1985 buying advice, should I buy this?

[nsc1120]

I'm checking out this 4runner tomorrow afternoon Asking price is $2500. It's a 1985 sr5. 3 inch lift, new 33" tires with spare. Engine has 100k on rebuild. Front and rear axles were rebuilt this year too and regeared for 4.88.

I've owned an 86 4runner before and an older tacoma so I know how to work on these trucks but the rear fender rust is what I'm worried about. The fronts I would just buy new ones and bolt them on but I don't know about the backs. I know about fiberglass replacements but I'm worried about rust on the tub. The truck has spent it's life in colorado so maybe it won't be too bad though.

I have a good friend that is a welder but I won't be a be to get him to to work on the truck until this summer probably.

 

[PhrogsPhorever]

There are some metal replacement rear panels for the 1st Gen, Wolf Parts IIRC still makes them I think.

85s are nice to get the SAS

 

[jamarquardt22]

Buy it if the frame is sound. It's a more then fair price. Most of the rear rust can be cut out to make room for suspension travel and larger tires. These trucks are 30+ years old and have lived a hard life. They are all far from perfect. And the sa trucks are supper hard to find on the east coast. If that were in pa I would expect to pay at least 4-5k for it.

 

[muddpigg]

Really depends what you want the truck for and how much you're willing to put into it labor, time, and money.

Frame have a huge tendency to rust so let that be a deciding factor.

 

[Devils Paw 80]

I'll third the frame condition as being key. The fender rust can be cut and/or treated to last a long time, even without replacement. Lift, big tires, it's going to be a beater off roader, right? Who cares what it looks like?
Not a good setup for an "expedition" rig, IMO, and I owned one of these for 10 years. For that, stock or close to it is best. The little 4 bangers are tough as nails but not very powerful.

 

[pappy]

The little 4 bangers are tough as nails but not very powerful.

Can't disagree, but there are things one can do to help.

Not a good setup for an "expedition" rig, IMO, and I owned one of these for 10 years. For that, stock or close to it is best.

Can I say how much I disagree with this? My modified 4Runner is a near perfect expo rig. A little small, and gutless, but for me it does just dandy with room to spare.

 

[KLF]

That fender rot would be a deal-breaker for me. I've been down the "oh I can fix that" path twice with these trucks and it was a much bigger project than I anticipated. You really only see about 30% of the rot there, you have to assume it's much worse than you can see. Plan to replace everything from the door jamb back to the tailgate, from the bottom of the fiberglass roof rail down. Basically the entire quarter panel. But when you peel up the carpet, you may be in for a big surprise, and not a good one.

And the repair won't last. It will start rotting again.

The bottoms of the doors are probably peeled open, as is the bottom of the tailgate.

There are no more "good" quality front fenders left in the world, only cheap aftermarket ones from Korea.

 

[PAToyota]

As KLF says, I’d go over it closely to see the extent of the rust. What you see is only the tip of the iceberg. However, if you’re up to the project, I’d use that rust to really talk him down in price.

 

[G-Cat]

If the frame is solid and you want a battle wagon...it is a great buy. If you want repaired quarters, I’d look elsewhere.