'85 Automatic

[SteveLCetc]

I'm thinking of getting an '85 4Runner with an automatic. Does anybody have any experience with the automatic in that year?

Thanks

 

[cruiserdan]

Geeze,

Yer really going backwards now..


Wasn't yesterday good enough for you?.......

 

[Wolfman]

the automatics are bulettproof but no one makes low gears for them you cant put in a crawler but the stock crawl ratio of an 85 is 37 to 1 if you think about the torque convertor it doubles the crawl ratio. with 5.29s the crawl would be 47 to 1 and the 5.71s will give you 50 to 1. I had very good luck with the 4wheel parts 4 inch lift, a longer set of shackles, weld the rear and put a lock rite in the front 35s will clear no problem. Is it a fuel injected 22r ? If you want to install a crawler you will have to find an 84 to 87 5 speed trans and transfer case, out of the donor rig you will need the pedals, slace cylinder, ect. unless the truck is a gem its not really worth the hassle of converting to manual. The automatics just need clean fluid the more often the better and you should have no problems.

 

[SteveLCetc]

Yep, the '80's did pretty darn good on Tank Trap. I was watching them mini's though, and reminiscing about my old '85 that got ripped off... Still, a dozen rigs and less than a dollar in mechanical failure (a valve stem) on that trail is pretty impressive.


For others, here's a link until we get ours together:
http://tinyurl.com/5d4qm


I thought with the auto the diffs were 4.56:1, so 5.29's would be 42:1 crawl ratio though

(??)

 

[eyezlee]

I had an '85 extended cab with the auto. I bought it from a guy for next to nothing because the tranny was slipping. I intended to swap in a 5 speed and call it good but at the last minute decided to tear into it to see what was actually wrong with it. (more or less to see how the automatics work) I purchased a clutch and steel kit from my local tranny shop for $230 (who by the way thought I was nuts for attempting to work on it). I picked up a rebuild manual from the dealer and started the dismantle. I ended up having to by some odd sized snap-ring pliers and a small press to complete everything. I found out that the forward clutch pack (3rd from the front IIRC) was completely fried, as in the steels were all ground up and the clutches, well they weren't even there. I was almost happy to find that there *was* something wrong and it could be fixed. I replaced all the seals and clutches and carefully reassembled everything as clean as possible. This whole process took about 2 months of spare time here and there.

After it was all back in the truck it ran great. It shifted smooth and it held everything the RE could throw at it (that’s not saying too much I guess). The truck was running 33” TSL’s and 5.71’s with air lockers F/R. I never had any problems off road other than not being as slow as some on the rocks, but the smoothness of an auto made up for that. I thought it was a good strong tranny and wouldn’t hesitate to run one again if you don’t mind the t-case. I think mine was toasted by the PO due to lack of maintenance and not a weak tranny. When I parted out that truck I actually saved the tranny for my self (nobady wanted it either in case I was able to use it in a future project, possibly with somehow using a 4/cyl t-case. Just my $.02

Matt