Hello all. Im looking around @ some 1st gen runners and was wondering what are specific trouble areas. I can handle body work but nasty frame rust is a drag. Are there any hidden areas that are real issues? I know its a 25 yo truck so Im not expecting perfection just want to know where to look for problematic rust or any other issues w/ the trucks. Thanks --ROB

 

rear fenderwells... especially if its got fender flares.. the road gime and dirt get behind and rub the paint or coating off and then it gets wet.. and you know the rest... at least that is what happend with my runner

 

Look beside the right and left rear shocks as that area tends to like get weak/rust. Also check the front crossmember/ rad support and the frame near the front control arms. All those spots had rust on my truck and I ended up reinforcing everything (lots of salt on the streets here). Other obvious spots include rear quarters, fenders and the top of the tailgate.

 

Thanks for the input.... a local guy is talking about selling his 85 in the spring and I'm quite intrested in his truck just want to go into the situation w/ as much info as possible.

 

Like all old rigs, there's plenty of trouble spots...they most present in rust with Toyotas, but welcome to Metals 101.

I had issues with body rust, and window seals, as well as the window "upperer and lowerers" (the thing that moves the glass up and down as you crank), heater core (still and issue at this point), issues with the window seals on the removable top falling out of place, finding interior parts is kind of hard depending upon where you are...

And there's bound to be more, that's all that's hitting me at the moment, and all are solved with just a little elbow grease.

 

Road Trip!! Get one from Cali and you wont have any of the fore mentioned issues. My 84 doesn't have one spot of rust on it anywhere. I sacrificed a perfect body for higher mileage and beat up interior. A new motor is being put together as we speak, and interior is just a matter of finding replacement or fabbing my own. I had to replace windshield seal too.