wtek17

Hello

Wanted to see what anyone thought about a choice I have between a 79 and 83 toyota pickup.

Both are in very fair condition, and were used as shop/farm trucks. both motors under 120K miles. neither need new brakes/tires right away or any other little stuff to get it running safe. clutches are good.

The 79 has a front oil leak, which I assume will cost around $200 to get taken care of.

79 asking $1600
83 asking $1900

both are 2wd, 4 speed. I need to make one trip from utah to oregon in this vehicle, otherwise it would have to make no more than a 30 mile work commute on a regular basis in oregon.

With this limited amount of information, would anyone strongly suggest one over the other, or would you tell me to stay away altogether with this info??

Thanks for you input

waskillywabbit

iTrader: (-1)

Both overpriced regardless IMO unless pristine, which I doubt they are.
Maybe $500 here if nice.
Its a 30 year old truck.

I sure as heck wouldn't drive an unknown 30 year old vehicle that distance.

:wabbit2:

westjohns yota

x2 with wabbit, now if they were 4wd then yes but my friend bought a 87 2wd with new tires brakes shocks for 800$

SCToy

22r in both or is the older one a 20r?

wtek17

the older is a 20R

I really do appreciate your guys' responses and wisdom, and definitely consider it, but that just isn't the way these vehicles are priced here out west after considerable amounts of research. Tomorrow I will see both cars in person, and am trying to form a reasonable bargaining strategy, one where I won't get laughed at.

thanks

dropzone

iTrader: (6)

Those prices might be high in some parts of the country but are average market price in the PNW. Pics help.
79-more than likely has 20r and weak L43 4 speed transmission and input shaft on the transfer case is weird, if you want dual cases it may take some machine work to get it to work. 79 will probably have side latch tailgate
83 should have a 22r and L52 5 speed transmission & center pull tailgate
Personally I would go for the 83..
Be sure to pull up the floor matt or carpeting and inspect the cab for rust, the like to rust at the rear cab corners and that in turn can affect the body mount. Windshield also likes to leak in lower corners...

Edit-missed the 2wd part.

dropzone

iTrader: (6)

Also-hard to verify mileAge on 81 and earlier trucks-5 digit odometers...

SCToy

X2 pull up the carpet in the 4 corners of the cab, check for rust around the door frame of the cab. Scrutinize the entire windshield frame. These are big bargaining chips IMO. Good luck man.

wtek17

thanks guys, really appreciate the tips. If it feels good after testing and inspecting it, im thinking about offering up to 1200 on the 79. Or is this truck not worth much more than 1000 due to the age and weak 4 speed 2wd? The guy with the 83 doesn't sound like he will want to budge much on 1900, which definitely seems a few hundred dollars steep at least.

attached are pics of the 79, i dont have digital ones for the 83.

any other thoughts or input very welcome

Zack1983

As others have said, the value of one of these can vary wildly depending on your location. If I saw something with a body in the condition in wisconsin I would snatch it up for $1000 if there was no engine or trans, and if it ran and stopped even just ok I would feel like I got a good deal for $1600. But maybe I am just trying to make myself feel justified for picking up a 1983 4x4 for $1500 that turned out to need a lot more than I expected.

I say give the guy as much as you are comfortable with and hope you don't regret it. Plus it's a long bed and I like those.