Toyota Hilux MK5 Restoration And UZ Swap.

[Siena]

[Siena]

Non-pictorial update!

I dropped into the shop this arvo, to see where we're at.

The cabin is looking great. I planned to fit the doors and hood, unfortunately the bolts are not green. I left the bolts for the passenger door hinges in the door itself, so they would be painted. But...I forgot to leave the driver's door hinge bolts in the driver's door, the same with the hood.

So the bolts are still white. Damn! They need to be painted off the door and hood, before I can fit them. Another delay there then.

On a more positive note though, the bed lid is being prep'd. The 3mm gap between the 2 steel sheets has been filled, and was being sanded down before I left. This is not your regular Bondo, or fibre glass. The filler used is a very flexible compound, so it can flex with the lid. It will be primed on both sides, with the inside receiving 2 coats of gloss black.

The bed, tailgate, fuel filler flap, fender flares and the 3 little trims under the headlamps and grille should be done hopefully, by Saturday.

Today the 20th September made it 13 weeks since my truck went into the shop. I dropped her off on the 28th June. Thank The Lord she wasn't taxed, that would have been a waste.

Roll on completion, I can't wait to smoke her round for a while, until Stage 2 commences.

[Siena]

Non-pictorial update!

On Saturday, I paid the shop a visit. All the bits and pieces were in primer, and flatted down. Unfortunately they managed to lose the body-colored metal trim under the nearside headlamp, I was pretty pi*sed off, especially when one of the guys said it would be found "if it was in the shop to begin with".

You wouldn't think such a small item would be difficult to find used, but it was - none of the eBay breakers had one. I ended up ordering a new one through work, which should be with me tomorrow.

On a more positive note, (fast forward to Monday the 29th) the fender flares have all been painted, so has the front plastic valence, and the finish is glass-like. The bed was in the paint booth, and had had its first coat of green laquer. It's all looking good, the lid and fuel filler flaps are all that remain, all things being equal, the truck will be ready for assembly by next Saturday.

What a long 14 weeks it's been so far.

[Siena]

Pictorial update!

At last, I can see light at the end of a very long, and dark tunnel.

I paid the shop a visit after work. My nearside headlamp trim was not VOR'd, so it will be in tomorrow. The largest single part, the bed, has been painted, leaving just the bonnet, headlamp and grille trims, fuel filler flap and bed lid to be done.

Tomorrow after work, I will begin re-assembly.

Pictures are being uploaded to Photobucket album.

[Siena]

[Siena]

[Siena]

[Siena]

[Siena]

Flat and polish will take place once the truck is all back together.

[Siena]

Pictorial update!

Today I fitted my 2" body lift kit. I had previously fitted the kit to the bed, so I dealt with the cabin this arvo. The copious doses of WD-40 I'd been spraying onto the threaded sections of the cabin bolts paid off - the nuts all came off without a struggle.

As some have found out, the mid and rear bolts were too long, with the threaded sections too far down the shanks. So those will be replaced. Of course, the radiator cowling had to go, and the steering shaft is just about okay. But I will be extending it, the pile of steering shafts sitting at work will come in pretty handy.

I shall deal with the new front and rear bumper orientation next week, and address any issues with the gear and transfer case selector levers. Can anyone who has installed a 2" body lift chip in here?

Slowly but surely getting there.

[Siena]

Some pictures. My apologies for much of the same, the way the truck was parked, there were limited places to take pictures from. It's higher than I thought it would be, I might have issues fitting it into my garage, once the wheels and suspension are done.

[Siena]

Sorry guys. Progress has been slow, as paint has been getting reactions in the booth - all cars too, not just my truck. I suggested there might be silicone in the air, but he reckons that isn't the case. He had to do a full repspray on a 2009 BMW 645i 3 times, and the paint isn't cheap.

Wednesday finally saw a breakthrough, and the nearside fender and hood accepted primer, without reacting. They were painted the following day, and are fine. Today, the lid and 4 smaller parts - fuel filler flap, the 3 trim pieces under the headlamps and grille are being painted.

I'll be leaving shortly to the shop to see things for myself. Both front doors were painted the same time as the cabin, but one has a tiny depression on the top, and the plan was to paint both again. The paint guy however is worried about possible reactions. I might have to strip them to bare metal, so he can start from scratch.

I will however inspect the doors myself, and see if the current painted condition is okay, or if the paint guy is being unduly fussy.

It's 18 weeks today my truck went into the shop. Considering I stripped her down myself, and supplied the paint and materials too, I would say 18 weeks is unacceptable.

I can't wait to get her back.

[Siena]

Well I spent my entire Saturday at the body shop, putting things back together.

I fitted the hood, nearside fender, and the doors. This highlighted some key issues.

Painting parts separately is not advisable with candy / pearl paint, as there can be shade variation. The driver's door is markedly darker than the fender and bed. The passenger door is also not as light as the rest of the truck, but the difference there is more subtle. Only noticeable from certain angles.

The verdict? Well. The entire truck has to be painted again, and this time, with all the panels in place. This won't be an immediate exercise though, as the paint will require up to 4 weeks to settle, before attempting a repaint. In the meantime, I will use the truck as she is.

The lid was being painted when I left, and 2 coats of gloss black were applied to the underside, after 2 coats of zinc primer were laid down. The outer side has been in primer prior to today, so all covered. The outer side will be painted in Kawasaki Green Pearl on Monday.

Once it's all flatted and polished, I'll see what needs to be done in terms of repainting the entire rig.

[J i m s t e r]

When is the UZ going in?

[Siena]

When is the UZ going in?

When the weather warms up. We're also about to relocate too, so it'll be once we're settled in our new home.