Hi YouTube!
My day job is working as a general dentist, but I have very little experience with home improvement and diy. My hope is to make helpful videos for other beginners like myself and also to document our journey. I’m still researching which state I want to register this so super easy video today, but kind of long and I did minimal editing because I wanted everything to sound authentic. I loved watching all the other walkthrough videos while we were waiting for the boat so I’d like to contribute to the big pile of existing videos. Hopefully someone found will find this helpful and/or enjoyable! Here are links to main sources of how I’ve imported. Thanks for reading!
https://wittymelon.wordpress.com/portfolio/diy-how-to-import-a-jdm-kei-class-mini-truck-into-the-u-s/
How to import your own kei truck/van/car from Japan to U.S.
byu/nigiko inkeitruck
Sincerely,
A Dentist Does Home Improvement
Disclaimer: I’m not sponsored by anything for this channel. Everything I use is what I think will be best for our situation.
Some notes about editing: I’m still happy with the free Davinci Resolve, but did upgrade the $40 deity mic to rode wireless go 2. I tried a new mic for this voiceover and didn’t notice a huge difference so I’ll continue with the wireless go 2. I also use Canva to make all the thumbnails.
Some notes about social media. Still only have IG and enjoy using it as a photo journal.
TIMESTAMPS
00:00 Intro
00:50 Kei Truck Flatbed
02:30 1992 Subaru Sambar Engine
03:45 1992 Subaru Sambar Exhaust
04:23 Rust Problems
05:23 Mitsui Paint Problems
06:08 1992 Subaru Sambar Battery
06:25 1992 Subaru Sambar Foot Step
06:40 1992 Subaru Sambar Gas Cap
07:11 1992 Subaru Sambar Large Gas Tank
07:35 More Rust Problems
08:01 1992 Subaru Sambar Tires and Rims
08:30 1992 Subaru Sambar Passenger Side
10:54 1992 Subaru Sambar Passenger Storage
11:20 1992 Subaru Sambar Coolant And Wiper Fluid
12:57 1992 Subaru Sambar Front
13:41 1992 Subaru Sambar Windshield Wiper
14:40 1992 Subaru Sambar Driver Side
15:12 1992 Subaru Sambar Empty Dashboard Spots
16:10 1992 Subaru Sambar Signal Lights
17:03 1992 Subaru Sambar Headlights
18:02 1992 Subaru Sambar No Air Conditioner
18:51 1992 Subaru Sambar 5 Speed Manual
19:24 1992 Subaru Sambar AWD
19:55 1992 Subaru Sambar After Market Radio
20:41 1992 Subaru Sambar Driver Seat Adjustment
21:19 1992 Subaru Sambar Mileage
21:52 1992 Subaru Sambar Rust Problems
23:03 1992 Subaru Sambar Bad Paint Problems
23:25 1992 Subaru Sambar Mysterious Visor Thing
24:42 1992 Subaru Sambar Visor And Light
25:10 1992 Subaru Sambar Break Fluid Location
25:54 1992 Subaru Sambar Spare Tire And Coolant
26:48 1992 Subaru Sambar Sticker Soulmates
27:57 Outro
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At one time in my life I had a "small truck" for boating reasons. It was normal size just smaller. This size would def be more convenient but those were never available in my region.
Considering the age of the truck and probably what it's gone through over its life, overall it's in good shape. Definitely some rust issues and bondo-type repairs but they work in a pinch.
if I wanted to be pedantic, that is an accessory belt, fan belt or some similar term that is driving the alternator, a timing belt is much more guarded behind covers
as for sanding rust on the unusual areas.. wire wheels to the rescue.. as for the rust in general, seen worse, hell I've driven worse.. I had a Blazer that was originally sold in wisconsin, basically just rust underneath
Thank you, your truck is 31 years old, but it appears to be in very good condition!
That splodgey stuff you found in the cab around the 9:30 mark looks like painted car body fillter to me – looks like the wheel-arches / door sills are fairly rusted out and have been body-fillered to hold them together. Bit of a "low-end" fix but it's cheap and it works. Doing a better job on that (e.g. filling it in properly from both top and bottom – I could see through the wheel-arch to the filler at one point there) is probably a good idea, but it should be fine. If you can get someone to cut away some of the rust and weld it, that might be better yet.
The rust under the back half of the body looks like surface rust though like you say – a rub-down and paint or some rust-converter paint will help it but it'll be good for years in the California climate, I'd think.
Oh, and the dangly thing on a cable under the passenger seat is a cigarette-lighter / 12V accessory socket, if you didn't figure that out. You can plug a phone charger into it or something 😀
Looks like a fun little project: a rough little industrial truck that's been cared for by someone who knows how to keep a vehicle running but doesn't necessarily care about keeping it pretty. I'm kinda envious TBH. Looking forward to seeing what you do with it, when you do.
Chris Notap has a classic video about how cleaning old seatbelts often gets them working again.
I think the black flappy hanger thing in the cab is to hold hats. You put a hat with a full brim in it upside down and it holds it up out of the way for you while you drive.
There are some rust spray paints that you can use that are designed to convert the rust that is there and prevent it from progressing. Its not as good as sanding or grinding it all out but its much easier.
so in a scenario where you cannot get this vehicle of its kind registered and driving with a CA title. What is your game plan for making this or daily driver, or will that change?