1986 Toyota Pickup: Update 7/10/10

I know most of the stuff here is are fast, sporty, and handle well.  My new addition is slow, doesn't turn well, but it's a 4x4.   

My friend had bought a new FJ Cruiser with the Trail Team package and we took it out off roading and I got hooked.  I wanted a 4x4 because sitting shotgun SUCKS.

My criteria was it had to be a Toyota with extra cab, 5-speed manual, a 22RE EFI 4-cylinder motor, and already have oversized tires.  And under $3,000.  I wanted something I could take straight to the off road park.  I preferred something not too pretty because I didn't want to feel bad abusing it.  But I didn't want something that was a total POS.  After searching for about two months, I found one close-by, listed by a kid that just graduated high school.  He was buying a new Ford Fusion and wanted to sell his truck to make the down payment.  I figured I could help. 

The asking price was $3,300 on Craigslist, and he couldn't sell it until about a month later.  I figured, this restriction would be a disincentive for many people, and I was right.  The car was still for sale with about a week to go, before the kid could sell.  I asked him what kinds of offers he had gotten.  He said he had gone as low as $2,500.  Nice.     I knew I could get it for $2,500 if I wanted.

I met him on the day he bought his Ford Fusion, and brought my friend with a 1991 Toyota pickup (he had a 1988 that got stolen).  I actually met him at the Ford dealer and drove it around while he was inside doing the paperwork.  Ran decent.  Brakes were spongy.  Motor was wet from possible a headgasket leak and the radiator was dry.  We brought these to his attention and it was clear he knew nothing about cars:

"Did you know your radiator is dry?"

"Oh, I don't touch that"

Me thinking, "yeah, that's obvious, the point is you should check it."

In any case, he said he just bought the car and was really nervous because he had to sell his truck within 2 days to cover the down payment.  I asked him how much his down payment was.  He told me it was $2,000. 

I offered him $2,000.

hahah

He told me that another person was supposed to see the car the next day, and said they would buy it for $2,500.  At that price, it was still a good deal and I didn't want to risk losing the truck.  It was in pretty good shape.  I could tell he was nervous that tomorrow's person might fall through and then, he might lose me as well.  I offered to split the difference with him and got it for $2,250.   

This was about a month ago.  So far, I've replaced the radiator and water pump.  About $175 total.  The alternator went bad when I went mudding in it, but it was a reman with a lifetime warranty, so I just pulled it and got a new one for free at the local Kragen auto store.  =)  Turns out the wetness on the block wasn't the headgasket.  Might have been the valve cover gasket, which was replaced when he just had it serviced before selling the truck.  He also just got the belts done and had a new muffler and cat put in it about 5 months ago, when his cat was stolen out of the parking lot.  So, a few nice freebies.  It came with a Pioneer CD player, Polk door speakers and an amp and two 8" box speakers.  I sold the amp for $50.  Still have the box speakers.  I might hook them up in the garage?

It's got nice Centerline aluminum wheels and 32" mud terrain tires.  I've gone wheeling in it twice and it's been great.  Looking at re-gearing it from the stock 4.11 to a 4.88 and putting an Aussie Locker in the rear.  I really want an ARB, but they're too expensive.  Besides the locker and gears, there's nothing else I really need.

     

Anyways, I think it'll need a new clutch master cylinder soon, this one seems to be leaking a little.  And I need to flush the brakes...hopefully it'll eliminate the soggy pedal.

------------------

3/23/09

Just learned that I can put up videos at Webshots, so here are three.  Two compilations I made before I got my truck.  The MDX in the Thanksgiving one is my wife's.  It didn't do much, mostly took pictures of everyone else because it didn't have enough ground clearance to do anything.  On the New Year's one, I rode shotgun in the FJ.  "My First Hill" is right after I bought my truck...whoooo weeeee!

http://community.webshots.com/album/570653142hoWUlP?vhost=community

Enjoy!

This is business!! I'd love to own such a machine one day! 

This is great dude! Me and my bro thought about buying a 1000€ Suzuki Samurai to do some off-roading... exactly as your Toyota! Nothing too fancy, 'cause we didn't want to feel bad about trashing it!

Sadly (well, not really sadly) my brother decided he needed a BMW E30 M3 first...

great stuff offroading is cool, you have so much space in your country, go ahead with dirt driving, years ago i loved dirt biking, but today all is be built in germany, there is no place to drive 

I can't blame your bro, Dani, but:

http://videos.streetfire.net/video/Suzuki-Samurai-showing_13194.htm

 

Cool shit man! My uncle had a Toyota truck about that vintage and they loved it, the only reason they got rid of it was because rust had done a number on the underside of the truck (Northeastern winters). I really like those Toyota trucks, they are basic, no-nonsense, and get the job done. No silly leather seats or navi systems, just built for a purpose. 

Sounds like you got a good deal too. What do the neighbors think of the Porsche owner driving up in a old Toyota truck caked in mud with huge tires on it? 

great stuff offroading is cool, you have so much space in your country, go ahead with dirt driving, years ago i loved dirt biking, but today all is be built in germany, there is no place to drive 

Yeah, but you guys have the Autobahn.   

I think my neighbors were surprised.  I kind of like it.  Shows them I'm a well rounded car buff.  Sports car (Porsche), station wagon (S6), sensible family car (MDX), and beater business truck (Toyota).  And, just to make the point I'm not just an idiot that wastes our resources burning gas all the time...I ride my bike to work everyday, rain or shine.  10 miles round trip.  Not bad right?   

Just added some videos of some of the stuff my friends and I have been doing.  One video of me on the first time I took the truck out.

Yeah, but you guys have the Autobahn.   

I think my neighbors were surprised.  I kind of like it.  Shows them I'm a well rounded car buff.  Sports car (Porsche), station wagon (S6), sensible family car (MDX), and beater business truck (Toyota).  And, just to make the point I'm not just an idiot that wastes our resources burning gas all the time...I ride my bike to work everyday, rain or shine.  10 miles round trip.  Not bad right?   

right, we have the autobahn, but.... there is always a traffic jam going on and maybe an 20% of the autobahn net you can drive without a speedlimit, mostly they are restricted to 130km/h, because we have to save the enviroment !!!!!! no shit !!!! nobody cares about china, if there explodes a coal factory, it doesn't matter what happen to the enviroment.

Driving with the bike every day is good, i did that some years ago, it's funny if it's rain and you are filled with water everywhere.

Went out a few weeks ago with my friend who has a lift kit on his Toyota truck and he cleared stuff I could not.  No, that won't do.

I got a ProComp Stage II lift (4") and installed it earlier this week.  I still need an alignment job, but it's pretty huge now.  Looking for a rear locker still, but here's the updated pics:

Before:     After:

F = Front before lift
B = Back before lift

F2 = Front after lift
B= Back after lift

(all measured from the bottom of the tape mark):

I have merged your topics

One car = one topic

that thing is a monster. have you tried going to the mcdonalds drive thru?

Not yet, but I have a feeling that I should be higher than the person.   

nice toy Stan now its a monster lol is it still road-legal with that suspention?

I'm not sure.  But I've seen bigger domestic trucks.  I think I need mudflaps and flares, but I'm not sure.   

It's been a while since I updated the progress on this thing.  Since the last posting, I added some big flares in anticipation of getting some slightly bigger tires this winter and staying in compliance with the vehicle code.  I also added a snorkel because I found it used for a good deal, and there is a big pool at the local off road park.  And a Marlin, winch-ready bumper for when I get a winch.   

Bumper and snorkel:


Flares:


Sorry, can't find any pictures of that pool that we play in...I have a video, but don't have a place to upload it to...anyone want to host me?  I don't want to put it up on Youtube.

Umm...what else?  I blew the motor about half a year ago when I spun the bearings due to an over-rev while trying to make it up a muddy hill.  I lost power and tried to limp it home, but only made it to the freeway and it died (I've installed a Crane Hi-6 electronic ignition now, and set a rev limit on the motor):


So, I got a nice re-built motor from a shop, where the customer didn't pay, and I got a good deal on it:





I even put on a new "22RE" sticker on it:


So I should be good for a while.  Power steering gear box is leaking, and that's probably next on the list of repairs to be done.  A/C still blowing cold...have hauled a bunch of crap with it...I still love having it!

Looking great. I love these trucks.

Wow I dont know how I missed this... that's so awesome! I'd love to do some offroading, although I probably won't own a car for the next 5 years or so... your car looks the business

how is it you managed to smoke an engine on this thing and top gear couldn't

Just lucky I guess.