I am sorry if there is a thread with this info, but I am going blind looking at this computer screen. Quick question tho... am looking at buying an 83 p/u, std cab short bed, frame/body in good shape, motor has 46k because the timing chain shredded the original, sfa, 5 spd, 4x4, 22r... and I think that is all the relevant info... any known problems with these or anything to watch for? am looking to do this in the next couple of days. Thanks for any input as this will be my first Toyota, looking forward to it...

 

Thats a great truck right there.

 

don't worry, you posted in the right section.
Pull up the carpeting and check out the floor pans especially the driver's side front and behind the seat..water likes to collect there and cause holes...mine was some metal swiss cheese...check the usual stuff like the fluids etc
post up some pictures in the pre '84 folder if you get it....we are all suckers for a new '1st gen owner'

also love your quote about the wussificaton of america....

 

I'll check the floor board next chance I get. I like the fact this particular truck doesn't have carpet, just this sheet of rubber(?) in it's place and if people want it, I'll get pictures. Also, what about rust? I know the 85-89(?) with the seam in the bed got cancer bad, and there are some strange bubbles where the wheel well is welded to the bed(again, ?).

 

btw ocdropzone, nice Trekker, saw the thread last night looks good

 

Listen close to the transmission. Those were the first years of 5speeds and they had some weaknesses. I bought an '83 just a few months back, and with 166,000, it was the most toasted transmission I've ever seen. Just look at everything close. There's probably a bunch of little cosmetic stuff, inside and out, but that's normal for an '83. I'd expect things to need work, just see how much work it needs and how much the truck will really cost you in the end. For the most part, if you're willing to spend some money and do some work, then as long as the body and frame are good.....they're pretty worth it for the right price.

 

thanks, appreciate it

79-83 beds are not quite as prone to the rust along the seem like the 84-88's but still vulnerable. Everything behind the cab (bed wise) is fiberglass on mine so I don't worry too much about that part
with the truck being 25+ years old there is bound to be some rust.

One thing I learned long ago too is to take a semi powerful magnet, cover it with a thin rag(keeps it from stratching the paint)and run it a long the body to search for bondo. It loses it attraction when it hits the deep stuff..saved me from a couple of bad buys over the years that looked awesome. An '85 4Runner i looked at seemed like the whole PS was bondo....

 

There is some cancer behind the right front wheel well that's pretty bad, but it's small. I will try the magnet thing too. One other thing, when I let it sit after test driving it, the temp guage kept rising(never hot while driving it) so I set the controls to defrost, cranked the fan, and set to hot. Never blew hot, but the guage was pretty warm. Clogged lines and bad thermo? It is 25 That's my guess anyway