Discussion:
Restored Toyota with a twist

This ends a very long rebuild for me with this old Toyota forklift. I purchased it around this time last year and started in to rebuild it shortly after. I wanted it to be a fun project and to a point it was only for all the hard long hours it took to get it to this point.

Basically everything had to be done. I had to remove all the paint, rust and crap others had done with it over the years before I could even begin to start the rebuild. the first thing I had to do was build a new engine hood for the beast. Toyota wanted over $3000. just for the hood so I fabricated the one you see on it now out of 1/8th plate. This one will be awhile before it rusts out.

Basically I went right through the complete machine. New rings, bearings, lapped the valves and installed new valve stem oils seals. I rebuilt the mast. all new bearings in it as well and had to rebuild some of the hydraulic cylinders because they were leaking. Some of them had to even be re-chromed due to the pitting on them.

After all that was done I sand blasted, primed and painted it. I fabricated the custom stuff such as the headlamp guards. Custom built the rear light bar and all the lights you see in it are strobes. I built sun visor as well and added some more aluminum plate to the sides to pimp it out a bit. The top have a plexy glass top in it now. I added all new gauges and even fabricated new sections of the dash because it was in pretty bad shape. It even has air horns now along with chrome duel exhaust stacks. I had to design some custom adapters to get them to work on the lift but they sound nice so it was worth it.

I removed the old Toyota charging system and it's external voltage regulator and installed a GM alternator with a built in regulator. Of course that's harder than it sounds because I had to make up new brackets to get it to fit. I also added a cool hook up to the engine cover that I can just plug my booster cables into so I don't have to pull up the lid to do it.

Anyway there's much more to this story but I'm sure you'll see by the pictures there was a lot of work involved. One thing I did learn out of this. Never try and rebuild a forklift unless you have a forklift to help. These buggers a very heavy. I'm happy with the outcome. It's runs like new and will come in handy around the shop. Here's some photo's.


Sorry this site won't let me add photo's.
  • Posted 21 May 2009 09:56
  • Modified 21 May 2009 09:57 by poster
  • Discussion started by Wildfire
  • Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
Showing items 1 - 15 of 18 results.
So true my friend. Yes the factory was ZMMSofia. I love this lathe. It's been very good for my business. Very good quality and never a problem. It still looks new. Nice to talk to someone from your country. Thank you very much sir.
  • Posted 29 May 2009 21:58
  • Reply by Wildfire
  • Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
Thank you for the warm words,Wildfire. Especialy when they are from a real expert. Unfortunately this is a proof that all the old is better than the new one. Everything new is in plastic and has a CPU. How to expect a long life?
The factory was ZMM Sofia, isn't it?

Best regards
  • Posted 29 May 2009 21:16
  • Reply by mariy_v
  • LOVECH, Bulgaria
Thanks Dave. I just emailed you.
  • Posted 29 May 2009 10:08
  • Reply by Wildfire
  • Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
62-4FG20, have you got a serial number? I think I have a genuine Toyota engine manual and may be able to get the manual for the frame. Both in pdf.....they are scans so big Mb's let me have your address and I will post you a CD. Look in my profile for my e mail address.
Dave
  • Posted 29 May 2009 01:47
  • Reply by DaveUK
  • BERKSHIRE, United Kingdom
Who bravely dares must sometimes risk a fall.
I don't think you will see that too soon. I'm still hurting from this last one :)

I have a metal lathe that was built back in 1979 and built in Sofia, Bulgaria. You guys build great machinery sir. This lathe was used many times to help in the rebuilding process of this lift and it's one of the best tools I've ever bought. Tip my hat to you for building quality products such as my lathe :)
  • Posted 29 May 2009 00:04
  • Reply by Wildfire
  • Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
The truck is awesome but I think this is only the beginning.The appetite is comming in the process of eathing..... I'm interested to see how will you rebuild an old CLARK(the father of all forklift trucks).
  • Posted 28 May 2009 23:00
  • Reply by mariy_v
  • LOVECH, Bulgaria
Thank you sir. Very much appreciate your kind remarks. Glad you like the lift.
  • Posted 28 May 2009 22:36
  • Reply by Wildfire
  • Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
Great work,Wildfire.
It worths all the time spent.
  • Posted 27 May 2009 17:15
  • Reply by mariy_v
  • LOVECH, Bulgaria
Well I got the custom box built today. Sure wish we could post photo's on here. Anyway if anyone would like to view the making and mounting of the box you can vist our local site.

snagsblog dot com/Forum/phpBB3/viewtopic dot php?f=34&t=2415
  • Posted 24 May 2009 08:20
  • Reply by Wildfire
  • Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
I asked them last summer but they said they weren't in print anymore. I'm to the understanding there's more than one. I think there may be one for mechanical, electrical but I'm not sure. I was hoping someone might have them around that wanted to sell.

Glad you like the lift. Today I'm building a custom aluminum checkered plated storage box to place on the back to put a tow sling and booster cables in. I think you might like that as well. I'll post photo's when I get it completed later today. Thanks for your kind words on my old lift.
  • Posted 23 May 2009 22:23
  • Reply by Wildfire
  • Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
I would think a Toyota dealer can get you the service manual. Wow, that is one sweet ride.
  • Posted 23 May 2009 21:31
  • Reply by mrfixit
  • New York, United States
Ha. I never heard of it. Pretty cool. I put a video up on youtube. Man this place is the toughest to post a link but I'll try.

youtube dot com/watch?v=t41VdsrEiQ0

You can also go to youtube and search for 7863348. That's my video's. There's lots of them there.

Anyone know where I can pruchase the service manuals for this old lift? Would be nice to have in the future. The model # is 62-4FG20
  • Posted 23 May 2009 19:50
  • Reply by Wildfire
  • Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
of course youve been to "pimp my lift"..."http" "pimpmylift.ca"
not dot com, but dot ca
  • Posted 22 May 2009 09:15
  • Reply by edward_t
  • South Carolina, United States
"it's not rocket surgery"
I guess you could say I have to much time on my hands. Last week I only worked 68 paying hours in the shop so all the rest of the time I worked on the lift :)

It was only after I purchased the thing did I realize it was a Hugh job so I took my time and did it only when I felt like doing it. During the winter I spent about a week on the aluminum work and finished up the the rest of it these last two weeks.

I just decided to build a custom box to place on the counter weight to put boaster cables and the like in so I'll post a link to that when I get it done this weekend. I'm machining the parts for it tonight and I be doing the fabrication Saturday.

I've just about restored everything as you may have noticed on the flickr link so I thought a custom forklift would be different. I've looked all over the new for custom lifts and haven't seen any yet but if you know of any I would appreciate the link to view them.
  • Posted 22 May 2009 08:18
  • Reply by Wildfire
  • Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
worked great, thanks
I am tempted to say something like "you must live where you have to be inside for 1/2 a year, and you have too much time and not enough fishing", but -I- would never say anything like that...
  • Posted 22 May 2009 08:04
  • Modified 22 May 2009 09:11 by poster
  • Reply by edward_t
  • South Carolina, United States
"it's not rocket surgery"

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