Moore_rb's 1965 Hardtop Patrol...L60-3-00617

[Esteban]

Excellent step by step process. The quality of the pictures is textbook!

Were you able to use only the existing shims or needed some extras?

[moore_rb]

Were you able to use only the existing shims or needed some extras?

I ended up with 2 extra .005 thick shims when I was done, so I barely made it with the shims that were already on this Patrol...

But I was thinking the same thing you were- so I had already torn down the extra front axle that I had in the garage, just in case I needed some extra shims when putting this one back together...

[moore_rb]

This weekend I got the front hubs and front brakes all assembled:

CAM00776_zpscg1nij46.jpg

Just like in the rear, I used all new wheel cylinders from Protex in Australia, and had the shoes re-lined, and the drums turned, by the local brake and clutch shop. I didn't have any dark green paint for the large brake springs, so they are not "factory correct" - Darn, there goes my chances of winning "Best in Show" at Pebble Beach next year...

The front flanges are only on there to keep dust out until I can get the Warn hubs rebuilt and installed (I have 2 sets of Warn hubs, and I'm going to take the best parts from each to build the pair that will go on this truck)

I figure another couple hours of work on the steering linkage, and I'll have a rolling chassis; ready to come off the jackstands and onto a set of wheels...

[pdub]

Looking good!!!!!

[RiverPatrol]

Nice work. Looking good.

[miller]

Looking tops! Great write up too thanks

[moore_rb]

{sigh}

My tie-rod boots that I ordered 5 weeks ago arrived yesterday... too big.

So, it's going to get universal polyurethane tie rod boots, to go along with it's Toyota drag link boots, because I am tired of staring at this project and being held up by a few crummy 4 dollar parts...

I want to get this chassis to the point that I can roll it out of here on 4 wheels, so I can get busy with the sander on these body panels...

[RiverPatrol]

Bummer.

[moore_rb]

I went to install my rear sway bar yesterday, and realized that when I tore this Patrol down, I had snapped one of the sway bar bracket-to-frame bolts on each side, and had forgotten to drill and tap them before I painted the frame 3 months ago...

But hey- I broke about 200 bolts while taking this Patrol apart - I guess it figures that I would forget to re-drill a couple of them (but it would have been nice to have been able to flip the frame over, and drill them from the top, rather than lying on my back drilling upward, with all the oil and metal shavings falling down into my face... )

So, what was supposed to be 20 minutes of simple wrenching turned into 3 hours of grinding, drilling and re-tapping, but I eventually got it hooked up. (please ignore the dust - the chassis was really dirty )

CAM00801_zpsg1l8vjvb.jpg

Then I moved up to the front sway bar, and realized blunder number 2 - when I stripped down, cleaned and painted the sway bars, I just grabbed two off the pile, thinking that they were interchangeable front to rear... oops: The front sway bar is smaller. So, I went back out to the parts pile and grabbed a correct front one, and got the rust and grime all cleaned off it. And, since I was going to be mixing and shooting paint, I decided I would also paint the side and rear steps, and the rear bumperettes...


This is the mangled, twisted, and almost totally beyond hope rear step I had - I'm definitely no blacksmith, but I hammered, bent, tweaked, and folded this thing for over 3 hours until it was straight enough to actually bolt onto the Patrol:

CAM00802_zpslf5z25ex.jpg

This step has really had a hard life, but I think it is pretty cool that I have 3 original steps on this truck, even if they are old and wrinkly (like me )

So, I painted the three steps, the bumperettes, and the correct front sway bar, and then I went and hung up the extra finished rear sway bar so I'll have all ready for the 62 soft top project Then, I spent an hour with a sponge, soap, bucket and hose and gave the whole thing a bath, and let it (and the painted parts) dry overnight.

This morning I wiped the water marks off the chassis, installed the front sway bar, installed the side and rear steps, and snapped a couple photos - then I went into the house, drank a beer, and watched the final round of the Masters on TV...

CAM00809_zpsrbygcl3t.jpg

I really debated with myself about whether to use some bondo to try and get the side and rear steps any straighter and smoother before painting them, but I decided that hey- these were 50+ year old original steps, going back onto on a 50 year old truck that has also seen a full and active life (rode hard, and put away wet, to quote RiverPatrol ); and my goal has never been a museum quality "factory condition" restoration on this truck - if that had been my goal I would have asked 2869ral to fab up a full set of new replica steps for me.

My goal has been to return this one to a clean, reliable and operational driver (and one that you wouldn't be afraid to actually drive ); and since I didn't fill in any of the rust pits on the frame, I figured the remaining wrinkles and dings on the steps will match the overall character of the vehicle, so I got them as straight as I could with hammer and dolly, shot some paint, and bolted them back up...

Someday I might pull the steps back off and put some more effort into them, but likewise: Someday I might also take this rig out on the trail and bash the steps up on some rocks... and then I'll be glad I didn't spend too much time making them look perfect

My (hopefully correct this time) steering tie-rod boots are supposed to arrive tomorrow, so the next photo anyone sees of this Patrol, it will be sitting on wheels, and able to roll around on the ground

[faux40]

It looks fantastic!