Adventures of Blimpy

[gabepari]

So, I picked up my very first 80. Pretty nice truck, for a :ylsmoke: deal. White '94 with lockers. 220k miles, I think it's high, but apparently these things go forever :smiley_drive: Interior is clean, body is fairly straight and it rides nice and tight.

On the drive home I noticed the radiator leaking. Ordered a new radiator, water pump, hoses, belts and tensioners. Pulled everything out tonight, will put it all back together tomorrow night. And then I'll drive it a bunch. I'll do a few things here and there, which I'll try to document here. But mainly, I'm gonna do a bunch of exploring and camping with my family :victory:

My daughter has named the truck Blimpy (I guess cause it's white and fat)

Here are some pics of it on the operating table...

That's all for now...

Gabe Pari
www.socalteardrops.com

 

[dirty Bakers]

Hello, Those are great trucks. Never ridden in one though just seen um on the trail. Looks like you have the R&R under control. So do you work for SoCal Teardrops? Is that a tear drop in front of the toy hauler? Is Adventure trailers using SoCal's bodies? any way I can test drive/rent a tear drop to try one out?

 

[brentbba]

Nice color - no factory rack either - nice!

Like the washing maching tub fire pit too!

 

[Willman]

Nice clean rig!

:drool:

 

[davegonz]

Congrats! That's the best color for an 80 series Land Cruiser

While you're in there, do the Pesky Heater Hose (PHH), fuel filter, and valve cover gasket.

 

[adventureduo]

Looks clean for 220k. Congrats.

 

[gabepari]

Yeah, PHH is now on the list after much searching on Mud. Looks like the VC gasket has been done, there is gray RTV oozing out, and no oil leakage.

More parts are on the way :victory:

Gabe

 

[Hltoppr]

Good to see the new rig Gabe! Great to meet you, the wife and kiddos last weekend!

Can't wait to see where the new 80 takes you!

-H-

 

[Fergie]

Cruiser Dan on Mud is an awesome resource for parts.

Buy an FSM.

Have fun, the 80s are well worth it!

 

[gabepari]

Started bolting everything in tonight. Everything went smooth until I went to put the belts on.... ooops, they sent the wrong ones, they sent two different sizes for the dual fan belts :snorkel: Oh well, gotta wait till tomorrow to fire it up.

I checked the PHH, and it had been replaced recently, along with a bunch of other FHH's, so I'm gonna leave it be for now. Need to replace a few vacuum lines, but not much else. The oil pan and the valve cover have been done recently as well. I think I need to replace the trans cooler lines, but I can't tell if they are leaking until I get everything cleaned up and run it for a while.

Next project will be some custom AT drawers in the back, along with an Engel 45. Gotta keep the rootbeers cold :sombrero: Oh, and I think I'm going to try and shoe-horn a Deka Group 31 AGM in the stock battery tray. Mario is convinced it will fit, we'll see...

Done for the night.

Gabe

 

[theexile]

Congrats Gabe! Looks like a really nice Cruiser. Are you going to have it ready to go for Monanchi in September?

 

[gabepari]

Congrats Gabe! Looks like a really nice Cruiser. Are you going to have it ready to go for Monanchi in September?

When in September?

It will be drivable by this weekend. Need to get it smogged and plated in CA. Drawers and fridge aren't priority since I can just take the Teardrop for some Expo bling :elkgrin:

When are you coming back from up North?

Later,

Gabe

 

[gabepari]

Blimpy is officially "four wheel drive". The lockers had never been used by the PO. So things were a little stiff, a little grease, some tapping and a little exercise and now all three lockers engage, real quick like.

Need to add the CDL switch so I can lock the center in 4H, then do the pin 7 mod, so I can have the center open in 4L.

Power windows, AC, lockers, A RADIO... Boy am I glad I sold my Samurai :wings:

Gabe

 

[theexile]

Nice fix on the struts Gabe. I will be doing that this weekend on mine:smiley_drive:

 

[BlueBomber]

Blimpy is officially "four wheel drive". The lockers had never been used by the PO. So things were a little stiff, a little grease, some tapping and a little exercise and now all three lockers engage, real quick like.

Need to add the CDL switch so I can lock the center in 4H, then do the pin 7 mod, so I can have the center open in 4L.

Power windows, AC, lockers, A RADIO... Boy am I glad I sold my Samurai :wings:

Gabe

not to hi-jack the thread, but i have a question. If the lockers have never (or only a very few times) been used, will they last longer? or does letting them sit kill 'em? just your average n00bie question:sombrero: