86 pickup sitting outside for 30+ years. Where to start?

they only drove it for 3 years ……….

 

Cranked it to make sure there wasn’t any leaks. Started without any issue. It started and felt completely different than with the stock carb. Also added a picture of one of the carb plungers. It had zero elastic properties from sitting so long.

I’m looking into going back to stock suspension for the time being. Keeping the lift is going to be the same headache as trying to put it back to stock except with unnecessary strain on the drivetrain. I reached out to someone local that has just about everything that I need to put it back to stock. Still trying to figure out the piece that was cut to accommodate the diff drop.

I pulled the cover off around the shifter boot and the transmission seemed to be sitting straight. It looks like the cab was cut to accommodate the shifter being so far over in 5/6th gear. Or is this how it comes from factory?

Quick video of it starting. Don’t mind me trying to figure out which side was up.
https://youtu.be/xsn1SswOqGQ

 

Looks like it was cut to account for the body lift. They usually come with shifter extensions but if the installer can’t or doesn’t want to cut/weld, they have to enlarge the opening.

The part that you have to recreate is the tab that holds the front crossmember that carries the diff.

Here is what a stock one looks like and here is the lift kit one. It is the mount on the left that gets chopped off.

 

Havent had much time to work on the truck. Prepping for a move these past couple of months. I don’t think I’ll have any more time to work on it for a while. I cleaned the undercarriage and sprayed it with fluid film.
I might just order parts while I’m away and install them when I get a chance. Can you take a picture of the front side of the spindles/knuckle? I’m trying to figure out where the tie rods connect to on both sides. I’ll upload a picture when I get some better service of when I’m confused about.

 

Good to see you are still working on the project, slow but sure.

 

Starting a list of part numbers of what I plan on replacing for reference and so other can double check my work too. I might order soon, but won’t be installing anytime soon. Just trying to pile up parts and slowly chip away at it while I’m away from the truck. I’m going to try to stick with OEM for the most part.

Balls joints upper L/R
43350-39045
43360-39075
Ball joints lower L/R
43330-39195
43340-39175
Steering arms L/R
45611-35130
45612-35150
U bolts for leafs
90117-14042
Spring seat for leafs
48046-35120 discontinued

Any recommendations on body/bed mount bushings? I’m going to remove the body lift it has and will probably replace the rubber while I’m at it.

 

Sweet project.

You can use Sankei 555 from rockauto for the balljoints and tie rods. made by the same manufacturer as OEM.
u bolts and springs... i'd go custom deavers. or OME if you want a mild lift.

Just guessing that this was driven more than 3 years. Most of the mods are 90's mods. FYI the fender flares are Bushwacker "extend a fender" flares that have been bondo'd into the main body. Hanneman and Toyotafiberglass.com makereplacements if you want to go OEM. Toyotafiberglass is in BC, you could drive there, get them installed and drive back... good quality parts.

For the shifter, i switched to a short shifter for both shifters. marlincrawler makes a kit for the tranny, and 4crawler a kit for the tcase. make sure you change the shifter bushings while you are in there (marlincrawler makes/sells them). Your tranny looks offset - may want to look at replacing the engine and t-case bushing/mounts.

For body mount bushings - Energy suspension makes the proper kit. i upgraded mine to larger bolts tho.

For used OEM parts, I've purchased from these guys with good luck http://calminirecycling.com/wp/

For new OEM parts, I use Megazip.net (they usually have 10-15% off sales as well for major holidays) and the parts come straight from Japan/UAE.

Lots of classic tech info on 4x4wire.com forums (search thru the tech articles and the forums). Lots of tech on how to rebuild carbs / suspension / etc. Yotatech.com has good tech as well.

Lots of great tech on the 4crawler.com website.

Feel free to PM me with any q's, i know a good amount about these trucks and what interchanges.

 

Sure.

I will post some when I get a chance. If I can remember where they are, I can get pics of the spindle assemblies (I have a set not on a truck around here somewhere).

 

Here are some pics of the spindles and steering arms.
Keep in mind this truck has aftermarket upper/lower arms on it and is missing "a few" parts (like a drivetrain).

ETA: I just noticed that your truck is missing the bumpstop extensions. If you were to bottom the suspension out on with that kit on it, it would be using the shocks as bumpstops (with predictable brokenness). The extensions on mine (chunks of square tubing) were bent so I replaced them with some aftermarket bumpstops (I think they are for an XJ or something, I can look).