ThatOneMurse

Looking to buy a late 80's yota. Found one with 306K miles on it with fresh motor rebuild and fresh clutch. Transmission is original as far as the owner knows. Truck has had body work done and full paint. Owners says its solid and drives nice. Wondering what would be considered "too many" miles on one of these trucks. I've read they last for a very long time but nothing last forever. Thanks for the info!

ThatOneMurse

Also would like to know what it would cost to rebuild the transmission. This one is a manual. Thanks

fierohink

With proper driving and Maintenence, a manual transmission should never go bad.

Poor driving techniques can cause synchronizes to wear and shift forks to bend.

A manual box can be rebuilt with common hand tools. All except pulling gears off the main or secondary shaft. Those require a press and a machine shop shouldn't charge more than $20 or so to press them apart or back together.

fierohink

300k miles is a lot on any vehicle. Anything rubber should be replaced: body mounts, control arm bushings, spring bushings, etc.

Everything else that has marched up and down the road: fuel lines, brake lines, tie rods, etc.

If the metal is good and solid, all the rest are rehab parts to slowly eliminate the creaks and groans that have developed.

Some new bushings, shocks, and tires and it'll drive like a rig with half the miles. 😋

millball

Here's a tranny rebuild kit for less than $100 shipped:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/271555771852?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

ThatOneMurse

Well that's good news on the transmission. Any other advice on mileage? Going to look at it this week. Pictures look really good that he has sent me. Interior is clean. body is straight. engine bay looks clean with minimal spotty rust on the bottom side of the hood. underbody worries me with that many miles.

dropzone

iTrader: (6)

Who rebuilt the engine?
If it was a division of Fly By Night Industries you could be blowing smoke is less than 3k.
30 year old trucks are a crap shoot, it could be awesome on the test drive and than you have a driveway ornament

ThatOneMurse

Isnt that how it always goes buying an old vehicle? Not sure who did rebuild? Ill ask when I look at it. Probably DIY? 6000 miles on the rebuild. says its running great and they use it as a daily driver. that's also their word against reality though. Also comes with another 22re motor apparently? not 100% sure but priced reasonable. 3500 obo

muddpigg

iTrader: (1)

Sooner or later all vehicles need work. Really boils down to what you want. I love my old yota and would only part with it for a significantly steep price. I love to off-road and these trucks are a perfect platform to build for a lot less than a jeep. There are already write ups on most anything you would possibly want to build one to, so with a good brain, tools, and some Google-fu not much you can't do with it.

ewong

at 360K on my 1989 (it was in storage for 8+ years tho)

Currently working on getting it "nicer" driving
But I also have a ton of spare parts and stuff....

wyoming9

iTrader: (1)

I had rebuilt the engine bring it home from the Exhaust shop (pipe bender )

Backed the trailer up and parked it because I could not get it off the trailer.

I had about 10 miles on a fresh built engine

That evil Sandy Dropped three Huge trees on my Truck

ThatOneMurse

Well id always prefer a truck with less miles. But price talks too I guess. find a lot of Toyotas with about 200-250k miles but none really have motor rebuilds yet. That's why this one has my interest since it has a rebuilt motor, clutch, and complete body repair and paint.

ThatOneMurse

That's pretty good! any major repairs on the truck at that point??

muddpigg

iTrader: (1)

Still no way to tell. Could find one with 100,000 miles that was neglected and dies at 300 miles after you buy it. Just one of those things. If was one owner then you know it was taken care of to get that far before rebuild. I got 180,000 before I replaced motor. But I hydrolocked it. Ran afterwards but not the same

Flash319

I have owned many 80"s and 90's toyota trucks most with over 400k km when i get them. The manual trans are the weakest point unless they were very well looked after. I can change one with my eyes closed now.......
Change the trans oil to Lucus 75-90 sythetic and hope for the best.

muddpigg

iTrader: (1)

Yeah definately becautious of oil you put in tranny. Has to be yellow metal safe. And motor oil needs higher zinc content, which was phase out of most car motor oils for emissions only a few have it that I know of.