Steve's 81 Toyota "angelo" build

[sixstringsteve]

Is the rear springs settling at all ?

Not yet. I'm going to have to take it out a few more times. If they still don't settle then I'll french the hanger or remove one of the leaves.

 

[sixstringsteve]

Got a bit more done on the bob.

Clearanced the bottom of the bed for a rear bumper. I wish I hadn't, I liked the stock lines better, but what's done is done. This is the only mod I regret so far (not the bob, but the clearancing the bed). Plus, I think the cops are going to be all over me now, it just looks a lot more radical without those 4" hanging down. There's no way a rock was going to get up in there anyway. Ground the welds down smooth.

Now i just need to bondo the seams and paint it. Next up: mud flaps, then sliders. Gotta get those two things done before saturday for the trail cleanup

 

[sixstringsteve]

Help me sell me taco so I can take this to moab and see what she can really do!

http://www.rockymountainextreme.com/showthread.php?t=77824

 

[Cherokeester]

Looks great Steve!

 

[sixstringsteve]

Thanks Mark. I like that new CJ in your avatar. Is that your daughter's rig?

 

[Panos]

looking good. i have a wheel for your spare if you need one. it is a stock fj 17x7.5 black steel wheel. its a spare for me. so 40$ and its yours. when are you planning to go to moab? oh and when I said my tundra wasn't a good tow rig, I was only comparing it to all my friends diesels. but it is actually not bad for what it is. actually I might be selling it here soon

 

[sixstringsteve]

looking good. i have a wheel for your spare if you need one. it is a stock fj 17x7.5 black steel wheel. its a spare for me. so 40$ and its yours. when are you planning to go to moab? oh and when I said my tundra wasn't a good tow rig, I was only comparing it to all my friends diesels. but it is actually not bad for what it is. actually I might be selling it here soon

I'm planning on Moab on Oct 15-17th. I have a thread on it in the "upcoming wheeling trips" thread.

I may be interested. Do you think it'd tow my '81 to moab well enough? I'd love a 2001-2004 cummins, but my truck hasn't sold yet, so I may need to broaden my options.

 

[jentzschman]

Looking sexy Steve!

 

[AlienXtx]

looks great man

 

[sixstringsteve]

Got a bit more done tonight. Got the bondo and sanding done. It doesn't look very good because the rest of the body has so much bondo all over it. I didn't realize the bed had so much bondo. No wonder it looked straight. I give it a year before it all cracks off.

then primer:

Then paint. The paint is still wet in this pic, so it shows all the flaws more than it will tomorrow when it's dry.

I also got the filler neck hose figured out. That was a major pain, but I think it's working for now. I may have to remove the bed to clearance some under-hanging supports that are in the way. We'll see.

I still have a lot to do before cleanup day on Saturday. I need mud flaps, sliders, and I need to re-do the seat mounts and seatbelts. Too much to do, no time to do it...

Still wishing for a tow rig so I could haul this to moab... Anyone want a NICE 4-door tacoma on 35s????

 

[pELYgroso]

I'll take the Tacoma! I'll trade you straight up for my tow rig, too! It's a '90 Chevy w/ the 350 TBI, runs great, and comes with a plow for your driveway in the winter! Whaddya say!!??

 

[pELYgroso]

your truck looks AWESOME by the way!

 

[sixstringsteve]

your truck looks AWESOME by the way!

Thanks dude. I can't wait to get an exo on there so it can stay awesome looking even after a few rolls. You coming out to snakes this weekend?

 

[sixstringsteve]

Been thinking about frenching the rear hanger and shortening that shackle. Only problem is, I'm not sure if my springs are settled yet. I've only been on one trip up Mineral Basin on them. For those of you with the TG springs, how long did they take to settle?

If I knew they were already settled, I'd definitely french them. I'm afraid to french the rear hangers then have the springs settle another 2" in the rear and look like a baja truck. I hate that look, plus I want to be level.

Any opinions on TG's 3" springs? I guess i could just wait after a few more wheeling trips to let them settle, but I've got the bed off right now, and now's the perfect time to do it.

 

[iamsparticus]

It will take at least a couple hundred miles or several trails to make them settle i would wait

 

[lewis]

My trail gear springs took awhile to settle. I had quite a few trips on them before they quit settling.

 

[sixstringsteve]

Great. Thanks for the replies, ill wait a while

 

[zukijames]

you could french it now.. and if it settles more.. lower the front a little more

 

[sixstringsteve]

The only way I'd want to lower the front is with a 4.5" shackle. I only have about 4" uptravel, and I don't want to lose anymore. In the rear I probably have 6"+ of uptravel, so I can afford to lose some in the rear.

I'm in no rush, I"ll just wait it out a few months. Maybe by crawlfest it'll start to settle.

 

[pELYgroso]

Have you been driving your truck around much??