First truck

[BarnBoy]

Hi, I am looking at possibly buying a Toyota pickup from the 80's to early 90's as my first vehicle. Would be nice to have a 4x4 ext. cab with 22re, but I would not hesitate to buy a 2wd or single cab (if I can fit in it) if I could find one for the right price. 2wd's are more common and cheaper. I am 6' 1" so not sure if I would fit in the 4wd single cabs comfortably. I would need something that gets decent mileage, I am happy with 20 mpg, hopefully I could get a little better.

What I am thinking is a decent little truck with a manual trans and 4cyl. A/C doesent matter, I rarely use it anyway. I can wrench on my own vehicles, thats not an issue. Would like something fairly reliable but I understand you cant have it all with a 30 year old truck.

Where should I be looking? Auto trader type sites? I have been browsing CL, also keeping an eye out in town, etc and talking to people. I know of a guy who has a 1986 2wd etx. cab with 22re with only 110,000 miles, but it has an automatic and is a little out of my price range.

I am thinking in the $1500 or less range. Have seen some 2wd's in decent shape go for 800 - 1400, but they tend to go fast. Had a 85 4x4 single cab short bed 4x4 go for $950 on local CL recently but sold in a couple hours.

Anyway, I am wondering what would be some things to look for when searching, and where to look?? And do my expectations sound reasonable?

Thanks

 

[PAToyota]

I’m 6’2” and fit in a single cab, but I swapped in a pair of Recaro bucket seats. Those early trucks are sort of like sports cars for size - just a bit higher off the ground. The 22RE should get you over 20mpg easily. Lots of people start with a 2WD and do an SAS (solid axle swap) to convert to 4WD.

Obviously, thirty years have taken their toll on available trucks - many have rusted away, been in accidents, or just got worn out and sold for scrap. I definitely don’t see as many available as even ten years ago. Around here, you’re going to pay a lot more than $1500 for something that isn’t totally rusted out. I picked up a parts truck for a grand a couple years back. The drivetrain and cab are in decent shape, but the bed was pretty non-existant and the frame looks like swiss cheese. Keep an eye on craigslist, Auto Traders, and local 4WD sites and be ready to deal when one pops up.

Definitely look at the frame - particularly just behind the cab where the rails rise up under the bed. That’s a prime area for rust. Head gaskets can be an issue. Other than that, they’re pretty robust little critters.

 

[BarnBoy]

Thanks. Nice thing is that here in OK we dont have to worry about rust as much as further north. But I have seen some rusted trucks here too so will definitely check for it.

How would an '79 4wd do for a dd? What kind of mileage would they get with the carbed 20r and 4 speed? I found one that looks in fairish shape, there seems to be a bit of surface rust on the body but its not deep. It does run and drive. Unsure of miles on it, and it needs new tires. What would be a fair ball park price?? Its not great looking cosmetically but is stock.

 

[PAToyota]

After twenty or thirty years, rust starts to become an issue about anywhere other than desert conditions. The thing is that water and dirt gets down inside the frame, just sits there, and attacks the frame from the inside - which leads to more scale and dirt in there - which just holds more moisture in there. Even without the salted roads that kills sheetmetal, this attacks the frame.

The ’79 is nearing 40 years - so you’re adding another decade of use and abuse. The 20R and 4-speed is probably going to get about the same mileage. The one thing I’d say for either the 20R or 22R is that they don’t have a lot of power. You’re going to get around 20mpg unless you’re driving up and down hills all the time - at that point they’re pretty gutless and the mileage will go down. The front axles were weaker - from ’85 on they were trussed better and stronger. The 4-speeds were also known to be weaker than the subsequent 5-speeds. My ’85 is a carb and I’ve never had any issues with it, but I know people who like the EFI for being better in off-camber situations and such.