timbercruiser said:
Like this one?
what is the best year early mini standard cab
- Thread starter Landpimp
- Start date
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Like this one?
I vote 85. If you're lucky, you can even get em with an RTE turbo motor and a 5 speed. but that's like finding a pristing FJ45LV sitting in a barn for $100.
Landpimp said:
You still thinking about a mini? I saw this, it might need a little love.
http://www.tacomaterritory.com/forum/showthread.php?t=9086
I vote for an 83
83,
83,
There are some fanatics about the old minis out here in Abbotsford. Most of them say 1985 is the year you want, if you can find one that's not rusted out or outrageously priced.
KliersLC said:
Cruise control was available on 83 (maybe 82 as well) SR5 models. AC was available on all models in 83 (not sure about earlier models).
85 SR5 is the one. for a DD.
But of you're gonna wheel it, an 87 SR5 22RE is really what you want. After the SAS and other stuff, you'll break even with an 85 and have a better truck to boot.
But of you're gonna wheel it, an 87 SR5 22RE is really what you want. After the SAS and other stuff, you'll break even with an 85 and have a better truck to boot.
woody said:
Example of 81 with all goodies
Landpimp,
This was my 81 just a couple months ago...I hope pics load ok. This is just about as nice of an example as you'll find. SR5 with power steering, Air conditioning, and moonroof - I think this truck had every option in that year (although the wiring diagrams in the FSM show it prewired for power windows, I've never seen that option). From 79 to 81 also had the cooler looking round guage cluster.
I recreated the decals and licensed them to my name, in addition to a couple other styles and year decals. For sale BTW.
I like the round headlights myself.
Landpimp,
This was my 81 just a couple months ago...I hope pics load ok. This is just about as nice of an example as you'll find. SR5 with power steering, Air conditioning, and moonroof - I think this truck had every option in that year (although the wiring diagrams in the FSM show it prewired for power windows, I've never seen that option). From 79 to 81 also had the cooler looking round guage cluster.
I recreated the decals and licensed them to my name, in addition to a couple other styles and year decals. For sale BTW.
I like the round headlights myself.
More pics
More pics of the 81.
More pics of the 81.
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Ohh What do you know, ths is your first post!!!
Just messin' with you. Welcome to the board! 
<- Take no offense, it's the mud greeting.
Back in the day, I had an '80 I picked up cheap with an air conditioned block (tossed rod). I dropped in a 60K mile junkyard motor and bolted on 31s. Best of the dozen or so minis I've owned to date, bang for buck-wise, including my current '85. Wish I still had that '80 ... guess it's a cherry thing. ; )
The '80 models came with 4.37 R&P and a 20R. The '81 I had concurrently wiith the '80 had the first generation 22R but lousy 3.90 R&P. The '80 had a four speed that held up fine, but they're generally the weak link. The '81 5 speed was no better and had to be replaced. And although the 22R had more displacement, the 20R kicked its butt. Maybe I just got lucky with the 20R, I dunno. Just my $0.02.
The '80 models came with 4.37 R&P and a 20R. The '81 I had concurrently wiith the '80 had the first generation 22R but lousy 3.90 R&P. The '80 had a four speed that held up fine, but they're generally the weak link. The '81 5 speed was no better and had to be replaced. And although the 22R had more displacement, the 20R kicked its butt. Maybe I just got lucky with the 20R, I dunno. Just my $0.02.
I bought an original owner '79 4x long bed, and after owning 5 'cruisers, I finally found something that rode even worse than an FJ! The turning radius was pretty shabby, too.
While it was tough as a nail and narrow enough to sneak through the trees, the gas mileage wasn't much to get excited about and fast highway driving was out of the question. I'd shoot for an EFI model of any sort (even IFS), to address the mileage and power woes of the early models.
While it was tough as a nail and narrow enough to sneak through the trees, the gas mileage wasn't much to get excited about and fast highway driving was out of the question. I'd shoot for an EFI model of any sort (even IFS), to address the mileage and power woes of the early models.
I think the pimp has gotten over his desire for a mini by now, but for those of you who dislike the 20R 22r engines, Methinks you may not experienced a properly tuned engine. My 81 <, would cruise at 75 all day on I5 in socal, and while it wasn't a rocket by any means, 20 mpg was good enough for me......
The ride wasn't any worse than either of my pigs (good shocks) and I went a lot of places in that thing that my piggy only dreamed about. It did have a crappy tranny, but the one out of an 84 that I stuck in it was good for over 300k
Also, if you read the thread, the pimp is looking for an EARLY mini, not an 85 or anything newer.
The ride wasn't any worse than either of my pigs (good shocks) and I went a lot of places in that thing that my piggy only dreamed about. It did have a crappy tranny, but the one out of an 84 that I stuck in it was good for over 300k
Also, if you read the thread, the pimp is looking for an EARLY mini, not an 85 or anything newer.
Kliers, you're wrong about '81 being the first year of the 5 speed. I bought a new '79 SR5 2wd longbed with 5 sp..
Good truck but the trans lost the first gear cluster while in warranty - less than 24,000 miles. After they fixed it it was still going good when my first wife took it in divorce seven years later.
That was the first year of the rounded body. Before that looked a lot worse, but I'm pretty sure that the '78 SR5 also had a five speed. That was the reason for the designation. Not sure about any before that.
4x4 came in 1980.
Good truck but the trans lost the first gear cluster while in warranty - less than 24,000 miles. After they fixed it it was still going good when my first wife took it in divorce seven years later.
That was the first year of the rounded body. Before that looked a lot worse, but I'm pretty sure that the '78 SR5 also had a five speed. That was the reason for the designation. Not sure about any before that.
4x4 came in 1980.
79 and some 80's had the L43 4speed which was the 2wd tranny with adapter to a tcase . this tranny was weak with a 3.67 1st gear
80-81 they started with the castiron L45 4 speed with a 1st gear of 3.93
later (81-82) they installed a overdrive spur making the L50 5 speed, the weakest of all 5 speeds.
in 83 they had the heavier but looks identical L52 it had a little heavier bearings and was the last of the short trannies
84 came the G52, basically a L52 in a alum case. 85-86 Carb trucks had the G54 efi trucks had the W56 86- Turbo trucks had the R151, the toughest tranny ever made
my 79 has 385,000 miles, it came with the 20R and L43 4 speed, and 4.37 gears. now it has a "modified" 22R Marlin built L52 SHD (G54HD in a L52 cast iron case) dual Marlin tcases and elocker from a 2005 tacoma
Im new here but ive been around,
80-81 they started with the castiron L45 4 speed with a 1st gear of 3.93
later (81-82) they installed a overdrive spur making the L50 5 speed, the weakest of all 5 speeds.
in 83 they had the heavier but looks identical L52 it had a little heavier bearings and was the last of the short trannies
84 came the G52, basically a L52 in a alum case. 85-86 Carb trucks had the G54 efi trucks had the W56 86- Turbo trucks had the R151, the toughest tranny ever made
my 79 has 385,000 miles, it came with the 20R and L43 4 speed, and 4.37 gears. now it has a "modified" 22R Marlin built L52 SHD (G54HD in a L52 cast iron case) dual Marlin tcases and elocker from a 2005 tacoma
Im new here but ive been around,