Daihatsu Taft F50

It's been a month since I last updated this and although I've still been pottering most days, I don't have many photos showing major changes, partly because it's been small jobs, little details, and partly because I'm rubbish at remembering pictures.

First up was the windscreen wipers (top of screen). When the truck came to me the wiper motor was held on by cable ties above the passenger door. It sat in the shed until the other week when I though I'd better tackle it. Turns out the original wiper and pull / push rod assembly had been removed years ago and a Lucas assy fitted (badly) looked like it may have come straight from a midget / mgb or something. I set about the mechanism, shortening the tubes which hold the driveshaft and made a proper mount for the motor. Made a closing panel and had my mate zinc plate some of the hardware and added a lick of paint.

My truck is a 4 speed, but they did a 5 speed option, so I've been hunting for of me of those for a while. Found a chap breaking one, so went up to remove it the other week. I was kind of dreading it as looking at mine it looked like the easiest way of getting it out was removing the engine and box as one lump. I almost took my engine crane, glad I didn't though as the chap rolled out a forklift and pretty much ripped the rotten as a pair body from the chassis, then flipped it on its side so I didn't have to lay on the floor at any point. Took 60 mins to remove the box, steam clean it and load it in my car. Happy as Larry.

Before removing the box I checked the lever went in all 5 gears + reverse, but it wasn't until I got home that I did this while turning the input shaft and making sure the output shaft span. Typically, in 5th gear there was no output!!
Again google to the rescue, what did we do before the internet? This box is very similar to a fourtrak box where there is what looks like a fill plug near the top. This is actually a pivot rod for the 5th gear lever, people remove it in error, the lever drops off and falls into the pit of the gearbox, never to be seen again, (GB out job) if you're unlucky it jams in the box and causes catastrophe. (Pivot rod in top of picture, lever missing in action)




The truck that this box came from had 35k miles on it so I'm guessing this or rust may have caused it's demise.
Luckily I found the missing selector arm in the bottom of the box and, although it's kissed a couple of gears there is no major damage.

Part of the plan for the 5 speed upgrade is to team it up with a fourtrak engine. Same basic block pattern, so it really is bolt in. The fourtrak is turbo'd though, so as well as better parts availability I'll gain about 40% torque and bhp.
Keeping my eyes peeled for an MOT failure fourtrak, they seem to only be a couple of hundred quid more than people are asking for bare engines and I know everything I'll need will be at hand.

Shame its not being used, but I've had repairs to do on every panel on mine which was mot'd and the breaker I visited the other week on 35k miles was pretty much the most rusty vehicle i've ever seen.
I got an original sales pamphlet and it mentions galvanised panels, yet to find evidence of that....

Sooner or later the engine needs the come out, wether that be to fit the new gearbox or a replacement engine. Either way, it will give me a chance to tidy and paint the bulkhead, fortunately can't see any rust.
This afternoon I thought I'd make a start removing the rad. We know that coolant is one of the worst fluids known that man if it's spilt as it never dries up, so I came up with a cunning plan using a funnel with a hose taped to it which directed the flow into a tub.
The first litre or two worked like a charm until a load of crud washed out and blocked the funnel.




Cosmic.
I then stood there like a pleb with my finger in the drain hole looking for something within reach to unblock it.
2 kitchen rolls later and the floor is just damp now. The water was black and looks like it's been sitting in a ditch for 40 years and the pipes have got barnacles in.
Oh well, something to do.

If you are brave a dishwasher tab through the system might help quite a lot - be aware if you use it hot the solution can be nasty - caustic is doing the work and it's unpleasant cold and nasty hot.
James

Thanks chaps, given it a good flush with a hose so most of the loose sludge is gone. Going to give it a soak with something tomorrow

It's out.
What a heavy beast of a thing, took me a good few hours, just being methodical and getting everything ready for the lift.
Some good lessons learnt for re-installation. When the crane was at max lift the sump wouldn't pass over the cross member, fortunately I could lower the truck about 4"
Then, even with the load leveller thing on my crane the gearbox was still pointing downwards, a big ratchet strap around the transfer box back up to the crane hook managed to pull it level.
I kind of knew from removing the spare box the other week, but there is no way I'm putting the box and engine back separately, probably doable with a 2 post lift.
It's opened out the engine bay nicely for the next round of works: clean and paint the bulkhead / gearbox tunnel, make some brake lines etc, etc.
I suppose Christmas is a possibility, but no rush. I need to sell my Lotus to make space in the garage for a Fourtrak breaker first.

Just noticed the steering box looks like a Range Rover one.

Love these little 4x4s. I had a coupke of sj410's a few years ago.

I'd love to get my hands on an unmodified one now.

Great job, it's going to be awesome when done.