Pros and cons of '86-'89 p/u

prolite1 · 09-24-2009, 10:25 AM

I'm in the market for a mid to late 80's toyota p/u and don't know much about them. Would like to get a 4cyl, efi, 4x4. Any advice on what to look for and what to avoid would be greatly appreciated! By the way, new to this forum, thanks for the help!

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mightymouse · 09-24-2009, 11:04 AM

Whats your price range? I ask because you can find fully built rigs via craigslist or go with something more stock. It has been said over and over again that the 22re is a reliable engine as is the 3.0 but any vehicle, even a toyota, will require some work. I'm partial to the 22r or 22re because they are very easy to work on and with the right tuning and parts good on gas mileage. They're good stock as well when it comes to gas mileage. Rust is going to happen depending on where you live. make sure the frame is solid and the body isn't too bad. The suspensions are easy to modify from mild to wild. Depending on your budget you can go to a solid axle rock crawler to a long travel desert prerunner. Or just leave it stock. When listening to the motor before you purchase it listen for timing chain rattle and idle issues. These little motors "22re" can be noisy but tend to tell you whats going on with them when they warm up. Read through some of the trouble threads posted on the forum and you can get an idea of what to expect in terms of noise and power issues people have had to deal with. Overall this forum can be very helpful when it comes to troubleshooting and fixing your toyota. When i purchase a vehicle that is a little older the first thing i do is give it a thorough tune up and become familiar with the engine bay. Good luck and welcome!

prolite1 · 09-24-2009, 12:26 PM

I would like to spend under 3k but if I find something worth the money will pay up to 4k. Is the difference between the 22r and 22re that one is carburated and the other is fuel injected? Not looking for anything too crazy for suspension but would like it to handle going to the snow and baja a couple times a year. Thanks for the tips, I will be sure to check the trouble threads!

toyota4x4907 · 09-24-2009, 12:50 PM

22r = carb'd
22r-e = EFI

22re is more powerful and gets better fuel mileage.

prolite1 · 09-24-2009, 12:54 PM

that's what I thought but wasn't sure, thanks

mightymouse · 09-24-2009, 01:47 PM

If it was me personally i would try and find the lowest mileage and least modified toyota possible. I've had my 1990 4x4 for 11 years and i am still finding little things that the previous owners did that make me scratch my head wondering why. Plus if you are able to find a truck that hasn't been modified too terribly much you can start with a clean slate and build it to your liking.

prolite1 · 09-24-2009, 04:04 PM

That's a really good point, but I also wouldn't mind spending a little more money for a truck with mods that are done right. Guess I'll have to look around and see what's out there.

Kiroshu · 09-24-2009, 04:11 PM

Go on craigslist.com thats a great website for vehicle hunting. all i ahve to say is try and find the most OEM yota as possible..... check everything.... rust, leaks, noises, smells, check everything over well.... test drive it make sure its no BS.

prolite1 · 09-29-2009, 09:57 AM

Thanks for all the advice, now all I have to do is sell my 4runner and shop for a truck!

GA22RE · 09-29-2009, 01:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mightymouse

Whats your price range? I ask because you can find fully built rigs via craigslist or go with something more stock. It has been said over and over again that the 22re is a reliable engine as is the 3.0 but any vehicle, even a toyota, will require some work. I'm partial to the 22r or 22re because they are very easy to work on and with the right tuning and parts good on gas mileage. They're good stock as well when it comes to gas mileage. Rust is going to happen depending on where you live. make sure the frame is solid and the body isn't too bad. The suspensions are easy to modify from mild to wild. Depending on your budget you can go to a solid axle rock crawler to a long travel desert prerunner. Or just leave it stock. When listening to the motor before you purchase it listen for timing chain rattle and idle issues. These little motors "22re" can be noisy but tend to tell you whats going on with them when they warm up. Read through some of the trouble threads posted on the forum and you can get an idea of what to expect in terms of noise and power issues people have had to deal with. Overall this forum can be very helpful when it comes to troubleshooting and fixing your toyota. When i purchase a vehicle that is a little older the first thing i do is give it a thorough tune up and become familiar with the engine bay. Good luck and welcome!

Best advice I've seen in a long time.

GA22RE · 09-29-2009, 01:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mightymouse

If it was me personally i would try and find the lowest mileage and least modified toyota possible. I've had my 1990 4x4 for 11 years and i am still finding little things that the previous owners did that make me scratch my head wondering why. Plus if you are able to find a truck that hasn't been modified too terribly much you can start with a clean slate and build it to your liking.

Again.

mightymouse · 09-29-2009, 02:14 PM

thanks man just being honest!

09-24-2009, 12:50 PM	#4 (permalink)
toyota4x4907 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Fairbanks, Alaska Posts: 2,334	22r = carb'd 22r-e = EFI 22re is more powerful and gets better fuel mileage. __________________ '95 4runner\|22re\|5spd\|130K miles\|ISR\| 2" BL\| 31x10.5 \| CompuStar Auto-start\| two 170mm LightForce\|anti-sway bars removed f/r\|Warn manual hubs\|ADD bypassed\|Diff breather extensions\|XLPerformance muffler '88 4runner\|22re\|5spd\|206K miles\|Sold '93 single cab\|22re\|5spd\|150K miles\|Sold\| Pro IFS

09-24-2009, 04:11 PM	#8 (permalink)
Kiroshu Registered User Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: wade, NC Posts: 1,305	Go on craigslist.com thats a great website for vehicle hunting. all i ahve to say is try and find the most OEM yota as possible..... check everything.... rust, leaks, noises, smells, check everything over well.... test drive it make sure its no BS. __________________ My current: 1986 Toyota 4runner SR5 EFI 4cyl 2.4L 22RE 5-Speed 242,000 Miles 95% Stock __________________ (Still working on restoring her) My old: 1988 Toyota 4runner SR5 EFI V6 3.0L 3VZ-E 5-Speed 302,000 Miles All stock (sold)______________ (Was my fastest truck i miss her...) My old: 1989 Toyota 4runner Non-SR5 EFI 4cyl 2.4L 22RE Automatic 231,000 Miles (sold)______________ (was my quietest and slowest yota.)

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09-24-2009, 11:04 AM	#2 (permalink)
mightymouse Registered User Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: st. louis Posts: 77	Whats your price range? I ask because you can find fully built rigs via craigslist or go with something more stock. It has been said over and over again that the 22re is a reliable engine as is the 3.0 but any vehicle, even a toyota, will require some work. I'm partial to the 22r or 22re because they are very easy to work on and with the right tuning and parts good on gas mileage. They're good stock as well when it comes to gas mileage. Rust is going to happen depending on where you live. make sure the frame is solid and the body isn't too bad. The suspensions are easy to modify from mild to wild. Depending on your budget you can go to a solid axle rock crawler to a long travel desert prerunner. Or just leave it stock. When listening to the motor before you purchase it listen for timing chain rattle and idle issues. These little motors "22re" can be noisy but tend to tell you whats going on with them when they warm up. Read through some of the trouble threads posted on the forum and you can get an idea of what to expect in terms of noise and power issues people have had to deal with. Overall this forum can be very helpful when it comes to troubleshooting and fixing your toyota. When i purchase a vehicle that is a little older the first thing i do is give it a thorough tune up and become familiar with the engine bay. Good luck and welcome!

09-24-2009, 12:26 PM	#3 (permalink)
prolite1 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Ventura Posts: 29	I would like to spend under 3k but if I find something worth the money will pay up to 4k. Is the difference between the 22r and 22re that one is carburated and the other is fuel injected? Not looking for anything too crazy for suspension but would like it to handle going to the snow and baja a couple times a year. Thanks for the tips, I will be sure to check the trouble threads!

09-24-2009, 12:54 PM	#5 (permalink)
prolite1 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Ventura Posts: 29	that's what I thought but wasn't sure, thanks

09-24-2009, 01:47 PM	#6 (permalink)
mightymouse Registered User Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: st. louis Posts: 77	If it was me personally i would try and find the lowest mileage and least modified toyota possible. I've had my 1990 4x4 for 11 years and i am still finding little things that the previous owners did that make me scratch my head wondering why. Plus if you are able to find a truck that hasn't been modified too terribly much you can start with a clean slate and build it to your liking.

09-24-2009, 04:04 PM	#7 (permalink)
prolite1 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Ventura Posts: 29	That's a really good point, but I also wouldn't mind spending a little more money for a truck with mods that are done right. Guess I'll have to look around and see what's out there.

09-29-2009, 09:57 AM	#9 (permalink)
prolite1 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Ventura Posts: 29	Thanks for all the advice, now all I have to do is sell my 4runner and shop for a truck!

09-29-2009, 02:14 PM	#12 (permalink)
mightymouse Registered User Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: st. louis Posts: 77	thanks man just being honest!