1973 HILUX Racer 4508

[Steve_925]

so i just picked up a 1973 hilux today (thanx to deadly peace)
so i figure now a good time to start up my build thread.

i have my 89 4runner right now that will soon be getting stipped.
taking the cases, axles, trans, steering off it and selling the rest.

so heres the plan:

~flat belly
~coil over linked rear
~same up front
~cut back of frame and cab off
~tube the rest
~40's
~hinged bed sides

i wanna keep it pretty low the plan is about 24" to the bottom of the frame with around 5-6 inches of up travel.
im gonna have to cut the back of the cab off so ill accually fit in there(6'4") still havent really figured out if i want to cap the back off after or just leave it open with maybe a canvas cover or somthin.
other than that just kinda playin it by ear.

by the way my name is steve from the east bay(nor cal) this is really gonna be my first long build doing a crawler. bear with me.




so far today i got the bed off the cab off the front end stripped down and most the body mounts cut off.

theres some pics of my donor truck and a couple of my bagged chevy i built

[Steve_925]

got a little bit more done today. now i just need some $$ for springs and hanger.

[REG535]

nice start! am gonna love this build, and pretty engine too .

[Steve_925]

ya i got the engine a week before the truck so i tore it down and painted. polishing old valve covers sucks

[Matty]

been looking for one of those older hilux pickups to build lately.  definitely looking forward to the build.  good luck

[LilChief87]

x2 man

[ROCKO]

give me a call i will come by and watch and drink your beer




kinda like the other nite

[Steve_925]

so after cutting all that ifs  out and finding a bend in the frame today iwent to go grind some more and berfore i even started i just decided to build new frame horns. this is my idea, i did it really rough and really quick, but you get the idea. let me know what you think good or bad. the bend is infront of where the cut will be. you can see the kinda rusty spot thats it.

[Steve_925]

oh yea the engines gonna be raised 2.5" so i should have a problem with the rails hitting it

[Steve_925]

o my next step is mounting the cab. anyone have input on complete solid mount vs. poly bushings. id like to go with poly but that an extra $50...

[Wermz84]

O man, I cant wait to see this.   

[jimbo74]

go poly.....


also, not 100% sure on this, but arent you never suposed to cut a frame vertically? like do fishmouths or


like:
______
  |__
___|___

or

________
    <
----------


or something?

[Steve_925]

O man, I cant wait to see this.   

hey didnt i meet you at hollister, you had the purple runner. i had the white one or maybe it was grey not sure what color it was back then.

im gonna it diagonal. right after i drew it up and looked at it i relized i need to cut it at an angle.

[Gittinit]

This will be stronger,espically if you have over 2x the distance as what the total verticle cuts equal, between the verticle cuts. Say for instance your frame is 4" tall, your gonna want atleast 6 to 8" of horizontal weld seperating each 2" verticle cut.
like:
____________
  |_____
______|_____


I'm really not convinced that you need to go through all this work. The frame dosent look that bad in these pics. It does seem like it will be a total waste of time if the tiny bent section is all that conscerns you. Once you get your shackle tubes in just square up the spring hanger and all should be good.

[halfxspaid]

Nice rig.  Good to see another east bay wheeler. 

[Steve_925]

This will be stronger,espically if you have over 2x the distance as what the total verticle cuts equal, between the verticle cuts. Say for instance your frame is 4" tall, your gonna want atleast 6 to 8" of horizontal weld seperating each 2" verticle cut.
like:
____________
  |_____
______|_____


I'm really not convinced that you need to go through all this work. The frame dosent look that bad in these pics. It does seem like it will be a total waste of time if the tiny bent section is all that conscerns you. Once you get your shackle tubes in just square up the spring hanger and all should be good.

i may just leave it. the bend doesnt really bother me i just kinda wanted to make new rails. strength, looks, and raise it up a little so ill have mor room for air bumps. first im gonna mount the cab then ill from there

[Steve_925]

Nice rig.  Good to see another east bay wheeler. 

where you live?

[ajordan1975]

look forward to seeing it done. good luck

[superyota]

hey steve, let me know if you need any misc. parts for it.  i just picked up a 74 last week that i'm probably going to be parting out.  its complete except for motor and tranny.

[Steve_925]

pm'ed ya

[Steve_925]

got a little done today started to make the body side body mount. i used 3/16" plate that i started to weld in untill the liner in my mig gun got f'ed up. but ya the plates are like 7"x8" welded to the floor. then i cut out the floor 4.5x4.5" and the 4" plate will have the frame side mount welded to it. then they will bolt together.








cut the piece a little too short

[Steve_925]

got my sliders built yesterday. used some 2x3 and connected it to the frame with 2x2. i also cut the rockers up to rite under the door. then the body mount will be welded to the 2x2 from the sliders

[yotakid707]

truck is lookin sick bro your chevy is sick too

[NorCalToy]

nice lokoin project...


is that a jeep 4wd badge on the fender?

[GJToyotabug]

i got to watch this one

[Steve_925]

nice lokoin project...


is that a jeep 4wd badge on the fender?

yup the guy before me had a cj5 running gear under the stock frame

[Wermz84]

hey didnt i meet you at hollister, you had the purple runner. i had the white one or maybe it was grey not sure what color it was back then.

  that was me trying to break my DD.  haha.     Let me know when you go back to HH again it's only an hour for me. 


keep up the good work. 

[Steve_925]

got some stuff done this weekend, but not to the hilux.
check out my stuff for sale also.

[GJToyotabug]

holy cow what did you do to it

[Steve_925]

made it so i could carry the body by hand and load it in the dirt bike trailer to throw it away