Box Rocket 1980 Hilux

What will you be doing for a front drive shaft?

 

Running the one that's in it for now. But I'll be building a new long travel one. Want to get the dual cases in first so I only need to do the driveshaft once.

 

3 link front and rear

Okay in seriousness, I'd go with your second option, but I would give your third option a try first before you do anything else.

 

63s and 6 in shackle. Or start with a longer shackle for your leafs now. Will level it out or give it a little rake and be able to hold some weight. Plus mad flex

 

Making a shackle sounds like the easiest. I need to pull a leaf or two from my TG springs, they are still too stiff (partially from my bad front shackle angle)

I used some of my old OME leaves in addition to the 63" springs to act as an AAL. Works for now until I lower mine a little more.

 

Love this truck

 

Had a couple hours to work on the truck on Saturday. Still working on getting the steering conversion all buttoned up but also tried to get some preliminary measurements for the front shocks. Floor jack wasn't tall enough. still have several inches of travel left at both ends but I think I was able to estimate close enough to know how to proceed.

It will be a stretch but I'd really like to have this driveable again by Friday for my sons birthday. He'd definitely be more excited about that than I am. We'll see how the week goes.

 

This is soooooo cool! I am dying to find an early truck like this in decent shape! Keep up the good work!!!

 

subbed

 

Sickkkkk! Almost too much flex for that garage door opener.

 

Adopt me.

 

Got a bit more work done on Saturday. Extended the steering shaft to complete the power steering conversion. Swapped in a new Aisin brake master cylinder from a early 80 series (drum brake rear) that should work great. Still losing pressure in the brake system but I believe I've finally tracked it down to the front brake lines. No visible fluid leaks but when I pinch off the lines the pedal is nice and firm and the rear is braking as expected. I'll be ordering new extended front brake lines today and hopefully put this stupid brake system behind me once and for all.

Since I moved away from the brakes my son and I whipped out a front bumper on Saturday as well. My son doesn't like the look of tube bumpers on these trucks so we built a "plate" style. Started with a Trail Gear winch plate and built off from there. We actually used some 2x5" rec tube for the front sides and added a bit of plate to the top to close up the gap to the grill. Really happy with the tight fit to the grill for good approach angle. I dislike a lot of the bumpers that stick out way to far in the front. Will be a tight fit for the winch (and require removing the grill to install the winch, but the grill will fit once the winch is in there). Still a few things to finish up. We've got a pair of 10" HIDs that will be going on under the hoop. Still need to cap the ends (or extend the wings back to the fender well), and add a bit more lateral support back to the frame and it should be good. Needs paint of course.

 

Turned out really good. I would say extend the sides to the fender wells if he plans on doing any rock crawling trails. I ran mine to the fender wells and they just barely stick out (.25-.5") and I always rub mine. Pretty much the only thing that protects my fenders.

 

Looks on point. You sure have a talent for this stuff. Time to start up a fab shop!

 

Yeah I agree. I looks a bit unfinished to me to leave it short like it is. My son said he liked it this way but I think I've got him convinced to extend them.

 

Thanks. I enjoy the fab stuff, but turning it into a business not in the plans. Too many other shops out there doing to and it's too difficult to make money. Nobody is willing to pay what it should really cost for the time involved for quality fab work. Talk to any fab shop and they'll tell you how thin their margins are.

 

Looking good!​

 

Was able to wrap up the front bumper over the weekend. Overall, pretty happy with the end result. Also installed new SS braided brake lines up front and in the rear. Gotta fix a dumb mistake with the calipers tonight and this thing is ready to drive. Still a bunch of mods planned but it's to a good useable state now.

 

Cool project, sweet little truck.. Good to see you two working on it together.. My asshole dad blew up on me when I got my first truck and I didn't see him for over a year after. Far from what you guys are doing, good job dading.

 

Sorry to hear about your dad. That sucks.