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My name is Patrick and this is my first post on this site, so I hope I don't screw this up. Anyways this is my second truck, an 86 pickup (built November 85) 2wd Xtra-cab long bed. It has a 22r with a 5 speed manual transmission with 348,000 miles on it. It also has A/C (thank god), and a clock. I got the truck off of craigslist for $400 It was originally from Alabama which means that the frame is rust free and the rockers are good, very hard to find in Michigan especially for a $400 truck. The person I bought it from said it was his dad's truck, so I am the third owner. It has its fair share of problems such as the transmission grinds in every gear except forth (input shaft bearing is going bad), the body has lots of surface rust, and the bed has some rot. The engine will also need to be gone trough because according to the previous owner the timing chain has never been done. The engine also has a massive oil leak, in fact the harmonic balancer has even thrown onto the bottom of the hood. The engine also has a loud tick to it, hopefully it is a combination of a loose timing chain, and out of adjustment valves. It appears that amazingly the truck still has the original upper radiator hose. And despite all of the issues with this truck I jumped in it and drove it 120 miles home, and it didn't miss a beat. Anyways here are pictures.
The current plan is to make it my daily driver. I would like to in the distant future do a 4x4 conversion, but that would be a long time from now. Anyways here is an update. I considered using the 22r from my 87 parts truck but it would have to be rebuilt. I guess it is now time to pull the engine from this truck.
I've seen guys running a locked 2wd with some suspension mods that would go almost everywhere a stock 4x4 would go. Spring over axle the rear and ball joint spacers for the front. Should be able to fit at least 31" tires.
It does need a little work but most isn't as bad as you may think it is. One thing I like about the two wheel drives is to pull the motor and transmission all in one piece, makes it so much easier to work on.
I would go with a Weber carb, most of the factory carbs are just worn out. As far as transmissions, I have used an 83 Celica transmission in a truck I used to own. It will give you a little wider search for transmissions and is a direct fit.
Welcome to Yotatech and looking forward to your build.
Thankfully this is not my first time working on a Toyota pickup, I have an 87 pickup that I was driving but it was very rusty and was in an accident. I do have a Weber carb, I installed it on my other truck. But I think I will keep the stock carb on this truck because the PO installed a rebuilt carb and it seems to run fine. As far as the transmission I have another W55 to put it this truck that came from my parts truck, so I already have that taken care of. But thank you for the advice. Here is a picture of the 2 trucks side by side.
Well this thread is long overdue for an update, Anyways here is what it looks like now. I have fixed most of the many problems with the truck, I got the A/C working, went through the engine, replaced the transmission, redid the entire interior including installing bucket seats. I also scored a tach gauge cluster from a junkyard for $50, and I also found a map light from it also.
Last edited by Patrick Kissman; 12-23-2017 at 08:31 PM.
Well it has been a long time since I have posted a update and I have done many many changes. I have since replaced the original well worn engine with a rebuilt one that I pulled from the junk yard, done some more bodywork, found a long bed truck topper and put that on it and have done some over due maintenance. The current plan is to SAS my truck because I found a 85 pickup front axle front axle for a decent price at a junk yard and I had to have it. the craigslist find long bed truck topper it was originally the same color as my truck. The 85 axle as I received it from the junk yard the 85 axle after disassembly and taking it to the car wash the 85 axle after some fresh paint Bonus picture of my roommates two 4wd tercel wagons he has a 85 and a 88 you can also see my truck hiding around the corner.
Last edited by Patrick Kissman; 12-23-2017 at 08:33 PM.
Alright so it has legit been years since I have updated this forum and IDK if anyone will read this but anyways here we go. So I still have the truck but as a whole there isn't much left. I have sense swapped the bed for a much less rusty one, the cab was swapped as the roof on the original one was damaged from a accident that happened in 1996. It also has undergone a 4wd conversion and a efi conversion thanks to a rusted out 1988 standard cab short bed 4wd truck. It now sits on 33s with a allpro bumper a Badlands Apex winch plus it has a locker in the back. Here's a picture of it now.
04-15-2016, 05:38 AM
