I finally did it. Ever since seeing Eric D's Herc'd truck <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />, I've been thinking about doing it. This weekend I coated my truck with Durabak coating. The color was supposed to be darker...I think it looks better in person than in the photo. This is "forest green". I spend alot of time in the woods fishing and so forth, so i think I can live with it.



Oh yeah, I also replaced my old "a$$-buster" seats with a pair from a Mazda Protege...HUGE improvement that I recommend to all...

you have successfully made an already ugly truck even uglier

:golf clap: <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

j/k man, if you dig it, thats all that matters. UV ought to fade it a little and once it's dirty it will probably look just right <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />

Not exactly the kind of friendly commentary I expect to see in this place...In fact, that's downright deserving of the old <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/bird.gif" alt="" /> icon...

hey i was just ribbing, man. don't take offense. i love the uglyness <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/notooth.gif" alt="" />

jay leno was doing a test drive for one of the car tv shows and he said something like:
'the german's have a word for ugly/beautiful. I don't know what that word is, but this is that word'

<img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" />

edit: btw, did you repaint your grill or is that stock?

Hey, I dig it, for what it matters. Reminds me of my 1st car, 1963 Ford falcon(similar green color) see it here ]http://www.cardomain.com/memberpage/402525/3] After seeing it....you will see how yours is "forest" green. Anyways, i like your grille, my uncle has a trooper 2 with the same grille, and his is stock. Being that you fish/camp/in the woods alot, I can see how it will help. My 93 Trooper has black paint, and now its not holding up to the branches I scrap against ocassionally. good job with the dura-baking <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />

Thats pretty dang cool lookin'. You should now do the bottom (frame etc.) and then you can float that baby down a river without problems! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />

kickass!

how much durabak did it take? how did you apply it? <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />

Curious on the seat swap as my gutted 86 is in need of some new ones.

What year Protege? What did it take to mount them, such as braket work etc.? Any pics? I would like to see how they look, to me certain seats "fit" the style others don't. I am trying to avoid the aftermarket as the prices and the syles are not what I'm looking for in my soon to be DD.

Thanks
Craig

Thanks, Eric...I had a printout of your thread when I did it. Thanks for all of your help. (For anyone interested in this type of thing, Eric posted detailed instructions in a post from November, 2002). I ended up using every bit of 2 gallons for the entire truck and basically followed your instructions. I'm not real crazy about the color, but like I said, I guess can live with it. I'll try to post a pic from my wifes 5 mpixel camera....this photo sucks.

Craig,

I remembered a thread here about using Mazda seats...but I'd forgotten which model and I really wanted something cool like Acura Integra seats.

I am fortunate to have a friend that owns a salvage yard here in town. He let me wander around measuring seat bases all day...The last car I looked at...and I looked at all of them <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" />...was a Mazda Protege. I didn't get the year, but it was a late model in good shape...I'm guessing '98-'01 model. He gave me both seats for $35.00 if I pulled them myself. That took all of about 15 minutes to remove 8 bolts.

I had another buddy weld a simple 2"x 2" tab made from 3/8" sheet steel at each corner of the seat frame, right over top of the bolt holes. I then pulled the old seats out ('86 Trooper seats have a 2" riser/spacer on each side that need to be removed from the rails, rather than just the old seat itself. The spacers are not necessary on the new seats as they are much taller) and set the new seats right on the rails to measure the bolt holes. I used some of my wifes red nail polish to line up and mark the holes on the new seat tabs (she never found out <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />) and drilled away with a cobalt bit...4 bolts on each seat; done deal. I didn't need any spacers. I did have to deactivate the auto-slide on the passenger seat that eases rear entry...nobody ever sits in the back anyway.

The Protege seats are extemely firm and comfortable. They fit me fine, and I'm 6'5" and weigh 275 lbs. I put a bunch of miles on this truck and my chiropractor basically insisted that I get new seats. Since installing them, my back pain has disappeared...no lie. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" />