Crackhead resurrection

Oh, and better to have open coolant system problem than closed. Try a simple flush first and foremost?

Meanwhile, may also want to run the VIN to see if airbags were replaced. If not .... easy fix? Blame the shop if codes still happen after?

(Did you clear codes already to see if it's just old leftovers?)

 

That crossmember rust is exactly what you want to see as long as your truck is still good for the frame recall. See what @empty_lord has to say.

Mine was bad enough for a frame replacement as well as my FIL's 2000. Both stayed in KY their whole life as far as I know.

I agree with this. My FIL isn't the best at preventative stuff so I'd bet it got driven every winter and not washed. My truck was probably about the same. The spare tire crossmembers like to hold water and dirt.

(My old frame pictured)
Doesn't really hurt my feelings cause I've got a brand new frame that I can try and treat right.

 

Here's what's going through my mind right now fellers.

I'll contact the same dealership that @NickB_01TRD had his frame swapped at which isn't terribly far away. Have them inspect, and make a determination.

• If frame will be replaced, proceed with the rebuild.
• If frame will not be replaced, I'll come up with a new plan. (Most likely sell.)

As it stands right now, I don't want to dump large quantities if the frame won't hold.

 

Denso Radiator is now hovering under $300. It's up to Toyota now. I like driving it, but I'm not attached to it yet. Maybe I'm not suspposed to have V8, 4WD.

I kinda like'em too. Weird.

Not so great. There's a body shop locally that does good work. I know the feller that owns it, and he's a good ole boy. Same as me. I'll see what he would quote me on replacing that if Toyota decides to replace the frame.

LOL, I tend to agree. Time will tell once a verdict is reached.

 

Don't wait long but don't pass up asking if previous owner would take it back. You know others are out there in much better shape.

 

Pretty sure the feller has already cut, and run. I wouldn't be able to find him if I had a GPS tracker on him.

 

I see that. Glad I got my radiator when I did. Here's hoping Corporate comes through for you. I know it's probably not much consolation but for many of us who have been around or involved with motor vehicle resto/repair we all have at least one that we ate. Mine was a Fiat Spider. My girlfriend at the time just had to have it and I just couldn't say no to her breasts, I mean, her. That car was a POS that demanded alot of $$$ and maintenance and parts weren't easy to come by from Italy. I still talk to her and see her occasionally 40 yrs later. Haha!

 

I'm not against eating it on this one, and that's just fine. Time will tell. I'm scheduling an appointment with a stealership right now.

Radiators are way up thar nowadays.

 

IF they don’t replace it, I can assure you I don’t need it… but hey, if you can afford to sit on it for a bit, a southern or western rollover may be a perfect donor

 

I paid cash which is why I got it so cheap. So it's not costing me anything just sitting (minus insurance which would be dropped if I weren't driving it.) Be good to tool around the yard in. How'd you find your roll over anyways?

 

I hate when that happens.

 

Guy called the dealer and asked if anyone wanted to buy it.


But frames do pop up on car-part. And it’s totally a doable swap in a yard if you take your time

 

Think two dudes that are built like a brick shit house could handle the cab swap? I'm skilled enough to do a bed swap on my own. Y'all know how I roll.

@jpink @FirstGenVol

 

You’d want to jack it somehow. But people do it. A guy on TW did it with fucking logs to hold the cab.


Reg cab is probably doable with 4 people though

 

I think I could bribe the townsfolk here with beer, and steak. Good ole bonfire.

 

I’m in. Especially if you locate a Peterbuilt or XXL horse trailer to justify the trip.

 

GUILTY ON ALL COUNTS!!

 

Don't forget new helper !

Spoiler

@TundraGirl2

 

All you need to do is find one with a straight ass-end. Get a pneumatic hammer with chisel bit, it'll take the heads of the rivets off in about 10 seconds each. Remove the donor crossmember. Get grade 8 hardware. Bolt onto the framerails after removing the rotten crossmember. Easy freaking peasy, seriously. Definitely not difficult, @Tundra2 I've done this with a number of projects in the past to beef up crossmembers and when doing LS swaps into vehicles that probably should never have one.

4x4 beam and engine hoist. I took the cab off my '68 C10 about 10 times while doing LS1 LS1/T56 swap using this hack, and it didn't throw anything out of alignment. Granted, maybe it's not the case with our FGT, or maybe you'd need to pool noodle around the 4x4, but this is a very effective way to move cabs on/off frames.

 

(you can also use a pulley system with hoist if you have a stout tree nearby. And yes, I'm all about good 'ol boy hackery also, when necessary)

 

I don't see why an Access Cab tire hoist member wouldn't work. Should be able to find one of them critters awfully easy.

So hardest part will be buying air compressor, and air chisel. These are all great ideas, and can't thank you all enough for the votes of confidence.

The difference here @shifty` is that I'm not sure who makes an engine hoist that can roll on gravel. Could lay down some wood to make a floor for casters. Lots of options to consider.

Still, my initial gut instinct is to have toyota inspect, and determine.

 

So question for all the body work competent people because I don't know jack shit about it.

Would it be better for me to do:

1. source a whole cab, and swap.
2. source a cab, ut that Rocker panel out, and have body shop install.

I'm trying to figure out cost of body shop versus cost of whole cab.

 

honestly that’s our biggest issue at this point. I’ve never worked on truck before (except with Noah) and I could tell how frustrated you were when you came across it.

He 100% used the money to pay off loan sharks and ran. I got a weird feeling from him as soon as I saw him.

I’ve actually told him I’d help him with whatever whenever. As long as neither of us are working I’ll help. Honestly I was super excited about this project but I’m now more nervous than anything.

That truck is absolutely gorgeous!! I would kill for a truck with that paint color

 

Definitely have them inspect. Unless you're using 3/4 ply and have a way to make it stay together, nah. Ain't workin. With the cost of lumber these days, you're better off using scrap wood for form boards and have a half truck of concrete come out and pour something. Dunno about up there, but in south-central AL my parents had a bunch of concrete work done for a couple hundos to install their shed on top of. Pops gets his military discount locally, but that only shaves off 15%.

Do you know anyone who does metal work and can form a piece of sheet, or anyone else with a MIG or TIG?
Do you have access to a cab where you can cut an oversized section of rocker?
Do you have a cutoff wheel or similar where you can cut the bad section out?

Any of those three will help. But, like, if you only have a cutoff wheel, Kevin Tetz did a show on Trucks! TV like 10+ years ago showing how to use common techniques and automative panel adhesive to clean out and patch holes without welding, the epoxy held just as well as as steel. It was something along the lines of this blog post, but in video format. Sadly, can't find it on YouTube.

https://garage.eastwood.com/eastwood-chatter/repair-rust-without-welding/

It was awesome. Had to sell just after I got it up and rolling with the new drivetrain, notched the frame and installed airbags etc. because I was struggling to get any work done due to new child challenges. Sold it to another 67-72 GM truck fan for way less than I should've, and here's the end result after he got his hands on it. Was given the chance to buy it back for 6x+ what I sold it to him for. Granted, he went even lower with the suspension, modded the shit out of the LS1 I put in it, threw on a new bed, rimes and tires, and a ton of other stuff. But that's my steering wheel, gauges, cluster, and tons of other stuff I put in it.

 

I thought the Access Cabs had a shallow bed.

 

Looks like the truck took a swipe down the right side, very low. Definitely at the cab corner.

 

Me going to the dealership for the frame

 

Couple of dents and dings. I feel like a pretty decent PDR person can pop those out nearly flush.

 

https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo.php?pk=3290529&jsn=1608