Proud newbie

[dmoneygage]

Hello,

This is my first posting. I recently purchased a 1989 Toyota Sunrader. I bought the truck off of ebay. (Reminder, it is a good idea to have a mechanic do a preinspection.) So, after I won the auction I flew out to Portland to pick it up. The truck appeared to be in good shape. I inspected the vehicle for about an hour and a half and headed home to northern California. The truck got 13 or so miles to the gallon, handles hills real well, had a million or so rattles, but overall a nice truck.

I started my restoration by removing a crappy, wore out steering wheel cover which made the steering much nicer. Next to Les Schaub, I got the tires balanced, rotated, had some junk valve stems raplaced, checked brakes, which were about half pad left, so I had the fluid flushed and replaced. The clunk noise that I was hearing turned out to be improperly installed bushing and washers on passenger side stabilizer bar, which I fixed. Then I took the truck to my mechanic for fluid flushes of tranny, radiator, rearend. The first part of the tune up,a compression check,revealed that 2 cylinders were below 90lbs. So I ordered a motor, an install kit from Jasper engines. It should be installed w/ NEW water pump,plugs, wires, gaskets, exhaust, by next week. After that I am going to gut the interior. It seems the weight of the fridge and that of the stove/range collapsed the crappy particleboard construction of the cabinets. The bathroom area has some water damage. I am researching appliances and a/c which I plan on replacing. I hope to have the new engine, new fridge, new range stove, new sinks in bath and kitch, new cabinets and all paneling, all finished up so I can drive cross country for Thanksgiving. Thanks, Dennis

Edited October 29, 2006 by dmoneygage

[Shoprat]

You Sir, have REAL hair on your chest ! By Thanksgiving! Someday Son, you and me gotta meet up ! I'll by the refreshments.I raise a glass of a dark brew to you , Sir, over the miles till then.

Dayum.

Charge ! I extend all four of my thumbs up !

[dmoneygage]

You Sir, have REAL hair on your chest ! By Thanksgiving! Someday Son, you and me gotta meet up ! I'll by the refreshments.I raise a glass of a dark brew to you , Sir, over the miles till then.

Dayum.

Charge ! I extend all four of my thumbs up !

I may have bitten off more than I can chew by Thanksgiving, but we will see. The engine is to arrive from Jasper on Tuesday and work to begin on Wednesday. I committed to pay for 22 hours of labor for the engine and the mechanic is shooting to have it done by Friday, which leaves me the weekend to gut and then 10 business days to try and get the cabinets and back walls replaced. The custom cabinet shop foreman is going to work on the project in the parking lot at his very profesional shop for 40 an hour. I will keep you posted and I will try and get some batteries in my camera for some pics of motor swap and gutting and hopefully finish product. Wish me big luck, may need.

I'll be thinking of that glass of dark brew shoprat.

[dmoneygage]

Hello,

This is my first posting. I recently purchased a 1989 Toyota Sunrader. I bought the truck off of ebay. (Reminder, it is a good idea to have a mechanic do a preinspection.) So, after I won the auction I flew out to Portland to pick it up. The truck appeared to be in good shape. I inspected the vehicle for about an hour and a half and headed home to northern California. The truck got 13 or so miles to the gallon, handles hills real well, had a million or so rattles, but overall a nice truck.

I started my restoration by removing a crappy, wore out steering wheel cover which made the steering much nicer. Next to Les Schaub, I got the tires balanced, rotated, had some junk valve stems raplaced, checked brakes, which were about half pad left, so I had the fluid flushed and replaced. The clunk noise that I was hearing turned out to be improperly installed bushing and washers on passenger side stabilizer bar, which I fixed. Then I took the truck to my mechanic for fluid flushes of tranny, radiator, rearend. The first part of the tune up,a compression check,revealed that 2 cylinders were below 90lbs. So I ordered a motor, an install kit from Jasper engines. It should be installed w/ NEW water pump,plugs, wires, gaskets, exhaust, by next week. After that I am going to gut the interior. It seems the weight of the fridge and that of the stove/range collapsed the crappy particleboard construction of the cabinets. The bathroom area has some water damage. I am researching appliances and a/c which I plan on replacing. I hope to have the new engine, new fridge, new range stove, new sinks in bath and kitch, new cabinets and all paneling, all finished up so I can drive cross country for Thanksgiving. Thanks, Dennis

The full engine install kit, waterpump, gasket set, plug wires, hoses, ect. arrived yesterday via fedex. The new motor just got unloaded and I am on my way to shop to check it out.

[dmoneygage]

The full engine install kit, waterpump, gasket set, plug wires, hoses, ect. arrived yesterday via fedex. The new motor just got unloaded and I am on my way to shop to check it out.

I just picked up the Toy from the shop and drove it around for a test drive. Man does it run sweet.

Here is all I did so far:

New muffler, some 2' pipe, new hangars w/ new grommets.

Tranny service w/ flush, filter.

New heavy duty radiator.

New oil cooler.

A whole bunch of expensive toyota hoses.

Rear end flush.

A/c recharge.

New bat. cables.

and of course, the Jasper reman. engine w/ new plugs, water pump, ign wires, filters, cap, rotor, thermostat, upper and lower radiator hoses, new belts, air filter.

The wife and I are going take a drive to the beach and spend the nite. I will be gutting the cabinetry tomorrow and then dropping the truck off at the cabinet makers. I will be looking to buy new range and fridge next, any advice on who to buy from??

Thanks,

Dennis