1st gen trucks for expeditions?

[Clay]

After some debt refiguring and some thought, I have decided to build up a 79 Toyota Hi-lux for future mini-expeditions. For the most part, it will be all about making the rig reliable and comfortable, but I don't think that will be too hard. Anyone else use one of these older trucks for trips?

 

[DaveInDenver]

My friend Dean did until a couple of years ago. His is a 1980 long bed, which he still has (took the camper off and it's moving towards rock crawler status slowly). He just changed out to a 1985 for the XtraCab for long trips. Turns out a 6'4" guy doesn't fit into a regular cab as well as he gets older...

 

[Dave Bennett]

My first Toyota was a 79 3/4 ton long bed with the 20R, and I had a topper so I could sleep in the back. Years later, that truck is still driving around back in my hometown!

Great machines, I say go for it!

 

[kcowyo]

I had some great adventures in my '85 with it's SA and 22R.

The first thing I did was swap in a set of leather buck seats from a newer 4Runner. That upped the comfort level quite a bit. It was never a powerhouse but it was steady and reliable and took me to some fun spots around Wyoming.

My needs eventually changed slightly, but with a small suspension lift and some decent tires, it is a smart platform. I had envisioned doing a sub-$5K build up with it. Spare fuel, water and a sleeping platform would allow for going anywhere. It's lack of horsepower also had me looking at a winch, just in case.

A simple and reliable powertrain with good aftermarket support should make for an "easy & economical" build. I would start learning as much now as possible about tweaking carburetors if you plan on travelling to areas with varied elevations.

 

[DaveInDenver]

I had some great adventures in my '85 with it's SA and 22R.

This is the truck I remember first seeing attributed to you... But I won't point out that a 1985 is a 2nd gen 4WD. ;-) The only real downside to a 1st gen truck is parts availability. Mechanically, super simple and from that standpoint, a good choice. But spares availability is rather limited when compared to later trucks, particularly the 1989-1995 and Tacoma.

 

[kcowyo]

Oh yeah...


....and thanks for not pointing that out. Either way, old school junk can be fun to build and run.

 

[tacollie]

I had an 82 3/4 ton long bed I wish I never sold. It was super fun and cheap. Last I heard it had 322000 miles on it and still going strong.

 

[DaveInDenver]

Oh yeah...


....and thanks for not pointing that out. Either way, old school junk can be fun to build and run.

Well, not only am I stickler for details, I'm an understanding, nice fella, too.

Cool thing about old Toyota pickups is that they have a taste of that old school, restoration stuff without being totally obsolete. Some stuff is the same on all trucks, like differentials. Other stuff is totally wacked, like the L43 transmission. But the 20R shares the same tranny mount pattern as a 22R block and so converting to a W56 or G52 is easy, should you want to change out trannys. So it's not like you're trying to keep a 1958 Austin Gipsy going or something.

 

[Martinjmpr]

KCOWYO: Great pics!

Let me guess: Are the first three photos from the Red Desert/Oregon Buttes area?

 

[RHINO]

i too put many a mile on an early pickup, mine was a 1980 longbed. awsome little truck i wish i still had. this was back when the truck wasnt even 10 yrs old but nontheless that truck went to alaska twice and i think i drove almost every mile of WA state with it before moving to AZ.

 

[kcowyo]

Are the first three photos from the Red Desert/Oregon Buttes area?

Yup.

Boar's Tusk in the first pic and the South Pass area in the second two. The last one was down around Green River and the White Mountains.

Do they have an Aussie locker available for the 1st gen rear axles? That would be a good way to get a solid differential locker on a budget. Lots of options to outfit an old 'Yota.

I'd love to see an old school truck build on a budget project from someone here. Take a stocker like Hltoppr just found and do a realistic, multi-terrain capable, self contained build-up. And then I'd like to see 'em use it. A lot.

 

[Clutch]

Dave, your friend Dean's Wildernest, has a "normal" rear window. First generation?

 

[DaveInDenver]

Dave, your friend Dean's Wildernest, has a "normal" rear window. First generation?

No sir, same vintage as ours. It's a long bed truck and so the bed is 7 feet long and not 6' like your truck and mine. That's why there's no slope to the rear door, it doesn't need it to fit the bed.

 

[Clutch]

No sir, same vintage as ours. It's a long bed truck and so the bed is 7 feet long and not 6' like your truck and mine. That's why there's no slope to the rear door, it doesn't need it to fit the bed.

Ahh...didn't even notice the long bed.

 

[ntsqd]

The first gen 4 spd is reportedly stronger than those first gen 5 speeds. I'd put a G or W series 5 speed out of a later truck on the wish list. W gets the nod for strength w/o searching for the rare turbo only R series. Plus, they're in most '88-up second & third gens. They're longer than either trans that comes in those first gen trucks, so driveshafts etc. will also want attention. Get the t/c too and just swap in the whole thing. Otherwise you'll be dealing with different length t/c shift rails & different t/c shifter locations.

Reportedly the smog legal Weber carb offers a minor power increase and a loss of a BUNCH of vacuum hoses. DGV's aren't terribly hard to tune, in spite of what guys with Holley on the Brain will tell you. Look me up if you go that way, I have a word doc that details setting the jets up.