My brother in law has this 1980 toyota 4x4 that has 10+years of weeds growing around it. I looked up the NADA value. What makes the 1980 so much more valuable? What would be a fair market value? 1980 toyota
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In good running order, and not too rusty, Value: several thousand $$

As it sits, 8 or 10 cents per pound.

There is nothing on it that will not need rebuilding or replacement.

Nice core project, but I doubt buyers will be knocking down your door to throw money at you.

NADA means nada in the real world.

 

I'm considering builing this for myself. I would like to know how good of a trail rig it would be or if I should run away from a money pit.

 

Straight axle Toyotas make awesome trail rigs.

Every project is a money pit.

If you have a use for it and you love wrenching, go for it.

It has to be a labor of love.

 

I like your answer. If it was easy it wouldn't be fun.

 

non running condition project, $500 would be the top most would pay for it.
if it has the side shift L-43 4 speed transmission you will want to swap in a 5 speed (L-50/52) or a top shift L-45 4 speed, the side shifters are very sloppy


-that truck has the typical toyota rust at the seams of the bed, finding another bed for a 79-83 is getting very hard
-79-83's floors tend to rust out at the 4 corners of the cab in the floor, be sure to pull up the carpet or vinyl to check
-finding parts for 79-83's are getting harder and harder to find


NADA or KBB has no real world bearing when setting value for older toyota trucks, it is all what a buyer is willing to pay and what the local market will bear
I want an 89-95.5 extended cab truck, some places you can find them all day long for $3k, where I live people are asking up to $8k

 

Thxs for the info dropzone. I will have to see what transmission it has.
I believe 1980 was the only year that ran 4:38 gears. For some reason NADA valued this year more. My brother in law thinks all that needs done is put a battery in, air up the tires, and drive it off.
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I have been amazed by Toyotas in the past, I wouldn't be surprised if it fired up, check all your fluids. it would be a good idea to drain the fuel tank and put some fresh go juice in it before you try to crank it over. I had one of these 1980 pickups for about 10 years with a 22R and 5 speed swapped in. 35" tires, lift blocks in the back and a home built front lift. check out my 4runner build for a couple of pictures. even with open diffs it went through a lot! good luck!

 

At the very least, pull the plugs and squirt a little Marvel oil into the cylinders and turn it over with a rachet, or breaker bar a couple times before trying to crank it up.

It is easy for the rings to get stuck to the cylinder walls, and if you crank it dry, damage can be done.

There is a good likelyhood that there will be trouble with the brake and clutch hydraulics too.

 

Mavel oil and a good soak is a good idea. I thought about pulling the valve cover off too make sure a valve isn't stuck. If I get this rig home, a brake job is at the top of the list.

 

I have an '80. They are tough! I put a 22R in it and 4:88 gears, bigger tires, wheels and lift springs.. Otherwise it is stock. It's fun to drive and fits on tight trails and can take a beating. I got too busy with work and it sat for several years. I was able to start it with some difficulty, but it ran poorly. Compression test showed from 0 psi to 180 psi. Rebuilding the engine and while at it doing the brakes. Then found numerous holes in the gas tank because I disturbed the crud plugging the holes. Found a tank at 1A auto that specified it fit an 84 but it fit my 80 perfectly. Still working on it at this time, but it will be at least summer before it is up and going again. I should have sold it and bought something else. The 80 you are looking at can be made into anything you want. Just remember it will be fun and games....some of the time.
Good luck--you just might be done before I am

 

Happy New Year!
Thank you JP for the info. Good luck with rebuilding your rig. I never knew how good the old Toyotas were. I feel more encouraged about getting little whitey pulled out of the weeds.

 

You can find photos of other 1980 (1st gen) 4x4 pickups around the net that will give you even more encouragement. Depending on which route you go--all stock to highly modified-- they can be worth the effort
Whatever you know is wrong with your 80, there will be some things you don't know about. Keep looking at the end result and do it right. Good luck to you.

 

My 1980 started out looking a lot like this one. I took my time and did things as I saved up the money. Being a mechanic, I did all the work except paint and interior. I have the L-43 trans and it did have slop in the shifter. Turns out the bushings between the shifter assembly and the body of the trans were completely missing. After replacing those, it shifts great. I dug out the sealant between the bed sides and floor which causes that infamous rust and welded all the rust holes up had a friend of mine do the paint. I would definitely pour marvel mystery oil or better yet, a 50/50 mix of acetone and ATF into the cylinders and let it sit for a while before trying to turn it over. Use a breaker bar and turn it over slowly before trying the starter. Change all the fluids: engine, trans, diffs, transfer case , brakes. A little bit of money and a lot of work will result in a good truck. Check out the pictures of mine in my gallery.

 

I appreciate the advice. I'm impressed how well your toyota turned out. I save pics of the trucks I like and yours I one of them. I never heard of using acetone & ATF but it makes sense. My nephew said he had his dad's truck started 5 years ago and it ran good then. We will get little whitey running and I will post the results.

 

Hang on to those factory wheels. At one point or another you'll want them or need them. Nice find btw. First gens rule. Tony

 

I just need some original center caps. I was wondering what size tire will fit the factor rim. I would be happy putting on 31's.

 

I've had 31 super swappers on the factory steelees and it worked out well. It actually makes the tire almost 33" tall when mounted.

 

The factory tire size is an H78 x 15 if I remember correctly

 

Not sure what trucks you have experience with, but I'll give my experience on tires: for all these old 4 cylinder Toyotas, the best compromise between power, height and looks is a 30x9.50 tire. They definitely turn into a dog once you get 31s on there. Very noticeable difference. Still totally manageable, but with 30s it feels really good. Unless you're rock crawling, that's plenty of tire. But if you like how 31s look and don't care about low end or high end power, or if you plan to re-gear it, then whatever size is cool.

On my 83, 30x9.50s were the best on-road/off-road compromise. But then I like the look of a slightly skinnier tire, rather than the look of big fatties filling out the wheel well.