Hi, guys/gals!

Well, after spending a few years tinkering with various Toyotas; 72 Mark II wagon,79 Corona wagon with the simulated wood panels, 73 Hilux, 78 pickup, and an 82 pickup (2wd), I finally decided it was time for a 4WD vehicle.

I really really wanted a first gen 4x4, but after spending a few weeks scanning Craigslist, all I could find were trucks that were totally customized or heavily altered, or ones that wouldn't pass SMOG. I really wanted one that was as close to stock as possible, except maybe for a couple of subtle drive train upgrades.

During my search I started to doubt my passion for the truck, and thought with a fast growing 8 month old son, maybe I needed something with more room, and slowly started to convince myself the responsible thing to do would be to go the 4Runner route.

Not that there's anything wrong with the Runners....they just didn't ring my bell as much as the pickups did.

So there I was scanning Craigslist for 4Runners as well. Even these are tough to find in stock form! But I finally came across an '86 4Runner who's ad sounded promising.... But then I study the ad's pictures. There's something behind the 4Runner....that's just rung a bell.

(SEE photos)

I call the number on the ad.

Seller goes on and on for ten minutes telling me about the 4Runner, when I finally ask..."What's up with the truck parked behind the 4Runner?"

"That's my daily driver. It's not for sale," he says.

I ask him about her anyway.

Aside from the recently rebuilt 22R (early block) and the Marlin Crawler L52HD he had put in 3 years ago the '82 was all stock.

I schedule a time to come by, "...to take a look at the 4Runner."

Before hanging up the guy half jokingly tells me not to get my hopes up on the yellow '82 4x4, as if he could smell my desire for his not-for-sale-daily-driver.

The '86 4 runner was being advertised at $2900 obo.

I call a buddy to drive me the 50 miles and stop at a bank along the way, and withdraw $3k cash.

(TO BE CONTINUED)

These are the actual photos taken from the ad.

 

And?

:wabbit2:

 

Can't leave us hanging like that.

 

Sorry guys. Started this posting here at work...and it got busy all of a sudden. Wasn't intentionally trying to be episodic with my story.

Ok. Long story - short.

The yellow 1982 Toyota 4x4 is now MY daily driver.

I'll post more details about her later today, after work.

 

glad you got the 82..I was all set to move this to another folder thinking your got your first gens mixed up
thanks for getting a Real 1st Gen. those silly 4Runner owners get confused sometimes

 

Post pics of it! I have an '81 and I'm not clear on the changes in the years right around then. I saw a white stock looking '81 4WD in a parking lot as I was out walking to lunch today but I didn't have time to stop and ask the owner anything about it. It was in really good shape. That was in Stayton, OR (where I bought my red '81) if it was anybody on the forum.

 

The 82 has square headlights and a different instrument cluster. It will definitely have the center tailgate handle. Otherwise, there aren't really many differences.

Yeah, post up some pics! You must be very persuasive.

 

Evening, everyone:

Well, what can I say, after owning this truck for just a few weeks I can honestly say I absolutely love it. It may not be the fastest or handsomest vehicle I've ever owned, but it's gotta be one of the funnest, and aside from testing it during the test drive - I haven't even taken her to where I need 4WD, yet!

Just an absolute BLAST to drive. I also love how easy it is to work on. Simply crawl underneath!

Started to hunt down a few things since bringing her home, most of which I've yet to install - but will do so, soon.

'82 Straight lower valance $25
'82 SR5 Gauge Cluster w/ factory tach. $25
'85 (22r) Power steering pump & pulleys $35
'82 Power Steering Reservoir $15
'82 Steering box w/ beefier steering components $100
'94 Bench Seat Toyota pickup (2wd) $35
'82 Factory original steel wheels w/ decent tires $80
Aluminum tool box $45
I've since removed the roll bar it came with to make room for the tool box.

Will be ordering a knuckle rebuild kit, more than likely from Marlin Crawler. But has anyone bought the Trail Gear kits, before?


Previous owner's driveway as he was signing her over to me.


Stockton, Ca. Pick-N-Pull. 2-hrs before opening. 1/2 off day.

 

Well, with an 80 mile (round-trip / tarmac) commute each day, with 2-3 miles of it being a bit of a steep grade, one of the things I decided to do was part ways with the 31-inch tires. At the same time I thought I'd go back to the original wheels, since I like the original look so much more.

The change made the truck much more nimble with a tad better mpg.


BEFORE



AFTER

 

The next thing I did was get rid of the tired Corolla bucket seats the previous owner had installed, and replace it with a bench seat out of a '94 Toyota (2WD). Now both my wife and young son can come along for rides.

BEFORE



AFTER

 

So how'd you end up convincing the P.O. to let her loose to ya?

 

What size tires did you go with? I found that 30x9.50 is a good compromise between stock and oversize. You get a little bigger tire, filling out the wheel wells a little, but you get pretty darn close to stock performance. 31's really push you towards regearing. But stock is just tiny...

 

Finally just asked him what it would take.

$3500 was his answer, totally confident I'd walk away.

When I saw the receipts for both the rebuilt stock carburetor and the Marlin Crawler HD tranny, doing a little math I realized $3500 may not be the deal of the century, but it was fair.

Since then I've gotten unsolicited offers from strangers offering exactly that much for her. But I've since put in a few more hundred in maintenance supplies and various upgrades.

Tire size:

I really wanted the stock wheels back on there and figured I'd find a set eventually. When I went hunting for a new/used tailgate lock mechanism on Craigslist because mine was kinda sticking, the very same guy had a set of stock wheels he had just pulled off, going bigger.

They had 235.75.15's.

It was like $75-$80 for the entire set, which around here, with tires, is a steal. I'll eventually tinker with a new tire size after this Winter, but for my commute and terrain, I definitely like them smaller than the 31's.

Zach, will definitely look into the 30x9.5's. Thanks.

 

Also removed the roll bar the previous owner had on there....



...and replaced it for a tool box. Needless to say the added "secure" storage space has been really useful. Also started sanding down areas of surface rust, hitting them with navel jelly and self itching primer.

 

Awesome story! Stoked for you. My DD is a 79' with a 22re swap

 

Yeah, definitely takes a different breed truck owner to daily drive one of these, and actually appreciate it's 30 year old nuances and consider it a blast.

 

Lookin good! I think 235's are the same as 30x9.50s.

 

If they are, they're just right for the type of driving I do.

BTW, Zach, what year did those side mirrors come off of?

 

Mine? Not sure...but almost definitely a first gen. I got them from Dirtoyboy over on Marlin. Actually the "Practically Anything You Want" thread in the classifieds which has been taken over by dirtoygirl, or someone. I just asked for mirrors for my 83 that weren't the huge "full size truck" looking mirrors, which is what it had when I bought it.

 

Good looking rig. That old roll bar looked stupid, looks better with tool box.