1987 toyota pickup

[jgallo1]

I have been pretty busy lately and off the forums. I also have my full-size with a camper, which has also been keeping me occupied.
Not sure If anyone remembers, I picked up a mint 1987 Toyota pickup. I was always on the fence about it b/c it has the auto. I figured I would drive it for a few months and then sell it. The more I drive it, the more I love it. I am really leaning towards keeping it at this point it needs a few things. I am hoping for a little bit of help on this one.

It needs new seats, I love the bench and don't want to trade it for buckets. The main reason is my dogs fit with me on the bench. I was wondering if anyone has any ideas for a better bench seat?

It also needs AC. I was wondering if anybody in the central/southern CA area knows of someone or a shop that will install AC. One guy told me I will lose all my power and not do it. I know I will lose some power but can't imagine it's that much. AC was a factory add on for 1k in 1987.

I like the stock stance, I put 31 x 10.5 x 15's on it and some Bilstein HD 4600, It rides great. I would most likely add a bumper and a winch. I am a fan of ARB. That is what it would get unless someone has a reason not to.

Thanks for the help.

 

[4runnerteq]

We have a 93 22re with ac. The power loss is insignificant. If you have any mechanical ability at and want to, you could install it yourself. Way back when I was still wrenching at the dealer ship we would do the add ons after hours. One working inside and one under the hood took an hour at the very most. Usually less than 45 minutes. We’d do the rear bumpers, radios, ac, and passenger mirrors. The 1st gen 4runners came without the rear seats installed and we did them as part of the predelivery service (pdI). Those were the days.

 

[Tex68w]

The power loss with the AC is noticeable but depending on where you live it's worth the trade-off IMHO lol. Glad to see you still have the truck, I was beginning to wonder what had happened to it.

 

[jgallo1]

The power loss with the AC is noticeable but depending on where you live it's worth the trade-off IMHO lol. Glad to see you still have the truck, I was beginning to wonder what had happened to it.

I have been pretty bad with the forums lately. For this truck, I have been spending more time over at IH8mud. I should get the thread back up and running for the expo portal.

 

[Tex68w]

I don't blame you, I spend most of my time over there as well. This forum just isn't the same any longer.

 

[Idaho_Pakeha]

A/C is worth it if you live somewhere it gets hot, for sure. I was given (given..like for free) an 89 Toy Pickup with a 22RE and an automatic but I sold it and bought a 22RE (5spd) 4runner with A/C because I had spent 10 years driving the old pickup out in the Owyhee desert and I just couldn't take sweating my balls off anymore (not to mention ingesting unhealthy amounts of dust since you have to drive with the windows down and every single gate you come to is a dust out. Do the A/C and keep the mods as light as possible. That is my recommendation.

 

[jgallo1]

things are finally happening:

 

[jgallo1]

I have not gotten around to installing the suspension/bumper yet. Hopefully in the next 2 weeks.
I am preparing after reading/researching a lot of builds that I will end up increasing tire size. Which will mean I would want to regear correct?

Here is a question would any of you change wheel size, jump up to 16" wheels for more tire options. I guess then I would want to upgrade my breaks and master correct? Any other suggestions? I have been DD'ing the truck and love it. I dont want to loose that side of it. I cruise 60-70 on the HWY all day no problem.

 

[jgallo1]

Since I could not sell the truck, I am reviving this thread and getting to work.
I am going to get the suspension, bumper, and winch on sooner than later. In the meantime:


Picked up an SR5 Instrument cluster and some steelies.

I Can't decide if I should powder the coat the steelies or cheap out and plasti-dip them. Has anybody had bad luck with Plasti-dip ?

I just ordered the correct oil sending unit and the LCE headers. I also am going to upgrade the brakes and run stainless lines.

In the next month or so I am going to do some preventative maintenance :
Dual timing chain, water pump, thermostat, distributor, alternator, cooling, Idler arm and pulley, speed cable, new 19 gallon fuel tank, fuel pump, ball joints, tie rods

 

[jgallo1]

more things :

 

[Smileyshaun]

Great things to do for older Toyotas
The 22re responds well to a 2” exhaust with a good long muffler ( a big magnafow works great , 2 1/4” kills a lot of low end )

a good low-mid range cam really helps with cruising and acceleration after some weight is added

do a afm swap and get it adjusted right again great low-midrange improvements and usually gain a few mpgs .

Switch everything even down to the u joints to good synthetic fluids . When you have minamal power every little bit helps

you can snag a third and a front diff from a v6 auto and have 4.88 gears .

get a v6 radiator from a manual and put on a external cooler for your trans .

 

[Smileyshaun]

Also get ball joint spacers , not so much for lift but you can relax the torsion bars giving you a smoother ride . 4 crawler off-road has a lot of stuff for these older Toyotas

 

[jgallo1]

Great things to do for older Toyotas
The 22re responds well to a 2” exhaust with a good long muffler ( a big magnafow works great , 2 1/4” kills a lot of low end )

a good low-mid range cam really helps with cruising and acceleration after some weight is added

do a afm swap and get it adjusted right again great low-midrange improvements and usually gain a few mpgs .

Switch everything even down to the u joints to good synthetic fluids . When you have minamal power every little bit helps

you can snag a third and a front diff from a v6 auto and have 4.88 gears .

get a v6 radiator from a manual and put on a external cooler for your trans .

I was thinking about switching to 4.88. I am going to stick with the 31's so figured it was not necessary.

I am going to add AC . When I do that I was going to switch the radiator. I am going to redo the ball joints, tie rod ends, u joints, idler arms cv's as well when I do the suspension.

 

[bkg]

I was thinking about switching to 4.88. I am going to stick with the 31's so figured it was not necessary.

I am going to add AC . When I do that I was going to switch the radiator. I am going to redo the ball joints, tie rod ends, u joints, idler arms cv's as well when I do the suspension.

22re, w56, 4.88 with ~32's is an awesome combo, IMHO. Ran it for year (1990 singlecab)

 

[Smileyshaun]

4Crawler Offroad Products

www.4crawler.com

Lots of good infoif you look around on his site for the older Toyotas