1971 Hilux restore (RN-13)

Discussion in 'Pre-1975 Build-Up/Project Threads' started by Umtali, Jun 15, 2009.

  1. Umtali

    Umtali Member

    Joined:
    Jun 13, 2008
    Messages:
    40
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Portugal
    Truck:
    1973 Hilux
    This thread will show the progress of the restore project of this truck, which came from Angola and was bought after standing for 17 years !!! This will be a "back to the origins" restore with special attention to detail.


    [​IMG]


    After some cleaning up and making sure the engine wasn't seized, a battery was fitted, petrol down the carb and after some turning ... it fired up and runs so smooth ...

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]



    My biggest problem at the moment is the windscreen which has some holes and needs to be replaced ... however these trucks were never sold in Portugal which means that spares are not available !!! Can anyone help ???


    [​IMG]


    At the same time, the back window was replaced a long time ago with persplex ... another headache !!!


    [​IMG]


    The front indicators are different to the US version ...


    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]


    The single bench seat ...

    [​IMG]


    The box still has the bullet holes from it's African adventures ...

    [​IMG]


    The back has been messed with but original tail lights have already been bought ...


    [​IMG]
     
  2. Umtali

    Umtali Member

    Joined:
    Jun 13, 2008
    Messages:
    40
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Portugal
    Truck:
    1973 Hilux
    Here are some pics of the stuff which has already been bought in advance ...


    [​IMG]


    [​IMG]


    [​IMG]


    [​IMG]


    [​IMG]


    [​IMG]


    [​IMG]





    I will keep you posted as work goes on ... and ask for help when I need it !!!
     
  3. Umtali

    Umtali Member

    Joined:
    Jun 13, 2008
    Messages:
    40
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Portugal
    Truck:
    1973 Hilux
    After cleaning out the garage, the truck finally went in ... ready for stripping down !!!


    [​IMG]


    [​IMG]



    Tomorrow will try to get the bed off ...
     
  4. Umtali

    Umtali Member

    Joined:
    Jun 13, 2008
    Messages:
    40
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Portugal
    Truck:
    1973 Hilux
    Work has started (slowly) with the bed coming off first. The chassis looks to be in excellent shape, with no damage at all ... just a lot of scrapping to do !!! :headbang:


    [​IMG]


    I then moved to the front and took off the grill and lights ...


    [​IMG]
     
  5. Umtali

    Umtali Member

    Joined:
    Jun 13, 2008
    Messages:
    40
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Portugal
    Truck:
    1973 Hilux
    This week has been quite busy with the dismantling of the truck ... where I learnt how to pull out the window glass (first pull off the door frame) !!!

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]



    Just today I separated the bed and the cab from the chassis ... with a little help from my friend the grinder !!!

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]


    Next I pulled out the gearbox followed by the engine ...


    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]


    It's amazing how long the chassis actually is, but maybe it's because I am not used to seeing them bare ...

    Next week I will be dismantling the running gear so that I can clean the chassis frame completely. I will also get the panel beater to come and see the cab and box to give me a quote ...
     
  6. Umtali

    Umtali Member

    Joined:
    Jun 13, 2008
    Messages:
    40
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Portugal
    Truck:
    1973 Hilux
    The last couple of days were spent stripping down the chassis frame, front suspensions and diff. The plan is to send the frame and pieces to be sand blasted ...


    [​IMG]


    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]


    [​IMG]


    [​IMG]


    [​IMG]
     
  7. Umtali

    Umtali Member

    Joined:
    Jun 13, 2008
    Messages:
    40
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Portugal
    Truck:
    1973 Hilux
    Another day passes and the work goes on ... at a slower pace but with some progress to show :smokin:


    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]


    Later in the afternoon still had time to pull the springs apart ready for sand-blasting ...

    [​IMG]


    Also started to clean up some of the bits and pieces which will be zinc-plated or painted ...

    [​IMG]
     
  8. Umtali

    Umtali Member

    Joined:
    Jun 13, 2008
    Messages:
    40
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Portugal
    Truck:
    1973 Hilux
    Thought I had packed up and gone on holiday ?!? No chance ... this is just over a week's work ... with some nice results to show for it !!!


    First of all is an example of home-trial sand blasting for small pieces ... we've now managed to better our production ...

    [​IMG]



    Bolts and pieces ready for zinc-plating ...

    [​IMG]
     
  9. Umtali

    Umtali Member

    Joined:
    Jun 13, 2008
    Messages:
    40
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Portugal
    Truck:
    1973 Hilux
    Last night picked up the pieces from blasting and check the result ...


    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]


    These will now be painted in black enamel for better resistance.
     
  10. Umtali

    Umtali Member

    Joined:
    Jun 13, 2008
    Messages:
    40
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Portugal
    Truck:
    1973 Hilux
    In the meantime there has been some progress with the painting of the leaf springs and also picked up the bolts from zinc plating ...


    [​IMG]


    [​IMG]



    [​IMG]
     
  11. Umtali

    Umtali Member

    Joined:
    Jun 13, 2008
    Messages:
    40
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Portugal
    Truck:
    1973 Hilux
    Finally got around to painting the chassis and other bits and pieces ...


    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]



    [​IMG]


    [​IMG]


    [​IMG]
     
  12. Umtali

    Umtali Member

    Joined:
    Jun 13, 2008
    Messages:
    40
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Portugal
    Truck:
    1973 Hilux
    The pieces are coming together again (slowly...)


    [​IMG]


    [​IMG]


    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]


    Keep you posted ...
     
  13. Umtali

    Umtali Member

    Joined:
    Jun 13, 2008
    Messages:
    40
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Portugal
    Truck:
    1973 Hilux
    Not a lot has happened lately but there have been some advances: nylon busshings arrived from Australia after a looonnng wait ...

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]



    But worse still are the parts shipped from the States ... our customs tend to take about 2 months to release the goods ... :headbang:


    [​IMG]


    Unfortunately, the ball-joints are wrong ... so we are back to square one!




    Some progress was made with the mounting of the front suspension ...


    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]



    Hopefully this will NEVER be used ...


    [​IMG]
     
  14. Umtali

    Umtali Member

    Joined:
    Jun 13, 2008
    Messages:
    40
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Portugal
    Truck:
    1973 Hilux
    After negotiating a windscreen from Canada, this truck turned up for sale in Finland ... although it is in a lot worse shape than ours, it still has all the original glass, etc so we are in the process of shiping it to Portugal


    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
     
  15. Umtali

    Umtali Member

    Joined:
    Jun 13, 2008
    Messages:
    40
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Portugal
    Truck:
    1973 Hilux
    Believe it or not, it took me a whole Saturday to strip down the cabin of all the remaining bolts, screws, plates, rubbers, etc ready for sending it for sand-blasting


    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]



    at which stage I realized that we are going to need these rubbers: can anyone help?

    [​IMG]
     
  16. Umtali

    Umtali Member

    Joined:
    Jun 13, 2008
    Messages:
    40
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Portugal
    Truck:
    1973 Hilux
    This has been a copy/paste from the ToyotaNation forum so the timing makes no sense ... however I hope I can learn a few things from you guys here and also need help in getting a few more parts
     
  17. IronNam

    IronNam Grand Toyotaholic

    Joined:
    Sep 11, 2008
    Messages:
    6,960
    Likes Received:
    14
    Location:
    Kansas -> NorCal
    Truck:
    94 XCab
    Whoohoo! i see you made it over here! Truck's made a lot of progress then. Will wait for you whenever you decide to drop by once again
     
  18. StupidSheet

    StupidSheet Addict

    Joined:
    May 17, 2008
    Messages:
    774
    Likes Received:
    1
    Location:
    Canada
    Truck:
    91 V6 SR5 Xtracab, 87 22RE 4x4, 73 HiLux 18R SR5
    Wow looks good! I can't wait to see the progress and I'm loving all the pics! I bet that pit makes life a lot easier?!?!?
     
  19. burnzya

    burnzya Grand Toyotaholic

    Joined:
    May 23, 2008
    Messages:
    4,457
    Likes Received:
    14
    Location:
    arizona city, arizona
    Truck:
    bodied 73 hilux
    welcome to toyota minis! lovin the zinc plating and black paint. can't wait to see more!
     
  20. Megaglow_Z

    Megaglow_Z Addict

    Joined:
    Mar 17, 2008
    Messages:
    575
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Benton la
    Truck:
    81 long-bed goodness
    I am in aww man
    that is going to be a stunner.

    keep us updated man! I'm hunting one down as well!!!
     

Share This Page