My neighbor has a 1980 long bed, it's a 2wd with a 5spd and a diesel, stock, still has the diesel decal on the back too.
He says it has a rod knock and now he has it just sitting in his yard for some time now, but he's only asking 600$
What do you guys think, how hard of a fix will it be? How common are parts?
Is it worth the price? They're pretty rare in the us from what I've heard.

My gf wants it for a DD, and to keep the motor for maybe a swap when she get's another 3rd gen pickup project. (had to sell her old one out of impound)

I figured I'd ask everybodys opinion befor I put any interest into it. Mainly because I don't know much at all about toyota diesels.

- Chase

 

I don`t know anything about them either, but i do know that there rare and you next to never see any around any more. If the body is in good condition and you can find the parts to rebuild the engine, then it would be worth buying.

 

That's what I was thinking.
Does anybody else have any opinions?

 

It will be a gutless wonder but will get really good mileage. There are a few guys on www.toyotadiesel.com who have done rebuilds to the L series of engines. This motor would be a 1L. If your really lucky you could get away with putting new bearings in it maybe. The parts can be gotten fairly easily as that motor was sold here originally. I wouldn't consider putting that motor into a 3rd gen pickup though. It wouldn't hardly cruise on the highway. It wouldn't be much fun at all in a bigger heavier vehicle. If your wanting to drop a diesel into a newer vehicle go for something turbocharged or the bigger 3L and maybe turbo the 3L.