I had a '79 4wd Long Bed. It was my first vehicle. That thing was great never had any issues except when I put aftermarket plug wires on thinking I was saving a buck. It cost me in the end. I miss that little truck. So I say '79. I have seen some cherry early ones like you are looking for down here to, I will keep an eye out.
what is the best year early mini standard cab
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Landpimp said:
KliersLC said:Sorry to burst your bubble woody, but they weren't the same. 79-80 had the 4 speed and 20r, 81 has an optional 5 speed, and optional 22r. Stay away from the 81 5 speed. It was built using a 2wd tranny as a model and the bearings are undersized for the increased load. That makes them whine really loud and come apart earlier. I put a 84 tranny in my 81 and never had a problem. (250k on tranny 300k on truck) The five speed got better in 82 and 83. 82 and 83 also supposedly had stronger axles, but that is just hearsay. I'll agrre that the EFI can be an advantage, but after driving a 22r with a weber in my 81 and driving a 22re in my 94 4runner I would take the carbed engine anyday. I don't belive that you can get a mini of those years with cruise control, but I do know that AC came with some SR5 models. One other thing, the 84+ had double skin beds so stuff rattling around in the back didn't screw up the outside, but tree damage was harder to fix, The bed also made it heavier and therefore slower. Some of the trucks had the dual side latch tailgate, which is stronger and more reliable than the center handle gate, but I don't know which years they were availiable. All had the double cardan front shaft(PITA to change u-joints) and manual hubs. IMHO they are great trucks but there isn't much room for a family in there(hence the 80)
I hope this helps and good luck
Dan
Well shiite...since we're splittin hairs...yes AC was an option in the SR5 models (my 84 did not have) the double skin bed didn't come till 85...but it still suffered the same rust away issues as the single. Here is a pic of my 84...post encounter with some smallish trees and one stopper size tree. I have all the drive train and the hulk is down at Upnover in Aston should anyone need any bits and pieces. Check out the cool SR5 graffics.....
that thing makes my eyes hurt.
Boy, this thread is making me wish I had kept my 82 sr5 longbed. My father bought it brand new day after thanksgiving in 81. I was 8 and I was with him when he bought it. Beige with the stripes and chrome package. He didn't drive it much, and about 12 years ago he put it on it's side in a snowstorm. It had 79k on it at the time. But it was totally rustfree. He got an 89 used, but kept the 82. I got it from him a few years later and fixed all the body damage and painted it green, lifted it, put on some chrome wheels and 33's. I drove it for a year and had electrical issues, the tranny was going out, and it needed a steering box. So I traded it in on a nice 91 toy. I've been kicking myself ever since. To make matters worse, I occasionally see the truck around in different parts of NH. Still the same dark metallic green, still looks pretty rustfree, but beat all to hell. But, if I were to buy one, I would probably want an 81 too. Like the round headlights.
not sure if this was mentioned yet or not, but 1985 models had the 22re option. they weren't all equipped with fuel injection. 22r was still offered until 87-88.
My first "car" was a 1985 std cab 4x4, vinyl int, bench seat, no A/C am/fm radio...it was awesome.
That said, my buddy's 1983 with the round fenders, round headlights and white-over-blue two tone paint was my favorite.
That said, my buddy's 1983 with the round fenders, round headlights and white-over-blue two tone paint was my favorite.
I see one around my side of town every now and then.mattlock said:
Swapping the engine isn't much trouble. If I remember right, it fit with the 4 spd. If the bellhousing is different(most likely not), then yeah.
Toy
I think a 1982 is best-o.k. 5 speed,carb(easy to put in smog legal Webber)My `82 has a Downey header and a 36 Webber carb and it is still smog legal for Ca.
300,000 + miles with original tranny,transfer case,diffs,etc.---off-roads like a demon!I would think the older styles are getting more rare/valuable?
I think a 1982 is best-o.k. 5 speed,carb(easy to put in smog legal Webber)My `82 has a Downey header and a 36 Webber carb and it is still smog legal for Ca.
300,000 + miles with original tranny,transfer case,diffs,etc.---off-roads like a demon!I would think the older styles are getting more rare/valuable?
Lpimp,
If you see a clean, lower mile 81-83, then you'll know you've found your truck. The best one will be the one in good mechanical condition
If you see a clean, lower mile 81-83, then you'll know you've found your truck. The best one will be the one in good mechanical condition
Hey guys,
Hopefully by this weekend I will be the proud owner of a 79 4x4 w/ 37,000 miles on the clock. The problem is that it is rotted beyond belief. It is owned by a local church, and has been used as their parking lot plow truck since new. The frame rot is bad (I can put my fist through some of the holes) but as a cool old plow truck, it will fit the bill. I will try my hand at welding this summer. I hope I can at least make it solid. Hey wouuld bolting frame patches work ,or do they need to be welded? What do you think a fair price would be? The truck looks like a ghetto vehicle, rust everywhere!
Thanks,
Zack
Hopefully by this weekend I will be the proud owner of a 79 4x4 w/ 37,000 miles on the clock. The problem is that it is rotted beyond belief. It is owned by a local church, and has been used as their parking lot plow truck since new. The frame rot is bad (I can put my fist through some of the holes) but as a cool old plow truck, it will fit the bill. I will try my hand at welding this summer. I hope I can at least make it solid. Hey wouuld bolting frame patches work ,or do they need to be welded? What do you think a fair price would be? The truck looks like a ghetto vehicle, rust everywhere!
Thanks,
Zack
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Landpimp said:good info guys
I am just looking for a nice stock example of a mini, think it would fit in well with the Cruisers
I like the dang goofy decals on the early mini's
My first truck was a 83 mini, thing had over 250K, drove from Vancouver to Cali and back. Did not burn a drop of oil?????
My favourite is the fiberglass unit made in 82 that was a prerunner, theres one for sale here for a mear 2200.00, super cool.
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Radd Cruisers said:
Did some searching and they were built in 1981 by Winibago, the model was a Trekker.
1985.....without a doubt.
I have a '85 XtraCab 4X4. When I got her, she was saggy (front springs reverse arched, rear springs worthless), engineless, and sporting the Starsky and Hutch style side stripes (orange stripes on tan paint) feeeeer sure, Holy Geek! Although I don't believe Tonka is an SR-5, she had A/C.
Now she's still mostly stock, reman. 22R (carb), rebuilt 5 spd, OEM transfer case. Really the only things I've done to my Tonka have been 4" lift springs (performance offroad) w/31's on Eagle aluminum rims, radiator out of a V6, custom front/rear bumpers, off road lights, adiosed the stripes (thanks to a pressure washer and Goo-Gone), tint the windows, and added a CD player and CB radio. I've lost most of the mudflaps wheeling (nothing very serious), and she has a hole rusted thru the bed behind the RR tire and the usual bed rust on the spot welds.
Future plans may include a 4.3L V-6 (if I blow up this 22R), a marlin crawler, winch, custom flatbed, onboard air, and swap out the performance offroad lift springs for some Chevy long-leafs and waggy springs.
There's not too many places she won't go.....especially with 8-10 psi!!!!!
So.......she's still mostly stock and quite a head-turner! Looks great on or off road. Pick an '85 and you can't go wrong.
I have a '85 XtraCab 4X4. When I got her, she was saggy (front springs reverse arched, rear springs worthless), engineless, and sporting the Starsky and Hutch style side stripes (orange stripes on tan paint) feeeeer sure, Holy Geek! Although I don't believe Tonka is an SR-5, she had A/C.
Now she's still mostly stock, reman. 22R (carb), rebuilt 5 spd, OEM transfer case. Really the only things I've done to my Tonka have been 4" lift springs (performance offroad) w/31's on Eagle aluminum rims, radiator out of a V6, custom front/rear bumpers, off road lights, adiosed the stripes (thanks to a pressure washer and Goo-Gone), tint the windows, and added a CD player and CB radio. I've lost most of the mudflaps wheeling (nothing very serious), and she has a hole rusted thru the bed behind the RR tire and the usual bed rust on the spot welds.
Future plans may include a 4.3L V-6 (if I blow up this 22R), a marlin crawler, winch, custom flatbed, onboard air, and swap out the performance offroad lift springs for some Chevy long-leafs and waggy springs.
There's not too many places she won't go.....especially with 8-10 psi!!!!!
So.......she's still mostly stock and quite a head-turner! Looks great on or off road. Pick an '85 and you can't go wrong.
Landpimp, I passed on an '85 standard cab with only 18k miles on it. It was in mint condition. I was going to buy it for my son but he chose the Tacoma instead. The guy sold it for $5600.00.Landpimp said:good info guys
I am just looking for a nice stock example of a mini, think it would fit in well with the Cruisers
I like the dang goofy decals on the early mini's
Pimp, Have you ever sat in an older toyota standard cab? They're a bit short on leg room, if you're a tall fellow like myself. I'd go with an '85 extra cab 4x4 short box (cool looking and not too long like many extra cabs) for the extra room, stronger 5 speed tranny and efi.
Zack1978 said:
I dunno, that's a huge project. The truck doesn't sound like it's worth much. You should be able to get it for real cheap. If you're just looking for a plow truck, I'd think you could find an older truck of some other make with an auto tranny and bigger engine that would work much better and not cost too much.