My wife has a HiJet Jumbo 4x4 and I have a HiJet Jumbo 2x4. While searching for a windshield, I ran across two more regular cabs that had mad major rust. My wife was searching for something in the local penny saver and noticed an auction with a picture of a Diahatsu as one of the sale items. Wel she scheduled my Saturday to go to the auction (100 miles away) and see if i could buy it. The rig had caught on fire but was a 4x4 regular cab with a dump/scissor lift bed. The fire gutted the cab and the wiring harness. No problem. I will just swap the dump bed assy over to my wifes 4x4 Jumbo. Well, the frames and supports are different so that was out of the question. Here is what I started with once I got it home. As you all know, pictures do not do it justice.
I got the bed up using a Hi-Lift Jack and wood blocks. I could now see the extent of the fire. It is bad, But not as bad as I expected. This is when I found out the frames were different on the Tipper Models. :frustration:
I thought about it for a week. I could cut and splice the frame pieces I need or I could use this as a parts rig and continue my search for a Tipper in better condition or rebuild this one.
Not backing down from a Challenge, the decision was made to rebuild this one. I began gutting the interior. Most everything was melted due to Heat but it only smoldered and made the plastic things droopy. I think.
Most of the black soot from the interior was removed with a Scotch-Brite pad and warm soapy water, and some Elbow Leverage.
wow you are a bold man. that is a lot of work! hey if you still need a windshield i have one available on my parts truck. i go up to bakersfield/porterville area once a month.
Starting to lay down some color. The paint is a satin finish that is a duplicate of the Toyota 1964 Italian Olive that my Big 4x4 is painted.
It is time to see what parts fit and what parts don't. I pulled the Dash and heater components and other components from one of the parts rigs. I was amazed how many hiding spaces there are for leaves and nuts.
The inside rear portion of the cab took a bit more than the Scotch-Brite to get clean. The interior is painted and going back in.
The interior is done to the point I can steer it so I lowered back to the ground and put it in the shop. Power Train is the next project so Up on the Big Boy Jack stands it went. My big 4x4 is sitting next to it in the shop.
I pulled the engine from a donor rig and then proceeded to swap the transmissions and other parts such as the double pulley for the Hydraulic pump and other brackets. It is kind of weird holding a Transmission and Transfer Case assy in one hand. LOL
I upgraded the 6 3/8" Clutch to a 7". I used the Factory Service Tool for the Clutch alignment. (Note: Every Factory I have ever been in has a bolt and nut and a roll of electrical tape) The engine/transmission/T-Case is ready to install.
Engine is in. I Need Motor Mounts and the Engine Carriage Mounts. If you know of anybody who has them, please let me know.
Removed the wiring harness or what was left of it. Pulled a harness from another 2wd donor rig and installed it. Dash is in.
The original radiator has a few holes in the lower tank and the cores are way to brittle to be reused. Radiator in a 2wd is a bit different. Removed the side mounts from the 4x4 and resoldered it to the 2wd radiator. Radiator is in correctly. There is the proper room for the wiring harness, brake lines, cables, blinker fluid tubing, etc.
ask me in my part-out thread.. we don't want to hack D'Animal's thread. http://www.minitrucktalk.com/showthread.php?t=8661
