Hi to all. I've been driving a '98 Ford Escort for the last 11 years, it's lasted me well and is still running strong, but I've always loved the look and reputation of Toyota trucks and dreamt of buying one.

A week ago an opportunity came up that I couldn't pass up. Long story short, I found a great deal on a 1983 2WD Toyota, 3 speed automatic, from the original owner with 50,000 miles. Just bought it yesterday, everything seems to work great.

This will be a daily driver and a weekend getaway machine. No real plans on how to fix it up yet, first step is to get all the fluids changed, put on some bigger tires, and upgrade the stereo and speakers. Would like to look into a lift kit, some upgraded suspension, and maybe new exhaust. Looking forward to learning!

 

That thing is in great condition. How's the interior? How's the power? Once you start getting into lifts and bigger tires you're going to kill whatever power it may have. Welcome to Yotatech!

 

nice .... VERY NICE .

a little advice ! if you dont mind ?
please be carefull .. for instance putting a sterio in .. If your current dash bezzle has not been "molested" and is in great condition ..
I would recommend going to the autowrecker and getting another one that has been cut already .. a bezzle in mint shape can command come good coinage and can be a very desirable part ..


love to see some interior pics .

I personally will buy the rear bumper , if your ever going to replace it .




.

 

Nice.

 

That thing is Cherry!

 

this is true mine is fully hacked on

 

looks awesome! keep the stock height, 2wd's are meant to look like that. I agree, keep the dash stock, I love music but wont cut my dash for it!

 

Nice 2wd. Reminds me of my 82 only with a few less hundred thousand miles lol

 

Thanks for the comments. The interior is clean and in great shape as well, although the upholstery could use a healthy shampoo. I am not sure if the radio is stock or not, but I imagine it is. Two large dials, analog tuner with push button station presets. It seems to be about the size of a modern day unit, which I why I didn't think it'd be a big hassle to swap out.

I'll get some pics of the interior up as soon as I can. Maybe I'll just add a set of slightly bigger tires, and rethink my ideas about lifting it. The power seems OK, I'm coming from a 1.9 4-cylinder Ford Escort so this seems a little stronger on the highway. Going up big hills I think the Escort may be slightly more powerful. It sat for almost 2 years so it may need a little care.

The fan belt is squeaking a bit, so I need to look into that. Don't think it's normal. As I said, I know very little about trucks but this seems like a great platform to learn on.

 

It is! These older trucks are not only simple, but they're also well built, well put together and thought out, so things make sense. Good truck to learn how to wrench on. Yeah get some interior pics and we can tell you if the dash has been messed with. Doesn't sound like it, but unfortunately I think you're wrong about a modern stereo unit being able to fit in there.

 

BEAUTIFUL 2wd! That is quite the find. I would agree for sure about keeping the stock dash and find one out of a pick'n'pull to hack up. The stock radios(at least mine) are close to din size, but not quite. Din is the size of the modern ones. I know there are new ones same size as the old stuff but it's pretty spendy.
If you want to make it go off road better, put some sort of locker/limited slip in the rear. Those 2wds can go pretty well too

 

going from memory a long time ago, even if you plan to replace with a two post stereo like the factory one, the size of aftermarket are something like 7.5" deep and wide and the space is only 7". The old way to fit it was to cut a dash support, which eventually leads to the dash splitting, etc.

some solutions are to add a console that will let you add a head unit or get a replacement glove box pocket and cut a hole in it for the stereo. That's what I did and it worked well and kept it from getting stolen.

 

OH MAN!!
That thing is nice!
I would love to own one in that condition. I keep an eye out for those all the time for sale but I can't seem to find one as clean as that one!!

 

Sunny day today so I finally took some more pictures. This weekend I changed the oil and the brake fluid, put new front brakes on, and had new tires put on. Also dropped in a K&N filter. The old tires were Dunlop 195/75R14 and I was able to fit BFG Radial T/A 225/70R14. Fills the wheel wells nicely and brings the truck up a bit, and the ride is much smoother. Haven't checked with a GPS but I'm sure the speedo is off slightly. Hard to believe driving this thing that it's 26 years old!

After doing some more research I know now the stock radio has been replaced, although I don't think the dash has been cut up. This is still a 2-post radio and I think it just has a larger face. Later this year I'll probably take the radio out all together and put a tray in its place, and install an aftermarket CD player either in the dash or under the seat. Putting in new spark plugs tomorrow, but otherwise this thing is ready for some camping adventures.

 

congrads

 

WOW!! That thing is super clean...Nice find..the overdrive knob explains that extra hole in my dash

my 12 year old loves yellow and said she wanted your truck

Radio: you could make a small console to mount under the AC vents...

 

Wow. That thing looks like it just rolled off the show room floor. Nice find. If you want to complicate things, find yourself an SR5 gauge cluster with a tach, and the separate cluster with oil pressure and volmeter. I've also heard that the spot next to the cig lighter was for a manual choke? Maybe it just depended on the truck, or maybe not.. That is a very cool truck.

 

Very nice... that thing is in awesome condition.

 

that thing is beautiful! please dont lift it or do anything to it!!! leave it just like it is and let it be the coolest ride around town!!!

with such low miles, if you take care of it and keep it basically stock, she will be worth A LOT of money later on.

 

That thing is SO badass!

Besides turning the torsion bars theres not much you can do as far as lifting it. Next thing would be SAS.