Crunchy Taco? - 1st gen on 35s BS

Yours must have been built on a Friday

 

Yeah bro, that brings back some fun memories! Trying to get the filler sheet metal the right shape suuuuuuuucked.

Thankfully, seam sealer is your friend. I knew that I had pinholes here and there, so I started applying sealer from the inside and really pushed it into the welds so that it went thru to the outside. Then I quickly applied it to the outside so that it kind of bonded to itself thru the pinholes. After it cured, I hit the outside with bedliner and then that aerosol leak seal spray. So far, no leaks!

 

Which seam sealer did you use? I bought a bottle of Dynatron 3M seam sealer from Advance. The online details say it is for bare metal and painted surfaces but the tub itself says to apply to paint and primer only. Not sure if I should take it back and spring for the more expensive 3M seam sealer.


Made some more progress today, have a little triangle at the very bottom I'll need to fill in then I can coat it all in seam sealer and move on to cutting the fender and capping the slider





@BudLight and @CoorsLight boxes make the best template material. Let me know when y'all ready to send me my sponsorship gifts

 

I see you finally adjusted the welder....

Looks much better!

 

I ended up using this stuff from ACDelco and it worked pretty well. I’m sure the Dynatron is good too.

I learned quickly that it was best to lay it down in 5-6” sections and really work it in and smooth it out on both sides of the weld before it started to cure. Ultimately, I ended up getting the bare metal as well prepped as possible and then putting down a couple coats of self-etching primer. Then I applied the seam sealer to the primer.

On the outside, after the sealer cured, I applied some Herculiner and then some Flex Seal stuff. It was tedious and time consuming, but it’s held up.

 

I finished welding in the passenger fender well. I also cut the passenger fender and painted the exposed edge with Rust-Oleum. I have some edge trim to go on when the paint dries

I am not sure if I'll seam seal it now or wait til the other side is done and do both at the same time. If I can cap the tube and not have it dry up in the next couple of weeks I'll seal it sooner

 

Used the whole tube of seam sealer. Followed others and did the inside, pushed it into all of the seams , then did the outside. I also used a chip brush to give it a really fine texture on the outside so hopefully primer sticks to it well

 

It’s a messy job, isn’t it! Nice job, though. You’re almost done!

 

Yeah, I wore some of the thicker rubber gloves when spreading it but they kept ripping, frustratingly enough. Thanks man, at least I'm about halfway there

I expect the driver's side to be easier now I know how much more I need to cut; I'll waste less time cutting and checking with any luck.


I primered both sides, hit it with rubber undercoat on both sides, then painted the outside. Hopefully with some dirt you won't be able to tell how hacked up it was



I almost always try to warm up my paints so they spray better

 

Did a final check with the fender, I still need to trim 1/8" from the lip at the front bottom of the fender where it would attach to the factory bumper


Truck is on jack stands still so I expect it to sit 2ish inches lower when it's all put back together


The factory sound deadener was crumbling off of the floor so I figured I'd replace it with some that I had.






Trimmed the kick panel and put it all back

 

Haven't had much chance to get things done but today I finished putting a new UBJ in the passenger side. I also capped the passenger slider with some 1/4" plate



I have rounded up a volunteer or two to help me start on the driver's side tub tomorrow. Maybe we'll be able to Crank through it in a day

 

Look on the bright side....you were working on this and not your Ford.

Got any Hamm's???

 

I needed a break from working on the Ford. It will sit until I'm content with where the Tacoma is at. I needed to have to done for Sean's last trip at the very least.

I might have to buy some hamms to share with ya next time you come by

 

Be careful...it's addictive!

 

I figure it's been 4 or 5 years so I might as well give it a shot! What's your next move on your truck?

 

Many thanks to @Sub-Zero for coming over to help me out and doing lots of cutting



While he was cutting I swapped my rear brake like for an extended one from Wheeler's then he helped me bleed the brakes before he had to take off.

Terrible photo but you can barely make out that the factory line was almost maxed out at ride height with the rear lift. It's limited my suspension travel more than once

I had to run some errands but I was then able to get some of the new panel welded in before calling it a day

 

Finished welding in the driver's side and got it sealed.



Still have room to clutch but it might get awkward with wide boots

 

Couldn't sleep, kept working.

I cut the same amount off of the rear fenders as I did the front passenger fender, I haven't cut the driver's side yet though.



Put the 35s on the rear. Maybe I should have cut less

 

"fun"

 

Also what's up Ryan! @Sub-Zero