1983 toyota 4wd

[jgallo1]

Hello Expo,
I have no experience with older Toyota trucks. I have come across a really good deal on 1983 fully restored pickup 4wd, with a 22r.
My question is, I would use the the truck as a daily driver and some trips, LA to SF, down to baja on some surf trip. Any thoughts or personal experience would be really appreciated. I have to act fast if I want it.

Thanks...

 

[Sam Huynh]

Depends on the price I think. I actually have 2 older yota trucks. One is an 84 pickup and the other is a 89 4runner. The 84 is solid axle single cab and 22r like what you are describing. I drove it for 2 years daily before I got the 4runner. Both drive fine I think for daily so long as you arent an insanely big guy. Its a bit lacking in the power department so going up hill kinda sucks. For small trips and stuff I think the truck is great if its just you and your girlfriend or significant other. Id say if the price is right Id jump on it. I love old 1st and second gen solid axles.

 

[jgallo1]

Thanks for the imput. Its a single cab so it will be mostly just be me and the wife or 1 other person. I know they will be slow up a pass. Mostly for the day to day stuff, is what I am concerned about. I am good about the maintenance on my trucks, oil, belts, etc.. I am hoping this little truck will last for years. I have to sell my current 2004 tacoma to get this one. It will be my main truck for a good 2 years. Its hard to part with that tacoma,but this 1983, is perfect.

 

[cdthiker]

I have to admit that selling a newer truck to get into an older one might not be the best idea. If you are counting on a DD for at least the next two years then you may be counting on too much. Here is what it comes down to0. you looking at a truck that is over thirty years old. Things break. The end. You have a truck that is about ten years old.......
I have a 95 toyota a meere 20 years old and things are always going wrong. I just wont die and its fun off road and a great back up but would I get rid of my 2003 toyota or my 2012 toyota and just roll with the 95? nope.

Count on spending a few grand in those two years if you do go this way. Factor in work on the truck even if they say it is all good to go. At the least I suggest taking it to a good toyota shop and having them run it through the works so you know what is wrong with it.

 

[cdthiker]

I have to admit that selling a newer truck to get into an older one might not be the best idea. If you are counting on a DD for at least the next two years then you may be counting on too much. Here is what it comes down to0. you looking at a truck that is over thirty years old. Things break. The end. You have a truck that is about ten years old.......
I have a 95 toyota a meere 20 years old and things are always going wrong. I just wont die and its fun off road and a great back up but would I get rid of my 2003 toyota or my 2012 toyota and just roll with the 95? nope.

Count on spending a few grand in those two years if you do go this way. Factor in work on the truck even if they say it is all good to go. At the least I suggest taking it to a good toyota shop and having them run it through the works so you know what is wrong with it.

 

[Sam Huynh]

Honestly my experience with the older trucks has been quite the opposite. Both of the trucks I bought needed no additional work other than the normal oil changes, and I recently did the brakes on my pickup mostly to upgrade to the larger IFS calipers. I've never had any major issues other than the rear main on my pickup leaking a bit and the AC not working in the pickup, but I bought it knowing it leaked a spot or two and the AC in non working condition. They are dead nuts simple to work on and quite frankly I could have the entire truck disassembled in a day and back together. Depending on the level of restoration on the pickup I don't think daily driving it would be an issue. Im not saying you should or shouldnt sell your current truck to buy it. I am just giving you my experience after owning 2 older toyotas for the past 5 years and daily driving both. I can honestly say I would not hesitate to drive either of them across the US right now.

 

[gmacmt]

^^^These guys probably didnt read that the truck has been fully restored. I would drive my 1984 pickup across the country right now before I would my 1998 tacoma. Things break when cars get old, and even 1gen tacomas are getting old. The 84 has a new motor and trans 10k ago, and the 98 has 200k miles.

95 toyota a meere 20 years old

A 95 is a pretty different breed than a 1st gen solid axle pickup, FWIW.


If its been fully restored you'll probably have a more reliable truck in the 1983 than your 11 year old 2004.

How many miles does the 04 have?

Biggest differences:
-no airbags or really any modern safety equipment/design
-rougher ride with solid axle vs. IFS
-crappy air conditioning and heat compared to the new models
-definitely going to be louder inside the cab
-no ABS, brakes are nowhere near as good as modern cars unless they have been updated
-headlights probably not as nice as the modern car

If you have a 250k 2004 you need to get rid of to buy this thing, I would probably consider it, you can always sell the 83 if you get tired of it for profit if you are getting a really good deal.

If you have a 120k 2004 in killer shape, I might think twice.

 

[Stoffregen Motorsports]

You certainly can't discount the venerability of an old, solid axle Toyota. They are tough. They run forever, unless you overheat them. They do tend to crack cylinder heads, eat up timing chain sets, wear out cams, but that's really the extent of it. You may find a worn out differential bearing or leaky front inner axle seals, but all of that is easy to fix.

The big question is: what are you expecting from this truck? Will it tow? Maybe...on flat ground. Will it get good mileage? No.

Certain parts are now getting hard to find. The heater valve, for instance, is no longer available. But if this truck is restored, and it's under $10K, it might be a great value and a great truck.

The possibilities are endless though. A 3RZ swap is easy and cheap (about $6K if you have someone do it for you) and nets you about double the stock HP. Tacoma brakes can be fitted to the front axle quite easily, later model rear axles bolt right in, lockers and traction devices are easy to install, gears for the transfer cases are readily available, etc.

Now that is a fun truck to drive.

 

[Stoffregen Motorsports]

Oh, and 1st gen truck values are rising, so if you decide you hate it, you could possibly sell it for a profit.

 

[jgallo1]

Thanks again for all the info. My current 2004 has 135k. its in good shape, it does idle alittle strange sometimes. The 1983 is in good shape, only thing is it does not have a/c. it is a SR5 so I would imagine it has the ability to have a/c. Does anybody know?

 

[jgallo1]

here are some photos.

 

[EZE]

I say go with what makes you happy. Any vehicle is going to cost you money beyond the initial investment. Personally, I would love driving that 83 down to the beach way more than a 2004 and would probably jump on that switch as long as it checks out and did have a shotty restore.

 

[Stoffregen Motorsports]

From the pics, it doesn't look restored, more like refurbished. I know it's splitting hairs, but restoration denotes that everything has been gone through or checked out. The middle pic shows a brake line that looks 20 years old. I might ask a few questions if I were going to buy it.

Brake lines are $20 each. If the seller skipped over that, what else did he think was "good enough"?

 

[Stoffregen Motorsports]

To answer your question about A/C, my '83 has A/C but it looks dealer installed. The way I can tell is that the holes where the hoses go through the firewall were clean metal on the edges, meaning they cut them after the paint was applied. I think the hardest parts about adding A/C to your existing rig is going to be finding the parts. It may be cheaper to buy a whole truck just for the A/C and selling the truck when you're done stealing the parts.

 

[tanglefoot]

Wow--it's beautiful! It's definitely a tough one. I have a lot more fun driving old stuff, for the uniqueness and the experience. I've definitely got a thing for the '85 I've had for a long time (it's complicated). The newer ones just don't do anything for me. I admit it's not my primary vehicle anymore, but if anything happens to the little car, I'd probably just make the '85 the primary again...that sure would make it proud. Oh jeez, I probably shouldn't leave truckley with the car, unsupervised...jeez

Don't decide until you've spent some time driving it. That should make up your mind for you. It'd be a bold and awesome move to swap to the '83. It'd make your life more interesting. Maybe not easier, but interesting!

This one purged its A/C (compressor bracket broke) before I got it. I don't miss it. If I get stuck in traffic, the fan blower is usually enough to stay sane.

I think the '85 has been feeling neglected lately and is engaging in some attention-getting antics. The last time out, the water pump grenaded and the electrical ground ungrounded. Before that, it was melting fuses. I think it knows we're too much of a team to part ways, though. It's purring like a kitten now--we're going camping this week!

Oh, and if you get the '83, don't park it in front of the parts yard--I don't think they can stand the sight of their dismantled, rotting kin. Last time I took the '85 there, the alternator croaked and the front axle puked some oil. Now I drive something else or park it around the corner.