This is my 4th Toyota, previously had an 87 4x4 (rebuilt the 22re), an 86 MR2 for a few years in the early 2000s, then 15 years ago I bought my 97 4Runner which has been significantly modded, wheeled, explored and DD over a large portion of the continental U.S., clocking 200k in that time.

So the plan for this new-to-me 1983 SR5 is to keep it looking somewhat like it did when I got it (stockish), fix and/or update items & issues along the way, and basically keep it in service for the foreseeable future of internal combustion piston engines. Plans include a 3RZ swap, addition of A/C, a modern invisible sound system (ok amp & speakers), some real bed tie-downs, and I'm sure I'll add to the list.

A little background: I'm the 3rd owner. The truck was originally purchased as a blue SR5 in SoCal, and according to the story, was daily driven from Long Beach to Redlands or something like that for years by the original owner. I'm not sure why, but a repaint happened toward the end of his ownership, I'm told his wife went to Home Depot, picked out a color, and had the truck sprayed. It isn't a bad paint job, they removed most of the interior for it, but kept the engine bay original. I believe the bedliner was sprayed about the same time, as well as a Rancho lift of a few inches installed. "About 20" years ago the second owner bought it. He moved from SoCal to Phoenix and used it as a DD. Unfortunately he wasn't very mechanical, so while the body/frame are in great condition, the mechanicals seemed neglected. The engine was replaced two times (I don't know why), the brakes were maintained well, and most of the electrical was fairly intact. Everything else needed attention.


A partial list of stuff done in the past year:

Currently the old Cali emissions 22r, L52 and transfer case are removed and a 1999 Tacoma 3RZ is on my engine stand being built up from a bare block. I have a W56 (I believe it's an 85) that I've cleaned up and installed new input/output seals in, and the transfer case received the same as well as a new output shaft bearing. I'm in the process of sorting through existing wiring, figuring out what I can eliminate (lots of Cali emissions stuff!), and planning basically strip down the engine bay for paint and replacing all the stuff that needs it... as well as doing a 1" master cylinder & V6 calipers while I'm in there.

As it is with these projects, I've hit a few snags already but have hopefully been able to work through them. One was the LC engineering balance-shaft delete kit tap broke off inside the block. Another is that the engine shop somehow did not set the valve clearances correctly, and I didn't check it until I had the head installed on the block. The replacement "low mileage" transfer case I bought from a fellow YT guy in Ohio has rust inside on the gears, so that's why my original one (with about 280k) is now going back in. I sure hope the trans I got from him works - so far it looks ok - but I won't know for sure until the engine is running obviously.