Looking for massive restoration informations! (bodywork)

[WarpzoneQc]

Hey guy's, I recently got a 97 4runner, 260 000km's (162 000miles)

The overall truck is in good shape exept a few things here in there!
I have access to all the mecanical information's such as wiring, overhaul, torques and ect (for stock 4runner) and I can do pretty much all mechanical work's my self with no problem.

Here is where I would need some help/tutorial/information, that I can't access and/or have basic or no knowledge about a restoration project. BodyWork!

I have NEVER! Done body work, but their is a first at everything right? I can get Professional help when need or required but I want to do most of it my self to save some $bucks$!!! Here in east canada, car's over 10-15years old are mostly all rusted through unless the owner keep'ed it stored in the winter time. But I have gotten my hands on a (relatively) clean canadian 4runner, mechanical is very clean but body is absolute dump!

I do not want to be a showroom car, but I do want a clean 4runner. I have access to Tools, garage, professional's, hands and more!


Here is what I want to do:

Complete frame overhaul; sandblast everything, repair what is need and get going.

Complete floor makeover; since the floor is rusted here and their, I don't have time to juste cut replace cut replace cut replace so might as well do it once for the rest of this trucks lifetime, FloorPan's from the front to the back!

Rockers; Worst part of my trucks (and most canadian car's) is the rusted rockers, I need a complete delete/replace rocker job, since garage here charge ridiculous amounts (2000-3000$) I figured out I will do it my self; I will add a 2x6 or 2x8 steel square tubing right Under it to prevent damage to the rocker during offroad adventure's

Door's/Hood will be completely restored

Tailgate's need's a complete replacement (to much damage)

Roof of the trucks is pretty spanking new (exept decoloration from the sun)

Front fenders are clean but rear fender's will need a small body job

Once all that is done, I will get it professionally painted from a friend (who has done this for a long time and work's in a paintshop) for cheap/no labor cost! Yay!


I have and will keep reading tutorial's about bodywork but I was wondering if any of you guy's have some information's about some of the things going on here (body).

Some of you will call me crazy but hey guess what, I want to get it done, I know it will cost more money than buy a clean one (wich a really clean one don't exist in canada or sale for 15 000$+ and have hidden issues like all of them)

Once all body work is done here are the things I want to buy/get done;
Transmission Swap from automatic to manual (I've seen the thread's around here )
Will buy a new front/rear bumper for offroad usage

Call me crazy I dont care :infidel:

 

[hang10]

IMHO- I would travel to get cleaner,rust free body. Mechanical issues are mostly cheaper and easier to repair then rust/body repair.

 

[WarpzoneQc]

IMHO- I would travel to get cleaner,rust free body. Mechanical issues are mostly cheaper and easier to repair then rust/body repair.

if i was to travel lets si CA or TX, it would be a 1 week road weekend, to find people on craigslist who are not reliable? And then i have to pay a couple grands for the trucks, taxes, ask Toyota for a paper that lets me take it to canada (if they let me) than pay custody, pay taxes again, get a inspection in quebec, find a drl module, canadian cluster... thats a shit lot of trouble... like i said, i dont want a showroom car, i just want it clean. If i was to go that route (getting it in the US) I would buy something that is Worth the investisment like a Datsun or a old charger/chevelle/challenger, wich is Worth money up here... the truck even if its super clean it isnt Worth much in quebec ^^ their isnt many 4runner over 4k's up here, they all rusted out before reaching 2016

 

[IBallEngineer]

This is not a :flamethrwoer2: job!

I am of the opinion that you aren't equipped to do floor or rocker panel replacement if you have to ask how to do it. There is a reason they want so much money to do it professionally. It requires a lot of specialized equipment and tools, not to mention the skill/experience. There is a write up on this forum about someone changing their rocker panels, do a search and find it. I don't know how skilled that person is or was when he attempted it, maybe you can learn from him. But answering your request for a tutorial is a bit much. As a lifelong body work person, I would hesitate doing this job at home myself, and I've done it many times!

I'm not saying you can't do this, I have no idea how skilled you are. My observation is that based on your questions, it's a non-sequitur.

:cheer2:

 

[WarpzoneQc]

This is not a :flamethrwoer2: job!

I am of the opinion that you aren't equipped to do floor or rocker panel replacement if you have to ask how to do it. There is a reason they want so much money to do it professionally. It requires a lot of specialized equipment and tools, not to mention the skill/experience. There is a write up on this forum about someone changing their rocker panels, do a search and find it. I don't know how skilled that person is or was when he attempted it, maybe you can learn from him. But answering your request for a tutorial is a bit much. As a lifelong body work person, I would hesitate doing this job at home myself, and I've done it many times!

I'm not saying you can't do this, I have no idea how skilled you are. My observation is that based on your questions, it's a non-sequitur.

:cheer2:

I understand, I do know how to patch floor rust, like pans or parts of the floor, but I mean, since I dont want to do a floor part here and their, I want to do redo the whole thing, I could figure out the plan myself and I guess ill have to do so

 

[1985taylor1925]

Man, I would just sell the truck and find a nice clean 3rd gen. You're talking about a massive amount of time and money. Though I do understand wanting to do a restoration. And it's always good to see a truck saved from eventually finding its way to a junk yard.

Edit: there are a ton of nice 3rd gens in Vancouver. You could get one shipped to you? Or take a road trip. At least it's not as far as ca or tx

 

[diverscale]

Got a clean one for 4500$ last september, and I live in quebec. There was minor rust issues to fix, but nothing that some grinding, drilling and some matte black tremclad could not handle.

Not saying you should not do it, but I am telling you they exist, just pretty effing rare (mine was rust-proofed every year, with proofs, and still had some rust)

Though, I had to
fix rust on the rocket panels on the inner side where the door closes
fix rust around the licence plate, and a few windows
replace both rear axle seals
replace rear drum brakes
replace pcv valve
replace rear suspension coils
replace front and rear link kits
replace front sway bar bushings
replace hatch struts
replace heater fan
replace radiator
fix leak in the roof
and lot of other things I can't remember, but all these jobs were not that bad at all, compared to your intended fix.

So, if I ever was in your position, I would search away for the holy grail, not-too rusted truck, and keep yours for the parts, and fix the new one. You will probably have to involve the price of my truck into the repairs you are going to do anyway.

Found this one which might interest you, located in laval http://www.autotrader.ca/a/Toyota/4Runner/Laval/Quebec/5_27333383_CT200441510511700/?ursrc=hl&showcpo=ShowCPO&orup=1_15_1

says no rust, but needs a differential, which you have. Probably could bargain at 3000$

 

[Kanoe]

Don't forget about Alberta either. The prices seem reasonable there and they are in better shape than eastern canada cars.

 

[amalik]

If you want to consult with [MENTION=3959]slacker[/MENTION] and see what his prices are, he is the king of toyota fiberglass up there in Canada and getting rid of all rust permanently etc with fiberglass. He does often comment on the boards though that he has a 2-3 year waiting list

Just check out some of his customer builds here or YotaTech and prepare to drool.

Like [MENTION=102597]IBallEngineer[/MENTION] said, asking how to to bodywork on a forum is like asking how to yank pistons and rods and rebuild an engine according to all the FSM tolerances and so on. You may find some guides and tutorials and some youtube videos here and there, but there's a reason people pay professionals for that kind of work, it's simply not DIY in 99% of cases. People who do nothing but said type of work for a living, day in and day out.

You could also probably YouTube a surgeon replacing someone's heart... would you go ahead and DIY attempt that in the kitchen on someone?

 

[WarpzoneQc]

good points but hey... thing is, ill buy a black 4runner 3000k, have the bumper replace front to back, have it repainted all over again, then ill find the TRUE issues like leaking seals, broken flexplate and all those other stuff that auto sellers are so good at hidding! and itle end up costing as much cus I will still want to redo the floor cus no way in hell a 19year old truck in canada is rust free! frame ill probably be painted black to look nice but in 1year all rust will come back... thats just how auto sellers work, espacially if its lower than the retail value... here are some pics! It looks clean but it isnt great! (in my opinion) anyways..

 

[WarpzoneQc]

i will have more pics soon for the rockers, floor, frame ect, it is a nice project, it is not perfect but mechanicly speaking, I only need to change the flexplate...

 

[WarpzoneQc]

is their a site for aftermarket 3rd gen toytoy parts