I know I know it's the impossible dream it seems most of the time, but it's my only option. I've had two 3rd gens durring high school and 2yrs of college, and to put it simply I'm tired of paying so much dang money and then still taking it easy on the truck off road b/c I still owe on it and it's to dang nice to roll.

What I need to know is what you guys think of the idea of buying a rig from California (I live in North Carolina), and having it shipped to me. I can't find a solid(solid being a very key word) truck over here, they are all ol' rusy bucket farm trucks that sat in the feilds for 4 yrs before the decided to sell. There seems to be more lifted and locked 85's out west FOR SALE, then I could ever dream to see here. Have any of you guys bought trucks that are a LONG way away w/o ever seeing them in person? What is the chance that I will get a good compitant rig w/o looking at it and going on a prayer? I don't mind working on small nagging problems, but working with a rusted out body and a 4wd system that won't engauge <--past experiance-- is not what college funds will allow.

Thanks in advance.

 

It would be cheaper to fly out and drive it home. I bought a car that was about 1500mi away and shipping was outrageous.

 

....just do me a favor and only drive it in the summer because 85's are getting rare and It would suck to see your nice CA truck rusted out in a few years.

 

There is one on ebay right now too.

 

I wouldn't bother holding out for an '85, just get an IFS rig and swap in an axle. The cost in the end to properly lift either version is a wash.

 

yeah I figured that driving it would be better idea, but some of these things have swampers(I'd change those out anyways after they got worn) but putting 2,000+ miles on them right off the bat would suck, and dring across country on rock tires would be one hell of a trip. But I would do anything to save a little cash.

As for any truck I get becoming a rust bucket you would not need to worry about that, T take better care of my trucks then anyone you could imagine, I never even let mud stay on any of my rigs for more than a day. I wish more of the farmers around here had taken better care of their Runners, they were asking under 1,000 for the trucks<-- that one the body was fine for the most part, but the 4wd didn't work and the tranny was sketchy feeling.

Did you get shafted when you bought your rig so far away w/o seeing and driving it first? Maybe it's just me being paranoid, but I don't have the cash to get screwed and then have a fixer uper that is supposed to be my d/d.

 

Shane I wish I could SAS and IFS rig, but I have nowhere near enoguh wrench skills under my belt to do that. Plus any SAS I have ever heard of has alway run into the 2-3, sometime 4K range with lockers and all. I wish I had more friends that could fab and weld like everyone except me seems to have.

 

'85's require a LOT of work to lift. As Shane said, its almost a wash money wise, but you could get the v6

 

Okay someone talk to me in length and detail here. I need to know why 85's are so much to lift, and why you call them a "wash" to lift. What makes and SAS a better option then just starting out with a SFA?

The only problem I can see is, x-over stearing, and having to get an IFS box. An SAS would take larbor hours that no shop around here would be willing to do or would know how to do. Also I know the V6 power is nice but it's the same 3.0slow that everyone hates in their 2nd gen, and a bud of mine in 4ROC NC is ditching after it blew for a 7MGTE.

If you guys don't mind provide as much detail as possible, or any web pages with some good material would be cool too, I relaly want to understand what I'm getting into before I get knee deep in things I don't know to much about.

 

It all depends on how much you want to spend. I bought my 85 truck for 1500.00 in Oct of 2002. I've sunk 2-3k into it, see my sig. for items installed. It's still been cheaper than buying a new truck. I don't like making payments. FWIW I just bought an 85 runner EFI, 5spd that I'm going to swap the motor out of and then sell. Ya gotta understand that anything you buy that is almost 20yrs old is gonna need some work.

 

Oh I'm not scared of doing the work, I swaped in a new rear end to one of my 3rd gens after a wreck with knowing nothing more than my own oil changes. Work on a truck doesn't worry me, it's the $$$ than scares me . I'm in college and I have to pay for all my own stuff anyways, tuition is the only thing that is provided. I have plenty left over to sink into small fix ups, but nothing like body work, and major engine swaps, or SAS.

I'm just sick and tired of dricing and wheel'n a truck that the bank still owns more than I do. I want to buy something under 4,000 so I can pay it off sooner, and start the real fun. I might be really interested in that 4Runner your talking about engine swaping, what kinda engine are you gona drop in and how much might you be looking for .

What else is involved with lifting 85's that warrents the word, ALOT out of you guys? What do you think about buying an already lifted rig? I know it take some fun out of it but then that leaves me all the little things, and there is always room for suspension upgrades when the wallet allows it.

 

http://board.marlincrawler.com/index...;threadid=2594

If you can afford it this would be your best buy

 

It's a little more than what I want to pay but it's more than I could ever ask for at that price. I e-mailed him, we shall see. With the right loan 6K wouldn't be toooo bad .

 

What on earth are you talking about?!?!?! You can lift them with shocks/brake lines and stuff for $400 and put the lift on in about 3 hours.

 

I did pretty well....but I bought a 97 in 2001 so it wasn't really too much of a risk.

 

Lifted: yes...Trail worthy: NO

There are a bunch of threads over on 4x4wire about this...85 is good for lift and go, but there is still a lot of work to make it a rock crawler and truely trail worthy. Guess it depends what you are planning on doing. If you arent going to do hardcore stuff, then why go with a SA anyways and just get a newer 86-89 with lesser miles? I think yotatech has proven a lot can be done with IFS.

 

I'm not trying to flame you or anything but have you ever wheeled a 79-85 Toy without crossover steering and all the goodies?

A SA toyota with stock Push-Pull steering (using a drop drag link) stock shock mounts, no sway bar, and no torque rod can wheel really well. Droop should be limited on the driver's side to keep the j-arm from breaking. I have wheeled a few toys with similar set-ups and they can wheel some of the hardest trails with no fear. All the hype of "you can't do that without crossover" has really gotten to people and we're starting to forget how capable a toy is in a stock configuration.

 

Right on, gota love those toys. As for what I'm planning on doing around here, could be rated at moderate to hard. I really wanna go to Tellico, now I would put Tellico trials up against some of the hardest out west, that place is extream, but for the most part this will be a d/d expected to get me too and from classes and be able to take me up and down whatever I can point her at on the weekends. All I want is a good lift, 35 MT/Rs, and a rear locker, possibly a front locker. I'm extreamly, prolly overly careful and x-over stearing would come alot later for me. I just need a capeable duel purpose rig. That guy on the Marlin Crawler board already sold his rig. So the search is still on.

But go on I like debates like this it helps me understand more and the two different mind sets that I can argue w/ myself durring the process.

 

I live in Atlanta, Ga. It couldn't be over 4 hours from you. You buy an IFS truck and get everything you need. Drive down and me, my friend and you will do that SAS in one weekend for a small price. I say price cause there's tools such as grinding wheels, welding wire, beer and pizza, and renting a plasma cutter. I'd love to swap another one. It's not hunting season, so it's on. You should seriously take me up on this!!!! If we started Friday evening you'd be driving home Sunday evening, got to get the hy-steer though. Anyway, buy a Fuel injected V-6 for your Swap. I wish I had.

 

http://www.4x4wire.com/forums/showfl...5&o=14&fpart=1