So just the other day I got my antique plate for my nearly stock '85 SR5, and it occured to me that I plan on driving this truck for a few more years. I own an auto repair shop, so it's in top running condition, but the body needs some help. I put a new bed on it about 9 years ago, and it's doing fine since I moved to the south from Chicago shortly after replacing it. So I'm considering taking it to a restoration place and having the cab taken off and redone. I can find doors, fenders, a hood and valance for it, but I wonder if I could find a NOS cab? Does anyone make one? I figure if i can find somewhere I trust to do the job I can have it all done for about $5k, but if I could get a reproduction cab I would probably just do it myself. Any good resources for sheet metal for these things? I'm not a body man (although I did work in a collision/ restoration place for a while in my younger days) and would rather leave fixing floors and rockers to the professionals.

Wow, good question. I know of aluminum aftermarket cabs and tubs, but those are generally only for Land Cruisers. What about a rust free cab from the southwest? Not a spec of rust on my '85 4Runner, factory paint even. I'm assuming that yours is a 4WD, stick, standard cab?

no NEW cabs avaliable in steel .
currently there are no new aftermarket cabs avaliable anywhere , only used .

We .. http://www.toyotafiberglass.com are eventually going to build a replacement .. but not for a year or so I imagine . (currently booked for 6 months)


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Anyone ever used the alfaparts wheel arches? Do they fit up well?

I talked to the guy who runs alfaparts a few years ago. He said they were pretty bad and that he was going to discontinue carrying them. Not a ringing endorsement, eh?

There are used cabs in the wrecking yards for $300. Down there where you live it wouldn't be too hard to find a rust-free one. The only question is, how to title the vehicle if your donor has a salvage title. Better to find a whole vehicle with a good title and start from scratch. And way less costly than $5000 <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/zombie.gif" alt="" /> -- Matt

Good idea. Yeah, that might be a good option. When I get so far I'll look at just how bad this is and figure out costs. I know there is a hole in the passenger side floor (the carpet balloons up at speed)and the driver's side rocker is about gone. This poor thing lived most of it's life in Illinois, but we're in Ga. now. Think I've got a pic of it here somewhere...


The bed was a new one from Toyota right before we left Chicago to move down here. It was shipped to the body shop, e-coated and seam sealed, painted, installed, and straight to the RhinoLiner place. I've had it going on 13 years now, and want to give it to my son when he starts driving. He's 8.

we use to sell them .. well actually only for 1 month before we dropped the line .
do a search on any of the message boards , you'll not see any installs !! why ?
I talked to the owner of the company , and he said " most people dont install them , they usually just throw them in the corner of there garage " .
I can attest to that , as we have some old stock that we use as sheet metal pieces for making other things


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