Out of High school I wanted a mini 4x4 truck. Had my heart set on a Toyota till I tried to sit in one. Didn't fit so plan B. A family friend rebuilt totals and I ask him to keep his eyes open and let me know if he found anything. He called a while later and said he found a 1985 s 15 4x4 shortbed and we went back to look. Decided to get it so here it is.
Album by Kevin Foust. 1 - 27 of 27 Total. 3951 Visits.
1 I had told my friend to call me when it came to his house and I'd help him tear it down. When I got there he had the bed and front clip off already and he works by himself. Truck had 500 miles on it and was totaled. Hit on the passenger side front.
2 Axle tube from diff was bent and case had one ear broke so Had to have that TIG welded back. He decided it would be easier to replace the front half of the frame.
3 Whole frame was out 6 inches when doing cross measurement so it was hit hard.
4 Rear axle shaft was also bent at the hub and had to be replaced. Tube/housing was fine.
5 Needed a hood, passenger side front fender, windshield, radiator, valance and bumper. Bed was fine. Had to clean the blood up and lots of hair in the windshield. No seat belt was used.
6 You can see how far the front wheel was pushed back.
7 Not any pics in progress but here it is finished. I had just gotten it home and was waiting on a mirror and had to get it inspected then. After getting all that done, I drove it a couple years saving money for the next step. It had a 2.5 4 cylinder and 4 speed manual.
8 The 2.5 was really weak and reved out with the stock 3:73 gears. I took a week off work and put in a V8. It was a tune port 350 from a Formula Firebird. I also installed a TH350 automatic.
9 The next year I took a week off and installed a 4 inch lift kit and 33 inch tires. This was my daily driver and only vehicle I had other than the 57 project car.
10 The next year I decided to do a repaint as first paint my friend sprayed had some issues along with some rust starting. I took a week off work and had a marathon sanding session. Didn't own a DA sander so after over 40 hours of hand blocking the truck twice, I sprayed the Acrylic Enamel in the home garage.
11 First complete paint job I had ever done on a vehicle. I had done a few tractors and small stuff before but you have to start somewhere. Couldn't have asked for it to have turned out any better.
12 The State of Ohio then decided our county needed to have an E check program for vehicles. At first they said as long as the motor was newer than the vehicle it was put in, you were okay if you passed the smog test. They then changed and said it had to be an offered motor to the vehicle so I was non compliant on the visual. I was none too happy.
13 Had to put it up for sale and hated to do it. This thing was a blast to drive. An absolute sleeper as it would blow Camaros away off the line. It would even beat a cyclone off the line till 40 MPH as the tires gripped so well with the weight.
14 This was the first vehicle I painted and I did it in a week as I took my vacation week to do it. Worked my butt off on this too.
15 I had spent a lot of time on the motor install and all the factory gauges and lights worked and needed nothing. Drove like a dream.
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19 I always put a rubber mat in the bed and the inside of the bed was not repainted.
20 This was after repaint and I was so mad about having to let it go I didn't clean the engine compartment.
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22 The tune port motor was sweet I got the same MPG with this combo as I did with the 4 banger. It idled at speed as the 4 banger was screaming.
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24 First guy that came to look at it bought it. We went for a test drive and I told him to let his hands off the wheel and we were going 60mph. He braked to a stopped and it stayed in our lane.
25 It even got in Four Wheeler magazine as it was one of the early conversions. Trailmaster said they never had someone use their kit with a v8 conversion so we talked back and forth on any problems. Their was none.
