€ for the truck and 800€ for the engine (that was only for the tuning parts;) ) These things are very expensive here 

And yes, its ugly like hell! The body will be painted black and the frame won`t be panited. Axles and the red things also will getting black...

Yea, that sucks.  I got a pretty good deal on mine $1500, I searched for long time to find as clean of a truck as i did, then to realise it had coolant in the oil and had to drop another 2k into it... Im just glad I found one with a fairly clean body.   I don't think I could have gone through all the efford you are to make it even look decent.  But I think it will be a sweet build when you are done

[Colt]

But I think it will be a sweet build when you are done

Thanks! The body work is nearly finished. I don`t want a too smoth rig cause every scratches and dents hurts...

But there is a lot work to to do.

Over here it`s two o clock in the morning and this are the pics from today:

build a new mount for the exhaust






Did i mention that I don`t like red?

paint it black...

thats the easy way 

putting in the drive shafts



Thats all for tonight...

[79coyotefrg]

is the old engine a 8R ?? http://home.arcor.de/wolli.jung/index-Dateien/Test/Luxmotor.JPG

[unclejpl4x4]

what tranny is that it looks funny



you got alot of work ahead of you  can't wait 2 see it complete

[skipnrocks]

I have never seen parts diped like that except factory work?  Is that a special paint or just an easy way to get a good coat?

[79coyotefrg]

what tranny is that it looks funny



you got alot of work ahead of you  can't wait 2 see it complete

thats a L43 

[Colt]

@Glenn
the old engine is a 18R. Perhaps enough power for a small sami or something like that... But for a lite truck? 

@unclejpl4x4
Thats the 4-speed tranni from the R-series engines. Small and lightweight. I think like Glenn mentioned a L43...

@skipnrocks
thats normal paint. Nothing special. Just a fast and easy way to coat small things 

[Colt]

Todays work:

OK, not really work, but the weather was warm and shiny. So this was time for the first barbecue this year


New brake and fuel lines



putting on the body




what a...



but thats tomorrows work

[ninja turtle]

  man you are fast. trucks looking good

[Colt]

man you are fast. trucks looking good

Thanks! Today a couple of good friends came over and worked on the truck. That helped a lot!

[unclejpl4x4]

you gona paint the frame befor the cab and stuff go on?


almost looks metal    or is that the color  paint

[DeadlyPeace]

"the beauty and the beast" was the first i thought when i trailered my new project to my shop...

I'm guessing beauty was the new engine
The previous owner must have been when he painted it.

Great job so far.

[skipnrocks]

Does your rear window project out a little bit?  I have never seen that before, but its cool to give your head some room to bounce around...

[Colt]

I'm guessing beauty was the new engine
The previous owner must have been when he painted it.

Great job so far.

Thanks! The beauty was my tow rig. I think every preowner wanted it in a different colour and nobody finished the job... 



@skipnrocks
The rear window was extended to get more clearance for the head... I think its not a bad idea but it looks 



@unclejpl4x4
I don`t paint the frame. It is to hot-dip galvanized with zinc.

[skipnrocks]

The rear window was extended to get more clearance for the head... I think its not a bad idea but it looks 

I dont know it looks a bit odd but when you have your bed on, if you do a cage back there it will hide the fact that its stickin out...  are you planning on some sort of cage?

[Colt]

I dont know it looks a bit odd but when you have your bed on, if you do a cage back there it will hide the fact that its stickin out...  are you planning on some sort of cage?

I want to do some kind of flatbed with dual roll bar...

[DTB]

I want to do some kind of flatbed with dual roll bar...

dual roll bars =

[Doof]

[REG535]

HOws the interior wiring going  it looks good so far keep up the good work. Hows Germany for you? I bet theres lots of wheeling places there. 

[Colt]

Hows Germany for you? I bet theres lots of wheeling places there. 

Wheeling in Germany is difficult. It is forbidden nearly everywhere. I know only three spots. The next is about 500km away... We often go to France and every year for a week to Romania. A few pics from Romania are

here. (Sorry only in german...)



Todays pics:

A bit of rust on the doors






after that i ran out of wire 


but so I had time to do some cleaning


That was all for today...

[DeadlyPeace]

Does your rear window project out a little bit?  I have never seen that before, but its cool to give your head some room to bounce around...

I didn't even notice that. I think I would have extended the whole back wall of the cab back. Then just move the bed back to match it.

[Colt]

Sorry for the long time without any update. I was down with a flu. Not realy better now... 

but I got a few things done

first door welded


putting on the first layer of paint



more paint on the truck than on the fingers. I`m getting better... 

the next steps:



the other door was the better one...

[88_Pathy]

Wow that is really shiny black. What is it.