Box Rocket 1980 Hilux

Have a new project truck. I got this for my son that turns 16 tomorrow. It needs a lot of work to get this to where we want it but it should make for a fun wheeler. It will be a pretty mild build but still capable.

Current Pic: March 2022
Untitled by Adam Tolman, on Flickr

The suspension is crap so that will get a complete overhaul.
It still has the stock push-pull steering so it has wicked bump-steer with the lift. We'll be converting to power steering with high steer.
Both axles will get rebuilt, and a locker in the rear diff at least, maybe the front too.
Hideous wheels will get sold.
33's will get tossed and replaced with some 315/75R16's that will fit the factory wheels from my FZJ80.
Then we'll build bumpers, skids and a bedrack for a RTT.
We'll see how it does that way, and then consider putting in a crawlbox, but this isn't intended to be a hardcore rockcrawler.

Oh yeah, it will get repainted too. Hate the maroon and it's a lousy paintjob anyway. My son is trying to decide on color but it will be better that what it currently is for sure.

 

Sounds like a great project to do with your son.

 

Yep, def subbin to this one

 

www.monstaliner.com

Durable finish. Can be done by hand or spray. Better material for overall finish than commonly used bedliners, because no rubber chips. Send off for the color chips and I bet he finds one he likes. Maybe even two tone if he has imagination.

Have fun!

 

Dis gun b gud

 

I'm an orphan, would you adopt me???

 

Subadubdub

 

I was on expedition portal in the Hilux section and happened to read a post that you may be looking for two sr5 pickups for your boys and remembered seeing this clean 83 on KSL. Been up for 4 days. Thought I would pass it on. http://www.ksl.com/auto/listing/3283634?ad_cid=8

This is interesting as well haha! Diesel double cab sr5 pickup on KSL. It's hard to tell if it's the real deal. They are usually RHD and the bed body lines don't match the cab. Bed looks later model. http://www.ksl.com/auto/listing/3269835?ad_cid=23

 

I wish the double cabs came to the U.S.

 

I came in here to post how awesome the OPs truck is and then you post this.... I had no idea these were even made. Too cool.

 

Not going to bedline the exterior. Not the look we're after. But the bed will get lined, probably with a DIY liner. I've had good luck with Raptor Liner but also heard a lot of good about the Monstaliner so we might give that a try.

 

Yes a double cab would be sweet. RHD is probably not ideal for a kids first car however.

 

Some small progress over the weekend. My boys are working on getting the body sanded in preparation for new paint. Gonna be a DIY paintjob but I'm feeling good about getting a good finish out of it. The truck is just not in condition worthy of a high quality paintjob so we'll handle it ourselves and it will look LOTS better than it currently does.
Currently just one front fender got sanded and hit with primer. This was the "instruction" for the boys. Now they'll handle the rest of the truck.


We also wanted to update the grill from the ugly 1979 2wd grill that was on it. I got a replacement grill from a 1983 SR5 that is gonna look awesome. It's worth noting that these grills are slightly narrower and were used with the square headlights rather than the round headlights like we have. There is a similar grill to this one that works with the round headlights be we didn't like it as much, so there was a little custom work that went into making this one fit well and look correct with the round headlights but we solved it yesterday and it looks great! I'll post pics of that later. We're leaving the grill off for now until we get paint on the truck.

"restored" the factory emblem


Lastly, we picked up a set of 63" Chevy springs for the rear. Looking forward to trying these out. I've always swapped in new suspension on all my trucks so this is the first time I'm trying something used and not specifically designed for the truck. But the reputation is a great ride and lots of flex from these so we're giving it a shot. Planning to pull a leaf out of the fronts to soften them up and hopefully get the truck an inch or two lower.
Gotta find a deal on some 315/75R16 tires. We're going to use the stock 80 series wheels from my Cruiser with the 315's. The combination of getting the ride height a bit lower and stepping up to 35's to replace the garbage 33's that are on it should improve how this thing drives but also look much better.

 

Yet another sweet build.

 

I installed the rear leafs on my front axle and it did improve my flex over the Rough country stiff lift springs. Guys like to pair them with the Chevy 63s in the rear. Makes for leaving room for the budget for other mods

 

So yeah, I've considered that too. Do you have any pics and/or description of what you did for spring clamps. From what I had seen/read the RUF swap can be a little tricky to keep the spring clamps depending on which leaves you keep. Saw some guys using hose clamps and bailing wire to keep the springs together. :Tacky: So I've been looking at other options if that's what I'm left with.

 

I like the maroon; it's different.... and stock