BigUglyMan
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- New Scotland
I've never done it but my understanding is that a 350 Chev swap isn't overly difficult in those trucks. That would solve your gut problems if you have the shop space for a winter project.
I've been ofered this truck for $3000
- Thread starter MD
- Start date
Have it inspected. There's an old saying: "the cobbler's child is never shod". 
A vehicle of that age has either had the necessary work done: bushings, ball joints, rod ends etc. or they now need to be done.
Get under the vehicle on the lift with your flashlight and whoever is doing the inspection and if you chose someone qualified to do it, they will be able to point out what is good and what is not and what it will cost to replace whatever needs replacing. Bring your little hammer and go along inside the frame tap, tap, tapping. Dull sounds and the sound of scale falling off inside will tell you plenty. The problem with the frames is that being a box member rather than a channel or U section, dust and grit collects inside and holds moisture. If they had plugged all the unused holes and closed in the ends so that stuff couldn't get in, they'd last about forever. If the seller was on top of it he periodically flushed the dirt out of the frame.
22R is a superb motor. Head gasket failures mostly due to poor maintenance and resulting overheating IMO.
Solid axles ride harder, but the Hilux still has them today.
A vehicle of that age has either had the necessary work done: bushings, ball joints, rod ends etc. or they now need to be done.
Get under the vehicle on the lift with your flashlight and whoever is doing the inspection and if you chose someone qualified to do it, they will be able to point out what is good and what is not and what it will cost to replace whatever needs replacing. Bring your little hammer and go along inside the frame tap, tap, tapping. Dull sounds and the sound of scale falling off inside will tell you plenty. The problem with the frames is that being a box member rather than a channel or U section, dust and grit collects inside and holds moisture. If they had plugged all the unused holes and closed in the ends so that stuff couldn't get in, they'd last about forever. If the seller was on top of it he periodically flushed the dirt out of the frame.
22R is a superb motor. Head gasket failures mostly due to poor maintenance and resulting overheating IMO.
Solid axles ride harder, but the Hilux still has them today.
Last edited:
antiqueguy
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- windsor ontario
swapping a small block chevy or ford in anything is not all that hard especially on a truck that has a actual frame although for 4x4 id rather have the 4.0 inline 6 from a jeep looks like a tractor engine sounds like one and has lots of low rpm torque and can be found everywhere they came in Cherokees grand Cherokees and wranglers
It's not the sort of truck I'd want ideally - the extra space of a half-ton would serve me better. But it's easier to live with a good vehicle that you can adapt to than the one that was perfect for your purpose when it came off the production line but doesn't really work anymore. In the $3k price range (Which is where I live) most trucks are pretty used up. I'd buy almost anything if the condition is as good as described and in this case, be glad it's one of those Toyota 4x4s.
- Location
- AB foothills
Ya, but this thread is not about you. Weird eh???
Most, half ton 4x4's will never go where these little tanks will go (without extensive modifications) and even then, wont even come close in most cases.
skneub
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
I had a friend that had his Toyota pickup fold in half going over Burrard St Bridge. The box literally was slapping the cab.
Don't get me wrong: I love em. but the OP should be very wary of rust on a 80's Yota. No weekend with a welder was going to save my buddy's truck.
They will run until the doors and body fall off, then they will keep running
Lol..aint that the truth.
my 81 would rev up going thru ditches..
i wondered how the truck was twisting ...
it was not twisting so much as one day i leaned on the cab with the door open..
and it clunked..
cab was rotted off it
diffs all leaked ..she clattered like omg from the rocker arms that ran to long loose and worn out.
wore a hole thru the timeing chain case into the water jacket..
kept on going 2 more months with black pepper in the rad.
Then she got rear ended...:-(
Paid out for it and got to keep driving her .
in the spring i drove her to the dump and yarded off the tires...
I had paid 200$ for her
drove for years and got paid out 400$
That thing started in -45c not plugged in...
spit the oil seal out on the pump
drove for a week like that..what a mess that made lol
Can i have another ? ;-)
Stock aluminum wheels suck.
hard to put on and off when they been on a while.
pack full of crap and go out of ballance...
The stock steel ones rock
If the truck is as described buy it you can't go wrong. Hell, you can't buy much of a used quad for 3 bills and these things have a heater As far as rust yeah they can rust anything from that era can but its not rocket science for cripes sakes get underneath the truck and look around. If the frame looks rusty poke at it with a knife, screw driver whatever and see what's up. As said look particularly around the back wheel - if the spring hangers are good and the frame all along that area (and no patched welded in place) its likely a survivor with no issues to worry about. Doors falling off? I'm thinking it shouldn't be too hard to tell if that's ready to happen. As far as parts a quick google will show you that there tons of aftermarket parts for Yotas right back into the 80s. The engines, trannys, rear ends etc are available or rebuildable. I've had a 90 pickup, 93 4runner and now a Tacoma they're fantastic little rigs the ones in the 80s actually more desirable with the solid front axle in serious off roading is in the plans. Not that the independent suspension newer ones are slouches. ..
As far as rust yeah they can rust anything from that era can but its not rocket science for cripes sakes get underneath the truck and look around. If the frame looks rusty poke at it with a knife, screw driver whatever and see what's up. As said look particularly around the back wheel - if the spring hangers are good and the frame all along that area (and no patched welded in place) its likely a survivor with no issues to worry about. Doors falling off? I'm thinking it shouldn't be too hard to tell if that's ready to happen. As far as parts a quick google will show you that there tons of aftermarket parts for Yotas right back into the 80s. The engines, trannys, rear ends etc are available or rebuildable. I've had a 90 pickup, 93 4runner and now a Tacoma they're fantastic little rigs the ones in the 80s actually more desirable with the solid front axle in serious off roading is in the plans. Not that the independent suspension newer ones are slouches. ..
caperbound
Regular
- Location
- Nova Scotia
Sounds like a good deal to me. Even though it is owned by a mechanic still give it a top to bottom look over.
I am seriously tempted, but as we are a one-vehicle family and my wife is somewhat vertically challenged, she says that with the lift and big tires it comes with, she wouldn't be able to get in. My current 1995 stock Nissan 4x4 is already a bit of a struggle for her.
Put a step on it for her or buy her one of those folding plastic stools. Like I said in my first post and a few others have mentioned you can't buy a decent used quad for 3K. And the Toyota will keep the wind and rain off you and warm in cool weather. It will take you on all the duck hunting trips you want plus haul your groceries every two weeks and get you to church on Sundays.
rocklobster
CGN Regular
- Location
- FREEDOM CONVOY
I am a toyota truck guy through and through. I love the 1st gen 4runners. And it sounds like a good deal as described.
My counter advice is to look at 3rd gen 4runners - 96 to 2000-dickety-2. The 3rd gen is the best bang in 4x4 toyotas right now in my opinion. It is basically the same as the older series trucks but more modern, more comfortable, more powerful, and less rusty. You do give up the live front axle, but the coil over front suspension that toyota came out with is really nice and easy to lift as well. The weakness of these 3rd gens are the steering rack. Expensive to fix.
The older series toyotas are in vogue now and cost more of a premium over the plentiful 3rd gen 4runner. I would recommend that you buy the 1st gen if that is what you want, but a 3rd gen might be easier for your lady to get into and use as well and still get you where you want to go.
My first truck was an 89 pickup 4x4, loved that truck-drove it for a decade, but the right buyer came along and made me an offer I could not refuse. I sold it and bought a 98 4runner limited for $3500, it has 4.30 gearing (good for the auto trans), and it has an e locker (converted to manual). Anyway I love the 4runner more... It fits the wife and 3 kids just fine when we do some overland tripping.
My counter advice is to look at 3rd gen 4runners - 96 to 2000-dickety-2. The 3rd gen is the best bang in 4x4 toyotas right now in my opinion. It is basically the same as the older series trucks but more modern, more comfortable, more powerful, and less rusty. You do give up the live front axle, but the coil over front suspension that toyota came out with is really nice and easy to lift as well. The weakness of these 3rd gens are the steering rack. Expensive to fix.
The older series toyotas are in vogue now and cost more of a premium over the plentiful 3rd gen 4runner. I would recommend that you buy the 1st gen if that is what you want, but a 3rd gen might be easier for your lady to get into and use as well and still get you where you want to go.
My first truck was an 89 pickup 4x4, loved that truck-drove it for a decade, but the right buyer came along and made me an offer I could not refuse. I sold it and bought a 98 4runner limited for $3500, it has 4.30 gearing (good for the auto trans), and it has an e locker (converted to manual). Anyway I love the 4runner more... It fits the wife and 3 kids just fine when we do some overland tripping.
I agree - if this is to be the DD (even understanding your limited driving) I would look into a 3rd Gen 4Runner. And you can throw a deer in the back on a tarp if necessary - just wouldnt drive across Canada with one lying there though! I cant comment on power trains .. the 4.0l 6cyl is pretty strong, 2.7l 4cyl dont know?? others??
I agree but would modify this with "Toyota trucks 'can' last forever" but in Canada - they usually don't. They suffer a little worse than most vehicles from rust and while welding can repair some problems - too often there's nothing solid left to weld. I think its easy to forget that some old vehicles look pretty good and have lasted because they have been babied. I dont know anyone that babies a Toyota pickup - and eventually after 30 years it takes a toll
- Location
- AB foothills
Great vehicle .. I had a '95 5sp std and 4cyl. BUT check the rear tailgate as they are notorious for rusting .. also make sure the rear window operates because you cannot open the tailgate if the window wont go down ... the wind mechanism will rust and fail so needs constant attention. I would recommend minimum of an annual check and slather the rails/gears with any grease/rust preventative you have that still permits cold weather operation AND replace "dicey" parts as soon as you see them. Its a catch 22 because you cant repair the window mechanism unless you open the tailgate to remove the inner cover - AND you cant open the tailgate if the mechanism is broken!
Clutches can be a be an issue ... also check ball joints - while I had NO problem with mine when I drove it (me service dealer alignment was done regularly and was AOK) but the dealer I traded it too claimed they had to replace all of mine!?
