i searched this forum/topic for "diesel" and only got one hit, and it was not about original diesel engines in early pickups. so, does anyone here have one? i did a search on cars.com (advanced search, all makes and models, keyword diesel), and it turned up two pickups in southern california. more internet browsing turned up a little more information --

from http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do...ticleId=102944:

"Engines were the big news for 1981 as the 20R grew to 2.4 liters to become the 22R and a diesel engine was offered for the first time — and then only on an SR5 with the long bed.

Car and Driver found the diesel to have some virtues. "The 2.2-liter, L-series diesel utilizes an overhead camshaft and a Bosch-Nippondenso fuel-injection system," the magazine reported. "It operates at a 21.5-to-1 compression ratio, developing a reasonable 62 hp at 4,200 rpm and 93 pound-feet of torque at 2,400 rpm. The five-speed overdrive manual transmission is geared short on the low end to obtain maximum pull from the torquey diesel engine. A governor limits revs to 4,900 per minute. Basically you shift like crazy to 30 mph, then cruise in relative peace.

"Toyota's advances in diesel technology have eliminated, or at least minimized, many of the objections most of us have against diesels. For one thing, the harsh clacketing sound of most diesel engines has been virtually eliminated in the SR5 by a fabric-reinforced-rubber timing belt and increased sound insulation….

"One of the high points of the diesel is, of course, its 31 mpg (EPA city) rating which is lower than both VW's and Datsun's diesel trucks' rating but still better than the SR5 gas engine by 7 mpg. But before the diesel option will pay for itself, you have to put on at least 40,000 miles."

 

(continued...) soooo, just looking for folks with original experience with these pickups. i am trying to identify the perfect biodiesel/SVO experimental vehicle. thanks in advance, cheerio.