Would you buy this 87?+PICS+

[Tracker]

Hello,
I used to have Toyota's when I was younger(ya know before the wife and kids). I've been thinking about buying a project truck for a while and found this 87 today. Its at a used car lot and the only thing they know about the truck is that it runs but makes a clunking noise in the rear. I'm thinking carrier bearing
I did not look it over real well but,
Its got a 3" body and a susp. lift,
35" BFG's,
Aftermarket (tubular) A-arms.
22R,
5-speed,
140,xxx miles
The only rust is both front fenders, frame and cab are rust free.
Glass bed, I'm not to crazy about it but no big deal.
The guy said $1000.00 but I think I can get it for $800.
Is this a good deal???


Thanks.

[KliersLC]

I'd jump on it, The bed is a bit funky, but for a project truck, this has some goood things going for it.

[Bear80]

It has the Full Rancho 3" lift kit. The red center truss to lower the diff is a dead give away. Notice it does not correspondently lower the bottom a-arms. Anyway, looks pretty fair if it does run good. $800 is a good price for a project truck.

[2ndGenToyotaFan]

I say go for it, you can get a used rear diff cheap.

[Tracker]

Originally Posted by Bear80

It has the Full Rancho 3" lift kit. The red center truss to lower the diff is a dead give away.

I've been away from this for a looong time, Is that good??

Thanks

[Bear80]

Eh double edged sword. I wouldn't keep the plain Rancho kit but depending on what you have in mind for it, you could either set it up like mine or pull it off and go another route.

[Bear80]

Oh yeah, if you get it and need a new rear end I have 2 with 4.10 gears.

[Tracker]

Thanks for the info.
There is not too many places to go off road around here.
So it would be more for looks than performance.

I was looking around and noticed a lot of people are going to a straight axle in front.
Should I be looking for an 84 or 85 ??

[2ndGenToyotaFan]

You can do a lot of things without a solid front axle. They are better for articulation, but not worth it if you don't have a lot of wheeling around you and it doesn't show up quick and easy when you're looking. Plenty of IFS rigs getting wheeled hard out there.

[Bear80]

Yeah but he has the Rancho kit which replaced the upper a-arms. Not that the Rancho kit is all that bad but not the best. Acutally if you can't 'wheel much the kit is good enough for looks. If you want a SAS, I think it's the 83-85 that have the added truss, but from what I've heard, the older ones aren't that hard to truss.

[Tracker]

Thanks for the help. I'm gonna think about it some more.
Here is another pic.

[tntoyota]

I think it looks very clean, I like the aproach I'd say you got about 33" for fording depth, If some one put that much time and money in to it there is no telling whats in the rear. Looks like it would make a great four wheeler "Trail Rig" nothing to extream.

Its got a rear axle brace.

Bolt in cage.

Aluminum wheels (light weight)

SWB (turn Radious)

22R (nuff said)

I love the front (gravle guards, brush guard, lights)

I H8 (but doesent matter) body lifts.

Get it going, get a friend, go wheelin', have a blast, looks like cheap fun.

Lock one hub turn the front DS with your hand, see if its got a ltd. slip.

when you get it running make sure the ratio is the same frt-2-rear some one might of gotten this far with there "project".

No gears? find a roll over 4r (4:56) or ? it'll come to you.

Go park that thing next to a honda 4trax you'll see what I mean.

Now how much is a 4trax?

[Symon623]

Looks like a good start, fix the rear end, remove the body lift and bust out the sawzall to rid that rust and your rollin......

[bkg]

check the frame for rust; if it's rusted through or soft, walk away unless you want to patch it.

[KLF]

I've never seen a truck that just rusted on it's front fenders. There is more somewhere, it's hiding. I would look very hard at the frame, make sure it didn't get a patch job while they were swapping the bed. Look at the round tube that holds up the exhaust and gas tank, it's a good indicator. Reach up in the area where the gas tank is next to the frame, right where the front of the rear pass side spring is in a hanger, squeeze hard and feel for crusty stuff.

Then peel up the carpeting/floor mat and look at the floor of the cab. You might find a surprise.

Still, a running vehicle that passes inspection for $800 is a good deal.

[Tracker]

I checked the tube and frame, nothing. I did not look along the gas tank though.
I also pulled the carpet in the rear corners & looked at the floor pans from under the truck, nothing there either.
Its weird that its just the fenders. I'll go look at the frame along the tank and the floor better and I want to check the drive shaft and see if its just a bad bearing.
Is there anything else I should check??

Thanks

[davefj40]

hey KLF, what do you know about frame rust

i bet by the rear frame hanger/gas tank that's it's rusted through big time. still not bad for 800 bucks. what part of PA is Kempton?

dave

[KLF]

Well, for the kind of money you're talking about, you can't be very fussy, ya know? Hell, I once paid more than that for a non-running parts truck with a completely trashed engine and tranny.

As long as the engine runs, the tranny shifts, and the brakes stop the thing, you really can't go wrong if you think the cab and frame are reasonably solid. It's a 20 year old project truck, it will have issues. Get a new set of fenders off eBay, maybe toss that ugly bed for a tube flatbed setup, start fixing things that are broken, then drive it. Keep an eye out for a cheap EFI parts truck so you can swap out the carb eventually.

But whatever you do, have fun!

[KLF]

Originally Posted by davefj40

hey KLF, what do you know about frame rust

Don't MAKE me start posting pictures, Dave!

what part of PA is Kempton?

What... you don't know how to use MapQuest?

[davefj40]

lazy

[Tracker]

what part of PA is Kempton?

South east, I'm not far from Allentown if you ever heard of that.

toss that ugly bed for a tube flatbed setup

Its nice cause its glass, but its ugly.
Got any pics of a tube flatbed setup??

[davefj40]

i know where your at, there is a toyota junkyard somewhere up that way.

for flatbed idea's go to www.pirate4x4.com and search the toyota forums. there is a huge thread with pics.

[jhnLennon]

The bed looks great,if I had that truck up here in WI i know I'd at LEAST get 1500 for it.

["N8"]

Dude go buy that thing $800 for a running truck with a cage. Who cares if the bed looks funky you can always replace it later when you get fed up with it enough. And like ken said keep an eye out for a junked efi truck for cheap.

Sounds like a good truck.

P.S. There has got to be some wheeling in PA ide bet my life on it.

["N8"]

check these guys out:

http://forum.ih8mud.com/pa-steel-city-land-cruiser-club/

[Tracker]

I just found this place http://www.rauschcreekoffroadpark.org/faq.php and its only about 1/2 hour from my house.

[davefj40]

yea, they are having a toyota landcruiser run there in june. check out www.gclcny.com for the dates.

i didn't realize you were this new to the area. i have a friend with a tranny and dual cases for sale also that you could throw in that rig.

dave

[2ndGenToyotaFan]

Yeah yeah.... quit rubbin' it in our faces..... Did you buy the truck yet?

[Tracker]

Nope didn't buy it yet.
I looked through that flatbed thread over on Pirate4x4. I like some of those beds and think I would make one if I buy the truck.
I'm gonna go look at it again in about 1/2 hour. I wanna check the rear out and look at the frame better along the gas tank. I also wanna hear it run, they said it runs but the batt. was low and it would not turn over yesterday. I'm gonna see if they have a jump pack, but I will take cables just in case.
I'm kinda having second thoughts, I'm thinking I should look for a 85 4runner or xtra cab instead.

I'll take more pics and let you know how I make out.

Thanks again
Aaron

[2ndGenToyotaFan]

Hehehe now that you found out you have a sweet wheelin' place you want a SFA Huh? FWIW I'd buy it just for parts if you have the room..... Then when you get a 84-85 you will have a back up plan if you break something.