Hey, I just bought an '83. The exaust was so loud (until now) that I couldn't hear some things that are going on. A lot of clicking from the engine. Some maybe bearing noise from the tranny. Clutch doesn't engage until the pedal is all the way up. I'm comfortable doing the clutch & timing chain, but I'm worried about things needing to be rebuilt.

Are the transmissions pretty solid? Can bearing noise go on for a while without attention? Or can I do something to prolong it's life, this late?

The rubber bushings on the front suspension & steering parts are all pretty rotted. Big problem, or just something that would help the trucks handling if replaced, but not a big deal?

Also, any info that would help me with these older trucks. I've had late '80s Toyota pickups, but never early '80s before. Thanks!

 

Replace your bushings etc. Safety Hazard to yourself and others on the road= hope you have good insurance--JMO.

Bearing noise can go on but may not, like anything it is gonna give at some point. Does your tranny have oil?

Engine clicking: Check your valve adjustment.--one possibility

 

Ok, so the bushings are a big deal, eh?

I just had the differentials & transimssion fluid changed (feeling lazy I guess) and they said the oil looked milky...like maybe water got in, which I'm guessing is NOT good. I guess I'll see if the noise gets better or worse...
Hope I didn't make a bad decision on this one. It was cheap, but still.
If water got in, does that mean there's a leak, or just that somebody submerged the axles?

 

it means somebody submerged the axles...do the Diff breather mod...im doing it real soon..since i go muddin alot...in some deep water...(was in over my hood one night...needless to say i didnt make it through like the '75 chevy rollin on a 12in. lift and 49" IROKS...)didnt hurt anything though...truck started right up...so im gonna leave it all alone...

 

yeah I have bearing noise in 5th. Hasn't gotten any worse in the 10,000 miles i've put on it.

 

Ok. Thanks everybody. It sounds a bit like a go-cart when I accelerate in all gears..not the whiny bearing noise (although there is some of that), more of a..uh..I don't know how to explain it. I'm taking it to Missoula tomorrow. We've got a "Toyota's Only" shop that specializes in...well..Toyota's obviously. I'll find out if she's worth it or not. I'm not planning to do any real crazy offroading in this. If it's not a lost cause, it's going to be my daily driver. I'm just afraid that the previous owner did some real damage to what was a good, low mileage (166,000) truck. I just like old vehicles and I love Toyotas.

It's strange, maybe it's the gearing, but this truck has more power than any vehicle I've owned. Around town anyway. We'll see how it handles a mountain pass tomorrow.

Thanks a lot everyone. Are there some maintenence things on this that I wouldn't have needed on an '86? There's fluid for the steering? I don't have power steering.

 

The 79-83 trannys are not the strongest toyota put out, but they hold up well. They are also the noisiest of the toy trannies.

Rotted bushings should deffintaly be addressed, Energy Suspension sells bushing kits, good quality and a good price.

http://www.energysuspension.com/pages/toyt1.html

 

Ok, thanks. I've always been a bit intimidated by the tie rods, idler arms, pitman arms etc. to which the bushings are attached. Is it a big job, or perfectly do-able for weekend-warrior mechanic?

By the way, I really appreciate everybody here. I've been on other toyota sites where my questions didn't get answered nearly as well or quickly. Some sites, if you aren't doing a complete teardown and rebuild with a 6" lift and V8swap etc. you don't get much attention. Understandable, but still..I like to get my questions answered.