Hello I am relatively new to the 4x4ing, and have been looking for a nice 82-89 Toyota truck for a few months.
I sort of wanted to buy one needing work and build it my self so I could learn about them and how to fix it if it breaks but I doubt I would have the time and energy to needed to do so since my work makes me work way to much.

But I got to looking around auto trader, e-bay, and Craig’s list and finally found one I like for a reasonable price or so I think. Here is some more information about it from the add itself.

Here she is second to the last year of the Straight Axle Toyota 4x4 Pickups, this beauty has a lot of upgrades, so lets begin this Regular cab 4x4 has a complete new Interior headliner, Carpet, Bucket seats are reupholstered, and this truck has 126K miles Original on the 22r Carb. Engine, Dana gears push the 37" BFG Mud Terrains Beautifully these are mounted on Alocoa style Eagle wheels 16" in very nice condition, also she is protected by Smitty built Front and Rear tube Bumpers, and BushWacker Fender Flares to keep the mud off the Rig, the Truck also features a Sunroof and Power windows, this lift on this truck was a custom lift done by a professional 4wd Shop locally and is about a 15" lift, again this truck runs strong and is dependable and tough like a 84 Toyota should be, I am pricing this Rig to Move, and why pay $5-8 for a similar truck when you can have this one for half that, I will ship anywhere in the US.

The pictures look really nice on it and it looks like it would be a good daily driver/off-roader as well which is what I am looking for. I like the looks of it a lot and am honestly thinking of bidding on it and have never e-bayed any auto things before.

I guess what I am asking is if you guys think of the 84’s and if it would be worth 3 thousand also if anyone has ever bought and or sold anything on eBay motors.
I could use any advice you would be willing to give.

Thanks

JP1985

 

welcome fellow oregonian. sounds like its nice.. hard to say without pics or hearing it run. 84 is a good year, its carbed though. i prefer fuel injected toyota's (85&up).

 

15 inches of lift? Post some pics of it. Generally you don't want/need 15 inches of lift.

Depending on the condition of the axles I'd say pass on it. Are the axles Locked? Geared? Built? Does it have Hysteer? If the answer is no to any of these I'd keep looking.

If you are wanting this rig to be anything more than a mall crawler you'd likely have to spend a decent chunk of change ripping that lift off and doing it the right way. Sounds to me like the guy is trying to get rid of the truck because the lift is wack.

Look for an 85 or later with a minor engine problem that is still in stock form, but good cindition, that way you can build it yourself the right way. Should be able to find one like that for something like $600-$1000

 

15" WOW! all you can do with that much lift is look at it. I run 37's and I only have 6-7" total lift and I think mine is too high.

 

LOL yeah I decided to pass on it you guys are right 15 inches of lift is way too much, and I wouldn’t have been able to hear it run or even inspect it before buying it since it’s an e-bay motors auction so it could have turned out to be a bad nightmare quick.

I have been looking for an 82-89 with just minor engine problems or something fixable for that amount but I can never find them that for that price around here there always in the upper thousands2-4 depending on the work needed.

I was looking on auto trader the other day and found a nice 84 runner for the same price. It’s only a few miles away from where I live so I would be able to inspect it and listen to the engine run.

The only thing is I am having a heck of a time deciding whether or not I would rather have a runner, or just the regular truck.
I like the runner a lot and I like how it holds more people and that has the removable top but I still really like the regular truck look. Sigh decisions decisions.

Here is a little more about the 84 runner I am going to go look at.
I was also wondering if you more experienced guys could give me a list of what to look for and at when I go take a look at it I would really appreciate it.

Anyhow here is some about the truck.


84 4runner, 5" trail gear lift, 2" body, cross over steering, 22r, 5spd, 192k on truck 50k on motor, sr5 bucket seats, 39.5 swamper trxs 70% tread,new 5.29 gears, locked rear axle, daily driver or wheeler .cd plyr & amp. its set up for off roading, but I drive it all the time around town no problems, the body is not perfect, has its share of dents and scratches but nothing to major, clean title good tags till may 2009. $3900 OBO


It says it has a locked rear axle how do those usually handle on the streets. A friend of mine told me that a locked rear axle could cause spin outs when going around corners that’s why I am asking.

Thanks for all your patience in helping a new guy out answering my questions and helping with advice I really appreciate it.

JP1985

 

NIW THAT 4RUNNER SOUNDS GOOD.. if the frame is good buy it
i drive my trail rig with a welded rear on the street... it squawks and bucks a bit until the tires warm up then its not bad once you learn when to throttle and when to clutch and stuff.... if you gonna daily drive it id look into front and rear arbs or elockers!!! if you get a good deal on the truck it would be woth it in tire wear,turning and on road manner alone

 

That's alot better but, IMO, 39.5s are just too much tire for a 22R to push around for daily driver duty. I'd get rid of the body lift and put 35s on it......5.29s are optimal for 35s. Also check the body for cracks around the windshield posts and at the front inner fender......hard wheeling will twist the crap out of the body and cause them......you should see mine! Oh, and don't worry too much about a locked rearend (locked not welded, right?) it just takes a little getting used to....I have three 4X4s (an early Bronco, Jeep Cherokee and my '85 S/B) and they all have locked rearends and are daily driven...my P/U is my work truck as well ---------Hans