Shark's '74 just a fun truck
 

Hey guys,
First time joining this forum, well, first time in 45 years I finally own a square body! Always wanted one, just never had one.

I bought the truck from the second owner (he did the engine work and a bad paint job) and he purchased off the original owner who used it as a ranch truck.

It has some dents, mostly in tailgate area, which I'll probably just leave. Character ;)
Little rust above the wheelwells that I'll need to rid at some point.

First on the list, it smelled funny inside.

I removed the seat and what was left of the carpet and headliner. Found one big old mouse nest in the back corner. Lots of scrubbing with hot water- tide-bleach and it's smelling nice again.

Took care of some surface rust on the floor, and gave a quick rattle can.

Installed a new heater core, and new carpet.

Scrubbed all the trim panels, and gave a fresh coat of charcoal, factor color out close enough.

Glued fresh headliner material onto the cardboard piece and put looks much better.

Re: Shark's '74 just a fun truck
 

Little shake down ride around the lake to see how it's driving.

It did not like to start in the cold at all. Looking at it closer, it was a manual choke carb with a little piece of wire to hold it 1/2 way open lol.

I installed an electric choke, and it starts beautifully now.

Re: Shark's '74 just a fun truck
 

The heat was not the greatest, and after a stop for groceries, I noticed it was starting to steam the windows a bit.

This was the deciding factor to do the heater core. $37 from rock auto, not bad at all.

Got the box out, and no kidding, had a handful of nuts/bolts/washers, and other junk just rolling around in there.

Gave it a good scrubbing before resembling with new core.

I have awesome heat now, and the sliders/controls work properly now too.


Also replaced the door rubber seal, and the window seals.

Re: Shark's '74 just a fun truck
 

My folks and my brother were in town for new years. My Dad, brother and I went out for a spin and had some fun.

I don't think the 3 of us have ever laughed so much.

The tires that are on it are 235's. So I don't feel to bad about wasting some of them.

Re: Shark's '74 just a fun truck
 

Nice looking truck.:metal:

It's amazing with a few little changes can make a totally different driving experience.

Re: Shark's '74 just a fun truck
 

Nice truck, I've been looking at the squarebodies a lot lately.

Re: Shark's '74 just a fun truck
 

Welcome from Tucson AZ

Re: Shark's '74 just a fun truck
 

Thanks for the welcome, guys!

I finished giving the door panels a little refresh. The arm rests were shot so I had to order replacements.

Gave everything a quick spray to even out the faded plastic. Look almost new again

Next up, finish cleaning up the rear wheel wells and frame, wire brush on a grinder, then starting on a 4" lowering.... Will see how that goes :)

Re: Shark's '74 just a fun truck
 

Oh and here under the hood.
Needs a little wire cleanup, but it's nicely built. Vortech heads etc.

Re: Shark's '74 just a fun truck
 

In prep of the drop, I am cleaning up the frame and everything else I can reach underneath.

It is a weird mix of possibly some old under coating, dried ranch mud, and who knows what else.

Surprisingly solid and clean underneath most of it.

Here's a before/after.

Re: Shark's '74 just a fun truck
 

No going back now lol.
Cleaning up the frame then the belltech brackets go on.

Removed a broken leaf out of the rear spring pack as well, will see how low it ends up

Re: Shark's '74 just a fun truck
 

Looking Good. :metal:

Those Springs are known to crack in the center.

If you have a Friend that does Blacksmithing stuff ;)

You could donate the broken spring to them.

Re: Shark's '74 just a fun truck
 

Good info thanks!

I got the first corner done and put back together. Hope to get the passenger side done tomorrow after work.

Bit over 3" lower.

Re: Shark's '74 just a fun truck
 

Well it's 3" lower up front and 4" lower in the back now

A lot of dirt and general crud cleaned up underneath too.

Next up finish exhaust and take out for an alignment.

I did find a leaking rear wheel cylinder so I need to do that too.

Re: Shark's '74 just a fun truck
 

I like it low! Nice job.

Re: Shark's '74 just a fun truck
 

Thanks! I like how it turned out.

Today I got the sway bar bolted back up, fixed a loose shock mount stud up front, swapped mufflers (the magnaflow were just too loud), and drive shaft bolted back up .

Just need to fix the leaking wheel cylinder, and ready to test drive.

Re: Shark's '74 just a fun truck
 

Replaced the leaking wheel cylinder and new shoes on.
I love drum brakes lol.

Should be ready for a test drive tomorrow before the snow comes in!

Re: Shark's '74 just a fun truck
 

It's back together. Brake fixed.

Went for a rip today, on the way to the car wash.

Next up, see if I can "save" the paint.

Going to try wet sanding, compound and polish. Will see.

Re: Shark's '74 just a fun truck
 

It's not perfect, but it's better! I started on the box. Haven't done the door as a comparison.

Wet sand 1500 grit, then 3 stages of compound and a final polish.

Re: Shark's '74 just a fun truck
 

It's cleaning up well, nice work.

Re: Shark's '74 just a fun truck
 

Over 1/2 done now!

Passenger side and then the roof.

Re: Shark's '74 just a fun truck
 

Truck looks like a bunch of fun, and the right color!

Re: Shark's '74 just a fun truck
 

Haha thanks, it's a great color! Don't see a lot of the green.

Finished the passenger front quarter and the front bumper tonight. There is some rust trying to poke through on the wheel well I'll eventually have to deal with.

Re: Shark's '74 just a fun truck
 

What a cool color combo. Love the wheels, I am partial to those. This might be a short build thread, you look almost done!

Re: Shark's '74 just a fun truck
 

Thanks. The wheels are just Rally's from jegs I think. They do have a nice look for this year of truck.

After I'm done buffing the last 2 sections and roof, I have a new set of seatbelts to go in, sway bar bushings up front to replace, and eventually fix the seat foam and recover it once the new upholstery comes in.

Then I hope to do a wood bed, figure out a bike rack for my MTB

Re: Shark's '74 just a fun truck
 

Finished the rear quarter panel and the roof with wet sanding then 3 round of compound and polish.

Looks pretty good now.

Of course, snow-pocalypse lately so I can't take it for a drive for a while

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Weather turned and roads dry.
Got a coating of turtle wax ceramic on it.

Re: Shark's '74 just a fun truck
 

Finally got my seatbelt installed (wanted shoulder belts).

Replaced the front sway bar bushings tonight, just help to tighten things up.

Going to plan to add some 6x9 components, amp, Bluetooth adapter, and probably my old JL 10w6

Re: Shark's '74 just a fun truck
 

Gave it an oil change, and went for a drive with the doggy.

I cleaned up the ground by the gas tank, hoping the gauge might start working, but it's still pegged over full.

Re: Shark's '74 just a fun truck
 

Almost finished the stereo install.

Re: Shark's '74 just a fun truck
 

Just been enjoying the truck.
Had a small oil leak on one of the valve covers I think I fixed it up.
Trying to burn off the tires ;)

Oh yes, and I installed a headlight upgrade.

It's a factory kit to upgrade some older Toyota that had 7" sealed brand, comes with glass lenses, h4 bulbs, harness with relay.

Very nice and was $44 when I got out. On eBay now for$34.

81110-60p70 Toyota Headlamp ASSY

Re: Shark's '74 just a fun truck
 

That's interesting, I looked it up right away. Seems like a good deal. How hard was it to install?

Re: Shark's '74 just a fun truck
 

Completely plug and play, even comes with a pack of zip ties.

Harness was a tad bit longer but easily bunched up and tucked in behind battery.

When you look at Daniel Stern lighting website what they charge for the same glass lenses....
Super deal!

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Can you share a bit more on what you're using to bring the paint back to life? truck coming along great.

Re: Shark's '74 just a fun truck
 

The previous owner unfortunately spray painted over the original paint
He didn't do a very good job.

I had to wet sand the entire thing, did 1000 in the bad spots, 1500, then 2 rounds of compound on a DA, DA polish, and finally wiped on turtle ceramic.

It looks good from 50'. It will never be perfect but that's ok.

Re: Shark's '74 just a fun truck
 

It looks damn good in the pictures! Enjoy! :metal:

Re: Shark's '74 just a fun truck
 

Thanks!

Decided to swap rear bumper, took off the step "farm" bumper and installed a sport chrome bumper.

Added a tucked plate bracket from Hart fab.

Need to grab a pic, I like how it turned out.

I think I'm going to try drilling new holes in frame, and move bumper in about 1.5" to remove the gap.

Re: Shark's '74 just a fun truck
 

Here's the new bumper, and tucked plate bracket.

Much cleaner!

I lost a header mounting bolt, my wife found it on my driveway. Honey, what is this?

Looks like something off the truck lol.

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The other day I ran out of gas on the highway. Lol oops.

Getting very incorrect readings off the sender.

I removed the passenger tank, it was not in terrible shape but dented up.

Ordered a new tank, sender, and straps.

Did some grinding with the wire brush underneath while it was out, and fresh coat of black paint

Resembling now. Cleaned up the brackets and put new straps on.

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Small win. Fixed the horn.

Also found a local guy to reupholster the seat. Probably get it dropped off next week, and then work on getting the second gas tank replaced.