I been looking for a project truck for a while and finally decided what the heck I will just fix up my old hilux. So after a while of lurking in the shadows here I figured it was time for a membership and a hello to y'all.

Short story on my Hilux. It is a 1978 shortbed 20r with the w50 5spd, that only has 51,129 original miles (don't be fooled though it's rough). The truck was purchased by my grandpa in 1979 and rarely driven. After his death it sat and was driven even less, as it wasn't needed. I remember learning to drive a 5 speed on this truck when I was 11 or 12. A few years later it was untagged and sat in my dads back yard until I brought it over to my house with intentions of fixxing it up. Work and family came and didn't allow the time an again it was pushed to the side and it sat beside my shed in the bushs for almost 8 years.

I have a little more time now and decided to start on it. I cut it from the trees and bushs 3 weeks ago and pulled it back into the drive.

I rounded up some spare tires that hold air (for the most part) and the old steel wagon spokes dad had sitting in his shed, now the truck is on matching wheels that hold air. The truck was full of junk (inside and out) so I started by cleaning it out and removing the seats. What I found was a very rusted drivers floor, from a leaky window gasket letting water in an wet carpet mats. (Next project step)

Before I dove to far in I wanted to ensure it would run. I put jumper cables on it and put a little ga in the carb and it fired off and idled until it ran out. The intank pump no longer works but I have a new pump I will be install probably this week.

Project goals are to get it running and stopping correctly. Then rust repair and straightening the body along with lowering it (static) probably 3/4. I want to clean up the interior really nice for a driver and plan to straighten the body panels but leave the rusty ratty patina look, just clean and satin clear. And when I'm ready stanced on 15 or 16 x8 or x9 steelies.

On to the pics.

 

Youre guna have some fun with it lol. Welcome to TM.

 

Welcome to TM. Looks like a fun project truck for sure! Actually looks pretty good for having sat outdoors in the bush for such a long time, assuming uncovered. Too bad regarding the rotted floor from the windshield leak. Great to hear it started right up just like an old Toyota should!

Unless I'm missing something the body panels look pretty straight, I'd leave it alone, patch the floor and just put some elbow grease into buffing it to a shine. I wish my truck had its original patina, dents and all but unfortunately the PO primed over everything in hopes to patch and repaint the truck.

 

It isn't terribly bad, but some of the panels are dented up pretty bad. It was wrecked/rolled onto its side when I was a kid when a trailer jack knifed while dad was braking. Mostly driver fender/ door and passenger bed side near tail light. I plan to just hammer&dolly out decent and leave patina. I want it to be slightly ratish looking but lowered on chrome wide steelies

 

Stock seats in my truck are a little rough after the years of sitting parked unsheltered from the weather and I'm guessing many squirrel orgies. I was helping my friend out this evening on his LS1 swapped nova and he had a set of black leather seats in his donor car (2000ish trans am) that he said he did not need. They are dirty from sitting, but should clean up nice I sat them in when I got home and they appear to be right size for the truck.