Bringing a '80 Truck Back To Life

[BrianB34]

Hi everyone, new to the site and like it. I'm a Ford Ranger person but I just picked up a special vehicle from my dad.

My dad had a 1980 Toyota Pickup that he bought new and had it for several years. I found out over Christmas that he put it out to pasture, literally, when he got a new Avalon a few years back.

That being said I got the truck from him and plan to do a restoration to bring it back to life. This truck has a lot of sentimental value to me and I hopefully will teach my kids to drive on it.

With that I need your help. It has sat in a field in Georgia for about 3-4 years. I put some new plugs, wires, cap, rotor and battery on it and tried to fire it. I could only get it to fire if I pored gas down the throat of the carb. The fuel pump is working but the gas left in the tank wouldn't be worth squat so the carb is shot and needs a rebuild.

Other things it needs are new tires, new seat and some minor bodywork where the batter was. One other thing that was odd is the brake fluid had turned to tar so I'm going to replace the entire brake system except the hard lines which I'll flush out.

I'm also going to replace the radiator and the cooling lines.

My questions is there anything I need to watch out for? I plan on towing it back to Michigan from Georgia in May on a 2 wheel tow dolly.

[ttownjoeshow]

just my 2 cents, i would pour a little 2 stroke oil in the sparkplug holes and let it sit fer a bit, like a day. just because the pistons would be dry......good luck!!

[BrianB34]

Thank you for the tip, I'll do that. It did fire but needs some work to make it roadworthy.

[SITNLOWSITNFAT]

Don't forget the oil change. Make sure its still has compresion. I'm going though the same thing myself. I just pick up a 82 from a buddy who has had it sence it was new and let it sit for about 2-3 yrs.

[BrianB34]

Plan to Right now I'm debating have a friend come down with me and get it totally running because Uhaul wants 200 bucks to rent a dolly plus I need to get a class 2 hitch to pull it which is another 125. I'd rather put that 325 into the truck.

[80toy]

I like your story. i own a 1980 4x4 pickup that my grandfather bought new, and i did a minor restoration on it after he had let it sit for a while. mine has had some problems with the front axle leaking grease out on to the hubs. if yours is not a 4x4 you couldnt have this problem, but if it is you should check. they also have a weak exhaust manifold, so be careful with that. they tend to leak and burn up gaskets. i had longer studs put i mine and it helped. also, check the gear lube and i think putting magnetic drain plugs in your axle, tranny (if manual) and transfer case are a good idea. lets you get an idea of what is going on with your gears. i know you first posted this in Jan, but if you happen to read this, i am very interested in how your project turns out. let me know -80toy