83' BashFab build

Working on a Pickup for a good friend of mine and have ended up with a decent list of things to do! Owner is SilverTacoZack here on TW but he now drives a 11' FJ Cruiser Trail Teams and this is the build for him and his dads 83 SA Pickup! Im just here to document and work on it . Now on to the good stuff.

I had the pleasure to help Zack in the search for a truck for his dad to use as a hunting/trail rig and around town beater.. After looking at several trucks, some IFS and some others we settled on this single family owned 83 long bed with the 22R that was bone stock and primarily used as a hunting truck, a great foundation for the start of a fresh build.

It has some rust in the bed but I will be addressing that within the build & had a fuel delivery issue but other than that its a very strong running and fun to drive truck! 4wd works great and there's not much to complain about!

After purchasing, Zack found the fuel pump to be faulty and replaced it and it has run perfect ever since and starts up everytime, he also ordered a retro style radio and added some 6x9's behind the seats, a full 4" lift for it consisting of F&R leaf springs and shocks from rough country.. But the rear leafs caused some issues with the rear shackle angle and the shackles had a negative angle and the passenger one even got stuck upto the frame rail after the first trip to Uwharrie..

*EDIT* Not much info on the mods he did so hopefully he will chime in with some things he's done; Previous installed mods by Zack

-Fixed Weber electric choke wiring (was wired direct to battery by PO - draining battery)
-New parking brake cable installed
-Retrosound radio
-Retrosound Retropod 6x9s
-Fuel lines replaced
-Manual fuel pump removed and fuel pump cam opening plated over
-New electric fuel pump installed on frame
-Custom skid plate bolted to frame to protect fuel pump
-4 inch Rough Country Lift Springs Front/Rear
-Rough Country shocks Front/Rear
-Factory wheels plasti-dipped
-33 x 10.5 BFG KM2s
-Trail Gear extended brake lines front/rear
-Trail Gear rear spring hangers
-Trail Gear HI-Steer Conversion / 88 Toyota IFS steering box swap
-Front Axle rebuild
-Bashfab Front Axle Tube Truss
-Marlin Crawler knuckle ball gusset kit
-Trail Gear Diff Armor Front/Rear

Stuff in progress:
-Bed bob
-Bashfab front bumper w/hoops
-Bashfab high clearance rear bumper

So now its in my hands for rebuild and some upgrades!

Few pics of what he's gotten so far

Pre lift






Post lift and audio upgrade









Check List:

Move rear shackles
Re build axle
Knuckle ball gussets
Truss axle
Crossover Hi steer swap
Bob/slight HC bed
BashFab Custom rear bumper
BashFab Tapered K/O Rock Sliders

 

Subd

 

Sub'd

 

More pics in a little while when I get home

 

This post will be updated with current photos of what im doing to the truck.

The main reason Zack brought it to me was to fix the rear shackle angles as they were negative around 10-15*..

Best pic I have to show the shackle angle before even though its with new hangers pictured this was the ride height angle previously if not a little worse as the passenger shackle had wedged itself onto the frame rail..



So I got the old hangers cut out and had a set of replacements laying around and got them tacked in and the trucks weight set back down for the most part...



Looked pretty good so I burned them in.

At ride height with no weight out back





Now onto the front axle, I noticed the felts and swipes looked a little rough and there was some grease spilling from the knuckle ball so I mentioned rebuilding the front axle as I was going to have to pull it apart anyway to install the knuckle ball gussets from Marlin Crawler. So we got a axle rebuild kit on the way from Marlin and I started tearing the axle down.

The grease inside poured out like water and was OD Green as possible, I believe it was about time for a rebuild anyhow!



As I was taking things apart I noticed the really bad fitup of the front TG truss that another shop had previously installed as well as a front diff cover too...Here are a few pics of the welds that were on there, didn't get any pics of the truss fitment but it was bad and similar welds which are pictured.. There were anywhere from 1/2-1" between the truss and factory bracketry, no metal prep was made and to top it off it was put on crooked so it wasn't even fully welded all the way around but anyhow here are some Weldporn pics for your viewing pleasure



Side of the diff armor



Bottom diff armor weld



Top of truss



And the most decent of them all, Bottom of the truss weld.



Got everything cut off except for the leaf spring perches and the diff armor.
Torque bar bracket was also removed after this pic was taken.



The diff armor welds will be ground down and feathered and re welded.

Now im able to start re building.. Did the knuckle ball gussets on the passenger side of the housing ins steps as to avoid warping the housing.





And as of today that's where im at, waiting on some parts to come in to finish cleaning the axle up and I have plans for a tube truss.. but ill update this post as things get done!

 

Finally home from vacation and got the driver knuckle ball gusset burned in and the axle for the most part cleaned up and ground clean for paint once all welding is finished. Bent a tube truss that will be getting plated inside. Ran out of welding wire so stopped for the night.





Also got the histeer components in so that will all be going in once the axle is complete as well.



Probably wont get much done on this this week as I have some orders to fill first but ill keep it updated!

 

Everything welded up knuckle to knuckle, Tube truss and fill plate in. Time to clean it all up, paint and re build!

This was the diff armor that was previously welded on... as you can tell whoever welded it on didn't weld it hot enough to penetrate into the armor itself, my guess is a few good hits and it may have broken free. Was able to hammer and chisel the weld off the armor side after cutting into it on the axle side of the weld. The axle housing wasn't even ground clean or at least cleaned up with a wire brush

 

Its starting to look pretty awesome!

 

She's coming along nicely!

 

Hopefully pulling the bed and getting sliders welded up and the steering box plates in position and welded tomorrow! Then bobbing and a new rear bumper! Zack, your more than welcome to come hang out if you want!

 

Heres an updated pic of the axle back together and painted

 

Custom BashFab sliders getting welded, prepped, painted, and then welded onto the truck.

 

Driver slider welded up, steering box plates mocked up and tacked on, axle re hung and got the shackle mounts made up today as well.. Finished them off just like my slider end caps, a nice beveled edge!

 

Nice work Chad!

 

Looking good!

 

Can't hardly wait

 

Thanks Chris!

Yes! Coming along, slowly but surely in between other things! Should be ready this week! Steering box placement was giving me a fit and wanting to hit the frame and bumper brackets and everything else possible but plate is in place where it will stay now! Just have to drill the holes in the backside of frame for tube sleeves for bolts for steering box.

Once the steering box Is in I can get the alignment as close as possible by tape measure then I can pull it in to the bed in half and get the rear bumper up into place with these shiny recovery points

 

Awesome hitch points. Keep up the good work! Those emoticons are great