1978 Toyota SR5- One for Dad

Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.

legopnuematic

Licensed Junk Dealer
Supporting Member
Joined
Oct 27, 2016
Posts
5,135
Reaction score
19,120
Location
MO
First Name
Spencer
Truck Year
1971, 1̶9̶7̶4, 1976, 1979,1̶9̶8̶5, 2002
Truck Model
Dart Swinger, Sierra 10, C10 Cheyenne, C10 Big Ten, Silverado 10, Ram 2500
Engine Size
225/6, 350 c.i., 350 c.i., 5.9l Cummins
Last night was changing the pitman arm. Things were going well until I go to the point of installing the new arm, drawing it on with the nut and then the socket starting spinning and the threads went missing on the nut, and kind of messed up on the sector shaft.

Great.

Measure and find that the nut is an M20x1.5, was not able to find a regular nut, but that is a common size for a spindle/axle nut, which we were able to get in town. Some time with my opti-visor and needle files I was able to get the messed up threads straightened out enough, some lapping compound on the nut to help work it in. I had removed the box to do that.

I heated the spline end of the pitman arm in hopes to expand it some and help get it down the splines, drop it on, some hammering gets it far enough on the splines. I substituted the lock washer for a flat washer and loctited the threads before installing the nut. The reason for that was that with the lock washer, it would put the nut back into the area with bad threads, with the flat washer the nut grabs plenty of un damaged threads. Not really what I wanted to do, but I feel that will be fine. The new nut is longer and the non hex area is oblong as a locking feature.
You must be registered for see images attach

Pulled the wheels off and threw on some others I had as we have an appointment to get new tires installed. Didn’t take any pictures other than the above, so here is a photo of the two knuckleheads:
You must be registered for see images attach
 

legopnuematic

Licensed Junk Dealer
Supporting Member
Joined
Oct 27, 2016
Posts
5,135
Reaction score
19,120
Location
MO
First Name
Spencer
Truck Year
1971, 1̶9̶7̶4, 1976, 1979,1̶9̶8̶5, 2002
Truck Model
Dart Swinger, Sierra 10, C10 Cheyenne, C10 Big Ten, Silverado 10, Ram 2500
Engine Size
225/6, 350 c.i., 350 c.i., 5.9l Cummins
Dad and I spent some time up at the shop working away yesterday. Did not take any pictures, but got the fuel tank reinstalled, the new pump works as it should.

Extracted a broken bolt for one of the headlight mounting plates. Emptied the blast cabinet to find one of the headlight springs and a grommet that got away from dad and fell into the abyss.

Cleaned the foliage out of the heater ducts, it needs to be pulled out and completely gone through at some point. Found that the resistor was fine, the switch is why the blower wouldn’t work on low, got that working.

Cleaned the drivers door glass and after a few tries got it set into the channel piece with new setting tape. Glass reinstalled in the door. New door weather stripping from precision installed.

New tires were mounted on the wheels Friday, got those reinstalled and torqued on.

And probably some other stuff I’m forgetting.

The plan is to get it finished up and drive it home tonight. We will see.
 

legopnuematic

Licensed Junk Dealer
Supporting Member
Joined
Oct 27, 2016
Posts
5,135
Reaction score
19,120
Location
MO
First Name
Spencer
Truck Year
1971, 1̶9̶7̶4, 1976, 1979,1̶9̶8̶5, 2002
Truck Model
Dart Swinger, Sierra 10, C10 Cheyenne, C10 Big Ten, Silverado 10, Ram 2500
Engine Size
225/6, 350 c.i., 350 c.i., 5.9l Cummins
Got the headlights reinstalled, roughly aimed, installed some mirrors, replaced a couple of bulbs (all were still OE bulbs!), drained the water and added coolant and hit the road.
You must be registered for see images attach

First stop was to film it up and the fuel gauge moved to full, we will see how accurate it is. Held 60mph without much issue.
You must be registered for see images attach

And made it home.
You must be registered for see images attach

Unloaded the stuff out of the bed and headed for the tire shop to drop off for an inspection.
You must be registered for see images attach

You must be registered for see images attach
 

legopnuematic

Licensed Junk Dealer
Supporting Member
Joined
Oct 27, 2016
Posts
5,135
Reaction score
19,120
Location
MO
First Name
Spencer
Truck Year
1971, 1̶9̶7̶4, 1976, 1979,1̶9̶8̶5, 2002
Truck Model
Dart Swinger, Sierra 10, C10 Cheyenne, C10 Big Ten, Silverado 10, Ram 2500
Engine Size
225/6, 350 c.i., 350 c.i., 5.9l Cummins
Passed the safety inspection, got an alignment. I didn’t put it in the handicapped spot, that was the tire shop.
You must be registered for see images attach

Then dad and I went to the license office and he got the title transferred, taxes paid, and registered. We got plates so we are legal now.

Just over one month to get it back on the road from sitting for a decade. Not bad in my opinion.
 

bucket

Super Moderator
Staff member
Moderator
Joined
Aug 3, 2010
Posts
35,099
Reaction score
43,613
Location
Usually not in Ohio
First Name
Andy
Truck Year
'77, '78, '79, '84, '88
Truck Model
K5 thru K30
Engine Size
350-454
It passed the safety inspection with trailer tires? Or did they got swapped and I neglected to read that part...
 

legopnuematic

Licensed Junk Dealer
Supporting Member
Joined
Oct 27, 2016
Posts
5,135
Reaction score
19,120
Location
MO
First Name
Spencer
Truck Year
1971, 1̶9̶7̶4, 1976, 1979,1̶9̶8̶5, 2002
Truck Model
Dart Swinger, Sierra 10, C10 Cheyenne, C10 Big Ten, Silverado 10, Ram 2500
Engine Size
225/6, 350 c.i., 350 c.i., 5.9l Cummins
It passed the safety inspection with trailer tires? Or did they got swapped and I neglected to read that part...
Post 63, no pitchers though.

Had a new set of Ironman all season tires installed.
 

legopnuematic

Licensed Junk Dealer
Supporting Member
Joined
Oct 27, 2016
Posts
5,135
Reaction score
19,120
Location
MO
First Name
Spencer
Truck Year
1971, 1̶9̶7̶4, 1976, 1979,1̶9̶8̶5, 2002
Truck Model
Dart Swinger, Sierra 10, C10 Cheyenne, C10 Big Ten, Silverado 10, Ram 2500
Engine Size
225/6, 350 c.i., 350 c.i., 5.9l Cummins
Not much to report, water pump started leaking, so it sat for about a week while waiting for parts to arrive.

A 1978 could have one of two varieties of water pump, depending on when in the model year it was mfg. This one ended up being the later style (difference best I can see is the later one has one more drilled hole than the earlier one). This was good as I was able to source an Aisin pump, made in Japan.

Sunday I replaced the pump and no leak so far. Not too bad of a job, tools required were a 10MM wrench, socket and a 12mm socket and a scraper for the old gasket.
 

legopnuematic

Licensed Junk Dealer
Supporting Member
Joined
Oct 27, 2016
Posts
5,135
Reaction score
19,120
Location
MO
First Name
Spencer
Truck Year
1971, 1̶9̶7̶4, 1976, 1979,1̶9̶8̶5, 2002
Truck Model
Dart Swinger, Sierra 10, C10 Cheyenne, C10 Big Ten, Silverado 10, Ram 2500
Engine Size
225/6, 350 c.i., 350 c.i., 5.9l Cummins
@idahovette everything made it back into the toolbox.

I do have a backup plan if needed:
You must be registered for see images attach
 
Top