Yota.Jay

I use to own a 87 toyota pickup and I sold it figuring it couldnt make the commute of 64 miles a day on a 70mph highway.

Now that I recently picked up 83 sr5 4x4 and wondering if i could make the commute. It does have a weber carburetor

highonpottery

iTrader: (1)

i'm not clear on your question - are you asking about the range of your truck? most 4wd toyotas get 16-20mpg.

i want to say your 83 has a 12-gal tank and the 87 should have had a 17-gal tank like the following generation did -- so your range should be at least 200 miles on a bad day at 15 mpg. I know in my 93 i only get barely over 300 miles/17-gal tank, so that's around 17-18mpg hwy.

Yota.Jay

What I am asking that can that 4 cylinder engine handle going 75 mph. daily? I didnt drive my old one that fast...60 mph at most and its was a little rough

muddpigg

iTrader: (1)

Think you're asking can truck go 70mph on highway. Many factors, like tire to gear ratio. My 22re can, well till uphills and a good tail wind helps significantly. Then you gotta consider all the suspension parts on a 30+ yr vehicle, do you want to go 70mph with 30+ yr suspension parts. Then brakes, there is a reason that Toyota went to slotted rotors and large rear drums in later yrs.

So yeah truck can prolly do it. But....

wyoming9

iTrader: (1)

Myself I would not do it.

Not that the truck and engine could not handle the drive for me it is the fact your truck has nothing left as for added speed if needed.

Here while the posted limit is 55mph real speeds are closer to 75mph and plus.

I avoided the Interstate with my 22r series vehicles where the 3.4 it is no big deal

Then sometimes one just has to.

highonpottery

iTrader: (1)

I see 1st gen pickups on the highway going 70 all the time, both 2wd and 4wd. Heck I came across a chick driving a chinook one day and I couldn't even catch up to her she was doing like 80 the whole time and I was in my 93. I'd definitely rebuild all my steering and suspension before taking my personal vehicle that fast on a regular basis. I've got a 75 Hilux I intend to drive regularly but haven't yet. I know it will definitely get up to 80mph but I don't simply because the steering was so loose, like over half rotation of wheel loose. I've rebuilt it now but still has a few issues

4x4YOTA

iTrader: (2)

I used to drive my 81 4wd 110 miles round trip for years.
It all depends on the overall condition.
I spent quite a bit of time replacing and rebuilding parts to make it reliable and it was a great truck and she would pull 75mph but they were not ment to do that so I usually ran her about 65mph and she averaged 19-21 mpg

dropzone

iTrader: (6)

I wouldn't do 75 in a 79-83 with completely rebuilding the front end so I knew it wasn't gonna grenade on me. The push pull steering sucks

wyoming9

iTrader: (1)

We all have our own opinions it comes down to what you want and need to do.

Terrys87

iTrader: (1)

I run 75 miles a day, round trip, with a Weber and I can hold speeds at 75 miles an hour with no problem. I do have my front end rebuilt and so far everything is okay. I do prefer to run 65mph though. I have reached 80 and really don't want to push it that hard and not sure I would want to do it for a long period of time. Not so much as the steering or suspension but more because of the motor.

kawazx636

iTrader: (3)

I wouldn't think twice about driving my 83 everyday like that other than the fact that I wouldn't want to pile the mileage on it being that it is restored and I have a 3,500 mile per year restriction on my insurance. My truck handles highway speeds well up to about 75mph; beyond that it can tend to get a little loose, but that is just the nature of the old push-pull steering. And my engine can certainly take the daily abuse. With all that said, you have to keep in mind that EVERYTHING on my truck has been either rebuilt or replaced so it is way more safe than your typical first gen pickup that you see on the roads these days. I tried daily driving my truck when I first bought it, but there was no way that I would leave the house without a set of tools with me in the event that I needed to perform a roadside repair. Since restoring it, I have confidently left my tools at home. I built my truck for looks and reliability (see pictures below), but your truck isn't going to be reliable until you can trust it and you won't trust your truck until it proves to you that it is reliable.

muddpigg

iTrader: (1)

Kawaz, that my friend is a sweet truck!!!

r100guy

I don't take my '81 over 65 ever. I guess you have to recognize and respect its limitations:

1. The truck was designed and built for another era where 55mph was the norm along with lighter traffic conditions.
2. The trucks are, for the most part, 35 years old with lots of wear. Age alone makes the trucks unreliable for a daily driver.
3. A tall, short wheel base vehicle with antiquated steering and brakes should not be driven at high modern day speeds.
4. A tall, short wheel base, 4500lb vehicle with 95 hp is a road hazard on a modern freeway.

I drive surface streets and secondary highways only ( fewer middle fingers seen).