The First Gen Pickup/Hilux (79-83) Thread
- Thread starter MoGas
- Start date
Box Rocket
Well-known member
this is my 81 Trekker,
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Looks great! Those SCS wheels looks awesome on it.
Box Rocket
Well-known member
I've wanted to be able to participate in this thread for a long time. Finally picked up a 1980 a couple months ago for my son. It needs some work but overall isn't bad.
Here it is when we brought it home.
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Pretty sure it has an old 4" Skyjacker lift on it. It rides like a shopping cart on a cobblestone road. We're collecting parts for make things better. We've got some 63" chevies for the rear, and I'm debating what springs to use in the front. I might try to keep the Skyjacker leafs but remove one of the leafs and see how it does. We want to get the ride height a couple inches shorter for sure.
We're working on gathering parts for hysteer power steering so that should help a bunch.
Watching the classifieds for a FJ80 high pinion front diff. We will be rebuilding the front axle since it's having some issues. Probably just rebuild the rear axle for now but also watching for a V6 or Tacoma rear axle, an elocked one would be awesome.
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We've been working on prepping the body for paint (I'll spray in myself). Overall the body isn't aweful but I think the truck was either leaned against a rock or tipped on it's side at some point. the cab behind the passenger door has a mediocre bondo repair. We've cleaned it up as best we can and straightened it a little but it still took some bondo. It's never intended to be a full resto, or show truck so a little bondo isn't the end of the world for this thing. We'll be building sliders and bumpers along with a bedrack for a RTT this spring too. Should be a fun little daily driver/wheeler for my son.
Here's the latest photo.
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.
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new windshield!
.
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I just got new tires for my FZJ80 so the 35" MTR's from the cruiser will be going onto this with the factory 80 wheels.
.
We modded the stock grill to work with the later '83 style grill. Turned out pretty good.
.
Here it is when we brought it home.
.
Pretty sure it has an old 4" Skyjacker lift on it. It rides like a shopping cart on a cobblestone road. We're collecting parts for make things better. We've got some 63" chevies for the rear, and I'm debating what springs to use in the front. I might try to keep the Skyjacker leafs but remove one of the leafs and see how it does. We want to get the ride height a couple inches shorter for sure.
We're working on gathering parts for hysteer power steering so that should help a bunch.
Watching the classifieds for a FJ80 high pinion front diff. We will be rebuilding the front axle since it's having some issues. Probably just rebuild the rear axle for now but also watching for a V6 or Tacoma rear axle, an elocked one would be awesome.
.
We've been working on prepping the body for paint (I'll spray in myself). Overall the body isn't aweful but I think the truck was either leaned against a rock or tipped on it's side at some point. the cab behind the passenger door has a mediocre bondo repair. We've cleaned it up as best we can and straightened it a little but it still took some bondo. It's never intended to be a full resto, or show truck so a little bondo isn't the end of the world for this thing. We'll be building sliders and bumpers along with a bedrack for a RTT this spring too. Should be a fun little daily driver/wheeler for my son.
Here's the latest photo.
.
.
.
new windshield!
.
.
I just got new tires for my FZJ80 so the 35" MTR's from the cruiser will be going onto this with the factory 80 wheels.
.
We modded the stock grill to work with the later '83 style grill. Turned out pretty good.
.
Letsgomoreplaces
Observer
Just picked up the 1980 with a 20r. 4 speed. Manual steer, Not sure what I'll do with this one, but thought it was pretty cool, and same age as I am.
Box Rocket
Well-known member
Congrats Carl Montoya on the sweet new acquisition! I really dig the blue color.
This post brings this thread back up in my notifications and I realize I haven't shared any update of the 1980 pickup I shared a couple posts ago (even though that was 3 years ago). Here's a more recent pic of the truck after quite a bit more work and a rattlecan respray. We have a '96 Tacoma donor that we'll be swapping the 3RZ and 5-speed from soon.
IMG_1874 by Adam Tolman, on Flickr
Rear bumper by Adam Tolman, on Flickr
KSWU5176 by Adam Tolman, on Flickr
This post brings this thread back up in my notifications and I realize I haven't shared any update of the 1980 pickup I shared a couple posts ago (even though that was 3 years ago). Here's a more recent pic of the truck after quite a bit more work and a rattlecan respray. We have a '96 Tacoma donor that we'll be swapping the 3RZ and 5-speed from soon.
IMG_1874 by Adam Tolman, on Flickr
Rear bumper by Adam Tolman, on Flickr
KSWU5176 by Adam Tolman, on Flickr
Smileyshaun
Observer
Man so much fist gen love , I keep telling myself I’m going to get another one some day I traveled all over the pnw in mine when I was younger . Still by far my favorite vehicle I ever owned even with its horrible rattle can yellow paint job ... should have never sold it . 
Not too be too crass, but man, that’s bonerific.I see this gem in my neighborhood all the time. I has envy..
Trod0
New member
I picked up this little thing up about a year ago on a killer deal I couldn’t pass ($600). It’s had been sitting at this same spot at my work for over 5 years without moving. I remember drooling over it everyday at work when I would see it. A little elbow grease and love goes a long way. It’s a 79 SB with a Buick 3.8L with a TH350 trans. The first picture is where it was when I picked it up, the second picture is it’s current state.
Like where this headed, good looking truck. Keep us posted.
Dances with Wolves
aka jk240sx
Love the patina!!!!?
Bhill_teq
Active member
That thing is rad! We took our 83 out for a rip last weekend. I love these little trucks!