Yesterday I drove from Northern Colorado to Southern California to purchase a new 1986 Toyota 4x4 truck. I am still really new to these trucks and could really use ANY help or guidance here.

About 6mo ago I bought my first Yota. It's an 86, and all stock. The main reason I bought the new truck is it had most of the upgrades already done that I wanted to do on mine.

So here's where I really need some help. This truck has so many upgrades I don't know if how it runs/rides is normal or what to expect. In a few days I need it to drive it back to Colorado so it doesn't need to be perfect, just as good as I can get it.

Here are the specs that I know of:
1986 Toyota 4x4 (4wd) truck not extended cab
6in lift (suspension I think. Help on how to tell what kinda lift would be great. It may also be a body+suspension combo)
IFS with some kinda "new" shocks. I don't know what kind.
33x12.5x15 tires
Fiberglass finders, hood, and bedsides
22re
Cold air intake (I think)
Aftermarket exhaust (I have no idea what is different here, but it sounds like a beast)
Aftermarket steering wheel
4:57 gearing I believe
Electronic locker on the rear axel

That's most of it. It also has an aftermarket tach on the dash too.

Here's what I really need help with:

On the drive from the guys house to my parents 15-20mi the ride was really rough. It felt like I was on a old dirt road most of the time. Bumpy vertically, horizontally, some vibrations and bumps would sometimes send the truck off on one direction or the other. This was all off and on and at different speeds. I realize its a truck, and will not ride like a sedan. This was just much more bumpy than my stock truck back home in CO. The steering wheel also seems loose with a decent amount of play. I need a place to start if the things above are not normal on a lifted truck with 33s. I'll probably start with getting the tires balanced.

The rough ride may just be the kinda suspension it has. I have no idea.

The other big concern I had is that it looks like the trip from his house to my parents <20mi used about 1/4 of a tank of gas. This is WAY more fuel then my stock 86 back home in CO. I thought with the fuel injection I'd get a litter better mpg. With the larger tires I am expecting a little worse mpg. The current mpg does seem excessive still. I checked and there are no fuel smell or leaks that I could see

I just brought it home last night, so I'll get more details as soon as I can. I can take pictures, etc. let me know if there is anything specific you would like to know or see. I need to get this puppy dialed in as much as I can in about 5 days. At that point we'll embark on the 1200mi trip back home.

Thanks so much for your help!

 

Most lifted trucks ive been in ride rough others are like driving jello down the road. you can get steering stableizers to help with the bump steer along with replaceing ballpoint s tierod ends ect
yo u can get your approx gear ratio by a jackin up all 4 tires markin your drive shaft and tires. And spining your tires till the drive shaft makes a complete turn but i dont rember exactly how to do it. I think if you turn your tires just over 4 times to get 1 drive shaft turn it means you have 4:10s or 4:11s if ya have to turn the tire just under 6 times ya got 5:71s and so on and so forth your gr would also have a lot to do with your mpgs

 

Okay what's a "bump steer"?

The front end seems incredibly stiff. Could this be related to the torsion bars? I have heard of guys cranking them down to lift the truck a bit.