Aleu - The Rebuild of a 1980 Pickup

No, I didn't see the price, I was focused on tools. Needed a few things on a minimum requirement list and was hitting up all the pawn shops on my way to Sears.

Only scored a hacksaw frame. A Millers Falls No99 from probably the early '50s for $4.99. Thing is immaculate. They have a lot of tools at that place, I need to go back and spend more time poking around. I was surprised to see about 8 welding machines too.

 

little update, finally got all of the crappy exhaust out, not sure on how i feel about the sound of open headers lol. cant wait to get the new exhaust put in to see how it sounds. Pacesetter header and flowmaster super 10 muffler to be put in!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DmhYKKn2AS4&feature=youtu.be

 

got as much done today as I could before having to get ready for work. finally got around to completing the front end up with the new bearing nut/adjustment/and thrust washer kit from low range offroad. as you can see in the photo, there's only 1 adjustment nut and the snap ring, thats all that was on both sides; both sides also had their thrust washers. it is supposed to be thrust washer, adjustment nut, lock washer, and adjustment nut then snap ring. So the front end is finally sorted out, that 54mm socket is freaking huge lol. also changed the spark plugs finally. Not sure what the PO did.....but there were 2 different types of spark plugs in there, so they are all the same now lol. hopefully that fixes the missfire the engine sounded like it was having. If not, one of the valves may need adjusting, there was a pop that was going on while the engine idled. who knows lol, ill find out once the new exhaust is in place.

Tomorrow I would very much like to get some 2.5" piping and get the new exhaust installed to the new muffler. Gonna redo the oilpan gasket with some FIPG I got from Toyota, then I need to mock up or something the new crossmember that needs to get fabbed up for the transmission.

 

I drove my '83 open header to the exhaust shop, without the proper gearing it was gutless (on 35's). Noticeable power difference when the exhaust was complete.

 

pacesetter header installed! holy crap does it sound so much better

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HSvGGkm7CcU&feature=youtu.be

 

Here you go, license plate patchwork floorboards. Just get a stop sign and be done.

 

cross beam welded up today! my first attempt didnt work, so this 2nd try work so much better. Tomorrow I should be able to get the rest of it cut and welded up and get the transmission bolted up and FINALLY be able to drive my Aleu! Also got all my electrical stuff in to fix my issue I was having with the ignition switch wiring frying itself. new alternator, ignition switch, voltage regulator, and just waiting on a 14 gauge fusible link to come in

 

next set of pieces are on the crossbeam! should be able to get my cross member done today! my welds are not the best....but for the 5th or so time welding, I dont think they are horrible lol

 

Current crossmember progress

 

Soooooo, the transmission is all bolted up and good to go......buuuuuuuut none of the gears engage....it's like something with the clutch or something isn't engaging properly. I think it may be because of the throwout bearing and clutch fork we reused from the last transmission. Bought a new throwout collar with clips and I have a proper clutch fork that should work. New slave cylinder will go in at the same time that is the correct one for the clutch fork

 

Sweet build. Subbed.

 

Sub'd

 

thanks!

 

Aleu is comin along! Got the new alternator, voltage regulator, both sides of the ignition switch (key and wires), installed a new horn, got my wiring fixed to where i have a 14 gauge fusible link going to 10 gauge wiring replacing the power wires for the fuse box and alternator. also got some other wiring routed better, just need to get gauges wired up, the rest of the wires electrical taped up, redo the oil pan gasket, drag link rebuild if i can get the damn thing off, get the rear driveshaft cut to fit the new trans, and then lastly flush both diffs.

My new throwout bearing collar and clips will be in Tuesday so I'll be able to get the slave cylinder and new throwout bearing installed and that SHOULD fix the issue as to why she doesn't want to engage the clutch all the way

 

video to go along haha

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FgaGpQJjbIs

 

got the oil pan cleaned up and the gasket redone, Ill have to see how it is tomorrow, saw some fluid on one of the bolts, but no sure if that was leftover fluid that made it's way down or what. but looks like everything is staying in like it's supposed to, I just tightened that one bolt and it SHOULD be good to go lol

 

man have things been going crazy lately lol, attempted to change the timing cover gaskets.....but that turned into some WAY bigger than I thought it was going to be. So Im ordering a head gasket kit from LCE and figured if im going to have to pull the heads....I may as well just go get all new gaskets so I KNOW nothing will be leaking. Pain in my ass....but I guess it's better to know the engine is sound than to keep having leaks and wondering I guess...lol. Also got my Duralast clutch kit in and got my Timken bearing pressed onto my new release collar for the new clutch fork for the G52.

BUT in other news! my buddy that has a crazy SASd first gen Tacoma is going to be 350 swapping his truck...soooooooooo he's going to be selling his stuff and Im gonna snag all of his awesome stuff off him and swap another motor in. He's asking $800 for his 2.7 3RZ, transmission, transfercase, wiring harness, and ECU....pretty much everything that is needed to run that motor...awesome deal. Not gonna get it until September when he is able to his swap, but that's gonna be fun swapping that EFI motor in

 

Still waiting to see you wheel it, and now there's plans for a swap and an entire new list of problems to solve?

Good learning experience though, mechanically and financially.

 

Well.....I'm at the point where as much as I want to wheel it.....it'll get there at some point. Just gotta wait until everything is done. I've already begun my paying things off, so I'm not really spending a lot of money on extra parts. Just ones that I NEED, mostly gaskets. Theoretically the swap shouldn't be hard since I'll be getting all the wiring for the motor, but we all know how that will go lol.

She'll get there eventually lol, I'm hoping within a week or so she'll be good to go finally, I was at the hurby shop yesterday getting the bearing pressed onto the new throwout collar and saw they had a metal break. Whenever I get around to the floors, that'll be nice to be able to use

 

Dude, I've been right where you are, just trying to be the voice of reason.

Have you listed out all the things you'll need to do and also all the things you have done, but will be tossed?